‘All or Nothing: Arsenal’ review: Mikel Arteta is the rare saving grace

Too much focus on Mikel Arteta’s coaching methods along with another disappointing Arsenal season makes for an uninteresting viewing experience, but a thinly-veiled message from the Kroenke ownership reveals itself

The series that brought us behind-the-scenes footage of football clubs like Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur is back on Thursday with an in-focus look at another popular Premier League club. All or Nothing: Arsenal covers the ups and downs at Arsenal Football Club during their 2021-22 season.

It’s tempting to think that it might have been a better idea for Amazon to go into the Arsenal locker room for the upcoming 2022-23 season instead. Things are now looking on up for the Gunners with the arrival of Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City, and for the first time in years, they look ready to challenge for the Champions League places again. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s project looks set for fruition.

Missing out on the UEFA Champions League spot for the fifth year running, and not winning any trophies are the two biggest reasons why Amazon Prime Video covering Arsenal for the 2021-22 season comes off as a damp squib.

While the first three episodes of the fly-on-the-wall football locker room series are full of giddy optimism for Arsenal’s top four chances, consequently, the series does tug at emotional strings for supporters, since objectively, Arsenal never reached their season objectives.

“Arsenal is written on his forehead,” remarks former striker Thierry Henry on the 22-year-old Emile Smith-Rowe, who is revealed to be a shy young footballer. This sets the tone for the rest of the series, as Arteta and co. set about forging a modern-day identity for the club. Meanwhile, Henry looks gloriously sleepy in pastel sweaters, nothing like the sharp Frenchmen we know him to be. Pixelated footage of his solo goal against Tottenham Hotspur, introduces the legend in All or Nothing: Arsenal.

The first three episodes showcase how the fans’ perception of Mikel Arteta keeps changing. After a catastrophic start on the pitch, there was a sour taste in the Gunners’ mouths. But by the time episode three ends, Arteta has seen a sudden change in fortune with victory against Aston Villa, celebrations for which are captured through videos of fans’ Instagram stories.

Club owner Josh Kroenke is also shown backing Arteta and the smart transfer activity this season corroborates his claim. But bringing back club legends as managers have often given mixed results. The series brooms all the other shortcomings of the Kroenke ownership under the carpet, and just like the football team, Amazon has doubled down here. It may all may be for naught if Mikel Arteta cannot improve upon the last season.