The desire creates the vision that fuels the fires of discipline in creating a resilient, unmistakable culture of excellence
When there’s the distinct lack of a system of beliefs like some kind of operations manual, then one can only rely at best on improvisations.
Which, at worst, means any which way and loose. Creative indiscipline can and often does lead to creative mayhem. Which in the case of the Gunners proved to be the case when Unai Emery was selected over Arteta to head Arsenal.
The Gunners strategies for attack before Arteta resurfaced used to be anchored loosely on improvisational play and individual skills.
And maybe whatever remaining vestiges of teamwork they still had then and whatever notion of a game plan that then then head coach was toying with.
In short, a really motley crew of hastily scrambled talents, skills, individual temperaments and idiosyncrasies all lumped together unceremoniously.
How would this, in the name of sanity, would all this have worked out well?
Improvisation gave way to strategies and clearly-defined patterns of play.
Now at least there’s the semblance of a proper team on the drawing board.
The other parts are already being massaged in without being overly zealous to the point of being desperate. And indeed there’s no need to be because the results are beginning to show. And results are what’s of primary concern to everyone involved.
The team is beginning to take cognisance of what is required of them to function as a collective, united whole and not an assembly of loose, disjointed parts.
The talents are there, and more will be added when the coffers are showing a healthy balance again.
The strategies are already all in Arteta’s head, only waiting to be rolled out when the players are ready even as they are being drilled into place relentlessly.
Now what is urgently needed is to build up the stamina that is crucial to maintain the highest levels of coordinated attack and defence without any sudden lapses in intensity or consistency.
To step on the pedal and accelerate instead of decelerating and capitalise on opportunities when the opportunities avail themselves in a flash.
The numbers are on the uptake. From distance covered, sprints and ball recoveries to interceptions. Their lack of fitness resulted in retreat against Chelsea and Manchester United.
In the case of the latter, they somehow held on and prevailed. But Arteta is only too well aware of what is still amiss and already has his plans firmly in place to remedy that expeditiously.
It’s a Spartan disposition of no compromise but to advance against all odds and opposition.
No excuses will be tolerated, “I want people to take responsibility for their jobs and I want people who deliver passion and energy for this football club,” he said at his unveiling.
“Anyone who doesn’t buy into this, or that has a negative effect or whatever, is not good enough for this environment or this culture.”
This is the decisive wake-up call that Arsenal so badly needed to hear.
There’s no time for slumber now.