At his unveiling as Arsenal manager a few days before Christmas in 2019, Mikel Arteta outlined the full extent of the challenges he faced to revive the club’s fortunes. Struggling in mid-table after a winless run of five league matches that included three successive home draws against Crystal Palace, Wolves and Southampton, Freddie Ljungberg had been placed in temporary charge after Unai Emery’s Arsenal tenure had ended the previous month.
“It wasn’t only the performance. It was the atmosphere and energy that I perceived when I was working around the place,” Arteta said of the mood inside the Emirates during Arsenal’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City a few days earlier, on 15 December, when he was in the opposition dugout as Pep Guardiola’s assistant. “That worried me a little bit. I understand that they are used to success and fighting for things and at the moment it’s difficult for them to swallow the situation. So let me help.” Approaching five years and two new contracts later, Arteta has not only restored the balance of power in north London after finishing behind Tottenham in each of his first three seasons, the past two campaigns have also seen his young side give City a run for their money in the title race, as Arsenal attempt to finally emerge from the shadows of Arsène Wenger’s Invincibles and rekindle supporters’ dreams.
