Arsenal: North London derby is the perfect time to address Mikel Arteta's biggest issue

Just days before he was appointed Arsenal head coach, Mikel Arteta sat in the visiting dugout at Emirates Stadium as part of Manchester City’s backroom staff.

The Spaniard left feeling down and with a sense Arsenal had lost their way, such was the mood at the club.

It’s why changing the atmosphere at the Emirates was one of Arteta’s first aims when he was hired and remains one of his key objectives.

Little goes on at Arsenal without Arteta’s knowledge and that includes work done to improve the atmosphere.

Arteta has given his blessing and been involved in pre-match hype videos on social media, while he was also a big driver behind the club’s decision to play the song ‘The Angel (North London Forever)’ by Louis Dunford before games.

The atmosphere at the Emirates has dramatically improved under Arteta, but it was telling this week that he felt the need to call for more.

Two defeats last week has dampened the mood around Arsenal and there are the first few grumblings of discontent.

It is nothing like the toxic final days of Arsene Wenger, or the apathetic ending to Unai Emery’s reign, but there is not the same wave of enthusiasm that felt present during Arsenal’s title charges over the past two seasons.

Defeat to Tottenham on Wednesday would worsen the mood and it is hard to escape the feeling that Arteta needs to come out of this north London derby with a positive result.

“It’s probably the nicest game of the season to watch because of the atmosphere, because of what it means to our people, what it means to us and everybody involved in the game,” he said. “Let’s create the best atmosphere that we have played at the Emirates, that’s our objective.”

Mikel Arteta on the north London derby

In the past, Arteta has challenged his players to change the atmosphere and last year he urged them to make the Emirates a more “hostile” place.

Arteta called on his team to play with “bite, aggression and intimidation” - and one suspects that same message will be reiterated ahead of Tottenham’s visit.

Part of the drop-off in the atmosphere at the Emirates can be put down to Arsenal’s style of play, which has lacked zip.

Injuries and the packed schedule, of course, play a part in that, but a north London derby is also the perfect tonic for a squad needing to lift themselves.

“That (the atmosphere) is something that we control, the players, the staff, and everybody that turns up tomorrow,” said Arteta on Tuesday. “This is something that is in our hands.

“If we want, we are going to create it - we don’t depend on anybody. So, what we are going to try with the players and the staff is that we are the first ones to embrace that, and hopefully they will follow us.”

Arteta may want a hostile Emirates, but a theme of his time at the club has been how supportive the ground has become.

During the past two seasons, when the Gunners have conceded, the response has often been the home fans standing and urging the team on.

No one needs that more right now than Kai Havertz. The German comes into this derby off the back of a difficult week, where he squandered big chances in the defeats to Newcastle and Manchester United.

Havertz’s wife, Sophia, was subject to horrific social media abuse in the wake of that and it is hard to imagine exactly what his head space will be going into this clash with Tottenham.

Inside the ground, Havertz has always received support - especially during his first six months at Arsenal when he struggled for goals - and he needs the fans’ backing now.

“I cannot describe how much it helps the narrative, the energy across the club,” said Arteta.

“We have experienced it: a negative one (atmosphere) and a positive one, and what is the outcome? So it is our choice.”