5 Things We Learned From The First Three Episodes Of Arsenal: All Or Nothing

Amazon’s hit series ‘All or Nothing’ dropped last night, with their protagonist for this instalment being Arsenal.

Gunners fans will be keen to watch the first three episodes as soon as they can, as plenty of interesting tidbits were dropped in the show. Here’s five things we can take away from the first three episodes.

1 - The board's support for Mikel Arteta is unwavering

The atmosphere at the beginning of last season was hostile, animosity between fans and club at a peak following three consecutive defeats to begin the league season. 

However, for Josh Kroenke, son of owner Stan Kroenke, the commitment to Arteta leading the project was never in doubt.

Sat down with the Spaniard in the London Colney canteen, the American told Arteta:

“We need some stability, we don’t need any of this.

“I was annoyed, there were so many people tryna fracture the group, you know?"

Arteta responds to the kind words telling Josh how he’s experienced people trying to fracture what they are building “a lot”, before Kroenke replies:

“The only guys you can trust are the ones in the room with you.”

The relationship between owners and manager is clearly as healthy as it’s ever been, if even in the darkest of moments, the ownership has such undying support of their manager.

2 - The significance of Aubameyang's starred haircut

Whenever a North London Derby came around, then Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would invariably have a star carved into his hair.

For a while, fans had wondered why the style was exclusive to the fierce derby day event, and the Gabonese international opened up on the touching meaning of the cut:

“Back in 2016, I lost my grandfather. We played against Tottenham on that day.

“So that’s why I’m doing a star always against them, because that day I remember I scored twice for him.

“And I was really happy, and that’s why since then, I always do something for him. And so he is my star”

Whilst the forward’s career at the Emirates ended unceremoniously, there is no doubting the man’s love for the club, love of life and fundamentally an enjoyment in what he does.

In the opening three episodes, his smile is infectious, and the squad clearly love him. The fall-out was sad for all parties, but above all else, you can say that Aubameyang, football aside, is at his core a good person.

3 - The importance of Smith Rowe's loan

When the Arsenal number ten went on loan to Huddersfield, he came back a changed man, a new beast, forged in the baptism of fire that is a Championship relegation battle.

For Arteta, the loan served one purpose only, the building of character. The Spaniard saw a boy with the world at his feet, but a boy unsure of himself:

On his first impression of Smith Rowe, Arteta said: 

“Emile, very shy, he wouldn’t make eye contact with you.

“I would say a little bit uncomfortable and insecure

“But you could see that he has a huge heart, and everything is there, you know.”

Arteta was not only clear with himself as to the purpose of the loan, but with Smith Rowe as well:

“When we sent him on loan, I said I’m only going to ask you… I’m not going to watch your games.

“I only want to hear what people say, about you when you are there, and how they are going to describe you, not as a player, as a person.

“Because as a player I don’t have any doubts that you can play for us.

“But can you cope with being in that dressing room? Can you cope with the pressure outside?

“I don’t know, so you better go there and impose yourself, and he really did.”

The Hale End graduate was a core member of both the Gunners rival in the winter of 2020, and in their fifth placed finish in the league last season, and it’s clear Arteta’s faith in his no.10 is monumental.

4 - Carlos Cuesta is an important figure at Arsenal

Little was known about the young Spaniard when he joined Arteta’s coaching team, but ‘All or Nothing’ has shown him to be a cherished member of the Gunners set-up.

The players find him relatable, being young himself, and are able to confide in him, chatting to him outside of the training pitch as well as on it.

One scene has young Bukayo Saka sat in the canteen with the Spaniard, with the two engaged in conversation.

Cuesta encourages the starlet to enjoy himself above all else:

“You face a lot of problems that nobody faces. The only thing that you need to do is to play, to enjoy, to be yourself.”

Saka is fully enraptured by the Spaniard’s words, taking time to digest what the 27-year-old says, before responding:

“I agree with you. ‘Cause when I was playing my best, I was relaxed, you know?

“Confident, I wasn’t thinking too much, just played my game and enjoyed it.”

Cuesta had similar discussions with Tavares, looking to find the reason he could reach such peaks in so moments, yet such lows in others.

The Spaniard consoles the young full-back after his poor showing against Liverpool, telling him:

“You are going to make mistakes. It’s normal, don’t worry about it.

“We’ll correct them, and they won’t be repeated. Maybe you will make different ones, it’s normal.

“And you have everything. The intelligence to be a champion. And I want to help you. Here, Nuno, you will find people that help you.

Tavares is deeply appreciative of this on his part, telling the ‘All or Nothing’ producers:

“Carlos, he can understand players, because he is young too. He helps me to get better and improve.”

5 - The support Saka received after the Euro 2020 final

The fall-out following the fateful penalty miss was tragic. It’s bad enough to miss a deciding penalty, but the racial abuse the 20-year-old was subjected to was horrendous.

Everyone at the club was aware of this, including Kroenke himself. Josh even sent a text to Saka following the miss.

In a conversation between the two on the training ground, Kroenke tells him: 

“I meant what I said in that text message. Shake that sh*t off, you’ve got a bright future man. It’s going to be fun.”

Arteta then playfully pokes fun at his Hale End starboy, joking that:

“He gets a clap now. In every stadium, he gets a clap!”

Little Chilli is the crown jewel of the Arteta project, and is beloved by everyone at the club. When you have the owners sending you messages of support, you know you’re a valued member of the institution.

The Gunners are reportedly looking to extend Saka’s contract, and if ‘All or Nothing’ is anything to go by, such a move will be met like Christmas Day amongst the staff at London Colney.