Arsenal

Matteo Guendouzi was reportedly left out of Arsenal's 4-0 Premier League win over Newcastle United on Sunday following an argument with manager Mikel Arteta.

According to The Telegraph's Sam Dean, Guendouzi got into a "heated row" with the Spaniard and the coaching staff during their warm-weather training camp in Dubai.

It's said the clash started in training and continued at the team hotel.

Per Dean, after the win against Newcastle, Arteta said the player's behaviour and work in training were the reasons he was dropped:

Arteta hinted at the disciplinary issue with Guendouzi last night, telling beIN SPORTS: “The reason is that players who, in my opinion, are training better, behaving better and are more applied to deliver on the pitch what we want, are the players that are selected.”

— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) February 17, 2020

The 20-year-old has been a regular fixture and a key part of Arsenal's midfield for the Gunners since his arrival from FC Lorient in 2018:

Only three players have played more Premier League games for Arsenal than Matteo Guendouzi since he joined the club

Aubameyang 59
Leno 57
Torreira 56
Guendouzi 54#Dropped

— Orbinho (@Orbinho) February 16, 2020

An all-action presence in the centre, he often drives the team forwards, and he puts in plenty of defensive work, too.

His performances and development have somewhat stalled of late, though.

Reach PLC football editor Tom Marshall-Bailey and TalkSport's Matt Scott were critical of his performance in Arsenal's 0-0 draw with Burnley prior to the winter break:

Guendouzi might be delighting fans with being a wind-up merchant but he ought to concentrate on improving. Ceballos must be scratching his head what he has to do to get any minutes in this team after that performance.

— Tom Marshall-Bailey (@TomMarshall_B) February 2, 2020

https://twitter.com/Matt5cott/status/1223998056133275649

Football.London's James Benge is a huge admirer of the youngster, though:

- Second behind Nicolas Pepe for most successful dribbles
- Has, by force of will if nothing else, turned two Premier League games in Arsenal's favour (win over Aston Villa, draw with Spurs)

Oh and he's 20. Finished article? No. Raw and occasionally tempestous? Absolutely.

— James Benge (@jamesbenge) February 12, 2020

His replacement against Newcastle, Dani Ceballos, made his first Premier League appearance since November.

The midfielder impressed with an influential showing against the Magpies, particularly in the second half as Arsenal blew their opponents away with goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Nicolas Pepe, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette.

Ceballos' performance warrants a run in the side in the coming weeks, so Guendouzi may be set for a spell out of the team, but the youngster could benefit long-term from having the competition.  

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he is not considering how his side might benefit from Manchester City's European ban.

The Sky Blues, whom Arteta joined as a coach after ending his playing career with Arsenal in 2016, were hit with a two-year ban from European competition on Friday for breaching UEFA's financial fair play rules. 

As a result, Arsenal may only have to finish fifth to qualify for the UEFA Champions League this season:

Unless Manchester City win their appeal, the fifth-placed Premier League finisher will play in the Champions League

The race is on 🏃‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/jdvpz307W1

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 14, 2020

Per Daniel Matthews of the Daily Mail, Arteta said: "I don't think about it. My first reaction was I was shocked. I got in contact with Pep and the people at the club I know because I know they are suffering."

The Spaniard, who took charge of the Gunners in December, spoke of his "love" for Guardiola and the players and staff he left behind at the Etihad Stadium and said he wants "the best for them."

He was feeling more positive about Arsenal's chances of qualifying for the Champions League following Sunday's 4-0 Premier League win over Newcastle United, though:

"A week ago...everything looked like it was too far and it was going to take an incredible run to do it. Today it feels like a little bit closer.

"[Improved] performances are going to lead to much better results, and if that is the case, we will be in the mix in the last few games of the season."

The Gunners overcame an excellent start at the Emirates Stadium by Newcastle, but Arsenal blogger Tim Stillman wasn't overly impressed with what he saw from them at half-time:

Technical level is still just too low in this team. Lots of taking extra touches instead of playing first time, lots of taking time to put the ball back on stronger feet, lots of not taking players on or stretching the game. Low risk low reward.

— Tim Stillman (@Stillmanator) February 16, 2020

They killed the game off with two quickfire goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe in the 54th and 57th minutes, though, before adding another two late on from Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette:

It was Ozil's first goal since April last year, while Lacazette had been enduring a goalless streak since December 12.

