I get what he means to a degree. The Ozil & Sanchez years were disappointing because they’re coloured by hindsight. They didn’t amount to anything. But at the time, it felt exciting, it felt like progress. Who’s to say in three, four, five years we’re not looking back at 2023 as another false dawn.
I can just about understand that viewpoint. But don’t agree with it. Arsenal feel different and one of the major differences I think is we have a modern manager now in Arteta who is tactically astute. I love Arsene, he’s our clubs greatest servant, I grew up under his stewardship and idolised the man. However, I do think little by little the game got away from him. Naivety crept into his set-up and we never really put ourselves in a position to challenge properly.
Arteta, love him or hate him, is a very intelligent manager and a product of the modern tactical approach. I have the utmost confidence Arteta can be adaptable and find ways to navigate superior teams or clever set-ups if necessary. Time will tell whether we'll kick on and properly challenge, or this will be another "almost" ignition.
