There are some people saying that if we are to really challenge for the title next season, Arteta may have to move aside and that we should go out and buy a replacement. To an extent, I understand where they are coming from as he is only getting older and he is not the midfield ‘hard man’ it is widely thought we need. However, I simply don’t believe we would be in the position to go out and spend on a replacement or anyone else of top quality for that matter, if it weren’t for Mikel Arteta’s pivotal role, both on and off

Firstly, let me cast your mind back to Transfer Deadline Day, August 2011. Gooners everywhere are glued to their television sets as Jim White and the Sky Sports gang report on all the last minute deals as they go through. As the day grew on, the nerves built up before culminating in the last few hours of complete and utter madness…

August 31st 2011

5:22 pm – Arsenal reportedly table a £10million bid for Everton’s Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta.

7:24 pm – Sky Sports report that Arsenal have withdrawn their interest in Mikel Arteta.

9:00 pm – Arteta turns up at Goodison Park to hold talks with Everton officials, including David Moyes.

9:20 pm – Sources from Arsenal tell Sky Sports that the Arteta deal is back on.

10:55/11:00 pm – Mikel Arteta signs for Arsenal for a fee in the region of £10million. Done deal.

Exciting wasn’t it? Well, it was until the usual bunch of moaners started labeling Arteta as “not good enough for Arsenal”  and “a panic buy”. Wait… These are the same fans who have seen Arsène Wenger uncover gems, transform players and even make them into the players that they are today, right? Ok, just checking…

Fast forward two seasons to where we are today. Those doubters couldn’t have been more wrong could they? Arteta is now probably one of the first names on the team sheet as stand-in captain (and a bloody great one at that). He has proved himself as an exceptionally intelligent and talented player, who has quickly adapted from being a rather conventional central midfielder to playing the more defensive ‘deep-lying playmaker’ role. He is Arsenal’s metronome, our pacemaker, our central cog that never stops turning and boy, I’m thankful we have him in our side.

“I was the man to play in a different role, I had to adapt and I did the best that I could. I have sacrificed myself a lot for the team and worked as hard as I could and tried to help my team-mates.” – Mikel Arteta

Arteta’s incredible passing record is no secret, but always seems not to receive the attention it deserves. Mikel is second only to Xavi in Europe’s top passers, averaging 80.9 per match with a success rate of 91.5% in the Premier League this season. This extraordinary ability to retain possession and keep a team moving has been identified by Wenger, who now uses the Spaniard as the reliable pivot in midfield.

An interesting fact that I discovered a while back is that Arteta actually started his career in the ‘pivote’ role, as it’s known in Spain. Therefore he has, to a certain extent, an inherent understanding of what the position requires from a player. However, it is the defensive side to the role that he has had to focus on improving most of all. Even though he is not the biggest unit, his defensive stats are actually very impressive indeed. Here, I compare Arteta (started 31) to Michael Carrick (started 32), who has received huge credit and been praised for his integral role in the title-winning Manchester United side (via EPL Index + not including anything after May 12):

If you ask me, that’s pretty outstanding for someone who has recently adapted to the position…

Ever since the departure of the most recent implementer of ‘Wenger Ball’, which I would say was Cesc Fabregas, Arsène has groomed Mikel for the role (And I tell you what, Arsène probably had him in mind from the moment he decided to sign him! ‘Av it, doubters!). Arteta’s intelligence, experience and understanding of Wenger’s intentions make him ideal for the role and you will often see the two conversing (about what I assume is tactics) during training sessions and warm ups. Wenger is the master and Arteta is the commander, almost like an on-field assistant manager who barks orders to the other players and makes sure the team remain both disciplined and motivated. I simply can’t stress enough how important it is to have a player like Mikel in our side.

“A face can tell you a lot of things on the day. So I just look around and see what the attitude is on the day and if you can say something to motivate someone.” – Mikel Arteta

But it is not only Arteta’s pivotal presence on the pitch that makes him so integral to this Arsenal team, it is also his influence off it. Ever since joining the club, Mikel has got very hands on with organising family get-togethers with his fellow teammates and progressively instilling a more tight-knit atmosphere in the dressing room. His age means that he is one of the more senior players and thus makes him, like a big brother, more responsible for advising and leading the younger members of the squad, which he does excellently, in my opinion.

I think that Mikel is one of the key factors that has made this Arsenal team able to turn things around and manage to make it into the Champions League places for the past two seasons. His role
as a leader this year in the absence of Vermaelen, has been crucial. After Robin Van Persie’s departure, we needed someone to step up and become not only the voice of the team, but the idol for others. Someone who could take a team that had numerous new players in make them gel as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, Vermaelen didn’t step up to the plate. Fortunately, Arteta did.

There are some people saying that if we are to really challenge for the title next season, Arteta may have to move aside and that we should go out and buy a replacement. To an extent, I understand where they are coming from as he is only getting older and he is not the midfield ‘hard man’ it is widely thought we need. However, I simply don’t believe we would be in the position to go out and spend on a replacement or anyone else of top quality for that matter, if it weren’t for Mikel Arteta’s pivotal role, both on and off the pitch at The Arsenal. Maybe he won’t play as many games next year, hell, maybe he will! But whatever happens and whatever capacity he is in, I think it is very important that we make sure he is involved as an integral, influential and inspirational member of the squad.

P.S. ‘Panic Buy’ my Arsenal.

Catch the author on twitter @EducatedGooner