“Same old mistakes. Same old Arsenal.” If I had a penny for every time I’d heard this sentiment from a despairing Arsenal fan in the last decade, I’d never have to worry about ticket prices at the Emirates ever again! While we can all sympathise with this frustration, perhaps, for the first time in a long time, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Of course, problems on-and-off the pitch still remain, but here are some reasons why the overriding feeling surrounding the club should be one of hope.

All roads lead to Arteta
To begin with, it must be acknowledged how well new manager Mikel Arteta has done to change the atmosphere around the club. The circumstances in which the inexperienced Arteta was handed the reigns were fraught, and yet he has excelled. He has uplifted the players and fans alike with a positive attitude alongside an exciting, attacking brand of football. As the understudy of Guardiola, he seems to have inherited Pep’s drive, eloquence and vision. Arsenal fans have looked on jealously at Manchester City as they have played teams off the park in a style akin to that of the great Invincibles team of which we are all so fond. However, we are starting to see the first glimpses of such a style at Arsenal, with the team playing a high-pressing, high-tempo game with some inspired forward play. Whilst the team has struggled with the physical demands of adopting this approach for an entire 90 minutes, the initial signs remain promising, and the players will only get fitter as they continue to adapt.

Arteta was lauded for the affect he had on young players at City, particularly his role in the dramatic rise of Raheem Sterling to stardom. Arteta is clearly carrying this work forward at Arsenal, with promising youngsters such as Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Reiss Nelson all playing and thriving under his tutelage. Nelson has been particularly glowing in his praise for Arteta: “Now is a great time to have him as a manager… He’s going to give me the encouragement when I need it, and if I am not doing the right stuff he is going to tell me. I have all my belief in Mikel and I think he is going to make me into a top player.” The great effect that academy products have had on the first team at Tottenham has long been a source of pain for all of us. However, the young talent at Arsenal, guided artfully by Arteta, could have an equally significant impact on changing the fortunes of our own first XI.

The Promise of Youth
It is the first time in a long while that Arsenal have had so many promising youngsters breaking into the first team. Youthful midfielder Joe Willock has impressed, especially with his belting goal against Liverpool in a thrilling cup tie. Reiss Nelson has also shown flashes of his outlandish talent, and Bukayo Saka, despite largely playing out of position, has made himself virtually undroppable with his performances at left back. Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira, Eddie Nketiah and Ainsley Maitland-Niles have also all shown promise when given opportunities, but there is one Arsenal youngster who soars high above the rest: Gabriel Martinelli. Martinelli has the kind of mercurial talent which draws so many of us to football in the first place. When the ball is at his feet, there is a collective intake of breath as the crowd prepares for the following fireworks. Almost inevitably, he beats the first man with an ease that strikes fear through the opposition team and breathes confidence through his own. There is simply no answer to raw ability like Martinelli’s (ask the entire Chelsea team); there are no defensive mistakes being made, just a player who has too much skill to be contained by any defensive setup. However, he has not only impressed his teammates with his contribution on the pitch, but also his attitude in training. David Luiz has spoken about Martinelli’s refusal to get carried away and his willingness to keep on learning from those around him, a humility that will only serve him and Arsenal well in the future. With such a fantastic player spearheading this promising young group, the future looks bright for Arsenal, especially when one considers who is guiding them.

A Board Member Who Cares
Ever since the departure of David Dein, it’s fair to say there have not been many members of the Board who the supporters have looked up to with fondness. In fact, in recent years, the board members have only been a source of anguish and mistrust for the fans due to a perceived lack of transparency and honesty. Those who love the club feel it is being destroyed by a lack of ambition and an unwillingness to spend the club’s riches on players who will help bring success on the field. Until recently, this situation showed no signs of improvement; and then former player Edu was appointed Technical Director. Finally, the fans can feel that there is someone in the hierarchy who understands what the club stands for and to whom they can relate. Edu has made his love for the club evident along with his desire to see them return to their glory days: “Arsenal has always had a special place in my heart and I’m thrilled to be returning to this great club in this new role. We have a strong squad and some very talented young players with fantastic people at every level. I’m looking forward to helping make a difference”. Whilst there has to be more than words, where they are coming from gives them a greater value than previous similar statements from the mistrusted and deceptive Kroenke’s.

Final Words
In short, though far from the finished article on the pitch, Arsenal as a club may finally be heading in the right direction. A young, ambitious and talented manager has been recruited, who very much fits the club’s mould regarding his character, style of play and the opportunity he will hand to youngsters. He has rejuvenated the fans and will undoubtedly get the best out of the crop of youthful talent that the club boasts. Perhaps, though, the most significant change of all is the appointment of Edu, who might just heal the wounds that have been eating away at the club for what seems like an eternity. Let us see what the future holds.

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