Mikel Arteta has removed all the toxicity that crept into Arsenal during the end of Arsene Wenger ’s reign and during Unai Emery ’s tenure, former midfielder Cesc Fabregas has said.
Arteta has led the north London club to the Champions League quarter-finals and top of the Premier League this season. And while Liverpool and reigning champions Manchester City are chasing hard in a potential title race for the ages, with Arsenal visiting Pep Guardiola ’s side in a massive clash on Easter Sunday, the turnaround under the Basque has been remarkable.
Speaking to the BBC Planet Premier League podcast, Fabregas believes the key has been how Arteta has installed his vision and that has meant other voices with opposing views within the club have been silenced. And the constant repetition of “standards” has led to Arsenal showing a significant improvement on the pitch.
“I think it's quite simple. Arsenal was merged into a big mess,” Fabregas said.
“I think there were too many people talking. There was a lot of toxicity I would say within the club. It doesn't necessarily need to be in the club, but around the club and he [Arteta] just came in.
“He had an idea, he had his methodology, style of play, and he put it all together. He had the bravery, even though he's a young coach, to put it all together and to say, right, this is the standards, this is what I want to do.
“I think he keeps repeating those words. In press conferences, he talks about intentions, he talks about character, about running, about standards.”
Fabregas added that he believes Arteta’s promotion of a new crop of young talent has been vital - with all of the current group showing an increased desire to represent the club. There had been suggestions in previous seasons that some players, no longer at the club, were not entirely committed to the cause.
The Spain World Cup winner added: “This is what he put in place - hardworking people, young people that really want to play for the badge, want to be there for the club, want to make the club grow.
“He took away all this toxicity around the club that was hurting the players, was hurting the managers and he's doing really well.”
Fabregas made more than 200 appearances for Wenger's Arsenal. He is now coaching at Serie B side Como, whom he part-owns alongside fello ex-Gunner Thierry Henry.
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