Arsenal:RebuildingfromtheGroundUp
ThepastfewyearshavebeenatumultuousperiodforArsenal,oneofEngland’smosticonicfootballclubs.Oncethepioneersoffree-flowing,attackingfootball,Arsenalhadfallenonhardtimes.However,itseemsthatthefamedclubisrebuildingfromthegroundup,withrenewedenthusiasmandamanagementteamdeterminedtoputArsenalbackwhereitbelongs-atthetopofEnglishfootball.
ChangeattheTop
Afteratenurethatlastedovertwodecades,legendaryArsenalmanagerArseneWengerbidfarewelltotheclubin2018.WhileWengerhadpresidedoversomeofArsenal’smostsuccessfulyears,theclubhadstagnatedinrecentyears,andafreshstartwasdesperatelyneeded.Theclub’shierarchyturnedtoformerSevillaandPSGcoachUnaiEmerytotakethereins,hopingthatfreshideasandadifferentapproachwouldbringArsenalbacktoglory.AlthoughEmery’stenurewasfairlyshort-livedandhisresultsweremixed,itsignifiedachangeindirectionthatArsenaldesperatelyneeded.
RevampingtheSquad
Arsenal’ssquadhadbeenaccusedofbeingstaleandlackingthedepthandqualityneededtochallengefortophonours.Theclubmanagementthereforedecidedtoembarkonarebuildingprocess,replacingunder-performingplayerswithyounger,hungriertalent.TheacquisitionofMatteoGuendoziandLucasTorreirainmidfieldexemplifiedthis-bothyoungandfullofenergy,theyaddedbiteandcreativitytoArsenal’smidfield.ThepurchaseofexcitingyoungwingerNicolasPepefurtherhighlightedArsenal’sintent,withtheIvoriansigningforaclub-recordfee.
ReimaginingArsenal’sStyle
Arsenalhadlongbeenknownfortheirpossession-oriented,attackingbrandoffootball.However,astheirfortunesdeclined,rivalsbegantotakeadvantageoftheirpredictablestyleandunbendingapproach.TheappointmentofMikelArtetaasmanagerinDecember2019heraldedaneweraofArsenalfootball.UnderArteta,Arsenalhavebeentransformedintoapressing,quick-passingteamthatlookstooverwhelmopponentswithpaceandcreativity.Arsenal’srecentdismantlingofManchesterCityinthesemi-finalsoftheFACupshowcasedthisnewstyle,withanemphasisondefensivesolidityunderpinningtheirattackingverve.
Asthe2020/21seasongetsunderway,thereisanairofoptimismaroundtheEmiratesStadium.Arsenalhavetakenproactivestepstoaddresstheproblemsthatledtotheirdecline,andthereseemstobeanewfoundsenseofpurposeandhungerwithinthesquad.Onlytimewilltelliftheoverhaulissuccessful,butfornow,Arsenalfanscandaretodreamofgloryonceagain.
