When Mikel Arteta returned to Arsenal in December 2019, it wasn’t to applause or anticipation – it was to scepticism. A former captain, and embarking into his first management position, Arteta was joining a fractured club. Arsenal, once synonymous with tradition and class, had become a shadow of its former self. They were tactically lost, mentally fragile, and culturally adrift.
The Emirates felt like a stadium without a soul. The team was drifting, performances were erratic, and the connection between fans, players, and the club’s hierarchy had all but eroded. Arteta didn’t promise instant results. What he offered was something more ambitious – something rare in modern football: a long-term vision.
He spoke cryptically of a process, of “phases”, though he never revealed exactly what they were. These phases began to take shape through his decisions. A focus on culture, movement in the transfer market, non-negotiable standards, and the identity he tried to forge, it became clear that Arteta wasn’t simply trying to stabilise a broken squad – he was rebuilding the very DNA of the club.
Phases 1 & 2: Stabilisation and cultural reset – fixing the foundations
Phase 1: Stabilisation
When Arteta took the reins midway through the 2019/20 season, he inherited an unbalanced, vulnerable squad that lacked structure and confidence. His first priority wasn’t attacking free-flowing football – it was survival. Languishing down in 10th place in the Premier League, he made immediate tactical adjustments, most notably switching to a back-three system to offer greater defensive protection. It wasn’t pretty, but it was practical.
The emphasis was on shape, discipline, and effort – basic principles Arsenal had drifted away from. Defensive work-rate and structure took precedence over style, and while performances were often conservative, they brought some stability.
Then came the turning point.
An F.A Cup trophy within the first eight months of his tenure – with victories over Manchester City and Chelsea on the way to glory. It was far from vintage Arsenal, but it laid the foundations and showed glimpses of Arteta’s ability to organise a team to win in big games.
More importantly, it gave supporters something to believe in again. In a short time, Arteta had started to introduce his identity and instilled a sense of direction.
Phase 2: Cultural reset
If the first phase was about stabilising the team on the pitch, the second was about rebuilding the culture off it.
A reshape of the first team was about to take place. Arteta drew a hard line with players who didn’t meet his standards on and off the pitch – Mesut Özil, Shkodran Mustafi, Mattéo Guendouzi, and eventually even club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were all shown the door. His “non-negotiables” professionalism, unity, and relentless work ethic – became central pillars of the rebuild.
He leaned on young players who embodied those values. Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe, and Gabriel Martinelli became not just first-team regulars, but figureheads for a new look Arsenal.
Results remained mixed – Arsenal finished the season in 8th position – but more change was underway. The rot, both cultural and tactical, was slowly being stopped.
Phase 3: Tactical identity & squad rebuild
With the foundations reset, Arteta turned his attention to identity. Phase three was about more than just results – it was about creating a clear, sustainable way of playing. Arteta’s vision for this phase was influenced heavily from his time studying under Pep Guardiola. Tactical control, high pressing, and technical dominance were all key at taking the club into the next phase.
This transformation required a squad overhaul. Recruitment became imperative – not just on ability, but intelligence, versatility, and mentality. Between 2021 and 2023 Arsenal brought in key signings who would form the new core of the club.
Martin Ødegaard was one of these acquisitions that brought with him a high level of leadership that Arsenal had lacked on the pitch up until this point. Others, such as Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu were valued due to their tactical flexibility, while Aaron Ramsdale’s abilities signalled a clear change in how Arteta wanted to build play from the back. But two singings propelled the squad to the next level – Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko. Their technical ability, positional fluidity, and winning experience elevated the team’s tempo and ceiling.
On the pitch Arsenal developed into a fluid, front-footed side. The 4-3-3 formation utilised would often transform into a 3-2-5 in possession. Ødegaard became the team’s orchestrator, supported by inverted full-backs, and flanked by dynamic wingers. They started to play with a level of control and confidence not seen before under Arteta’s leadership.
The 2022/23 season was the clearest sign of progress yet. Arsenal led the Premier League for most of the campaign, playing some of the most progressive football in Europe. But a late season collapse – triggered by injuries to William Saliba and Tomiyasu – exposed their lack of depth and experience.
Despite this setback, Arsenal still finished the season in 2nd place to Manchester City. Arsenal had re-established an identity and a squad aligned with it. The belief that they belonged at the top again was back.
