Arteta's structure has always been elite but it's only obvious now that the players are top class, & that's because he A) signed them B) developed them from within or C) signed them AND developed them. Below, in this thread, I take a look at the players he has developed.
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Ramsdale - elite in possession, phenomenal character with potential to be a leader, young and he has exceeded everyone's expectations as a traditional goalkeeper. People laughed at the signing! It proved to be a snippet.
Tomiyasu - elite in possession on either foot, brave/eager/assured character, young, and a superb option for Arteta to utilise in that inverted role thanks to his technical quality and athleticism and positional discipline in defensive transition.
Ben White - elite technical quality and an aggressive defender alongside the more conservative Gabriel. White is a defender that excels in defensive transitional situations within open systems as opposed to defending deep and he suits Arsenal's requirements to a tee.
Gabriel - world class in the air, much improved on the ground thanks to increased experience at the highest level (he always had the technical tools to succeed), top athlete and his English is improving which is allowing him to become the leader Arsenal need him to be.
Tierney - although he is not a player who was signed by Arteta, he is a player I recommend Arsenal signed before he joined the club. Also, more importantly, he has regained some of that dynamism he lost due to constant injuries under Arteta's guidance, and he's a top, top player.
Partey - this guy excels at every single facet of play from an individual perspective but struggles with the mental side of the game (overly aggressive pass selection and lack of aggression when pressing). However, he is still a top player who *will* improve under Arteta.
Saka - this boy developed from a fullback, to a wingback, to a left side midfielder to a Salah type forward under Arteta's tutelage. Arteta maintained from day one that Saka was a forward, and my God has he developed into a world class talent.
Smith-Rowe - the thing with Smith-Rowe is he's always add the quality between the lines and in the final third but the difference between the top players is their transitional quality, and this season, under Arteta's management, he has shown phenomenal quality in that phase.
Martinelli - in the last few games Gabi has displayed incredible technical quality with his lightening quick feet, phenomenal ball control and sensational ability to create separation combined with his elite athleticism and work rate. Again, Arteta developing a young talent.
Odegaard - many fans berated the decision to sign Odegaard over Maddison. Although both have top quality from a technical point of view, only one has a good attitude and is willing to work hard off the ball, and Odegaard has been nothing short of top class in recent weeks.
Overall, this bunch of players Arteta has conjured up together along with stalwarts such as Xhaka are superb. His tactical acumen is elite and his talent identification and player development is similarly second to none. There will be ups & downs this season, but the future is 👌
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