It's the North London Derby - one of the most notorious games in the world. Arteta and his young squad prepare to take on local rival Tottenham Hotspur in front of a riotous home crowd at the Emirates Stadium. The pressure is mounting on Euro 2020 hero, Bukayo Saka to score his first goal of the season. For captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, this game means far more than just team rivalries. The narrative around Arsenal at the moment, they're only ever one game away from it being calamitous again. Mikel Arteta remains under pressure. So far in the league, Arsenal have played four games and only scored one goal.
Two months in, and on a run of convincing and emphatic wins, the team prepare for a tough set of away matches. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale finds his footing, giving new strength to the team's defence. Defender Kieran Tierney suffers an injury blow whilst new signing Nuno Tavares shines in his debut, but a 10-game unbeaten run is at stake as the squad heads to Anfield.
Speculation is rife as fan favourite Aubameyang is stripped of his captaincy. After a bad run of results, the mood within the Arsenal camp is low and Mikel Arteta's decisions are under scrutiny. With Aubameyang no longer training with the first team, the focus shifts to the remaining players including Brazilian player Gabriel Martinelli. As Christmas approaches and Covid causes chaos in the league, Mikel Arteta is forced into isolation as the team prepare to face the reigning Premier League Champions, Manchester City.
The start of a new year brings the January transfer window and Mikel Arteta the chance to rebuild his squad. Arsenal continue their quest for silverware, competing in the FA and Carabao Cup, as well as still fighting for top 4. Meanwhile, questions over Aubameyang's future continue dominating the media and the club must come to a decision about what to do with their former captain.
After Aubameyang departure and a quiet transfer window, Mikel Arteta is feeling the pressure from fans and critics alike. At home, his wife and family reflect on his tough job. On the pitch, the team seek to keep the dream of a European competition alive. Defender Ben White fights for the respect of the fans and another tough game against Liverpool threatens to derail the team's momentum.
Mikel Arteta has been named Premier League Manager of the Month for March. And considering they were rock bottom in mid-September, having lost the first 3 matches, look where they are now. There's an argument to be made that Arteta should be manager of the season right now. But Arsenal suffer a string of defeats and struggle to find their form putting their top 4 place at risk. Losing vital players to injury means Mikel Arteta looks to his more inexperienced players to bring momentum back to the squad.
The narrative around Arsenal at the moment, they're only ever one game away from it being calamitous again. Mikel Arteta remains under pressure. So far in the league, Arsenal have played four games and only scored one goal.