Mikel Arteta’s First Arsenal Starting XI Timeline

Since Mikel Arteta was appointed as the replacement for Unai Emery as Arsenal manager back in December 2019, the Gunners have gone from strength to strength.

Back then, the North London side was somewhat of a laughing stock having toiled for many years.

Supporters called for the head of long-time manager Arsene Wenger and they eventually got their wish in 2018, but those Gooners should have been careful what they wished for. 

Europa League specialist Emery lived up to his specialty, leading the Emirates outfit to the final of Europe’s secondary competition in his maiden campaign in charge.

However, that ended in a 4-1 drubbing to rivals Chelsea in Baku, and six months later the Spaniard was out of a job. Compatriot Arteta then took the reins, and he has led his side to the brink in the five years since. 

The former Gunners midfielder has helped Arsenal finish as runners-up in the Premier League in each of the last two seasons, even taking the title race down to the final day of the season last term.

On both occasions, Manchester City reigned supreme, but this year the Blues are out of the running, and websites offering betting on sports now make Arteta’s men contenders once more.

Mikel Arteta’s First Arsenal Starting XI Timeline

Mikel Arteta's First Arsenal Starting XI Timeline

The latest live outright betting odds on sports currently make Arsenal a +450 second favorite for the title, narrowly behind league leaders Liverpool. 

But the club’s rise is all the more meteoric when you consider that this was the starting eleven for Arteta’s first game in charge on Boxing Day 2019, an away trip to AFC Bournemouth that ultimately finished 1-1. 

Bernd Leno

It’s hard to believe that both Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta selected the error-prone Bernd Leno as their first-choice goalkeeper, even though a future World Cup winner was waiting in the wings.

That man was of course Emiliano Martinez, who led Arsenal to the FA Cup before moving on to Aston Villa and becoming the best player on the planet. He had to settle for a backup role to Leno, however, something that most football fans would consider unthinkable today. 

Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Back in 2019, a young Ainsley Maitland-Niles provided a versatile option in Arsenal’s defense and midfield. On this day, he started at right back, where his comfort on the ball and pace stood out.

Despite showing promise initially, the academy product was unable to nail down a regular starting berth, and he now stars for Lyon in Ligue 1. 

Sokratis Papastathopoulos

Arsenal’s finest hours were built from a staunch central defensive pairing, with the Invincible combination of Kolo Toure and Sol Campbell immediately coming to mind.

Greek defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos was expected to bring back the glory days following his capture from Borussia Dortmund, but he turned out to be a disaster. He retired last summer after stints with Olympiacos and Real Betis. 

David Luiz

Has anyone had a roller coaster career quite like David Luiz? The Brazilian could be an absolute rock at the heart of a defense, just as he was for Antonio Conte’s title-winning Chelsea and the Brazilian national team en route to the 2014 World Cup semifinals.

Unfortunately, Arsenal signed the error-prone version of everybody’s favorite Sideshow Bob lookalike. His two-year stint at the Emirates was shocking, but he still features regularly in his homeland with Flamengo at age 37. 

Bukayo Saka

Back in 2019, Bukayo Saka was at the very start of his career. The teenager started at left back for this trip to the South Coast and his talent was evident from the get-go.

He would end the season as a first-team regular, before winning the club’s Player of the Year award in each of the next two seasons, nailing down a spot in the England squad for good measure. 

Fast forward to 2025 and despite being just 23 years of age, Saka already has 250 senior club appearances to his name and is valued at a whopping €150m according to the highly reputable Transfermarkt.

He is the leading light for both club and country, but he has become somewhat injury-prone in recent months, which can be attributed to the huge amount of playing time despite his tender years. 

Granit Xhaka

Granit Xhaka had a topsy-turvy relationship with the Arsenal faithful. Back in 2019, he was certainly a villainous figure after a high-profile incident which saw him throw the club’s shirt on the floor as well as the captain’s armband.

He went on to redeem himself after a blistering 2022/23 campaign in which he led Arsenal to the brink of the title before moving to Bayer Leverkusen and becoming an icon, leading the German outfit to Bundesliga glory for the first time. 

Lucas Torreira

Lucas Torreira arrived at Arsenal after an impressive display at the 2018 World Cup with Uruguay. Unfortunately – despite numerous opportunities – he never really impressed in North London. He currently finds himself in Turkey with Galatasaray at the age of 28. 

Reiss Nelson

The third Arsenal academy product in the starting eleven, Reiss Nelson went on to enjoy big moments for his boyhood club including a famous last-gasp winner against Bournemouth in 2023.

He is on loan at Fulham in 2025 and he will be aiming to return to the Emirates with a vengeance in the summer. 

Mesut Özil

Once Arsenal’s creative maestro, Mesut Özil played a key role in Arteta’s debut match. He will go down in history as one of the greatest playmakers of all time, but by 2019, the game had someone passed him by.

“Luxury players” can no longer be afforded in the modern game, resulting in the German World Cup winner’s retirement in 2023. 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the hero of Arteta’s first game, scoring a second-half equalizer. Much like the aforementioned Ozil, his better days were also behind him and a falling out with Arteta shortly into the Spaniard’s reign spelled the beginning of the end.

He now turns out in the Saudi Pro League. 

Alexandre Lacazette

Much was expected of Alexandre Lacazette when he was brought to Arsenal in 2016. Unfortunately for him, he never found the net regularly enough and was ultimately allowed to leave the club on a free transfer, returning to his boyhood club Lyon.

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