Yet, the 2023/24 campaign has seen him morph into his professor more than ever. Arteta's press conference ramblings have been interesting and at times sarcastic, as if to mimic the great Pep.
We already know that Arteta has developed a similar philosophy on the pitch and in a bid to go toe to toe with Manchester City, is trying to build a squad full of options and versatility.
Oleksandr Zinchenko's switch from the Etihad to the Emirates was a pivotal part in the club's ongoing project. An attacking midfielder by trade, the Ukranian was moved to a left-back position by Guardiola and now plays the role of an inverted full-back to perfection.
Mikel-Arteta-Pep-Guardiola
Such a tactical ploy may well have been pioneered by Johan Cruyff all those years ago, but it has been brought back by the Spanish coach who has seen his ideas now replicated all throughout Europe.
Yet, Arteta may be on the verge of a philosophy never seen in football, one that challenges the perception of a role on the pitch that only ever had one player in it; the goalkeeping department.
Aaron Ramsdale quickly dislodged Bernd Leno as the club's number 1 early into Arteta's reign but now as things get serious, the Englishman finds himself at a crossroads after being dropped for David Raya on Sunday.Why did Raya start against Everton?
There had been murmurings prior to the international break that Arteta was pondering a change between the sticks.
Raya, signed rather surprisingly on loan from Brentford during the summer window, had impressed in training and had been patiently waiting for his moment in the sun.
David-Raya-Arsenal
Displacing Ramsdale was going to be no easy task. This is a player hailed for his world-class saving abilities in the past. His double stop to deny Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate at Anfield last term was notably astonishing.
Indeed, very few can question the Englishman's shot-stopping. Very few could question his ability to distribute play from the back. However, his playful character and energy is hardly a calming influence.
This is where Raya excelled against Everton. He wasn't called upon much during his debut for the Gunners, cooly going under the radar instead on his way to a clean sheet.
During the clash, he completed an immense 94% of his passes, per Sofascore. That might not look too impressive for a player charged with playing the ball a couple of feet each time to his backline. Yet, when you consider Ramsdale's average pass completion rate of 77% this term and you get a feeling for why Arteta rates his new signing so highly.
What was also impressive was Raya's two high claims. Ramsdale is no mug inside the penalty area but his ability to come out from a cross often looks a little haphazard. The England star almost looks unsure of his positioning in those moments and opts to punch away. The fact he has only made one high claim in his four outings to date speaks volumes.
With the Brentford loanee, there appears to be no such problems in that regard. He is calm, dominating and oozes class. Of course, there will be bigger tests to come for Raya, potentially starting in the Champions League and the north London derby next Sunday, should he play but the initial signs are very promising.
What has Arteta said about Raya and Ramsdale?
The decision to start with Raya in goal against the Toffees sparked plenty of debate but as far as Arteta is concerned, he has always wanted two players in that position.
Speaking to Sky Sports prior to the game, he noted: "There will be rotations. I mentioned that we wanted to build a squad with two quality players in each position.
0 Comments