In the players’ lounge at Arsenal’s training ground, there is a wall full of post-it notes. The idea was born out of a dinner that Mikel Arteta organised with the players and their families.
Arteta asked everyone to write messages to the team on how they were going to help them win the Premier League.
They ranged from simple things like “love” and “honesty” to “help young academy players understand the importance of being respectful, humble, punctual and a good person every day”.
The post-it notes are the latest tactic by Arteta to continue creating unity at Arsenal as they bid to win the title this season.
The Gunners came so close last season, eventually falling away as Manchester City won the Treble, but the Gunners have strengthened heavily this summer.
There was an acceptance at the club that a lack of depth impacted their title push — and they have ruthlessly addressed that issue.
Arsenal have spent more than £200million on transfers, and Arteta has been backed like never before.
The club have secured the Spaniard’s top targets in the positions he wanted, while they also did the majority of their business early.
Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz were all signed before Arsenal flew to the USA for the pre-season tour on July 16.
A move for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya underlines the support Arteta is receiving from the hierarchy at Emirates Stadium.
Raya feels like a luxury signing, given how well current No1 Aaron Ramsdale performed last season, but the move adds to the environment Arteta wants to create.
His aim is to have a competitive squad in which everyone has to fight for their place. All of the summer signings help with that, but Raya especially so. It is a bold move, not least because Ramsdale is a big voice in Arsenal’s dressing room, and will test the unity in the squad.
No player likes being out of the side, but the Gunners have a packed fixture list as they return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
With their additions, they look like they have the squad to cope with that and, crucially, Arteta has options. That was an issue in the title race last season, when it felt like Arsenal lacked the weapons to mix things up.
By signing three versatile players in Havertz, Rice and Timber, Arteta now has the ability to tweak the way the team plays from game to game.
There was an acceptance at Arsenal that a lack of depth impacted their title push — and they have ruthlessly addressed that issue
It is similar to what Pep Guardiola has at Manchester City. Guessing Guardiola’s team each week is a lottery, and it is not inconceivable for that to be the case at Arsenal this season.
The backing Arteta has received brings pressure with it and he will want to get off to a good start on Saturday, when Arsenal kick off their campaign at home to Nottingham Forest.
Arteta is no stranger to pressure, he has felt it often during his time in charge at Emirates Stadium, but this season there will be a different nature to the scrutiny on him.
After last season, and their huge summer spend, there is now an expectation for Arsenal to be title challengers.
The Gunners will expect to make early headway, given their fixtures over the first two months look kind. Their biggest games are against Manchester United and Tottenham, but both of those are at home.
A strong start got Arsenal on their way last season. This time, if they repeat that, they will be hoping to last the distance.
