The final two instalments of Arsenal’s ‘All or Nothing’ releasing, more talking points emerged from a painful conclusion to a promising season.
Here's five things we learned.
1 - Bukayo Saka must be protected at all costs
To anyone familiar with Arsenal, the adoration players, staff and fans have of the young man is well documented.
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He has endeared himself to everyone around him, a radiating source of happiness at London Colney.
This was shown in an earlier episode where Saka gifted all members of staff Christmas presents.
Such kindness was on display again, as he surprised a young fan with a kick about on the pristine Emirates turf.
Swathes of support was sent the 20-year-old’s way following the racial abuse he received after his penalty miss in the Euro’s final.
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So touched by the words of one young fan, he surprised him at the Emirates, engaged in conversation, had a kick around, and even asked the young boy when we’d see him and Bukayo share the same pitch together.
2 - Mikel Arteta is loved by the board
This comes as a surprise to no one, but the depth of support shown for the Spaniard was on full display once again.
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A scene shows Arteta officially signing his contract extension, an offer given to him on the back of three consecutive defeats.
Vinai Venkatesham spoke of how the show of unity and commitment to the project was on full display in extending the Spaniard’s deal.
Arteta spoke at the time of how emotionally impacted his was by the show of support, and that emotion translated into the consequent team talks he gave to the team.
The Spaniard regularly spoke of how he felt honoured to manage the players before him, words spoke with undying conviction.
3 - Nuno Tavares had a rough time of it
It’s no secret that the young fullback had a rough time of things at the back end of the season.
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Struggling to fill the void left by the injured Kieran Tierney, the Portuguese defender struggled under the pressure.
Things reached a boiling point away to West Ham, with Arteta seething, shouting in Tavares’ face:
“Do you want to play in the f*cking Champions League? Do you want to play in the f*cking Champions League?”
At full time, Arteta addresses his halftime tirade at the defender, telling him:
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“I f*cking kill you at half time, and you deserved it!”
“But in the second half, you were much better. Okay?”
Finishing that off, his tone is playful, prompting laughter from the players, a clear indication of the close knit bond between player and manager.
4 - Rob Holding is an integral member of the squad
The Englishman was on the periphery for large periods of the season, however, the defender is incredibly respected by players, manager and producers.
In a post-match speech after the 4-2 success against Chelsea, Arteta tells the players:
“Elneny, Rob, it’s a f*cking pleasure just to be a coach, to experience people like you and how you look after each other, how you look after the team”
“That’s an example of a professional player, someone who cares about the team.”
The Amazon producers also picked up on the contagious professionalism and optimism of Holding, telling him:
“We, as the filming team, think you are the happiest man in the building.”
Holding chuckles, before responding:
“Yeah, I get that a lot, they’re saying “Why are you so happy all the time?””
“And I’m just like, I don’t know, I get paid to play football every day, why are you not happy?”
With rumours swirling that Aston Villa are lining up a move for the defender, on leadership alone the Gunners will be reluctant to see him depart.
5 - Eddie Nketiah is a mentality monster
The now Gunner’s no.14 spent large periods of the season on the bench, before being thrust onto centre stage in the back end of the season.
For the 23-year-old, his work ethic was never in question, with Arteta admitting himself to having underused the forward.
After the success against Chelsea, Arteta praised Nketiah profusely, telling him in front of the players:
“In life to good people, good things happen”
“Eddie Nketiah, what you’ve done all this season and everything that you have to be eating with my decisions”
“At the end of the day, look what happens. And in this moments, the London Derby, we had the chance, and look what happened.”
Nketiah knew his chance would come and never faltered in that believe, never wallowed in self-pity.
The 23-year-old had a similar message for Lokonga, who said the smile had gone from his face, claiming he was smiling as “I was playing”, with a smirk.
To which Nketiah is having absolutely none of:
“So what, my friend?”
“You think you are the f*cking only one not playing, my friend, huh?”
“Stop feeling sorry for yourself and f*cking way up, yeah man.”
That mentality will serve the forward well this season, as he vies for minutes with the electric Gabriel Jesus.
Topics: Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Eddie Nketiah, Bukayo Saka