sport news Arsenal All or Nothing review: Mikel Arteta cares as much as the fans do trends now

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta takes centre stage in the latest Amazon 'All or Nothing' docuseries, which is released on Thursday.

The Spaniard is revealed as a brave, passionate and deeply emotional man, who sticks steadfastly to his principles, despite almost intolerable pressure, as his 'project' at the Emirates threatens to unravel.

Whatever fans now think of Arteta's efforts to rejuvenate the Gunners, who finished fifth last season and missed out on Champions League qualification, they will surely come away from this series convinced that the boss at least cares as much as they do.

In the first three episodes of the eight-parter, which will stream this week, Arteta is seen clinging to his job at the beginning of a turbulent campaign, as fans call for his removal and the owners, the Kroenke family, hold firm.

Film-makers at Amazon Prime Video went behind-the-scenes to document a topsy-turvy season, which saw the Gunners hit rock bottom, the emergence of young talents like Emile Smith Rowe, the rehabilitation of England winger Bukayo Saka following the racial abuse sparked by his missed penalty against Italy in the Euro 2020 final and the painful departure of club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The latest fly-on-the-wall offering, revolves around the manager more than previous series featuring Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City,

In the Spurs and City documentaries there is a sense that Jose Mourinho shows the viewers what he wants them to see and Pep Guardiola gives little of himself away.

This time, Arteta is laid bare. He opens up to the cameras, but more importantly, to his players. He admits his own failings and with unique training methods and preparation he leaves himself open to ridicule.

It has already started. Journalist and presenter Piers Morgan labelled Arteta 'weird' after footage emerged last week of a crucial team talk in which he sincerely 'thanked' his team after they had lost three games straight.

But whatever the critics think, the team responded to that moment, beating Norwich and going on an eight-game unbeaten run, and they respond to Arteta.

Arsenal were the youngest team in the Premier League last season, with an average starting age of 24 years and 308 days, a year younger than their nearest rivals.

The Amazon Prime cameras capture the impact of defeat on young players. If anything, their desperation to deliver becomes a burden in itself and it is that which Arteta is trying to address. 

By showing himself as vulnerable, while pledging to defend them and constantly reinforcing his belief in them, he hopes to give the team more security, to push beyond their fear and to persuade them to play with freedom. 

It is an intriguing – and sometimes painful - watch.

Following summer transfer spending of £156million - greater than any top flight club last summer - Arteta was expected to succeed in his third campaign at the Emirates, but when his young team struggled with defeats at Brentford (0-1) and Manchester City (0-4) and at home to Chelsea (0-2), the atmosphere quickly turned toxic.

'We are bottom of the league, zero goals, we've conceded nine, zero points,' Arteta reflects to camera with searing honesty. 'We are getting hammered by everybody.

'It is the biggest challenge that I have faced since I joined the club.

'In difficult moments you question yourself. You have fears. Difficult things happen in your mind. Can I turn it around? Do I have the energy to go back to transmit what I have to transmit, how are we going to do it?'

'Are people going to believe in what we are doing?'

Many supporters had decided they didn't and declared it was time for a change. Players are seen in earnest discussion with coaching staff, while the senior pros, like Alexandre Lacazette, carefully focus the minds of younger colleagues on the need to win, and the son of the unpopular owner jets in to offer support.

'How are you?' Josh Kroenke asks Arteta in the canteen, a man who is clearly under the cosh, despite insisting he is 'good'.

'We need some stability,' adds Kroenke, reassuringly. 'I was annoyed there were so many people trying to fracture the group. The only guys you can trust are the ones in the room with you. That's all I know…. But onward we go.'

Kroenke adds to camera: 'Our main motto is tune out the noise, keep our heads down and have each other's backs. At times everyone needs to have an arm around their shoulder.'

The Kroenke family was castigated by fans last season after they tried to take Arsenal into the European Super League. This is a more sympathetic representation.

A pivotal moment early in the season came in the extraordinary team talk Arteta gave before the home game against Norwich City on September 11.

Arteta opened up about a heart condition he had as a child, talked about the importance of family and the club in his life.