Arsenal: North London derby is the perfect time to address Mikel Arteta's biggest issue
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Just days before he was appointed Arsenal head coach, Mikel Arteta sat in the visiting dugout at Emirates Stadium as part of Manchester City’s backroom staff. The Spaniard left feeling down and with a sense Arsenal had lost their way, such was the mood at the club.
It’s why changing the atmosphere at the Emirates was one of Arteta’s first aims when he was hired and remains one of his key objectives. Little goes on at Arsenal without Arteta’s knowledge and that includes work done to improve the atmosphere. Arteta has given his blessing and been involved in pre-match hype videos on social media, while he was also a big driver behind the club’s decision to play the song ‘The Angel (North London Forever)’ by Louis Dunford before games.
The atmosphere at the Emirates has dramatically improved under Arteta, but it was telling this week that he felt the need to call for more. Two defeats last week has dampened the mood around Arsenal and there are the first few grumblings of discontent.
It is nothing like the toxic final days of Arsene Wenger, or the apathetic ending to Unai Emery’s reign, but there is not the same wave of enthusiasm that felt present during Arsenal’s title charges over the past two seasons. Defeat to Tottenham on Wednesday would worsen the mood and it is hard to escape the feeling that Arteta needs to come out of this north London derby with a positive result.
“It’s probably the nicest game of the season to watch because of the atmosphere, because of what it means to our people, what it means to us and everybody involved in the game,” he said. “Let’s create the best atmosphere that we have played at the Emirates, that’s our objective.”.
