Years ago, after carefully analyzing the squad, contract terms, player ages, and training plans, Arsenal's leaders predicted the team would have a "golden period" from 2023 to 2027. This was a period when Manchester City and Liverpool might no longer dominate the league.
Everything Arsenal did afterward was built upon that calculation. In the winter of 2020, with the team languishing in the middle of the league table, Mikel Arteta flew to Denver, USA, along with then-non-executive director Tim Lewis, to meet with owner Stan Kroenke. Arteta and Lewis presented a long-term strategy to make Arsenal a top club.
A plan to return to the top and regain original success.
The arrival of technical director Edu in the summer of 2019 led to a radical restructuring of Arsenal's football operations. Many departments within the scouting office were dissolved and replaced by a newly formed football strategy planning unit. This innovative team was tasked with building a detailed picture of the future of English football.
That department had outlined the potential decline of rivals years in advance. Arsenal predicted potential changes in the coaching staff of their competitors, including Jurgen Klopp's departure from Liverpool. They also forecasted the age-related development of players like Salah, Van Dijk, and De Bruyne. These predictions weren't entirely accurate, but they provided the leadership with a framework, allowing Arsenal to build a squad that reached peak performance just as their rivals began to falter.
Finishing second three times in a row between 2023 and 2025 shows they are very close to winning the title, but need more. As Arsenal's chances of winning the title grew closer, the appointment of Andrea Berta as sporting director last March led to a more aggressive effort in the transfer market.
Finally, Arsenal have achieved the plan they had laid out for years. This title is not simply a victory on the pitch. It is the result of a meticulously crafted plan.
The vision that the Arsenal delegation presented to Stan Kroenke was outlined in great detail. Kroenke felt he needed more detailed information about the club's internal workings. To provide that, he turned to Lewis – a trusted lawyer who had advised the American owner throughout the Arsenal acquisition process.
Lewis carried out a radical overhaul of the club. Director of Football Raul Sanllehi left, and with him came a transfer policy that brought in names like Nicolas Pepe, David Luiz, and Cedric Soares.
A series of staff cuts led to the creation of the football strategy planning department. Analyst Jason Ayto took on the role of reshaping this streamlined team, with key contributions from Ben Knapper, Mark Curtis, and later James Ellis.
Arsenal have developed a clear approach to the transfer market: going forward, they will look to sign players aged 23 or under who cost €40 million ($34.6 million/$46.4 million at current exchange rates) or less.
In the summer of 2021, Arsenal signed six players for the first team, most of whom met the aforementioned criteria. Players like Odegaard and Ben White later became key figures in the project.
Arsenal knew that their strategy was unlikely to yield results in the next few years. During that time, they underwent a squad overhaul, parting ways with older but high-paid players like Ozil and Luiz, and terminating contracts with Pepe, Bellerin, and Aubameyang.
The new signings added to the core squad include products of the club's academy such as Bukayo Saka, Martinelli and Smith Rowe. Arsenal deliberately recruited a group of players born a few years apart, who could develop together. This created a squad with strong bonds.
The project showed great promise from the start, with Arsenal returning to European competition and then the Champions League sooner than expected. Regular participation in the Champions League facilitated player recruitment. Arsenal targeted specific types of players including Jurrien Timber, David Raya and the club's record signing, Declan Rice.
How good is Arteta?
The club has built an impressive squad. But to win, they also need an exceptional manager. Arteta's FA Cup victory in the summer of 2020 was early proof of his potential.
He didn't ask for a promotion from "head coach" to "manager." But Arsenal did it to bring the Spaniard into high-level strategic discussions. He had access to crucial business data and metrics.
That's incredibly important: it builds both trust and loyalty. Those qualities will sustain the relationship between the club and the coach during difficult times.
It was during those difficult times that Arsenal's faith in Arteta was further strengthened. After losing their first three games of the 2021-22 season, a documentary camera captured a conversation between Josh Kroenke and Arteta. The co-owner reassured him: "The only people you can trust are the people who are in the room with you right now. Trust me, I trust you."
Arteta is an outstanding coach, with a level of attention to detail that Arsenal have never seen before. This season, that has been particularly evident in his handling of set pieces. One of his assistants, Nicolas Jover, is a set-piece specialist.
