If Arsenal’s All Or Nothing did one thing, it is to take the fans in on the inner-working of club manager Mikel Arteta. Amazon Prime couldn’t have chosen a better season to embed their crew in the Arsenal change room, doing so in the roller coaster ride of the 2021/22 season.
The season was a defining one for the Gunners. They had the youngest squad in the league and were laying the foundation for conquering England and returning to the top table of European football. But the journey towards that dream, especially in the 2021/22 season, was filled with drama, from the Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saga to the club’s up-and-down campaign - going from looking like they will be returning to the Champions League to failing to even make the Europa Conference League. Arteta felt the pressure the most, but he didn’t budge on his principles.
The Aubameyang situation was a massive test for Arteta. He was heavily criticised for letting go of the club’s most prolific striker in the recent generation, especially doing so without a plan for a replacement. But Aubameyang had crossed the line, and if Arsenal are to return to their former glory days, staying true to the club’s principles will be key. Arteta didn’t budge, and the club supported him.
In that moment, you could see Arsene Wenger’s “son”. Arteta has some Wenger elements about him, from his unconventional approach (like blasting You’ll Never Walk Alone at Conley ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Anfield) to his creative team talks that are centred on winning the heart and his multilingual persona. Arteta isn’t about to transform English football like Wenger did, but he has the qualities to move with the times - something Wenger struggled to do when English football caught up with his trendsetting ways.
Not invincible, but still worth a bet to take the title
The current Arsenal generation is far from the Invincibles. The only reason why they can be mentioned in the same breath as that all-conquering side that won the 2003/04 Premier League without a loss, is that this side will break the drought that has hit the London side since that glorious campaign. The league is Arsenal’s to lose, having shown great mental strength, character and a fighting spirit that has seen them comfortably lead the standings.
The emphatic North London derby win over Tottenham Hotspur was another reminder of how far this team has come. Arsenal were in control from the first whistle, and confidently brushed aside their North London neighbours who had disturbed the status quo by being the dominant force of the region while Arsenal were the laughing stock.
Arsenal’s success is centred on teamwork and unity, the core principles that Arteta preached when he exiled Aubameyang before the Gabon forward was sold to Barcelona for returning late from a sanctioned trip to France. Aubameyang had had other transgressions before, but this was the final straw for Arteta. It sent a strong message to the club that, regardless of who you are, the club’s core values come first and protecting the team is of paramount importance.
Small changes that make a huge difference
The results are there to be seen. You have an Arsenal team that is not only united but refuses to be bullied and fights for one another. Aaron Ramsdale has the heart of a lion. He has been brilliant in goal. He brings passion, great shot stopping abilities as well as good reading of the game. He is part of the solid foundation that has seen Arsenal improve dramatically when it comes to defending set-pieces.
In the 2021/22 season, Arsenal finished the campaign without conceding from a corner kick. There were many factors responsible for that. But chief among them is the club’s strength and ability to refuse being bullied. In the past, Arsenal dropped their heads when things didn’t go their way and weren’t forceful enough to rattle their opponents. Now they are confident enough to take on anyone. The main reason for their strength in set-pieces, however, is the job done by Nicolas Jover.
“Nicolas is a genius in the way he thinks and the way he creates the plans. Sitting with him and discussing different set-plays, you feel everything has an exact thought behind it. There are no coincidences at any point in any routine,” said Mads Buttgereit, Germany's set-piece specialist who has faced Jover as an opponent and developed a good relationship with.
The biggest improvement of this Arsenal side is how they handle disappointment. There’s a reason why Arsenal were the last team to top the standings in December and not win the Premier League. When the pressure intensified, the side crumbled. This is a symptom of a young team, but more importantly a reflection of a side lacking in confidence.
Arsenal has reacted strongly against Aston Villa, Fulham, and Leicester City. In all these matches Arsenal looked to have the wind knocked out of their sails but, instead of drowning, they found a way to float. Gabriel Martinelli helped Arsenal regain their lead less than three minutes after Douglas Luiz equalised for Villa. Fulham took the lead in another champion-defining match for Arsenal, but in less than 10 minutes skipper Martin Ødegaard equalised for the Gunners before Gabriel Magalhães netted the winner.
That character was also on display against Leicester. Granit Xhaka helped Arsenal regain their two-goal cushion less than two minutes after William Saliba scored an own goal. And when James Maddison gave Leicester hope, Martinelli quickly snuffed it to give Arsenal a 4-2 win.
Arsenal are passing many tests they have failed in the past, which is what makes them genuine title contenders. Even without Jesus, Arsenal fans have faith. This is another element where Arsenal have improved. The club tends to be reliant on certain figures, and because of their terrible luck those figures are injured in crucial moments of the league which sees them crumbling down. But not this season.
Arsenal have looked solid even without the Brazilian forward who was injured at the FIFA World Cup. Arsenal have scored nine goals in their first four league matches without Jesus. That’s because Arteta has succeeded in making the team one, ensuring that Arsenal aren’t reliant on individual players but instead have a solid team that fights for one another.
And it has revitalized more than just this venerable, and venerated, club – it has rekindled the hopes of the faithful, the dread of the opposition, and the odds on making it all the way for the bettors.