Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace: Mikel Arteta has rebuilt club in five years but needs to take final step

Arteta has undoubtedly had backing for his Arsenal project. His ‘trust the process’ motto adhered to by many.

Since he came in, the Gunners have a net spend of £500.14m, according to data from Football Transfers., external Man City’s is just £59.75m in that same period, helped by significant player sales of young talent.

It also makes the £235.4m net spend from the five years previous pale into insignificance.

That has allowed him to build a younger, more harmonious squad from the group of players he inherited – including spending big on the likes of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz in recent times.

The Athletic’s Rory Smith told BBC Sport: “It’s seven years since Wenger left and that immediate succession was difficult, but since 2019 when Mikel Arteta took charge, it’s been a pretty steep trajectory.

“They’ve come back to the position they’ve occupied since 2004, which was regularly qualifying for the Champions League, mounting title challenges and being one of England’s undoubted elite.

“In the past year or two it’s maybe slowed down a bit. That might be because the final hurdle is the hardest, but he has transformed a club that had dipped really far and turned them back into what they were.

“The transition for Arsenal post Wenger is not nearly as long as the one for United.”

When asked last month about managing Arsenal for 250 games, Arteta was clear what he thought his biggest achievement was.

“Bringing the club together, 100%,” he said. “Lifting the spirit, giving a very clear DNA to the football club, and pride. To representing this shirt, from the players to everyone involved in the club, in the way that is expected at this level.”

He also knows what the challenge is ahead.

“Now it is about winning, that is the next step for sure.”