Starters and finishers; a Mikel Arteta philosophy.
Mikel Arteta’s rise as a football manager sterns not only from his tactical brilliance but also wise choice of words, and his recent ones, ‘starters and finishers’ has become a motivation to his players, maintaining the high level of performances at all point of their games.
In the wake of their impressive Champions League victory over Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, Mikel Arteta chose his words intelligently yet again, and such has been part of his aid in building a dominant Arsenal team.
“Everybody’s ready. Whether it’s a starter or a finisher, the impact that the boys are having is tremendous,” said the Arsenal boss in his post match interview, when commending the efforts of his players.
While it is the wish of every player to make the starting XI for every game when available for selection, it is unrealistic, and this itself is headache for managers when they have a full roster, especially with everyone playing at the top of their games.
Nevertheless, Mikel Arteta, just like any other manager is unable to start everyone, but unlike just any manager, he has his well picked wise words to keep everyone happy, and ready to give it all when called upon.
In the army of the Spaniard, no soldier is a substitute, there are just starters and finishers.
Starters and finishers?
Yes. The words starters and finishers retain their respective meanings, and when taken into the context of some players making the starting XI and others coming off the bench to contribute, it makes everyone feel equally important.
It is imperative to maintain this sensation in the players, and on the night, Gabriel Martinelli, who had scored in all three Champions League starts was named on the bench, and was also overlooked when Leandro Trossard picked up a first-half injury.
But as a finisher, you have to wait for your time to strike, and the Brazilian understood this, and was able to play himself on the scoresheet for again, to continue his scoring streak in the competition.
12 of Arsenal’s 42 goals across all competitions this season have either been scored or assisted by a finisher (substitute), many of which have led to valuable points.
From Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard’s show in Bilbao, to Martinelli’s goal against Manchester United, Mikel Merino goal and Martin Ødegaard assist for Gabriel Magalhaes against Newcastle, Bukayo Saka against Olympiacos and Brighton, and Leandro Trossard against Luton Town.
Wednesday was the most extraordinary of all as Bukayo Saka had to be taken off early due to the tough fixture at Chelsea on Sunday, and the finishers, in Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli, both got on the scoresheet to give Arsenal their first win over Bayern since October 2015.
Away from attack, the flexibility in defence has also been another highlight of their season so far. In the absence of Gabriel, both Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera have shared the starting spot in the two games, and the fact that Arteta played the latter in a very high-stakes match with Bayern showed how much trust he has in everyone.
Things are looking optimistic for Arsenal, and the workings are not just applied with the ball, but keeping the spirit of the players high at all times is as important. Mikel Arteta understands this and he has been able to manage it well.
Ultimately, Mikel Arteta’s starters and finishers philosophy is more than just a clever turn of phrase; it’s a profound piece of man-management that eliminates the stigma of being a substitute.
By reframing the roles, the Spaniard ensures that every player feels valued, understands their crucial part in the team’s success, and maintains a consistent level of commitment, whether they play the first minute or the last.
This collective belief in the importance of every individual is proving to be the secret weapon in the Arteta’s Arsenal, transforming a talented squad into a cohesive, title-challenging force capable of prevailing against any opponent.
Nevertheless, the next match is always the most important one for a team with so much ambition, and awaiting them in Stamford Bridge on Sunday is Chelsea, a match that could define their season in the league a win takes them nine points clear of their London rivals.
Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
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That’s how you know a great manager
The trophies are coming home this season