How Mikel Arteta revived Arsenal’s lost identity

When Mikel Arteta arrived at Arsenal in December 2019, the club was in disarray. Unai Emery’s reign had ended with confusion both on and off the pitch, and the shadow of Arsene Wenger’s departure still loomed large.

For Arsenal, Mikel Arteta’s appointment was a gamble. A rookie coach handed one of the Premier League’s most demanding jobs.

But six years later, that gamble has paid off, spectacularly.

Mikel Arteta has reawakened the lost spirit of Arsenal, rebuilding the DNA bit by bit

Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have evolved into one of the most complete and coherent sides in England. His obsession with detail, intensity, and culture has turned the Gunners from a team adrift into genuine title contenders.

The transformation wasn’t instant, it required ruthlessness, patience, and conviction.

By establishing strict standards and removing players who didn’t fit his philosophy, including high-profile names like Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arteta made it clear that no one was bigger than the club’s collective vision.

Arteta has rebuilt a culture, reconnecting Arsenal to their true values. The Spanish tactician has reintroduced the motto “Victoria Concodia Crescit” which literally translates to “victory through harmony”.

Players, every day, are reminded of the club’s history, the values and the fans that the represent. That has led to more intensity in training sessions, with players turning every single drill into a contest.

Kieran Tierney, formerly of Arsenal, once explained Arteta’s relentless pursuit of improvement, “Everything has a winner and a loser!”

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal is modern but has an old soul

Arteta’s greatest achievement during his time at the Emirates has been in bridging the gap between their past and the present.

He revived Arsenal’s old-school pride while bringing a modern approach to their football. It might not be a true reflection of the values introduced by Arsene Wenger built on “beautiful football” but the pragmatism from the early 2000s is definitely there.

That is helped majorly with the way the club has recruited since Arteta has been in charge. Players like Declan Rice, William Saliba and Martin Odegaard have become the core of the club.

All these players don’t only bring the quality but the professionalism and a winning mentality, as well.

It’s taken them quite some time but Arsenal, now, easily have the strongest squad in the Premier League, with more depth than any other team, probably even in Europe.

The Emirates Stadium, once criticized for its sterile atmosphere, now feels alive again. Arteta’s collaboration with supporters has transformed home games into a cauldron of energy. From light shows to coordinated fan banners, every matchday feels like an event.

Five years on, Arsenal are no longer chasing relevance; they are shaping the future of English football once again. After three second-place finishes, the 2025–26 season sees them leading the Premier League after 10 games, already four points clear.

Arteta’s Arsenal are proof that identity and ambition can coexist. That with the right vision, even a fallen giant can rise again.