Gunnerblog is hoping the pair can benefit from ending those runs:

Thoroughly enjoyed that second half.

Pepe excellent, and goals for Ozil and Lacazette could do wonders for their confidence. Rarely do you see a player celebrate with such relief as Laca showed.

A big win in every respect. Love it. pic.twitter.com/aPDZ6PYGxg

— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) February 16, 2020

Arsenal are 10th following the victory, six points off bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who occupy fifth place. Chelsea are a point ahead of Spurs in fourth with a game in hand, which comes against Manchester United on Monday.

It's not an insurmountable gap for the Gunners to make up in the 12 Premier League matches remaining this season, but the victory against Newcastle was only their third league win since October 6.

Up next for Arsenal in the league are Everton, who won't be easy to beat. Since Carlo Ancelotti took charge of the Toffees, they've picked up five wins in eight Premier League games, losing only to Manchester City in that run.  

Arsenal finally ended their Premier League winless run on Sunday, beating Newcastle United 4-0. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Nicolas Pepe, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette got the goals after the break. 

The Magpies easily held off a toothless Arsenal in the first half and had a few chances of their own, but Arsenal were much improved in the second half and scored twice in the span of minutes. Ozil and Lacazette added to the total late.

The Gunners had drawn their last four Premier League matches.

Arsenal took possession of the ball early, but Newcastle found plenty of space to work with on the counter, creating several good chances.

Allan Saint-Maximin was heavily involved, setting up Joelinton and Sean Longstaff, but neither was able to finish their chance:

⚫️⚪️

A "decent start" with "promising signs" for Newcastle in the opening stages of this afternoon's game at Arsenal.

Sean Longstaff and Joelinton have had good chances, and Valentino Lazaro is looking lively on his full debut.#NUFC pic.twitter.com/6d8OyDAVSS

— BBC Sport Tyne & Wear (@bbcnewcastle) February 16, 2020

Valentino Lazaro also had a good look on goal after 13 minutes, but he needed too long to sort his feet and the defence was able to close the space.

The Gunners barely created chances before the break, and Bukayo Saka summed up their struggles by blasting a ball high and wide when he did find space. Aubameyang also wasted a rare sight on goal.

Eddie Nketiah did go close after good work from Dani Ceballos, but Martin Dubravka stood firm. He also showed his talent to keep out a Pepe free-kick.

On the other end of the pitch, Saint-Maximin continued to feast on the Arsenal defenders, but his team-mates let him down:

Allan Saint-Maximin runs clear down the left, cuts inside and plays a superb ball across the six yard box but no other Newcastle player is within 25 yards of the goal. #NUFC

— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) February 16, 2020

Goal's Charles Watts was not impressed at the break, although he did see improvements from the Gunners as the half wore on:

H/T: 0-0.

Pretty dire, although Arsenal improved slightly as the half wore on. Arteta will want much more from his team in the second half.

— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) February 16, 2020

Arsenal came out with good energy to start the second half, and Nketiah hit the crossbar after 51 minutes following a spell of prolonged possession and some good work from Pepe. 

Three minutes later, Aubameyang broke the deadlock, getting on the end of a good cross from Pepe. Ceballos also played a part in the goal:

Ceballos and Pepe have been really bright since half-time. They combine, with the latter floating in an excellent cross for Aubameyang - who heads home superbly.

1-0 to the Arsenal.

— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) February 16, 2020

A second goal followed in quick succession. Saka beat Lazaro on the wing before sliding in a great pass for Pepe, who calmly converted. 

The Gunners were in complete control after the second goal, and while Ciaran Clark had a good chance to pull one back for the Magpies, the better chances kept falling to Arsenal.

Aubameyang hit the bar after 67 minutes with what appeared to be a cross-turned-shot, and Saint-Maximin also hit the woodwork, striking the post after a swift counter.

A flurry of substitutions saw the pace of the match drop, with Newcastle unable to put up a late offensive and Arsenal happy to see out the contest. There was time for two more goals in the final minutes, however, as Lacazette picked out Ozil on the counter and turned scorer himself with time running out.

The flurry of goals pushed Arsenal's goal difference into positive territory:

Arsenal have a positive goal difference!

— James Benge (@jamesbenge) February 16, 2020

It was Pepe who crowned his great outing with the final assist, and Lacazette put the final score on the board after a great second half from the Gunners.

