But, ahead of the new Premier League season, it was announced that he was gone (Standard), with Saunders suggesting that his experience will be a miss, as he told talkSPORT.
From that FA Cup win to not finishing in Europe, then coming so close to winning the Premier League title last season, it was some journey for Round at the Emirates.
Added to that, a number of players improved in massive ways, including Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli becoming one of the two most dangerous wide players in the Premier League.
And even someone like the now-departed Granit Xhaka, who was a marmite-like figure at the club before Arteta and his coaching staff arrived, produced his best football under their stewardship.
Arsenal Pre-Season Training Session
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
“The backroom staff, Arteta’s backroom staff,” Saunders. “He has lost Steve Round, hasn’t he?! What’s gone on there? Because Steve Round is a big loss.
“He is really experienced. He has worked with Steve McLaren with England. David Moyes. He has been around the block. I don’t know what has happened there.”
Arsenal Training Session
Arteta the brains behind Arsenal
The fact that Arsenal have smashed their transfer record and paid over £100 million for Declan Rice, tells you everything you need to know about how those at the club feel about Arteta.
Yes, they collapsed during the final few weeks of last season and they should have won the title, before shooting themselves in the foot.
But, it has been many, many years since Arsenal have been in such a situation where they have a chance to end their title drought.
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