Mikel Arteta lifts lid on reversing the ‘negativity’ in the Arsenal squad after Unai Emery reign

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is five years into his Emirates reign after taking charge in December 2019.

The Spaniard went from former captain to Arsenal manager to shock many, and five years on, it’s clear that Arteta has implemented a new standard. 

While Arsenal fans are unhappy with Arteta’s transfer decisions, particularly during the summer of 2024, the boss has turned things around in N5.

From consecutive eighth-place finishes to consecutive campaigns in the thick of the Premier League title race, Arsenal have new belief thanks to Arteta, in what has been an admirable turnaround. 

• READ MORE: How many points Arsenal got in 2024 as Premier League annual table revealed

Mikel Arteta explains Arsenal changes after Unai Emery’s failure

Arteta’s first two seasons at Arsenal were challenging, causing very few to have faith in the boss’ regime at the Emirates.

Things changed quickly for the manager, who took on a team lacking inspiration following Unai Emery’s dismissal in 2019.

Emery was sacked after 18 months in charge and replaced momentarily by Freddie Ljungberg prior to Arteta’s arrival.

At the point of the manager’s unveiling, Arsenal sat 10th in the Premier League having won one of their previous five games, trailing the top four by seven points.

Arteta had a job to do from the moment he stepped through the door, starting away from the action on the pitch, as he explained to Arsenal’s official website.

“There was that fraction and distance, a lack of belief and a lot of negativity,” he revealed when recalling the state of the squad at the point of his arrival.

Arteta then went on to share an insight into how he approached turning the negative energy at Colney around, something very few see.

“So many people have contributed to turn it around in a really powerful way, bring joy and belief back to the club, competing at the highest level again.

“Players feeling happy to be where they are, happy to come to our football club. It’s a joy to share these moments with our people. The stadium is completely transformed, so there are a lot of positives to take.”

Emery’s record at Arsenal compared to Arteta’s

While it’s clear that Arsenal now have the right man for the job at the helm, Arteta has not escaped criticism this season.

The Gunners are nine points behind Liverpool heading into the new year, something the squad haven’t experienced for some time having battled City closely in the previous two campaigns.

What’s easy to forget is just how much work Arteta had to do to get Arsenal in the right place, as the boss suggested when describing his early days in N5.

Emery is now thriving at Aston Villa however, the Spaniard left the Emirates as a villain, as his squad plummeted during the 2019/20 campaign. 

That being said, the former manager’s numbers run rather close to Arteta’s averaging a narrowly lower points per match average at Arsenal.

There has been great change in north London but, there’s still a long way to go, and that is thanks to the new level of standard implemented by Arteta.