Commentary on Arteta-ball: An Alternative Match Report by Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United: An Alternative Match Report - Football Paradise Platformania

In March 2019, I wrote my first and only Alternative Match Report when Arsenal beat Manchester United 2-0 at the Emirates. I spoke of the brilliant luck of new manager Ole Gunnar Solkskjaer who had led his side on an inspired winning streak until defeat to Arsenal. The same manager, far from brilliant or lucky now, was in the Manchester United dugout last night, when it was Arsenal's turn to get a new face in theirs. However, there had been no such respite for Mikel Arteta, hired for a job that many believed (perhaps still believe) was too big, too overwhelming to comprehend.

A fter a draw in their opening game in charge at Bournemouth away and a heartbreaking loss to Chelsea at home, no less than 3 points, at a time when Arsenal were closer to the drop zone than the top of the table, was not an option. The signs were there that the Spaniard was already imposing a very welcome structure and order on the proceedings. Teamwork, desire, intensity, discipline on and off the ball. There was only one result missing, and that's it.

I hate to chalk this up to the 'new manager effect' as it would do Mikel Arteta a disservice with its visible and immediate impact. It takes an average of 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic. Probably more when it comes to something as complex as building a cohesive and cohesive team; especially when the style of play is physically and mentally rigorous. As David Luiz pointed out in his very frank post-match interview, the team are not yet physically ready to sustain the intensity demanded by their coach. But, and this is important, he also said, "but when you're physically not there, you have to put your heart into it."

Arteta is already imposing his philosophy on this team, just as Emery tried to do upon his arrival, and later. The 2-0 victory in March 2019 was the result of a bold team performance where Unai finally started all of his best attacking players together. It has seen the brief but glorious return of the press and counter-press that were promised to us early on. As a manager, he also demanded focus, valued work pace and initially seemed to organize us into a better unit. This match felt like a minor turning point in the narrative at the time, not because of the 90 minutes, but because of what it seemed to symbolize. For the first time since the 2007-08 season, Arsenal had 10 points at home against their six rivals and were 12 points more after 30 league games than the previous season.

All of this to say that determination and discipline don't mean much on their own. Unai Emery, despite everything he tried, was just not the right fit for Arsenal Football Club. It's not just about different training methods or preferred styles of play. It is not a question of comparing the two, but of trying to explain this something elusive and intangible...