Since Mikel Arteta took over from Unai Emery at Arsenal, the general form and mood has changed around the club for the better.
Arteta left Manchester City where he was the assistant coach to Pep Guardiola and set out on his own.
The Gunners have slowly been climbing up the table and their ambition of a top-four finish is still achievable, should the 2
Some players have benefited more than others since the arrival of Arteta, with some brilliant individual performances.
Bukayo Saka
Saka was still playing under former boss, Emery, but since the appointment of the Spaniard, the 18-year-old has gone up another level.
The English youngster has a tremendous ability to deliver dangerous crosses from the most difficult of positions and has produced some fantastic deliveries this season.
Such good form has put Saka into the hat for an England call-up for next year’s European Championships.
Granit Xhaka
In late October, Xhaka suffered the lowest point of his Arsenal career so far after reacting angrily to the fans’ reception after being substituted in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.
However, since Arteta came into the job almost two months later, the form of the Swiss midfielder has benefited as a result.
It probably helps that Arteta himself used to play a similar role to Xhaka and has the experience to guide the man who looked to be out of favour at the Gunners.
Mesut Ozil
Similarly to Xhaka, albeit with not such extreme circumstances, Ozil looked as if he was not in Emery’s plans at the Emirates Stadium.
Ozil has, though, improved somewhat under Arteta – although his return is not up to the high standards we’ve come to expect from the German.
But the 31-year-old has picked up his overall performance levels and his link-up play has benefited since Arteta’s appointment.
Ozil has started every single Premier League game under Arteta, and game-time for the playmaker allows him to grow into some sort of rhythm.
Shkodran Mustafi
Mustafi is Whoscored’s highest-rated Premier League defender since the turn of the new calendar year.
The German defender is above the likes of Virgil van Dijk on the average rating of 2020 so far, with a 7.50 score.
Mustafi has looked a lot better under Arteta and it’s no surprise he is averaging this sort of rating on databases with his defensive improvement.
Eddie Nketiah
After spending the first part of the season at Championship team Leeds United, Nketiah was recalled by Arteta to play for the Gunners for the second half of the campaign.
Nketiah has scored three goals in seven appearances for Arsenal since returning from his loan spell at Elland Road.
The 20-year-old striker has looked full of confidence, and when he has had the support from those around him, he has been great in front of goal.
These five players have all benefitted from Arteta’s short spell in charge at the Emirates and the likes of Nicholas Pepe, who didn’t quite make the list has also improved.
David Luiz has carried on his strong form under Arteta and is now the senior member of the Gunners’ defensive line.
