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Mikel Arteta at Arsenal - what the next five years will look like: Trophies, big changes and maybe surprises

Arteta has long spoken about his desire to build a project at Arsenal that contains multiple phases.

His first five years in charge have seen plenty of progress, but Arteta and Arsenal know that the job is far from over.

Here, Standard Sport looks at what the next five years could have in store…

Trophies?

During a press conference this week, it was put to Arteta that he has not won anything since the FA Cup in 2020.

He was quick to point out how he also has two Community Shields to his name but, even if he counts those honours in his trophy haul, he knows he needs much more silverware during the next phase of his project at Arsenal.

Arteta made that abundantly clear when he signed his new contract back in September, saying: “We have to add trophies to that, for sure. And we will do our best to achieve that.”

Arteta has made it clear he wants to add silverware

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

He will be acutely aware of that need for trophies so that he has something tangible to show for his time at Arsenal.

His first five years at the club have been incredibly impressive and it is easy to forget how much of a mess Arsenal were in when he arrived.

The Gunners have been turnedinto title contenders. Now Arteta must show they can get over the line, too.

Executive change

Arteta has experienced plenty of change during his five years at Arsenal.

Much of that has happened beneath him, with the squad almost unrecognisable from the one he inherited. Indeed, of those who played for Arsenal in the FA Cup final in 2020, only Kieran Tierney is still at the club.

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But change has also happened above Arteta, as Arsenal’s executive team has been revamped. Arteta himself was promoted from head coach to manager after one year.

Until the departure of sporting director Edu last month, the current set up had been very settled.

Arsenal are now working to replace the Brazilian, with managing director Richard Garlick and vice-chair Tim Lewis leading the process.

Richard Garlick (pictured) and Tim Lewis are leading the process of replacing Edu

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arteta is also having a strong input too and it will be intriguing to see what route Arsenal go down.

They have historically liked to promote from within. Jason Ayto, who was Edu’s assistant, is currently the interim sporting director and a candidate to get the job permanently. Academy manager Per Mertesacker is another option.

Arteta has spoken glowing of Ayto and last month described him as “phenomenal”. He also hinted that Arsenal could go internal with their hire.

The attraction of that direction is that it would give Arsenal stability, given the new sporting director would know how the club operates and the culture of the place.

An external voice could upset that, although some would argue that adding a fresh perspective may be a good thing.

Stadium development

Arsenal are exploring the possibility of upgrading and expanding Emirates Stadium.

Recent renovations have taken place, including repairing the roof, upgrading the giant screens inside the ground and installing new artwork on the exterior.

Arsenal are looking at what is possible beyond that, though, and Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke revealed during an interview with ESPN over the summer that “internal conversations” were taking place about further work being done.

Those talks are understood to be at an exploratory stage and Arsenal are currently seeing what is feasible when it comes to upgrading the Emirates.

“It is not an easy renovation, but we see the possibilities of what’s there,” Kroenke told ESPN.

Arsenal are taking note of what other clubs have done, such as Real Madrid.

The Spanish side have upgraded the Santiago Bernabeu and transformed it one of the most modern grounds in Europe.

Upgrading their stadium would boost Arsenal’s finances. They earned £102.6million from matchday income last season, which was an increase from the £79.4m they made the previous year.

Tottenham, however, beat that total by taking in £117.6m, with Spurs’ new stadium key to maximising their revenue.

Arsenal recently appointed Populous, the firm that designed the Emirates Stadium, to improve the catering potential and upgrade some of the ground’s kitchen facilities.

The club have also been working to upgrade their beer supply and improve phone signal at the ground for supporters.

Academy push

In the early part of Arteta’s reign it proved difficult to blood players from the academy, with the natural focus for the club on the first-team.

Now that has been addressed, Arsenal have embarked on an aggressive recruitment drive at youth level.

When goalkeeper Tommy Setford joined from Ajax in the summer for £1m, he became the 10th player Arsenal have signed from Under-9 to Under-19 level in the past year.

His decision to leave a club famed for developing young players was viewed as a coup for Arsenal as they look to maximise their academy.

Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have both emerged this season and established themselves in the first-team squad.

Ethan Nwaneri could become a star under Arteta

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

There was some suggestion in the summer that the teenagers may go on loan, but it quickly became apparent on Arsenal’s tour to the US that they were ready and would be going nowhere.

Both are viewed as big talents by Arsenal, with the club excited about how they handle themselves on and off the pitch.

The pair are grounded and, even with the hype around them, that has not changed.

They will undoubtedly have a big role to play going forward and the hope for Arsenal is that they are the start of other academy graduates pushing through.

Max Dowman is only 14, but he has regularly trained with the first team this season. Those who work in youth football view him as a huge talent and one Arsenal will hope to nurture over the next few years.

More out-of-the-box ideas

One of the things that Arteta did during his early days at Arsenal was plant an olive tree in the grounds outside his office.

The idea was that everyone at the club would have to work to maintain it, underlining the importance of unity.

“We have to look after the roots every single day, make sure they don’t get poisoned, don’t get damaged and remain in the right condition,” said Arteta.

It was a fitting metaphor as in Arteta’s very first press conference he used a tree to symbolise a club’s culture.

“If you don’t have the right culture, in the difficult moments, the tree is going to shake,” he said.

Arteta has had plenty more ideas since then to help build Arsenal’s culture, most famously the addition of a chocolate Labrador, named Win.

There have been other examples, including pickpockets stealing players’ phones to show how they must always be alert.

In his new book, Oleksandr Zinchenko also revealed how Arteta squeezed lemons to show how you can always get more out of something.

So what could the next five years bring? Perhaps Arteta will treat his players to an art lesson as an attempt to get their creative juices following?

Outside of Arsenal, the ideas may be a source of ridicule - but Arteta will point to the fact they have worked.

Arsenal’s results have seen an upturn over the past few years and that is in part down to the new culture Arteta - and his unique methods - have created.

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