Arteta has put his stamp on every aspect of this project to bring Arsenal together in a way not seen since the days of Highbury; a commendable step which underlines his attachment to the club. However, this influence could turn against him.
The adoption of “The Angel” as the new anthem made neutral observers grimace, but the objective was to improve the atmosphere of the stadium, as was the instruction given to the announcer to repeat the name of the scorer in the manner of European stadiums. Marginal gains, yes, but significant.
During the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 financial years, his team nevertheless played attractive football, worthy of the Gunners’ heritage. However, she failed: first due to lack of experience in the title race, then due to a too slow start. Last season highlighted a lack of depth in the squad, a problem corrected during the 2025 summer transfer window. Today, Arsenal have a strong squad, but the supporters, who pay among the most expensive tickets in Europe, have had to settle for a game well below expectations, in the hope of a first trophy.
Critics pointed the finger at the fans’ whistles after the defeat to Bournemouth, but those same fans simply expressed their frustration. Aligning a pragmatic team, unattractive but designed to win at all costs, implies an obligation to achieve results. These same people, generation after generation, see their team collapse again, but this time without even being able to cling to a style of play. They are the ones who, the next day, have to face at work or in the pub the taunts that players and coaches, paid to the tune of fortunes, only see on the screen of their phone.
This reality, more than any other, forges the electric atmosphere of the Emirates Stadium. Nerves and incessant grunting are written into the club’s DNA far more than any pre-match chant or announcer ritual. It remains for Arteta to resolve this problem; and only a victory in the Premier League or the Champions League can achieve this.
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