Since beating Chelsea on boxing day Arteta has played more or less the same team. He is slowly getting close to finding his first 11. Whatever we do in the window has to be a deal that walks straight into his team. This is why I think the club don’t want to rush into any signing. With Ozil off the books this could be a chance for Arteta to sign another world class player to add quality to the team.

A lot has changed since moving to the new system, we are on a great unbeaten run backed by five clean sheets.

Here are five reasons that are helping Arteta getting close to his first 11:

1. Deploying Saka at RW

Saka is probably the first player on Arteta’s team sheet. Moving Saka to the right wing has improved our attack, before that we created chances more from the left. He’s also very calm on the ball and rarely loses it unlike Pepe.

2. Introducing Smith Rowe

Smith Rowe brought life to the Arsenal attack. His introduction saw us move away from the 3-4-3 formation to the Arteta preferred 4-2-3-1. This is the formation Arteta played when he first came to Arsenal and had Ozil available. there’s no surprise that the team perform better in this formation.

3. Thomas Partey staying fit

When Thomas Partey is fit our midfield improves. He’s the only one capable of playing with the other three midfielders. Although Xhaka seem to be his best partner. The team perform much better with Partey in midfield.

4. Signing Martin Odegaard

Ordegaard was signed to complement Smith Rowe. He’s relatively still young but he has more experience than Smith Rowe. His introduction gives Arteta more options whereby sometimes he can deploy Smith Rowe on the left wing.

5. Cedric should stay at right back

Cedric is everything that Bellerin is not. Better in attack and better in defense. His link up play with Saka is very brilliant, the overlap runs and everything he does. He’s been knocking on the door and is determine to prove a point every time he play.