Facing Man City, Arteta and Arsenal found a different way to win. They learned elements from Guardiola's model, but focused more on control and solidity. Arsenal's attacking threat from open play wasn't on par with City's, but their effectiveness in set pieces was superior.
Arteta's interest in sports psychology is immense. Arsenal have adjusted the layout of the away dressing room at the Emirates Stadium this season, making it more cramped for opponents.
He worked tirelessly to build the club's culture. When Arteta was first appointed in December 2019, he asked a close friend to spend three months surveying staff in various positions. The question was simple: how would they describe their job at Arsenal? Their responses had one word that stood out: "Toxic."
Since then, he has worked to transform that culture, based on three core values: respect, dedication, and passion. In the final weeks of the season, Arteta regularly organized barbecues at the training ground, providing an opportunity for players and other staff to bond.
Arteta is a demanding coach. He is full of passion and a hunger for victory. His reaction to difficulty is often to train harder and work longer hours. His standards are very high, and some star players have violated his famous "non-negotiable" rules.
Public disputes with stars like Ozil and Aubameyang laid the cultural foundation for Arteta's project. More importantly, the club's senior leadership consistently supported him. This gave Arteta the necessary authority to drive the rebuilding process.
Arteta always avoids giving opponents any advantage before a match. His avoidance of answering questions about injuries has become a trademark. This season, Arsenal players only know the starting lineup a few hours before the game begins. In recent weeks, Arteta has even stopped announcing the lineup early to club staff.
Arteta sought to harness the power of the crowd at the Emirates and transform the home ground into an impenetrable fortress. The club worked closely with fan groups to improve the atmosphere at matches.
Arteta is a central figure in Arsenal's success. The meeting between Arteta and Stan Kroenke in Denver in 2020 sparked subsequent successes. Currently, Arteta has a direct relationship with Josh Kroenke. Kroenke supports Arteta's plans, intervening to help facilitate the signings of Rice, Hincapie, and others. The Spanish manager was reportedly disappointed that Arsenal failed to sign any more players during the 2025 winter transfer window.
Although Arteta agrees with Arsenal's approach, his nature is to always demand more. He is a dynamic and passionate individual, constantly pushing the club to expand its ambitions.
Wenger's predecessor frequently spoke about the importance of "consistency" or "endurance" in motivation. Ambition alone isn't enough; it must be sustained. Arteta is the driving force at Arsenal, the one who fuels and nurtures the project's ambition, with uncompromising standards that help everyone perform better.
Arsenal's 2024-2025 season was ravaged by injuries, and their primary objective was to strengthen squad depth. Arsenal opted to allocate resources across multiple positions, aiming for a more complete team rather than one centered around big-name stars. Ultimately, they signed a total of eight players during that transfer window. The efforts Arsenal made last summer helped them maintain their form throughout the season. By mid-March, they were still competing in four competitions.
Arteta has shown evolution throughout the season. He's made big decisions, such as using Myles Lewis-Skelly in central midfield in the final weeks of the season. Arteta has also trusted young players at crucial moments, using 16-year-old Max Dowman 12 times throughout the season. Dowman's spectacular goal against Everton in March gave Arsenal a 10-point lead.
Working tirelessly ensures lasting success.
Arsenal will receive the trophy at Selhurst Park on Sunday – a day it rightfully belongs to them. Arsenal are now focused on the Champions League final against PSG on May 30th. But what comes after that? Arsenal are built to win. After achieving that, what happens next?
Chief Executive Richard Garlick and Commercial Director Juliet Slot are overseeing revenue, allowing the club to continue investing. James King, who succeeded Garlick as chief executive of football, is credited with a key role in securing the long-term future of young talent. Josh Kroenke now holds a position on the leadership team.
Arsenal are currently intensifying their efforts to recruit the next generation of stars, aiming to maintain their competitiveness in the future. They continue to invest in their Football Analytics department, now led by Mark Curtis. He has overseen the internal restructuring of Arsenal's analytics division and strengthened the club's presence in the South American market.
Arteta and Berta are pushing for significant investment in the first team. With many other big English clubs entering a transitional phase, they feel this is the right time to seize the opportunity.
The championship title this season is already secured. The task now is to deliver lasting success.
(According to The Athletic)
Source: https://tienphong.vn/phia-sau-chien-cong-lung-lay-cua-arsenal-post1844822.tpo
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