Former Arsenal player Emmanuel Petit has claimed that the team were going nowhere under ex-boss Unai Emery and outlined how things are changing under Mike Arteta.
The North London club’s form has improved under the Spaniard but the club still find themselves in 10th place in the League table, 10-points behind 4th placed Chelsea.
Petit feels that Arteta’s appointment has brought about a positive change in the player’s mentality. Speaking to Paddy Power, he said:
“When Mikel Arteta took over at Arsenal, the team was sick on the pitch and in the dressing room. They were losing shape and blindly going nowhere.
“They were weak. Now, after several weeks of the Arteta regime I’ve seen different things happening in terms of intensity, togetherness and work rate off the ball.
“The mentality is different and some players are getting back to form, like Granit Xhaka. I’m very pleased with how he has played and the mentality he has shown. They haven’t been winning as many games as they’d like but they also haven’t been losing.”
This can be evidenced by the fact that the Gunners are unbeaten in the new year although there have been too many draws. However fans might be happy that the team are not losing as often and the defense has solidified up to a certain extent although there’s still a long way to go.
Their next match is against Newcastle United and they will look to get back to winning ways. The Champions League spots are not yet out of reach but they soon will be if Arsenal don’t start winning
The team is now in Dubai for a training camp and Arteta will be looking to make the squad even more familiar with his tactics. Hopefully the short break will make the players feel refreshed and they will come back raring to go.
Petit also spoke about how the fortunes of the attack and defense has changed. He added:
“The first priority when Arteta took over was to stop the team conceding stupid goals, and he has done that. But in the meantime they’re suffering a bit up front – I think if they keep playing like this that, sooner or later, they’re going to win games.”
Based on what Arsenal have been like under Arteta, there are indications that the team is getting better. Becoming defensively solid would have definitely been a priority for the new man in charge and it is a great sign that he has managed to do that.
If the Gunners are able to finish the season on a strong note, it will bode well for the next season. Having spent some time with the players, fans will be hoping that Arteta can push them to greater heights.
