Mikel Arteta arrived from Manchester City with the expectation of taking the Pep Guardiola philosophy and bringing it to Arsenal.
However, it quickly became apparent that Arsenal’s radical differences with his former side would spark a much longer process than perhaps the young coach expected. Mikel Arteta shifted from signing players such as Willian and Thomas Partey, designed to give immediate success, to six signings of 23 years and younger.
Players signed for both the short and long-term. Among those, Martin Odegaard was acquired from Real Madrid after impressing the Arsenal boss during his six-month loan spell and has simply become the team's most important player.
Much of what Odegaard has brought to Arsenal has seen a significant increase in chance creation and subsequently more goals. The Norwegian has flourished in the hybrid eight-ten role that Mikel Arteta has created in a newly structured 4-3-3.
This is a much closer system to the formation used by Guardiola at Manchester City however the personnel available to Arteta means there are some differences and possibly looking to his former side could help unlock an even greater level from Odegaard.
Kevin De Bruyne is the talismanic figure in the City midfield. Anchored by the ever-present Rodri, Guardiola often chooses to partner the Belgian with one of two types of a central midfielder.
Bernardo Silva allows City to be more direct and offensive whereas Ilkay Gundogan provides more control to the middle.
At present, Granit Xhaka has occupied this position for Odegaard to partner with. However, perhaps Mikel Arteta should look at acquiring a central midfielder with more attacking potential.
Emile Smith-Rowe has partnered with Odegaard, however, as shown in the 0-0 draw with Burnley, this combination of players has not yet worked. The current Arsenal top scorer is proving better in the wide left role.
Sambi Lokonga brought in from Anderlecht is yet to be used in the left centre midfield position but could offer more offensive than Xhaka. Similar maybe to what Gundogan provides City despite there being clear differences in their characteristics too.
It is likely that the answer lies in the summer transfer window. The focus has been on players such as Fabian Ruiz or Ruben Neves. Players who would look to improve on the traits already possessed by Xhaka.
However, maybe Arteta would be better to pursue a more creative and offensive-minded player to give Arsenal that much more attacking potential and even allow Odegaard to level up his own game.
The focus will very much be on recruitment for the replacement striker position. But supporters should not lose sight of the work that needs to be done to improve the midfield and allow Odegaard to develop even more beyond the enabler role he’s often been put into.
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