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There was a time not long ago when Arsenal played with a beautiful recklessness; when the Emirates felt alive with electric football. When Martinelli, Saka, Odegaard, Jesus, and Xhaka combined like a jazz band improvising on instinct alone. It wasn’t perfect but it was thrilling. It didn’t bring a trophy, but it brought belief back to N7. That was 2022-23.

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Fast forward to today, and Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are unrecognisable, but not in a bad way. They’re colder now. Methodical. They play with the emotional control of a chess master; each pass, each press, each step on the touchline feels calculated. The chaos is gone; replaced by dominance without risk. And that, in itself, is the next great challenge. Arsenal don’t need to choose between chaos or control. They need to master both.

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Arteta has already proven he’s capable of transforming a side that could barely break the top six into a consistent contender. His evolution, from Pep’s understudy to one of Europe’s most intriguing tactical minds, is undeniable. The Moyes-like defensive steel, the Pep-inspired positional play, the complete reinvention of players like Ben White and Declan Rice. It’s all there. But this summer, the blueprint shifts again. Players will move on; Zinchenko, Vieira, Nelson, Tomiyasu, and perhaps even Jesus. Some fans may flinch at the names, but evolution demands sacrifice. Even Trossard, who I believe deserves an extension, finds himself at a career crossroads.

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In their place? Arsenal need game-changers. A De Bruyne-like 10. A striker who terrifies defenders; Isak, Gyokores, Sesko. A winger with the chaos of Nico Williams, or Rafa Leao. Players who bring back the jazz, but this time, with control.

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Mikel Arteta has built the foundation. The house stands tall, but it’s time to throw open the windows. Let the wind back in, and trust the chaos again because the next great Arsenal side won’t just play with control or chaos. They’ll master both and that’s when the trophies will come.