   

What's Next?

The Gunners will face Olympiacos in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday. Newcastle visit Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said Nicolas Pepe's £72 million price tag has put the club's record signing in a "difficult position" in his first season in the Premier League. 

Pepe has struggled to justify the massive fee Arsenal spent to bring him to north London from Lille in August and has managed just three Premier League goals in 21 appearances in 2019-20.

Arteta told reporters the 24-year-old's price tag has put pressure on the youngster but added that he has the quality to succeed at the Emirates Stadium:

"The price that we paid for him puts him in a difficult position straight away because he's going to be compared to players of that calibre. He was in France and was one of the biggest stars in the league. He had an incredible year.

"Now he comes here and a lot of people didn't even know him and you paid that price tag. So for him to put his brain into this picture and solve all this is not easy. And he’s a really young player. It's not easy to adapt to this league but he’s putting in the effort and he’s willing to do it. And it will come out."

Pepe was dropped for Arsenal's last Premier League fixture against Burnley but will be hoping to return for their clash against Newcastle United on Sunday at the Emirates.

The youngster's tough start to life at Arsenal does not appear to have affected his confidence:

Nicolas Pepe certainly isn't lacking confidence 😲 pic.twitter.com/NcVnY87f8N

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 8, 2020

Arteta added that he hopes Arsenal can see the best of Pepe "from now to the end of the season" but explained he "needs to earn" playing time with his performances on the pitch.

Arsenal's performances have improved since Arteta replaced Unai Emery as manager, although the Spaniard has only managed one Premier League win and has seen his team draw their last four top-flight games.

A strong finish to the season is needed if the club are to have any chance of finishing in the top four, and Pepe faces stiff competition for a place in attack with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Gabriel Martinelli and Reiss Nelson in the squad.

The youngster has shown flashes of his quality this season with goals against Aston Villa, West Ham United and Manchester United in the league. He also came off the bench to nab a brace in a UEFA Europa League win over Vitoria Guimaraes.

Pepe also notched an impressive landmark in August when up against Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool:

50 - Nicolas Pepe has become the first player to successfully dribble past Virgil van Dijk in the Dutch defender's last 50 appearances in the Premier League, since Mikel Merino in March 2018 for Newcastle. Beaten. pic.twitter.com/B1oRZMciOB

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 24, 2019

Yet there's no doubt that Pepe has taken time to adjust to life in the Premier League and needs to add consistency to his game if he is to become a regular in the starting XI and become a key player for the Gunners. 

Arsenal's clash with Newcastle United on Sunday will come too soon for January signing Pablo Mari.

The club released an update on the fitness of a number of players before the showdown at the Emirates Stadium and confirmed he will not be involved.

"In full training following transfer from Brazilian pre-season," said the Gunners of their new defender. "Aiming to be available for selection for Olympiacos."

While there was disappointing news on Mari's condition, Arsenal confirmed that Sead Kolasinac, Reiss Nelson and Bukayo Saka are all available.

Another January signing, Cedric Soares, and summer acquisition Kieran Tierney will miss the match with the Magpies, although Arsenal have said both are seeking to be fit before the end of the month.

Arsenal are in action in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday in their first leg against Greek giants Olympiacos, with a place in the last 16 of the competition at stake.

Mari will be disappointed not to be involved on Sunday, as will the supporters who have been keen to see him in action since his loan switch from Brazilian outfit Flamengo. The centre-back was the first signing sealed by new manager Mikel Arteta.

The Arsenal boss has spoken about what he expects the Spaniard to bring to the team:

Sounds like Pablo Mari could be crucial to Mikel Arteta's vision 👊 pic.twitter.com/BDGJ9UXSsF

— Arsenal FC News (@ArsenalFC_fl) February 12, 2020

The defender only moved to Flamengo last year, although he was quickly able to establish himself in the side. He was a crucial figure in a successful campaign for the Brazilian outfit, as they were crowned domestic champions and Copa Libertadores winners.

