Three points, a clean sheet, the extension of our unbeaten run in the league, leapfrogging Manchester City in the table, and the end of an eight-year wait for a league victory against the Blues made for a very satisfactory Sunday for those of an Arsenal persuasion.
The 1-0 victory, snatched in the 86th minute thanks to Gabriel Martinelli’s deflected strike, underlined a growing maturity in Mikel Arteta’s squad. Not only did his players go toe-to-toe with their opposite numbers, they also managed the emotions of the occasion staying calm in the face of first half terrace tetchiness.
Titles aren’t won in October, so nobody is getting carried away, but after the damage wrought by City on our collective psyche in the closing stages of last season, this result felt therapeutic.
“Certainly it sends a message to the team,” said Arteta afterwards.
“Keep believing in what they are doing, they are a fantastic group of players, the way they try, the understanding, the chemistry that they have between them you sense it and you need it to beat that, today again really proud, I was proud on Tuesday when we lost the game [in Lens], and I am really proud again today as well to be part of that team.”
On Friday, the boss had played down talk of Arsenal having a psychological barrier against City. While the Gunners came into the game on a 12-game losing streak in the league, he made clear that very few of the current crop had lived through enough of those results for it to matter.
After the game, he reframed the situation, saying: “I don’t know if it was a barrier. Obviously, it’s something that we needed to go through.
“To beat them, first of all, you have to lose against them. We have to lose probably the way we lost at the Etihad [in April], because we lost in two different ways, last season when we were the better team in the first half and then we conceded the goal after Tomiyasu’s backpass and De Bruyne scoring. But the team showed a real maturity today, that maturity comes from experiences and sometimes you need that to become a better team.”
For City, a third defeat in four games, all without the suspended midfielder Rodri and injured talisman Kevin de Bruyne, hints at growing pains for a side with a new look since winning the treble.
After a summer in which Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez, Joao Cancelo and Aymeric Laporte all departed, new boys Matheus Nunes, Jeremy Doku, Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic are still getting up to speed. If they gel, and invariably they will under Guardiola, they will still fancy their chances of a fourth consecutive league title.
All the same, Arteta was hugely impressed by the way his side dealt with the task at hand. That his side came away without conceding was even more of a boon.
“I was thinking about that in the 92nd minute, saying that we haven’t had that many [clean sheets], and against the best team in the world, we managed to do it.
“The application and the love that we had today for defending was what we needed, was in every player and it was a necessity.
“If you concede against them, you know afterwards it’s extremely difficult because they don’t give much away. So, it was really important.”
Arteta can now spend the next 10 days reviewing the latest tranche of matches while many of the squad head off on international duty. When they return, we’ll be straight back into another run of games every three days, starting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
UP THE FUCKING GUN!!
13 is the longest winnig streak (Man U v Wigan) and we used to have it before that, 11 vs Man City!
It didn’t feel that long because of the odd success in the FACup and Charity Shield but it kinda creeps up on you and before you know it it’s into double figures, so it’s good that we’ve put an end to their dominance, the next step is winning at Eastlands.
Last year’s Arsenal was sharp and easy on the eye, but this year, they have added more steel and resilience. We still what it takes to play the beautiful game, but I think this other aspect will get us across the line. I had tipped Arsenal to go one better than last season after our signings were done. Sad we lost Timber, but fewer minutes on the pitch means Tomiyasu could last longer this season and mitigate the loss. Kai showed yesterday what he is about. What more can we say about Rice? Worth every penny paid for him. Bukayo… Read more »
Arteta showed his ability to utilize his resources better when his star player was out injured and Martinelli was just back from injury.
His decisions are weird at times but he pulled a masterclass yesterday. Rendering City toothless and contained.
all things considered, Arsenal’s league fixtures have been incredibly tough. They played Man United, Everton, Tottenham, City and now Chelsea almost all after each other.
That is far from an easy run, and to come out of all those games with all 3 points except for one (which we could’ve and should’ve won) is quite a feat.
The squad will need these 2 weeks of rest, and they came at the perfect time. Let’s hope to put the sword to Chelsea, and not give them any hope of a resurgence!
Everton??
well, we lost our last 3 Premier League games against them, so beating them can be considered an achievement this year, yes. They were quite a bogey team for us…
Fair point, they are tough when they play us.
Top post, well said. 👍🍺
If we can beat Chelsea, then we will have come through a very difficult run of games and being at the top of the table.
(I actively refuse to even barely acknowledge those fortuitous one goal difference deluded cunts up the road and their even more deluded pathetically muggy fanbase; nothing will give me greater pleasure than seeing their imminent demise back to fifth or sixth or hopefully the relegation zone over the coming months).
COYG
I don’t say this lightly, but Arteta Knows. Watching yesterday’s performance and seeing the progression of this team recently has brought many feelings that I truly haven’t felt for a while following Arsenal. There is something going on here that I think will have a long-lasting impact not just in footballing terms but also more widely for the club and us as fans. I know that in the cold light of day some things need to be questioned and analysed, but sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the grind. Football is just as much an emotional thing and… Read more »
I love the patience we showed yesterday, frustrated at the time cos I was screaming at us to move it forwards (good thing I wasn’t on the pitch!!) But so glad in hindsight. This is a disciplined group of young men and no fluke result.
Just do very happy this morning.
Happy that we finally won against Team FFP.
Happy that Havertz didn’t start but came on to assist the goal.
Happy that the twat that is Michael Oliver didn’t ruin it.
I would be even happier if Ramsdale plays the next game and if he doesn’t that Arteta just admits Raya is his No1 and that he won’t be rotating.
What is so encouraging to me about this start to the season is that we have not played anywhere near as well or as consistently as we are capable of (plus have missed many key players like Partey for a number of games, Saka for the City game and parts of many others, Martinelli, Zinchenko coming to full fitness, etc.) yet are sitting top of the league with just 6 goals allowed (including at least half that we gifted to the opponents) while gaining 7 points off of United, Spurs and City. Once we get more fit and have the… Read more »
“The application and the love that we had today for defending”……….
Afterwards:
Mikel …………” Ben , what were you thinking? We’re 1 fucking nil up against City, in the final minute, you decide to nut some fellah”
Nut him or nutmeg him?
Not only did his players go toe-to-toe with their opposite numbers…
Slightly unfortunate phrasing for William Saliba there 🫠
I don’t want to be too cynical, but I wonder if Saliba’s toe is not related to the many injuries that Ryan Giggs suffered just before international breaks.
Let’s do the double over em now just like 2015
Yet another example to show just what Saliba adds to the team and what may have been had he not been injured last season. Absolutely owns Haaland, and that’s saying a LOT!!
We all need to understand that the way Arteta wants his goalkeeper to take risks renders Ramsdale obsolete. He can’t play that role, much like degea at united. Great shot stoppers but the position is evolving and great feet are now a requirement.. I love Ramsdale but I’m afraid his arsenal days may be cut short if he doesn’t improve his footwork. RAYA IS THE NEW No1, if his not good enough, we will be in the market. The goalkeepers with the Alison and ederson profile are the future especially for top clubs and unfortunately for us right now they… Read more »
Sweet moments …
Willy’s sumo clash with Haaland resulting in a flying (and crash-landing) viking
Benny Blanco schooling Doku for his over-eagerness with the coolest of megs
We have some marvellous players don’t we?