Arteta reveals fascinating restrictions that held Arsenal back last season – “Now I’ll change it”

Mikel Arteta has offered a candid glimpse into the physical and tactical challenges Arsenal faced during the final stretch of last season. In a revealing update, the manager admitted that his team selections were often dictated not by strategy, but by survival.

Speaking in Signapore ahead of pre-season, Arteta discussed how he had to make team selections last season: “Last year the line up was done: ‘Give me five players who can finish 90 minutes. Those 5? Ok, those I have to play,’” Arteta confessed. “Now give me another five who can do this and then… And we played like this for seven months.”

This stark admission explains Arsenal’s noticeable dip in energy and tactical flexibility at times last season. Arsenal fans and the manager could see ahead of the season that the squad was short, but it wasn’t addressed. Now the signings suggest that’s about to change.

Now, the Arsenal boss is confident that things are changing: “Hopefully this season is going to be very different, and we can decide what is the best team with the best players to play against this opponent today.”

That shift — from forced lineups based on fitness, to proactive selections based on tactical suitability — could be crucial in mounting a more sustainable title charge. With improved depth and more players capable of influencing games off the bench, Arteta is eyeing a new level of control.

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“Now I’ll change it,” he said. “Because that’s going to mould, and now we’re going to have the capacity as well to decide who is in the best condition to play this game hopefully, because last year no.”

He added that the ability to make tactical changes mid-game — depending on the state of play — is another area that was severely limited. “We want to change the game, the team — whatever the context is, winning, drawing or losing — we can change it immediately and have those players that can impact the result.”

Arsenal fans will hope that a fully fit squad, bolstered by summer signings, can help deliver on this vision. Create your favourite Arsenal XI with our free Arsenal team builder and see how depth could give Arteta the edge this season.