Phase 4: Sustained title contention & European credibility
By the start of the 2023/24 season, Arsenal were no longer striving to prove themselves – they were firmly among the elite. The previous seasons title challenge had proven they could compete and now came the task of sustaining that.
Arteta and Edu shifted the club’s recruitment focus away from potential and instead chose to focus on players that were ready to excel in the league now. Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Jurriën Timber arrived – players with big game experience to complement their ability. Rice, in particular, transformed Arsenal’s midfield, bringing physicality, leadership, and elite ball-winning ability.
The result was a more refined Arsenal. They maintained the 4-3-3/3-2-5 structure but added new tactical elements to their game with an even greater emphasis placed on control. Set-pieces became a key weapon for Arsenal with the growing influence of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover. In fact, that season saw Arsenal score a league record 16 goals from corner routines.
In Europe, Arsenal returned to the Champions League and made a strong run to the quarter-finals, eventually faltering to Bayern Munich. Domestically, they pushed Manchester City all the way and again finished 2nd – this time just a single point away from their record points total set by the Invincibles.
But cracks still showed in key moments. An inability to kill games off cost them against Bayern, and a late season loss to Aston Villa at home dented their title hopes. These weren’t structural flaws, they were mentality issues resulting in a lack of game management and succeeding in high pressure moments.
Yet the progress was undeniable. Arsenal had proved they were no one-season wonder. The squad was a cohesive unit, matured from the failures of the previous few seasons, and fully aligned with Arteta’s philosophy. What remained was the hardest part: turning consistency into silverware.
Where Arsenal stand now: Phase 4.5 – the final hurdle
Arsenal are no longer rebuilding – they’re refining. Arteta has total commitment from his squad who now operate with tactical fluency and emotional maturity.
Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, and Gabriel form a spine that is both youthful and experienced – capable of dominating games even against the best sides in the world. The adaptation phase is over with players now understanding their roles instinctively.
Arteta himself has also evolved. Once reactive and rigid, he’s become more pragmatic in big moments. This is evident in Arsenal’s much improved record against the traditional “Big 6” teams in the Premier League – a record that now stretches to 21 games unbeaten in the league all the way back to April 2023.
But despite all the progress, a Premier League trophy still eludes them.
Everything is in place to take those next steps and make it to the final phase of Mikel Arteta’s plan. The team is on the cusp of greatness – only a few minor alterations are needed.
Phase 5: Becoming serial winners
The final step in Mikel Arteta’s vision – one in which a legacy could be made.
For Arsenal, this phase is no longer about competing or proving they belong among Europe’s elite. It’s about winning – regularly. The foundations are set. The culture has been transformed. Now, trophies must follow.
Smart recruitment this summer could be the final lever. With a deal for Victor Gyökeres practically agreed, the clinical striker could give Arsenal the cutting edge they’ve lacked in key matches. His ability to convert half chances in high pressure moments could prove decisive. Further additions in Martín Zubimendi, Christian Nørgaard, Noni Madueke, and Cristhian Mosquera offer a vast amount of experience and squad rotation options.
An additional creative spark could be the final piece of the puzzle for Arteta. With some noise around Arsenal’s rumoured interest in Eberechi Eze, a player of his ilk could prove to be transformative through the middle or out on the left. Offering creativity and unpredictability, especially against mid and low blocks, this is an area Arsenal continue to struggle with and one they must address soon.
The mentality must evolve too. Too many draws, too many games not killed off. Champions have that ability to see off opponents even on underperforming days. Arsenal need that edge.
Phase five isn’t about building anymore. It’s about winning.
The process meets its moment
Mikel Arteta’s five phase rebuild has been one of ambition and patience. “Trust the process” was the mantra everyone involved with the club bought into, and it has so far paid off getting Arsenal to a position where they are able to challenge consistently.
What began with stabilisation and cultural reform evolved into a found identity, full belief, and sustained contention. Arsenal now boast one of Europe’s more complete squads – built around a clear philosophy driven by Arteta.
But football doesn’t remember the nearly men.
Everything will be in place for the upcoming season. Issues of previous seasons will have been addressed. Arsenal will now have a clinical striker, a rejuvenated midfield, and a squad with an abundance of quality in depth.
For the first time in two decades, Arsenal stand at the threshold of greatness. The question is no longer if they can win.
It’s when.