Mikel Arteta’s ‘vision’ and behind-the-scenes change at Arsenal revealed as club target Premier League title

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is doing everything he can to give the Gunners the upper hand on Manchester City.

It’s been an eventful few years for Arteta and Arsenal, as the Spaniard continues to put his stamp on his squad at the Emirates.

From consecutive eighth-place finishes to consistently challenging for the Premier League title, the manager’s project in North London is finally coming to life.

Arsenal missed out narrowly to Manchester City in both the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, with all efforts being put into the Gunners finally usurping Pep Guardiola’s machine.

Mikel Arteta’s key change behind the scenes at Arsenal

Everybody can see the change that Arteta has implemented on the pitch at Arsenal, with the Gunners elevating their tactical approach to see them evolve into title challengers.

Despite maintaining the best defensive record in the Premier League over 2023/24, it wasn’t enough to get the better of City, who won the title by two points in May.

The gap is drawing closer, however, with Arsenal showing no sign of slowing their progression, with methods to improve happening on and off the pitch.

In an interview with The Athletic, Kevin Balvers, Arsenal’s former head of methodology, explained the lengths that Arteta is going to to encourage his team.

“It wasn’t only his [Arteta’s] ideas on the pitch, it was the re-culturing of the training ground and the club in every way.

“If he said the painting in the toilet in the stadium has to be changed, it was because he had a vision. It is a stupid example, but I helped him a lot with these sorts of things.

“At the training ground, all the walls were white but Mikel wanted them to create a culture. I designed with him some words and pictures to go up on the walls.”

The attention to detail in aspects away from performing on the pitch seems to be making a difference within the squad, as Arsenal appear to be more unified than ever under the Spaniard’s guidance.

Arsenal building in unity is inspiring Premier League title charge

There is more to a great team than success in fixtures, with unity and mutual respect within the squad imperative.

Every memorable team in world football embodies such necessity, with Arsenal today following the trend after several years of stagnancy.

Arteta putting his stamp around the training ground to accommodate his players speaks volumes, with Arsenal’s identity and culture evident on the pitch by those in the squad who seem to understand what it means to represent the club.

A squad that shares the same beliefs and aspirations is one destined to succeed, giving the Gunners to foundations to disrupt City’s hopes of winning five in a row.