Saka at left-back, Aubameyang starts: Arteta’s first Arsenal XI three years on

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December 20th 2019 marks a special day in Arsenal’s recent history as the date Mikel Arteta was appointed head coach of the north London club.

Replacing Unai Emery, the former Manchester City coach was appointed by Arsenal to lead the Gunners in a new direction after 18 months of stagnation under the Spanish manager. And it’s safe to say that things have worked out well.

Arteta led Arsenal to the FA Cup in his first season in charge and the Basque manager currently finds himself top of the Premier League heading into Boxing Day, with the former Gunners captain completely transforming the north London club for the better in three years.

A lot has changed at Arsenal, and no better example shows this than the north London side’s starting XI in Arteta’s first game in charge of the club which saw the Gunners travel to the south coast to face AFC Bournemouth.

Saka, Xhaka and Nelson the only survivors as Arsenal appoint Arteta

Three years is a long time in football, and Arsenal’s starting XI against Bournemouth shows just how much Arteta has changed things at the club, with Bukayo Saka, starting at left-back, one of three players who still remains in north London, alongside Reiss Nelson and Granit Xhaka.

With Emile Smith Rowe on the bench and Nicolas Pepe and Ainsley Maitland-Niles both out on loan this season, just six players from the 18-man squad actually remain on Arsenal’s book since this Boxing Day fixture against Bournemouth.

The scorer on the day is no exception to the rule, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bagging a second-half equaliser to rescue a point for Arsenal, with the Gabon international future Gunners no. 1 Aaron Ramsdale, who would be relegated with Bournemouth that season.

Ozil makes first of 12 appearances under Arteta

It feels like a lifetime ago when the appointment of Arteta was viewed by some supporters as a bad move given his treatment over the likes of Mesut Ozil, who started every game for the Basque coach before the Covid-19 lockdown brought Premier League football to a grinding halt in 2020.

The German international started for Arsenal in Arteta’s first game in charge as the playmaker would go on to make a further 11 in all competitions, scoring one and assisting another before being frozen out of the squad by the new Gunners boss.

In hindsight, the decision was a smart one from Arteta. And since the move, the Arsenal manager has been cutthroat in the best possible way over his squad, something that has arguably led the north London club to where they are today in the Premier League.