WhoScored.com noted that he's strong in the air, although he can be a little rash in the challenge: 

Pablo Mari: Of the 106 players to contest 75+ aerial duels, Mari's aerial success rate of 69.6% was the sixth best in the Brasileirao last season

For more player stats -- https://t.co/5sNAcncwZ8 pic.twitter.com/KdjDri2lKa

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) January 26, 2020

Pablo Mari committed more fouls (28) than he made tackles (22) for Flamengo last season pic.twitter.com/u1qTINBGWq

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) January 29, 2020

It will be fascinating to see how Mari fares in the Premier League. The 26-year-old was on Manchester City's books between 2016 and 2019, although he never made a senior appearance for the club after spending three years out on loan at different sides.

Arsenal will hope he can get up to speed quickly and offer some defensive cover, with Calum Chambers set to sit out the season with an injury. The Gunners have struggled at the back this term and go into the showdown with Newcastle down in a disappointing 10th place in the Premier League.  

Reiss Nelson is confident new Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta can transform him "into a top player" after proving his coaching talents with Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane at Manchester City.

Arteta, who played for Arsenal between 2011 and 2016, was appointed Unai Emery's permanent successor at the Emirates Stadium in December.

He has won just one of his seven Premier League games in charge so far, and Arsenal remain mired in mid-table:

Back 🔜 pic.twitter.com/kWwCYtQ9wn

— Premier League (@premierleague) February 12, 2020

But the Gunners' performances have improved.

Before moving back to north London to take the top job, the Spaniard was working as one of Pep Guardiola's assistants at City. 

Nelson, 20, believes Arteta played a major role in the improvement of players like Sterling and Sane at the Etihad Stadium, and he is confident his new manager can have a similar impact on his game, per Simon Collings of the Evening Standard:

"It is crazy because you look at Sterling and Sane and you see them before at their previous teams, they weren't doing what they do now. I think that is credit to Pep, of course, but Mikel as well because they said he did a lot of one-to-one work with them.

“You can see it because Mikel's drive is different. I haven't seen a manager with that much determination to make individuals into better players. I have all my belief in Mikel, and I think he is going to make me into a top player."

Before Emery was sacked, Nelson played only 151 minutes in the 2019-20 Premier League.

Under Arteta, he has already played 197 minutes in the English top flight, and he has not even been available for recent matches because of a hamstring problem. 

It is clear that Arteta sees Nelson as a key part of his first-team squad.

An Arsenal statement at the end of January said Nelson was set to return to full training during the current winter break, so he could be available again for Sunday's home clash against Newcastle United in the Premier League.

The Gunners will be desperate to end their run of four consecutive league draws when they face the Magpies because only a run of victories will give them any chance of breaking into the European spots, and potentially even the top four.   

Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has said the squad is feeling "much better" under the leadership of new manager Mikel Arteta. 

The Gunners have endured a campaign to forget so far, as they sit down in 10th place in the Premier League table, having won just six of their 25 top-flight matches in the 2019-20 season.

Much of those struggles were pinned on former manager Unai Emery, who was given his marching orders in November. Arteta has since come in and has seemingly steadied the ship, albeit the team are not yet firing on all cylinders on his watch.

Following the club's winter break training camp in Dubai, Aubameyang said the mood has been better at the club since the appointment of the former midfielder, per James Benge of Football.London.

"He's doing very well," the Gabon striker said of the new boss. "We are improving every day. We're feeling much better than the beginning of the season. [The Dubai trip is] a good one for the spirit of the team. We're feeling well and have great facilities. We try to improve every day."

The Gunners were last in action on February 2, when they were held to a 0-0 draw at Burnley. That was their 13th draw of the campaign, with the team struggling to turn positions of parity into three points.

Had it not been for Aubameyang this season, then the team's plight may have been even worse. As Squawka Football noted recently, the striker has comfortably been the team's most likely source of goals this season:

Arsenal's goal-scorers in the Premier League this season:

14 - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5 - Alexandre Lacazette
4
3 - Nicolas Pépé
2 - David Luiz, Sokratis
1 - Calum Chambers, Lucas Torreira, Gabriel Martinelli

*gulps* pic.twitter.com/sLzNgTbOPp

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 15, 2020

The 30-year-old is still on 14 goals for the Premier League term, a haul that puts him in the hunt for the competition's Golden Boot again. Last term, Aubameyang was the joint-winner of the prize, with Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane finishing alongside him on 22 goals for the campaign.

Aubameyang said it's an ambition to win that accolade again: "Yes. Why not? First of all, I always say the most important is the team and our targets. Then if I can be top scorer it's cool. For the moment we try to get some wins and that's the most important."

