Arteta the constant gardener in Arsenal's regrowth

Boss believes seeds of success have been planted to bring back Gunners’ glory days

- Simon Collings

DECLAN RICE

Transfer value: £100million

Arsenal's midfield lacked physicality at times last season - and Rice offers that in abundance. He can operate in front of the defence, but the Gunners believe his athleticism means he could also play as one of their two No8s. In emergencies, the 24-year-old could also be deployed at centre-back.

WHEN Mikel Arteta moved his office at Arsenal’s training ground two seasons ago, he made sure he could see the club’s olive tree from his window.

Arteta views the tree as a symbol of the club, with the fruit only able to flourish if the roots are nurtured. He likes what the plant represents so much that he has a replica of it on his desk.

Three and a half years into his time as Arsenal manager, Arteta believes he has planted his own seeds for success and now wants to take the club to what he describes as “the next level”.

When interviewing for the job in 2019, Arteta presented owners, the Kroenkes, with a five-stage plan to bring the glory days back to Arsenal.

In March, he revealed they are in “phase three — and a little bit ahead of schedule” and, although the manager keeps details of the coming targets close to his chest, Arsenal’s eye-catching recruitment this summer suggests ‘phase four’ is on the horizon. The next step in their evolution is developing from title chasers to winners.