Arsenal have not have turned performances into points under Mikel Arteta yet – but there have certainly been some improvements on the pitch. The Gunners have won just one of Arteta’s first four Premier League games in charge but several players have begun to prove football fans wrong with how they have performed under the Spaniard. Express Sport has picked six members of the Arsenal squad who are playing better than some supporters would expect.
Sead Kolasinac
Kolasinac has struggled with injury problems this season and has often been blamed by supporters for being out of position during Unai Emery’s reign.
However, the Bosnian has excelled both defensively and going forward so far under Arteta.
His best performance was undoubtedly in the 1-0 win over Manchester United, where he also had to play a large part of the game on a yellow card.
KEY STORY: Premier League done deals: Every confirmed transfer in the top flight this January
David Luiz
Luiz was written off by some supporters and ridiculed by others during his first few months at Arsenal.
But the former Chelsea man has played every minute so far since Arteta took over and has helped the defence look more stable.
Luiz will never be the greatest defender but he is now showing leadership skills at the back Arsenal so desperately needed.
Nicolas Pepe
Understandably Pepe took some time to settle into life in the Premier League but that did not stop some fans writing him off as a ‘waste of money’ at £72million.
However, he has started to make that right-wing position his own and shone in the win over United.
If he can add more goals to his game, similar to the one against the Red Devils, then the Arsenal fans will really take to him.
Granit Xhaka
Xhaka still has some way to go to completely win back the Arsenal fans but he has gone some way to doing it in recent weeks.
He was clearly missed in the loss to Chelsea, when he had concussion, and has formed a good partnership with Lucas Torreira in midfield.
You could even say he has been putting in captain-like performances…
