After bonfires, bulbs and a dog called Win, will Arteta get Arsenal going again?

Kai Havertz was signed to play in midfield but has proven himself a viable alternative as a No 9. Photograph: David Price/Arsenal FC/Getty Images

Arteta had taken a brave decision to drop Viktor Gyökeres, his leading league scorer with 12, from his starting lineup. The Sweden striker was showing signs of improvement but it was noticeable how much smoother Arsenal looked in attack with Havertz leading the line. The irony is that the Germany international was earmarked to play in midfield when bought in 2023 after Arsenal had finished as runners-up to City on the back of a 4-1 thumping at the Etihad that prompted Arteta to adopt a much more cautious approach the next season.

He has emerged as a better alternative at No 9 to a struggling Gabriel Jesus but his limitations as a striker were illustrated by the two opportunities he missed during the second half against City. Gyökeres lacks Havertz’s ability to link play and pairing them has not really worked, although a lack of other in-form options means Arteta may have to be bold – not a trait associated with him over the years – and try that again at times.

It has been all about trusting the process. The Spaniard, a self-confessed workaholic, revealed in October that he usually starts his day at 5.30am: two hours before Guardiola and earlier than any other Premier League manager surveyed by Sky Sports. His demeanour on the touchline during matches has been heavily criticised in some quarters for sending the wrong message to his players and betrays the anxiety he is feeling – perhaps a legacy of never having won the Premier League title as a player as well as the interminable wait as a manager. Success on the pitch is no guarantee of success in the dugout, but Guardiola won six La Liga titles as a Barcelona player and has buckets more experience of seeing things through compared with Arteta, whose only championship-winning season was in Scotland with Rangers in 2003.

Arteta has probably not helped endear himself to the wider public by remaining so guarded during press conferences, and calling his own supporters to arms has tended to backfire, as it did before this month’s costly defeat by Bournemouth when fans were told to “bring your lunch”. He will surely take a different approach before the game against Newcastle on Saturday evening.

Arteta, whose 16-year-old son Gabriel made his debut for the club’s under-18s on Wednesday, is understood to retain the faith of the Arsenal hierarchy regardless of whether they finish another season trophyless. If neither the league nor Champions League is won from here, the board’s resolve would be severely tested because a growing section of fans have rightly questioned whether he is capable of taking the final step.

Eberechi Eze was substituted against City just after he had hit the post. Photograph: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images

It is easy to forget that this is Arteta’s first managerial post and the psychological stunts have been part of his attempts to stamp his authority on a largely young and impressionable group of players. With the pressure released slightly after losing the lead they had over City for so long, it is time to deliver.