Mikel Arteta says that the similarities in ages between many of the first team squad are helping them during a period when the team is coming together.
The Gunners brought in six players during the transfer window, all of whom were between 21 and 23 years of age. In Friday’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa, five of them started, with the other coming on as a sub, and there’s expected to be more during Tuesday evening’s Carabao Cup game against Leeds.
Speaking ahead of that game, the Arsenal boss was asked about the age profile of his squad, and said, “The group age is a little bit closer so they are experiencing most of the same things and they talk a lot about it.
“Then we have the senior players that they have to lead and they have to take that role, and they are doing that in a different way. Leading is not telling someone what he needs to do, for me it is being able to transform that person and not just with words, but with facts as well.
“There are players now that on that pitch that they are able to transmit something and change certain behaviours and attitudes in other players. That is contagious, and for me that is leadership.
“It’s incredible that we are the youngest team in this league and many of the experiences they are going through, they have never experienced before. So the more positive they are, the more confidence that will build.
“When a player is more confident, he fulfils his potential much quicker and much better and it only generates a better atmosphere. Sometimes when you are in a good mood, you make better decisions.”
Arteta was also pleased about the relationship being built between the team and the fans in the stadium, after a long period during which they were absent.
“I was extremely pleased with that,” he said. “Because I can now see that our supporters are starting to identify with what the team projects and that is very pleasing because at the end of the day we play for them, and you have to find the right purpose to do so.
“I think the players felt that connection behind them,when scoring a goal, it was right from the beginning and right to the end and if we can generate that every single time we play at the Emirates, it’s very powerful for us and very difficult for the opponent.”
Let’s hope we can keep things going tomorrow, with some rotation expected – including a start for Gabriel Martinelli.
Gabi deserves it so much, hope his mind is not in a wrong place given the few oportunities he has had this season (not saying Arteta is wrong btw, only that it can be very frustrating for a young player to be doomed the next Ronaldo Nazario and then stop getting minutes)
There’s a lot of togetherness in this team, which is lovely to see. With the supporters on board now this is turning into something that could be very good indeed.
Imagine if such a young side finished in the top 6 spots this season, what would that tell us about their ceiling?
And it’s not like we won’t be adding a quality established player to the base that is now in place here and there to kick things up a notch too… makes for quite an enticing picture.
Good points but interesting and rather troubling to see that one person disagrees with you, maybe they prefer a fractious, dysfunctional team, a team that’s in disarray. Very odd…
That one down-voter probably just roots for a team that gets battered everywhere they go.
Hahahaha… spurs fans on the prowl 😆
What goes up, comes down
What came down, goes up
That’s all we need to know about the life, universe and everything…
Take Man U and Liverpool for the example
Lokonga, Tomayasu, and Tavares were very shrewd purchases that are doing really well, along with the big ticket acquisitions White, Ramsdale, and Odegaard. Our dynamic Scotsman is getting a breather and we aren’t losing by it. If we can bring Saliba in (assuming he wants to play for AFC now), we’ll be quite solid in defense. The creative offiensive players will only reach a better mutual understanding with time. Optimism is warranted.
Who does Saliba displace? Benjamin white? By the time he’s back with us we might not want to disrupt the cb partnership and he might not want to be on the bench
If we get into any European competition, even the Conference League, it means much more games and minutes, as well as maybe a few more injuries… there’ll be more than enough space there for Saliba to be playing and making a case for himself.
Hopefully we’re back in Europe by then and there’ll be enough games to go round.
I feel like 4th place is up for grabs this season. I’m not sure we’re good enough to get into it, but at the moment there isn’t a team cementing that place. The top 3 are head and shoulders above the rest, that’s clear. Let’s see, if we’re in the mix by Christmas. Not being in Europe could work in our favour, also. Here’s hoping.