Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has brought his own philosophy and expectations to the club have developed and evolved over the course of his tenure. Players have come and gone, but gradually it has been clearer to see what he wants from his side.
The summer transfer window of 2022 is integral to the plan to continue progressing Arsenal forwards. The players will make up a squad exclusive to Arteta’s regime plus some Hale End graduates, with only a couple of individuals from previous eras.
One of the youngsters coming through, Marcelo Flores, recently spoke to football.london of the story behind his inclusion in the squad for the trip to Crystal Palace. Arteta has given these chances to be in the senior squad to a plethora of talent and it is clearly having an impact.
READ MORE: Marcelo Flores reveals story behind Palace inclusion and what working with Arteta is really like
"It was the day before the Man City game, so I was getting prepared to play in the under-23s game against Man City at the Emirates," he says. "Last minute at night they called me saying tomorrow I was on the bench with the first team. It was a great moment for my family. The next day I ended up going to the first team and it was a great experience."
In a further interview via The Athletic, Flores explained what Arteta is looking for from those who can stand out. It became clear that energy was priority No. 1.
“The change in tempo (is the biggest learning curve),” Flores said. “Any first team is better than any youth team, so just getting the feel of it is good. Especially for a great country like Mexico. I’m just trying to get used to it and trying to bring what I learn from there here (Arsenal) and vice versa.
“Mikel Arteta looks for a lot in rising talent and work rate is the most important. Everything off the pitch comes first and then the work rate comes before talent. But any time I get a chance, I try and show him who I am and how I can help him in the future.”
This, therefore, mixes perfectly with the primary striker target for Arsenal this summer. football.london understands that Gabriel Jesus is at the top of the list and based upon comments from his Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, the profile of the player fits perfectly with what Flores describes.
“If one person, one player deserves the best, it is Gabriel,” said Guardiola after Jesus scored in a 1-0 win over Chelsea. “He runs for everyone and when he scores, I am the happiest man. He can play in the three positions up front, and he does it really well.”
Should Jesus arrive at Arsenal this summer, it appears he would slot seamlessly into Arteta’s squad. A player of his profile and abilities will carry plenty of weight for the club.
