Senderos backs Arteta and Berta partnership to bring silverware back to Arsenal

Former Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos is excited at the prospect of Mikel Arteta working with a new sporting director this summer.

The Gunners have conducted a thorough recruitment process to fill the role vacated by Edu in November and reports have suggested they have settled on former Atletico Madrid man Andrea Berta.

Berta left Atleti in January and a deal is thought to be in place for the Italian to oversee Arsenal’s transfer business this summer.

Jason Ayto has been acting as interim sporting director following Edu’s departure with the club coming in for criticism for the failure to bolster their attacking options in the January window.

Gabriel Jesus suffered a ruptured ACL in January and Kai Havertz sustained a season-ending hamstring injury on a mid-season training camp in Dubai, leaving the Gunners short as they looked to chase down Liverpool in the title race.

Berta had a mixed record at Atletico with the likes of Rodri, Jan Oblak and Julian Alvarez regarded as successes but there were failures too, such as Joao Felix, Thomas Lemar and Alvaro Morata.

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Senderos impressed by young players’ integration

Senderos, who played for Arsenal between 2003 and 2010 and won the FA Cup in 2005, is confident Berta and Arteta will continue the club’s recent upward trajectory and the Swiss is relishing the thought of what comes next at the Emirates.

He told 101 Great Goals, via NewBettingSites.uk: “Arsenal are a team that are progressing and it’s part of the whole strategy of the club, to continue to improve the players that you have, your current squad, as well as to keep adding quality players and they’ve been able to do that.

“I’ve been really impressed by the integration of the younger players as well as the integration of players that they’ve signed. Each time they have identified well the positions to strengthen.

“There will be some changes again this summer for sure and regardless of what happens, there will be a new sporting director to prepare the transfer window with Mikel Arteta.

“I’m really excited to see what happens in the future for Arsenal.”

Senderos says Arsenal need to double up against Madrid trio

Arsenal are next in action next Tuesday when they host Fulham in the Premier League. Arteta’s men are 12 points behind leaders Liverpool with the title seemingly heading to Merseyside.

The Champions League represents, therefore, the club’s best chance of silverware this season although they first have to get past the daunting challenge of defending champions Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

Madrid are spearheaded by their fearsome front three of Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappe and asked what Arsenal’s defence have to do to contain the trio, former centre-half Senderos said: “Arsenal need to double up on the wings. We saw Atletico Madrid try to do it – they’ve done it for a long time, to not leave much space. 

“You have to leave as little space as possible for the likes of Vinicius, Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo because those players can hurt you.

“We’ve seen Mbappe coming short, taking the ball and starting to run from deeper areas, and this is where you would need your midfield to really cover you. I used to have the likes of Gilberto Silva in front of the defence.”

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Senderos a big fan of Gabriel and Saliba partnership

On the plus side, Arsenal will go into the two-legged tie with the impressive defensive pairing of Gabriel and William Saliba.

“I would say Gabriel and William Saliba are the most consistent centre-back pairing in the Premier League at the moment,” added Senderos. “I would have to mention the Liverpool backline as well, but I’m more tempted to say Saliba and Gabriel [as being the best].”