Arteta's Arsenal Evolution Sets Up A Big 2026 

The Evolution of Arsenal Under Arteta by Tia Thorne  

When Mikel Arteta first walked back into Arsenal in 2019, I wasn’t sure if he could really fix us. We’d fallen so far from the club we once knew — losing our best players and stuck in a rut of not getting into Champions League football. But five years later, everything feels different. Arteta hasn’t just rebuilt the squad - he’s reset what it means to be Arsenal.

As fans, we used to dream about a title challenge almost in a nostalgic way — remembering the Wenger years and wondering if we’d ever get back there. Now, being in a title race isn’t a dream, it’s the expectation. The 2023-24 season reminded us Arsenal can go toe-to-toe with the best in England, and heading into this one, I no longer hope for top four. I expect us to fight for the Premier League. That shift in mentality says everything about how far we’ve come.

For years, the Champions League meant the same story: a tough draw and a painful Round of 16 exit. It became a curse. But this squad was built to break that. We’re not just back in the competition — we’re back with players who can actually compete with Europe’s elite. This time, there’s genuine belief that we can go deeper and finally leave that old narrative behind.

One of the hardest things about being an Arsenal fan was watching our best players walk away. Cesc Fabregas, Robin Van Persie, Sami Nasri — the list goes on. Too often we lost them at their peak, sometimes on the cheap. Now, it’s different. William Saliba has signed a long-term deal, and all these elite players want to come to Arsenal - that is such a big credit to the gaffer - he has made Arsenal be extremely attractive to join, the hope and belief of becoming legends at this beautiful club and making history all together. Big players aren’t looking for a way out — they’re choosing to stay and be part of this journey. That alone tells me how strong the project is.

Arteta has completely changed the direction of this club. What he’s built isn’t just a team, it’s a culture. Arsenal now feels like one united force again — manager, players, and fans all pulling in the same direction. We are no longer fractured or defined by what we’ve lost. We are together, we are ambitious, and we all want to succeed. That’s the biggest difference of all.

The Boss, I can't thank you enough for making me and I’m sure so many of you fall back in love with this football club. 

Let's make history El Jefe!

Photo credit: @sportthroughalens_

Read Tia Thorne in the current print issue of the Gooner Fanzine here 

This article first appeared in edition 313 of the Gooner Fanzine here