5 Arsenal players who have improved under Mikel Arteta

AFC Bournemouth v Arsenal FC - Premier League

Arsenal have had their fair share of highs and lows under Mikel Arteta. The former Gunners skipper replaced Unai Emery at the Emirates Stadium in December 2019 and has endured an eventful time in north London. The Spaniard's first job as a top-flight manager is one of the trickiest assignments in world football, with Arsenal looking to move on from the days of Arsene Wenger and kickstart a new era.

Arteta has managed to steady the ship and imprint his philosophy at Arsenal and has done so without breaking the bank. The Gunners' summer outlay on transfer was modest when compared to cross-town rivals Chelsea, who spent in excess of £200 million to revamp their squad.

Nevertheless, several Arsenal stars have shown flashes of brilliance and secured their futures in the past 12 months. On that note, here are five players who have taken their game up a notch under Arteta.

#5 Mohamed Elneny

Mohamed Elneny's resurgence has been a pleasant surprise for Arsenal this season. This Egyptian was in the fringes of the Gunners squad and looked set to be moved on in the summer transfer window. However, a transfer didn't materialize, due to which he had no choice but to stay put and fight for his future at the club.

Elneny produced the goods for Arsenal in their statement 1-0 victory at Old Trafford and has delivered a string of assured displays in the center of the park since then. The fact of the matter is that the experienced midfielder is likely to be moved on in the summer, but it goes without saying that he can leave with his head held high due to his performances this season.

#4 Rob Holding

Rob Holding is another player who has exceeded expectations for the Gunners this season. With Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi out of favor and the likes of David Luis, Pablo Mari and Calum Chambers struggling to prove their fitness, the Englishman was handed an opportunity to impress at the back alongside new signing Gabriel Magalhaes.

The former Bolton Wanderers man has grabbed the opportunity with both hands and made an impression this season, so much that there are talks of Arsenal offering him a new long-term contract.

Holding's place in the starting XI is by no means confirmed, but the central defender has proved that he deserves to be amongst the squad at the very least.

#3 Emile Smith Rowe

Arsenal v Newcastle United - FA Cup Third Round

Hailed as one of Hale End's biggest talents, Emile Smith Rowe has finally burst onto the scene in recent weeks after a string of eye-catching displays. With Mesut Ozil frozen out of the squad, Arsenal's lack of creativity was beginning to become a big problem for Mikel Arteta.

While rumors suggested that the Gunners would use the transfer market to sign a creative midfielder, the Spaniard opted to hand Smith Rowe an opportunity to shine. It's safe to say the young Englishman has impressed so far, with his inventiveness on the ball a big boost for Arsenal in recent weeks.

The Gunners will look to make the most of Smith Rowe's skillset in the second half of the season, as they aim to string together a run of wins and break into the Premier League top four.

#2 Alexandre Lacazette

West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal - Premier League

Alexandre Lacazette's inclusion is a controversial one, but the Frenchman is one of Arteta's trusted players and has shown his quality this season. Having struggled for form and consistency under Unai Emery, Lacazette has proved to be the perfect team player under the new manager and starts more often than not when fit.

Often slated for the lack of goals, the former Lyon striker's work-rate off the ball keeps his side ticking upfront. More crucially, he has stepped up this season and scored a few important goals for his side, with club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struggling to find the back of the net.

Lacazette's long-term future might well be away from the Emirates Stadium, but the Frenchman has put in the hard yards this season and established himself as a key player for the club.

#1 Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka's rise to prominence in the past 12 months has been quite the story. the young Englishman featured regularly in the UEFA Europa League under Unai Emery but has become an indispensable member of Arteta's team in recent months. A winger by trade, Saka has also shown his quality as a left-wing back, while he is also capable of playing in an advanced midfield position.

Arsenal managed to tie down their crown jewel to a long-term contract in the summer and will look to make him the face of Arteta's project in the coming months. Saka has also been called up by Gareth Southgate for the England squad and could well be on the plane for the European Championships later this year.

Edited by Vishal Subramanian