Mikel Arteta was asked this summer what his long -term plans are for Arsenal. “There is not long,” he replied. “It's short, it's now.”
As long as the Spaniard had considered his term of office as a long -term design. 'Trust the process' became the slogan around Arsenal – especially in the more difficult times. “This project will pop,” said Arteta in early 2021.
Even last season, Arteta admitted that they were in phase four of his five-phase plan to create a dynasty in the North London club. Process, project, plan – the final goal was always a little further away from the sight.
Not anymore. Rival fans look forward to their shortcomings, Arsenal -fans no longer apologize and, as above, even Arteta now recognizes one simple thing: the Gunners are now in the endgame when it comes to this era. This season can determine how this Arsenal team is remembered.
“They have to take trophies with them,” said Gary Neville in May. “There is no hiding place.” And with Arteta's Arsenal compared to Maurico Pochettin's Spurs of Gareth Southgate's England – both eras entertaining but trophy – there is no more margin for a lack of silverwork.
Arsenal has spent three years as one of the two best teams in the country, but has nothing to show. It has provoked an aggressive transfer window that the club has not seen in modern times. They even started signing a striker.
Under new sports director Andrea Berta, Arsenal made six summer signs in general before the end of their pre-season tour through Asia. Since the Gunners started regularly every year, selection camps for the season – which started in 2010 – are the most signing sessions they have ever done for the end of their travels.
The only times that Arsenal made more than three signing sessions before the end of a Tour, three years ago – when they pushed herself from Top -four to title candidates – and the summer after the departure of Arsene Wenger, who needed a rebuilding.
It could be said that Arsenal is more prepared than ever before for a new season. That Berta delivered the mentality 'Win Now' that many thought he would bring. And if those arguments are fair, it means that the apologies are now minimal for Arsenal. If not, then does not exist.
Arsenal has solved a depth problem that has plagued them in recent seasons, including the last. Bukayo Saka was an irreplaceable cog on the right wing, but when he picked up an injury of almost four months last season, the Gunners was the most successful deputy in that position the then-17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri.
The teenager was also the only Like-for-like backup to Martin Odegaard when the Arsenalketin hit an injury of six weeks last September.
“Let's really be, last year we hardly had any in-depth depth in all areas,” said Declan Rice during the pre-season Tour of Arsenal.
“We played half of the season, almost, with so many injuries, so to be able to rotate and push in different games with different players will be really good. That is the key for us.”
But apart from a new injury crisis, a Saka opposite for Arsenal would now allow Noni Madueke to enter the right side. The Back -up of Odegaard is still Nwaneri – on paper – but a more experienced Nwaneri after last season's rise in the first team.
The arrival of Viktor Gyokers also means that Kai Havertz can also fall into the attacks of midfield without losing an important gear in advance, while Mikel Merino and Declan Rice are exposed to more attacking roles last season that Odegaard has more coverage – regardless of whether a movement for Crystal's Eberechi Eze is completed.
“Now we are also going to have the capacity to decide who is in the best to play this game, hopefully,” Arteta added to Arsenal's Asia Tour. “Because last year? No.
“Last year was the Line -up:” Give me five players who can end up for 90 minutes. ” Those five? [less] And then … 'and we played so seven months.
“We have to get away from that, because those limitations have limited our capacity to perform and then have the freshness that we need at the end of the season.
“Hopefully this season will be very different, and we can decide what the best team is with the best players to play against this opponent. And if we want to change the game or the team – whatever the context is, win, draw or lose – we can change it immediately and those players who can influence the result.”
Liverpool has perhaps stolen all the heads of the transfer star with one of the greatest prime minister League speaking all time, Arsenal has had an unprecedented summer itself.
Not only have they done more signing sessions than ever before, but they also tackled what Arteta and the wider football community wanted them. The Arsenal manager wanted to fill that figures a “short” team.
“The manager must arm with a few really good attackers,” said Neville. “If he gets that, they have a real chance.” In Come Gyokees and Madueke. “They need a high quality someone to go in that midfield area,” he added. Zubimendi looks a talent in that role.
Arsenal has answered many cries this summer. The only question is whether a summer can bring a season like no other like none of the last 20 years.