Arteta has not got Arsenal surging up the table yet, although The Tactical Times have been impressed by some of his work:

It's not to suggest Arteta has been brilliant, he hasn't. But he has approached the task correctly. Arsenal needed a kick up the arse, and I think he has given them that. There is a lot more intensity in their game. That's key, I feel. What they need is sessions and minutes. Time

— The Tactical Times (@Tactical_Times) February 11, 2020

Aubameyang will be crucial if the Gunners are to finish in a European qualification berth, as both a goalscorer and a leader.

The forward was linked with a possible switch to Barcelona during the January transfer window and it's likely he will be subject to further speculation up until the end of the campaign. With his contract set to expire at the end of next term, dealing with Aubameyang's situation will be one of the biggest challenges facing Arteta this summer.

Dani Ceballos has said he decided to remain at Arsenal in January to "restore trust" at the club and because he feels "very loved" at the Emirates Stadium. 

The 23-year-old moved to north London in the summer on a season-long loan from Real Madrid:

OFFICIAL: Arsenal sign midfielder Dani Ceballos on a season-long loan from Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/H4hh5SAozH

— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 25, 2019

He made a good start to life with the Gunners, but then he picked up a muscular injury that kept him sidelined for most of November and December.

It turned out to be an inopportune time to be out of action because manager Unai Emery was sacked in November.

He was succeeded by Mikel Arteta, who has only played Ceballos as a substitute in the FA Cup since he returned to fitness.

Talking to Marca, Ceballos acknowledged his injury came at a bad time:

"I’m f---ed on my part because I’d never been injured and annoyingly, I got injured at a time when the team started to unravel a bit. I [came out of the team] when we were fifth or sixth, three or four points off the objective which is qualifying for the UEFA Champions League."

Per James McNicholas of The Athletic, Ceballos spoke with Arteta during the January transfer window about returning to Spain, and Valencia were "optimistic" about signing him.

The Spaniard stayed put, though, and he has now explained he wants to repay Arsenal fans' faith in him, per Marca (h/t the Evening Standard's Simon Collings):

"I have never had a quiet transfer market, neither in summer nor winter. It is a sign that you do things fairly well so that there are teams interested in you. But it is also true that I like a stability in a club, and I decided to stay at Arsenal because they signed me, and I want to restore trust because I think it is time to step forward. 

"It seems silly, but Arsenal fans have a song dedicated to me. There are only three or four players on the team who have a song, and they have been there for many years. I feel very loved every time I play at the Emirates."

Ceballos has also explained that it was Emery who persuaded him to move to Arsenal instead of Liverpool back in the summer, per Marca:

"I was proud to have a club like Liverpool after me, but I chose Arsenal because of Unai Emery and how he was with me. Right now, I wouldn't fit in at Liverpool very well."

In order to "step forward" Ceballos will need to break back into the first team under Arteta.

Since returning from his injury, he has been available for five Premier League games but has yet to make it off the bench. For January's 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace last month, he didn't even make the squad.

Arsenal have looked an improved side since Arteta took over from caretaker manager Freddie Ljungberg, and the players are said to be happier under the former Manchester City assistant:

🎙️ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗢𝗥𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗜𝗡 & 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗣𝗢𝗗𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧 @David_Ornstein provides an update from inside #Arsenal including detail on what Arteta is doing to unite the squad, players who've impressed so far & insight into their evolving relationships with 'super agents'. pic.twitter.com/sSrOlFuThH

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) February 6, 2020

However, results have still not been brilliant. Arsenal's 2-0 home win over Manchester United on New Year's Day was a marquee result, but it is the only Premier League victory Arteta has registered in seven games in charge. He has also lost only once.

Four league draws in succession since the win over United have Arsenal 10th in the table:

It’s getting tight at the bottom 👀#PL pic.twitter.com/x6eOUK8hwL

— Premier League (@premierleague) February 9, 2020

Incredibly, the Gunners are still just about in the running for the top four and definitely for the European places.

Given the inconsistency of every side outside the top three, Arsenal could shoot up the table if they were to string a run of wins together.

Ceballos could assist in that endeavour as he has the creative ability to unlock defences. As yet, though, Arteta does not seem to be convinced by him.

