Arteta concedes he neglected emotional side of management at start of Arsenal reign

Mikel Arteta admitted he made the mistake of being too focused on the tactical aspect of the game when he first stepped into the Arsenal job.

Arteta became Arsenal boss back in December 2019 and led the club to FA Cup glory at the end of that campaign.

He has also turned the Gunners into regular title challengers, finishing as runners-up in each of the past three seasons, to Manchester City and Liverpool, respectively, though he has not lifted a major trophy since that FA Cup success.

This term, Arsenal sit top of the pile heading into matchday 22, with a six-point lead over second-place Manchester City, while they are also top of the Champions League standings, and have the advantage in their EFL Cup semi-final.

But Arteta says a different approach at the start of his tenure could have helped, admitting he did not consider players’ emotional needs.

“At the beginning, the focus was probably too much on the tactical aspect, and that means you overload them with information,” he told TNT Sports.

“How important is the emotional part? When you connect and understand how the player reacts better to your demands… that’s when you touch the right button.”

Focused on all fronts.

Sobha Realty Training Centre pic.twitter.com/tzPgcxc1YR

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 17, 2026

Excluding penalties, Arsenal have scored more set-piece goals than any other side in the Premier League this season (14).

But while the Gunners have a reputation for their set-piece prowess, they have also caught the eye with their defensive solidity, conceding the fewest goals in the top flight (14).

Arteta highlighted how important it is to be clear with players about the need to maintain their standards.

“Be clear what you mean by the standards,” he said. “Because standards, basics, habits, these can be very big words if they are not specific.

“So, tell them exactly what you want from them. What is the standard? Is it just the hours, the standards you train with, how you react with body language, how you prepare for games?

“In the end, it’s about the actions you take that represent those words.”

Arsenal face Nottingham Forest at The City Ground on Saturday as they look to bounce back from their 0-0 draw with Liverpool last time out in the league.