If there is one thing Mikel Arteta has frequently done during his time at Arsenal, it is prove the club’s supporters wrong.
Here are the top ten decisions he has made – some that were originally scrutinised by the vast majority of the fanbase – since being named Arsenal boss in November 2019. Perhaps the (somewhat) controversial signing of Jorginho will break into this list…
10) Extending Eddie Nketiah’s contract
Many doubted whether Eddie Nketiah was good enough to lead the line for Arsenal; in a short space of time he has proven us all wrong. Gabriel Jesus is currently out injured and knows he has a big job on his hands to reclaim a starting spot when he is fully fit. Now that’s what we call a lovely headache.
Last season, Nketiah’s minutes were limited by Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang being ahead of him in the pecking order. Arteta admitted that it wasn’t fair on the English striker but often publicly stated his desire for the player to extend his contract, which was set to expire at the end of 2021/22.
A lot of Arsenal fans did not understand why Arteta was so eager for Nketiah to stay at Arsenal. A solid run of form towards the end of last term showed why, but many supporters were still not convinced. Arteta knew best, however, and managed to convince the 23-year-old to pen a five-year contract. Arsenal fans have seamlessly gone from believing Nketiah was not good enough to start for any other Premier League team to thinking they have one of the best second-choice strikers in the league.
9) Moving Benjamin White to right-back
A lot of Arsenal’s success this term has been down to the perfect balance of Arteta’s strongest XI. Benjamin White was signed as a £50million central defender and played there last season but has been shifted over to right-back following William Saliba’s return.
White has been very solid in his new position, which has come almost naturally after playing as a right-sided centre-half in Brighton’s back five. He almost plays the exact same position in this Arsenal team. While he sits a little deeper than your usual right-back, Oleksandr Zinchenko on the other side slots in as another central midfielder. White’s football IQ, discipline, positioning and ability on the ball has made him an indispensable member of this squad, and someone who does not need upgraded, Mr. Ford…
8) Signing Aaron Ramsdale and Benjamin White
Sticking with White, the window he joined Arsenal was a…
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