Hector Bellerin knows Arsenal need to improve in front of goal, but he's confident improvement will come, thanks to head coach Mikel Arteta's tactical acumen. Arteta took over on December 26, and Bellerin believes the club's former captain has already changed the Gunners for the better. 

Bellerin spoke to the club's official website during warm-weather training in Dubai: "Mikel has always been very tactical in his work and in his whole life, he's very professional with very clear ideas. It's very early doors in time. [Arteta] has a new philosophy and the way he has implemented it in the last few games that we've played, there's been a big change."

While Bellerin has been left impressed, Arteta's improvements haven't yielded a strong run of results. He's only lost once since entering the dugout, but the team has been blighted by draws.

Arsenal have won one, lost one and drawn five of seven in the Premier League. A lack of goals and consistent finishing have been the main issue.

It's something Bellerin is aware of:

"I think sometimes we need to be a bit more efficient in front of goal [but] that's also something that comes with confidence. When you see that you're playing better and controlling games better, the goals are something that's going to come. I'm sure you're going to see that very quickly."

The latter point is a good one because, while the Gunners haven't been regularly among the goals, Arteta has restored a dominance of possession. Stringing together multiple passes quickly and intelligently became Arsenal's hallmark under legendary former boss Arsene Wenger.

However, the style of play deteriorated under Wenger's successor Unai Emery. The Spaniard was less concerned with passing and more tailored to a philosophy based on pressing.

Emery's tactical shift led to an overhaul of personnel. Specifically, many of the playmakers who made the Gunners' artful and expansive, pre-Emery game possible, including Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey, were jettisoned.

Emery was replaced by former Wenger player Freddie Ljungberg in November, before the Swede made way for Arteta. Wenger also signed Arteta back in 2011, with the midfielder winning two FA Cups before leaving to join Pep Guardiola's coaching staff at Manchester City in 2016.

Having learned his trade under Wenger and Guardiola, two coaches faithful to attractive, possession-based and attacking football, Arteta is using the same style to rebuild Arsenal.

When it's worked, the Gunners have produced some slick team moves leading to impressive goals. Those moves include Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's finish during the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace in January:

Auba away from home in the 19/20 @premierleague

🎯 12 shots on target
⚽️ Nine goals

And just the 8️⃣ players involved in @Aubameyang7's #CRYARS opener 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Mdtdcmj0oD

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 11, 2020

There was also Bukayo Saka's emphatic shot to cap a multi-pass sequence to help beat Bournemouth 2-1 in the 2020 FA Cup fourth round:

22 - There were 22 passes in the build up to Bukayo Saka's opener for Arsenal, involving all 10 outfield players. Breakthrough. #FACup #BOUARS pic.twitter.com/FaYPxQcNGo

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 27, 2020

When things have clicked, Arteta's ideas have been lauded. Yet there have been numerous occasions when Arsenal have been lacking when trying to put their inexperienced head coach's philosophy into practice.

The Gunners were particularly stunted and blunt going forward during the 0-0 draw away to Burnley last time out in the league. A lack of pace and guile to the passing left star strikers Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette starved of service.

It didn't help the main men up front wasted the few promising chances that came their way:

01:14: Alexandre Lacazette misses a Big Chance for Arsenal.

13:24: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang misses a Big Chance for Arsenal.

😬 pic.twitter.com/KuRmwmyz4S

— Squawka (@Squawka) February 2, 2020

Since Mikel Arteta was appointed, Arsenal have managed 68 shots - only Sheffield United (66) and Crystal Palace (60) have mustered fewer. No point playing loads of strikers if you can't create enough chances.

— Orbinho (@Orbinho) February 2, 2020

There has been extra pressure on the strikers to be ruthlessly efficient because of a lack of creativity from midfield, a problem compounded by Arteta so far failing to get classy but languid No. 10 Mesut Ozil back on track.

Instead, the club's highest-earner has been left isolated and ineffective without players of similar technique around him:

Mesut Özil under Mikel Arteta:

❌ vs. Norwich
🅰️ vs. Brighton
❌ vs. West Ham
❌ vs. Man City
❌ vs. Bournemouth
❌ vs. Chelsea
❌ vs. Leeds
❌ vs. Crystal Palace
❌ vs. Sheffield United
❌ vs. Chelsea
❌ vs. Burnley

11 games, 1 assist & 0 goals. Unleashed. 😐 pic.twitter.com/i5o9VzSvS2

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) February 2, 2020

Ozil may be struggling, but he has appreciated Arteta's methods. The 31-year-old also offered praise from Dubai, per Ros Satar of Sky Sports: "Especially tactically we improve a lot and I hope in the future we will be more successful."

