Mikel Arteta made it clear that his Arsenal overhaul would need to be “ruthless” if he was to truly change the culture at the Emirates Stadium.
While his first season in charge ended with optimism, the 2020/21 campaign raised serious questions about the direction under his leadership.
Speaking after missing out on European football for the first time in a generation, Arteta was clear on how the Gunners would need to progress.
"I think a project has its phases and I am telling you we are in a much better position today to be where we want to be very soon, if we do what we have to do. But we have to be ruthless,” he said in May 2021.
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“We cannot be crying and stuck on what we don’t have. We have to see what we do have and maximise it to get what we want.”
During the summer, the Arsenal squad had a major facelift, with six players arriving at the tune of almost £150million.
And the results have been almost immediate. Back in the race for a Champions League finish and 90 minutes away from a Wembley final in the Carabao Cup.
However, the extent of the changes in north London have of course, meant there have been casualties to a squad with an unerring desire to progress.
Pablo Mari looks set to be the latest to be allowed Arsenal, with the Spanish central defender closing in on a loan move to Serie A side Udinese.
His departure marks a dramatic fall from grace for a player just 12 months ago described as a “leader” in the Gunners dressing room.
Mari had struggled with injuries but was thrown into the starting line-up for the Boxing Day victory over Chelsea at the end of 2020, a result which helped kickstart the second phase of Arteta’s tenure.
In a defence which is barely recognisable to the one starting games now, Mari was tasked with guiding the back five, both in terms of communication and stability.
In the win over Chelsea, Mari played alongside Rob Holding in the middle of the defence, in front of ousted keeper Bernd Leno, with Hector Bellerin on the right and Kieran Tierney the last man standing on the left.
“He is a leader. He is someone who trains really hard, he is really professional,” Arteta explained after a four-match winning run. “He is a great communicator on the pitch and he gives you some security, some stability.”
A year on, and Arsenal’s defence is infinitely more stable with Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu all making their stamp.
Once a defence bereft of on-field leadership, Arsenal need look no further than their keeper for a reassuring voice of support.
Whilst there is still work to be done in attacking areas, with Pierre-Emerick Aubemayng, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah all facing uncertain futures - at the back, Arteta’s ‘ruthless’ overhaul is nearing completion.
