Michael Ateta was seen consulting his “dark arts” notebook, which contained THREE essential ideas for defeating Southampton.

To keep his team close to Man City and Liverpool, Arsenal defeated the Premier League’s bottom team 3-1 at home on Saturday.v.

After falling down, the Gunners rallied to win all three points with goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, and Bukayo Saka.

And Arsenal is still undefeated after winning their past four games in all competitions.

Arteta could need to reconsider his strategy for the upcoming game against Bournemouth, though.

The Spaniard enjoys scribbling before and during games on tactical schemes.

Regretfully, Arteta’s most recent notes were discovered at the Emirates during the day.

Positions on the pitch with different instructions looked to be shown on one piece of paper with a red header and footer.

With the black ink written on the other side, it was challenging to read exactly what it said.

It was easier to view yet another note.It also seems to summarise Arteta’s three “principles” for defeating Southampton.

The first note was, “AR 6 yard, force.”One piece of paper was hard to decipherThe other showed several instructions, including one that may have targeted Aaron RamsdaleCredit: Dave Shopland/REX/Shutterstock

It is unclear what exactly this meant.

But it could be interpreted as instructions to make Saints goalie and former Arsenal star Aaron Ramsdale play on the edge of his six-yard box.

Arteta’s next two “principles” were harder to gauge due to his fingers blocking the final words.

One read: “Force our…”

“Avoid switch…” was introduced in the second.

There was an additional part to Arteta’s master plan below.

A single note read, “Throw ins. Who accepts it?

The second, however, just murmured “right” before Arteta’s fingers severed it.

The Spaniard commended his Arsenal teammates for their tenacious performance after the game.”Saka has the ability to alter and decide games,” he declared.

“Players sometimes have to create such situations if we want to be at the top, and he’s done that again.

“At his age, he is accomplishing amazing things, and the team is in need of him.” That’s what makes a player elite.

Arteta went on to say about Havertz, “He wants more.” He’s not content. He still has another level to go.

“He’s surrounded by amazing players, but he’s transformed on the inside. You can actually feel how confident he is.It’s fantastic that he is now winning matches and putting it into his games. He is a nine who is an attacking midfielder whose whereabouts are unknown.
His football brain is like that. “I’m going to win the game, I’m going to do it” is his main thought.