Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace: Mikel Arteta has rebuilt club in five years but needs to take final step
Arteta certainly has the backing of his Arsenal project. His motto of “trust the process” is followed by many.
According to the figures, the Gunners have spent a net £500.14m since his arrival. Football transfers., external Manchester City’s revenue during the same period was only £59.75 million, thanks to the sale of a large number of young players.
It also makes the net spend of £235.4m five years ago seem paltry.
This has allowed him to build a younger, more harmonious squad from the players he inherited – including recent big investments in the likes of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz.
The Athletic’s Rory Smith told BBC Sport: “It’s been seven years since Wenger left and taking over straight away is difficult, but it’s been a pretty steep trajectory since Mikel Arteta took over in 2019.
“They are back where they have been since 2004, regularly qualifying for the Champions League, constantly challenging for the title and becoming one of England’s undisputed elite.
“Things have probably slowed down a bit in the last year or two. That’s probably because the last hurdle was the hardest, but he’s turned a club that had declined significantly and gotten them back to where they were.”
“Arsenal’s transition period after Wenger was not as long as Manchester United’s.”
When asked last month about 250 games in charge of Arsenal, Arteta was clear about what he considered his greatest achievement.
“Bringing the club together 100 per cent,” he said. “It lifts the spirits and gives the football club a very clear DNA and pride. Represents this shirt in the way expected at this level, from the players to everyone at the club.”
He also knows what challenges lie ahead.
“It’s about winning now and that’s definitely the next step.”
