Arsenal and Arteta…Day One

It’s finally here, Day 1 for Mikel Arteta as the new Arsenal manager. The new boss held his first training session today, and began the process to rebuild this team on every level, including their confidence, communication and commitment.

Over the past few days Arteta has made some crystal clear comments. Here are a few of them…

“The direction is going to be very clear, and it’s not going to be negotiable. I need the players to be on board with the right attitude, with the right passion and commitment”

“What I’ve learned mostly is that you have to be ruthless, and you have to be consistent and have to fit in every day the culture of the club to create a winning mentality.”

“But for me, the secret is that the people, the players and the staff, have to believe what we’re trying to deliver. You have to be able to transmit it, and people will buy into it.”

Arteta was in the stands yesterday and apparently spoke with the team both before and after the match. What he saw was not very impressive, but the young lads worked hard and added a little spice to the game…which was a positive thing to bring out of a 0-0 draw.

So, I think the biggest thing to watch on Boxing Day is the line-up and bench selections Arteta draws-up on the team sheet. Personally, I hope it’s a combination of some senior players and some of the younger players in the starting XI, with more senior players on the bench. Arsenal needs points in the Premier League table, and quickly. Hopefully, the Bournemouth game will get off us to a good start for the Mikel Arteta era.

Cheers! Gunner1953