Former Arsenal defender Gaël Clichy has launched a passionate defence of Mikel Arteta’s footballing philosophy, insisting the Spaniard has transformed the club’s identity and restored the winning mentality that had long been missing at the Emirates.
Speaking to The Athletic, Clichy praised Arteta for reshaping both the team and how the wider football world views Arsenal, highlighting the manager’s commitment to physicality, intensity, and tactical discipline, qualities often overlooked in past Arsenal sides.
Clichy didn’t hold back as he explained the shift under Arteta:
“Mikel Arteta has changed how people see Arsenal. In the Premier League, if you are disrespecting the physicality of the game and the set-play moments, you have a big problem. Mikel has done what he felt was needed for Arsenal to win.”
Here, Clichy is pointing to something many fans and pundits have noticed: Arsenal are no longer a soft-touch side. They’ve become harder, smarter, and better equipped to compete in the modern Premier League, where set pieces, duels, and physical battles often decide titles.
Despite Arsenal sitting top of the table, criticism from some corners persists, mostly from nostalgic supporters who crave the free-flowing flair of Arsène Wenger’s peak years. But Clichy dismissed the idea that Arteta’s football is somehow less authentic or less “Arsenal.”
He continued:
“They are 1st and you still have people arguing that they don’t play the Arsenal way. It doesn’t make any sense. The Arsenal way is to win trophies. Pretty or not, the fans will be happy.”
With this, Clichy cut straight to the heart of the debate: identity in football evolves, and winning, regardless of style, is what ultimately defines elite clubs. Arteta’s vision may look different from Wenger’s, but the objective remains the same.
Under Arteta, Arsenal have combined tactical structure with attacking quality, turning into a side capable of grinding out victories as well as producing moments of brilliance. For Clichy, that evolution is not a betrayal of tradition, it’s a return to it.
As Arsenal push toward another title charge, the words of their former left-back serve as a reminder: the “Arsenal way” isn’t about aesthetics alone. It’s about ambition, edge, and lifting silverware.
And if current form is any indication, Arteta’s Arsenal are well on their way.
