The phrase has been something of a mantra for Arsenal during Mikel Arteta's time
From the outset, here was a respected former player, schooled in management by the great Pep Guardiola, with a plan to lead a lost club back onto a purposeful path to glory.
In the darkest days, most notably the three straight, humbling losses to begin this league season, it became a stick with which disgruntled supporters sarcastically beat the Spaniard.
But Arteta's team are now unbeaten in eight league games - 10 including the Carabao Cup - and are fifth in the table with a young, largely new squad that is starting to knit together.
So has that oft-used phrase now regained some of its legitimacy and is the plan finally starting to come together?
Knives out
Arteta laid out his philosophy in his first interview for Arsenal's media channel back in December 2019.
On the pitch, he called for passion, dominance, aggression and playing in the opponents' territory. Off it, there were "non-negotiables" - respect, humility, accountability, unity. He also spoke of trust.
It was a challenge for many affiliated with Arsenal to keep the faith after three matches of this Premier League campaign.
The Gunners were meek at Brentford, brushed easily aside by Chelsea and battered at Manchester City to leave them bottom of the table without a point or goal to their name.
0 Comments