Lacazette shared a similar view, per the same source: "Tactically we are better and we're going to see a big improvement in the next few weeks."

A recurring theme of tactical improvement endorses Arteta's rapid development in his first senior job. It's also likely an unflattering reference to the dark days of Emery's tenure.

The former Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain boss defended his performance during an interview with France Football (h/t Get French Football News): "I obviously am partly responsible, but you see that the team has not exactly done better since I left."

While Emery will be accused of revising history, his critique of results since he left does contain an inconvenient truth or two for Arsenal. Arteta has made the Gunners tougher to beat, but the club is still 10th and 10 points shy of fourth and a place in next season's UEFA Champions League.

Bellerin, Ozil and Lacazette have all invoked the idea things will soon get better. There are positive signs, but it's dangerous to suppose success on Arteta's watch is inevitable.

The 37-year-old is facing a daunting rebuilding job at a club still dealing with high expectations and a fanbase anxious for a return to former glories. He needs to fortify a suspect defence, retool midfield and get younger at key positions.

Those things will require more than tactical tweaks. Arteta's vision has already won senior players over, a good sign, but he will need to be backed with heavy investment in upcoming transfer windows.

Arsenal defender David Luiz has said he's ready to change his preferred role in central defence in order to accommodate new signing Pablo Mari. 

The Gunners completed a late move in the January transfer window to sign Mari on loan from Brazilian outfit Flamengo for the remainder of the season.

Luiz, 32, has played as the left-sided centre-back in Arsenal's defence since he joined from Chelsea last summer, but he said he's happy to tweak his role to benefit the team, per Goal's Charles Watts: 

"I always want to play. I always play in the way the coach wants to play.

"It doesn't matter the side, it doesn't matter which position. You guys know I played a lot of positions during my career. I'm always ready for that.

"It's good when you have a squad with a lot of quality players. We have a game every week; you have to be happy with this." 

It's expected that left-footed Mari—who could join Arsenal on permanent terms in the summer—will be installed on his preferred left side when he's brought into Mikel Arteta's lineup.

The north Londoners are in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates for warm-weather training, and Mari's social-media activity suggests he's fitting in with his new team-mates:

Good company equals good vibes 👌
__

Buena compañía igual a buen rollo 👌 pic.twitter.com/ig5cP1d58a

— Pablo Mari Villar (@PabloMV5) February 11, 2020

The 26-year-old could form a promising all-Brazilian partnership in defence with countryman Luiz. The pair are yet to play alongside one another at the Emirates Stadium but appear to already enjoy a good relationship, via Watts: 

Pablo Mari strikes back. pic.twitter.com/CfMPqmmjIA

— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) February 11, 2020

Mari won the 2019 Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian league title during his first six months at Flamengo, who are managed by Luiz's old Benfica coach, Jorge Jesus.

Luiz opened up on the encouragement his old mentor gave him after Mari's move to the Emirates was confirmed:

"He's a great player. It was a pleasure for me seeing Pablo doing really well in Brazil. I hope he can help us.

"He did amazing under Jorge Jesus, a coach I know very well, he's my friend and one of the top coaches in the world.

"I speak with Jorge every week, he's really my friend. He told me to welcome him [Mari] in the best way because he is ready to play."

The Gunners signed Luiz and left-back Kieran Tierney from Chelsea and Celtic in the summer, while Saint-Etienne centre-back William Saliba will join in June.

However, James Benge of Football.London bemoaned the lack of proper investment in the club's defence compared to the figures paid to improve their attack:

Yes the problems of January 2018 are still there. Arsenal will still, next season, be paying half a million a week to Ozil and Mkhitaryan. The profile of their squad is unbalanced with so much spent on attack and so little on defence.

This is not a criticism of current regime!

— James Benge (@jamesbenge) January 31, 2020

Arsenal are 10th in the Premier League and face an important clash against Newcastle United on Sunday, with the two teams level on points approaching the end-of-season run-in.

Mari hasn't played since Flamengo lost 1-0 after extra time to Liverpool in the final of the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup in December, but he's in contention to make his Arsenal debut against the Magpies.