As Arsenal rounded off their tour of the USA with a 4-0 hammering of Chelsea, it was impossible to ignore the sense of identity that was apparent in their performance. Under Mikel Arteta the Gunners have established themselves as a side operating in a clearly defined 4-3-3 system that looks set to help them challenge for the top four this season. It hasn't always been like this.
When Edu Gaspar arrived at the club in the summer of 2019 as the club's technical director, he found a team unsure of itself. After ending Arsene Wenger's 22-year reign in North London by bringing in Unai Emery, Arsenal had failed to establish a distinguishable style in his first season.
While missing out on the Champions League places by a point and reaching a Europa League final papered over the cracks, the Gunners failure to discover their new identity came to a nadir the following season as the found themselves eighth in the Premier League by November. It was at this point that Edu decided to embark on a new strategy that has led the club to where they are today.
