Mikel Arteta is the manager who is an advocate of bigger squads. On matchdays, anyway, with the Spaniard rationalising that he does not like telling Arsenal’s 21st, 22nd and 23rd men that they will not be involved. But, given his emphasis on strength in depth, perhaps it was understandable that Arteta attributed Arsenal’s 1-0 triumph at Aston Villa to everyone. “It was a squad victory,” he said, when invited to praise Bukayo Saka, scorer of the only goal.
Arsenal’s belief in the power of the collective may cost individuals: as Bruno Fernandes scooped the personal prizes last year, there was the thought that maybe it would have been different had Arsenal’s first Premier League title in 22 seasons been credited solely to one player.
