Arsenal midfielder Dani Ceballos has claimed that the Gunners were "almost dead" before Mikel Arteta arrived in the Emirates dugout.
Unai Emery's ill-fated stint as Arsenal manager came to an end in November 2019, with Freddie Ljungberg proceeding to take temporary charge before Arteta returned to North London.
While the Spaniard has not been immune from criticism, Arteta has guided Arsenal to an FA Cup and Community Shield triumph in his first year as manager, and Ceballos has praised the former Gunner for providing a "radical change" to the club in a sly dig at Emery.
Speaking to The Sun, Ceballos said: "The team was almost dead - but after Arteta's arrival we won the FA Cup and the Community Shield.
"It's not even a year since he arrived and he has given a radical change to the club. He's the soul of the club and he's lucky that the players trust him 100%.
"Arsenal need him, in part because he takes the initiative most of the time."
Arsenal - who currently lie 14th in the Premier League table - resume their top-flight campaign on Sunday evening when they welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Emirates Stadium.
Ben Knapton
