Reckon we need to introduce a few other questions into the mix here.
If we go by results alone, we're doing about as well as our squad and preparation for this season could lead anyone to expect. It's become slightly weird to talk about it, because no one really thinks we should be outperforming the three strongest clubs, but also we can now see fourth place and Champions League qualification are pragmatic objectives. It leads to the quizzical situation where no one would say we should do better than fourth, but also some would say Arteta should be sacked even if we get fourth.
Going by football alone, the team football is underwhelming and we are not a creative or tactically acute side. Our approach under Arteta is rigid and hasn't adapted in matches against stronger or notably well-prepared opposition. There are big questions around our use of the squad and a few players who seem gratuitously unwanted or underused. However, a lot of our first XI are flourishing as individuals and are genuinely exciting to watch week by week, and we've got a problem developing up front that's not fully down to Arteta.
I can imagine Emery taking this squad earlier in the year and producing better results than we're seeing, but the trouble with Emery is that it's been repeatedly demonstrated he's a dodgy communicator who doesn't bring a club together over time.
When Arteta was appointed, there were reasons to feel positive. He'd been a notably intelligent player under Wenger, and had been Guardiola's assistant during successes at City. In appointing him, Arsenal seemed to have reflected on the difficulties with Emery and made the call to try to start a "dynasty" instead of simply installing a successful manager. They backed Arteta and Edu heavily, are changing the approach to recruitment, there's the hokey Arsenalisation behind the scenes, the choice of a young manager familiar with the club and league.
One question is: is this the right approach or is it too long-winded and slow-paced? I think it's a good call. One way or another it's the approach being taken by the successful clubs in the Premier League. City, Liverpool and Chelsea all have some variation (with qualifications) of stable management, patience and investment.
But I don't think Arteta is crucial to this broader project. Any replacement should be aligned with it, focused on unity behind the scenes, building trust with the (young) players, making them feel like their own interests align with the club's.
It feels like the club's doing a decent job on that front. There's a bit of joie de vivre in the squad, good new personalities, the cliques seem to have dissolved, the messaging is sound. For me, Arteta now needs to show he can improve quickly as a match day manager. We're away at United in just a few days. We don't know what to expect tactically, with Carrick having just dropped Ronaldo and played three screening mids in front of defence to earn a draw with Chelsea.
Arteta's Arsenal has failed every time I've imagined what a good result would look like lately—we failed to get a grip on Vieira's Palace, we failed to hold our nerve at Anfield. Old Trafford's another match so let's see what he can do. Way I see it if he doesn't show us some big steps forward with his approach to match days over the winter, we should be shopping for a replacement.
