Is this season’s Arsenal better than last season’s Arsenal? We’ll leave that to you to debate.
What’s clear is that having undertaken a semi-rebuild of his midfield last summer, Mikel Arteta is pleased with the way his squad has clicked since the middle of January.
The Gunners spent £200 million in the summer recruiting Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber only to lose the latter to injury on the opening weekend of the Premier League campaign.
With Granit Xhaka leaving for Bayer Leverkusen and key trio Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey all sidelined for long periods by injury, the fact Arteta’s squad have adapted and evolved has been impressive.
For Havertz and Rice, it’s been a case of learning on the job. While the England international took to Arteta’s tactics like a duck to water, the German initially struggled but now looks like a vital cog in the Gunners’ machine.
After last night’s 6-0 battering of Sheffield United – a seventh consecutive win in the league – Arteta was asked about his summer business and the momentum they are helping his squad gain.
“Yes for sure [they are helping],” he told his post-game press conference. “And obviously picking the right players that could bring something that we didn’t have to the squad, and they’re certainly doing that and improving every single player, and the mechanisms and culture around the team.
“They are doing that but there’s still the most [important] part of the season ahead and we know that that’s the case.
He added: “We are trying to improve in every phase of play; they are understanding the chemistry of the players and the desire they have to constantly be better, and improve in every area.”
As things stand, Arsenal sit third behind Manchester City and Liverpool. However, they will go top with a win over Brentford on Saturday and could stay there, courtesy of their impressive goal difference, if their title rivals draw at Anfield the next day.
Asked whether goal difference could prove the difference come 19 May, Arteta said: “We don’t know. Obviously, the fact we scored so many goals and not conceding is a great sign, but it’s about winning every game now, and that’s the demands those two clubs have put over the last six or seven years, and that’s the task ahead of us.”
What happened to “by the numbers”?
maybe its number was up
hahaha what a classic. stupid unfunny joke aside though it usually doesn’t come out until a while after the game so if you wait a while the article will get posted eventually.
I was wondering the same thing though. It does normally come a little later but I’m pretty certain it didn’t arrive at all last week
A lot of numbers to crunch, be patient LOL
It has become a little occasional since Scott stopped doing it regularly
They can’t keep up with all the goals.
Sensible and modest words .. it’s a game at a time no getting carried away and any future signing will be a grounded and modest player with great team work ethic …
love it
Havertz clicking as a number 9 and the stabilization of the left full back position and the partnership of Rice and Jorginho is transcending Arsenal to the next level
Agreed, those automatisms (per Arsene) have started to work. No player will be perfect when first coming into a team. And inuries are hopefully the opposite of last season when we lost key players. This season we have great players coming back to strengthen the bench, at least.
When your 4th choice LB is putting in serious performances, you know that squad building has been exemplary.
People talk endlessly about Liverpool’s injuries (smallest violin in the world) but we’ve been so unlucky too. The difference is we have Kiwior and they have Tsimsipas or whatever his bloody name is.
Awh man, when Saka took out Tsimikas who took out Klopp is right up there with my favourite moments this season!
This team is as close to the finished article as they have been since the invincibles. Any more astute signings will likely install us as favourites for next season’s title race.
Happy days.
As someone pointed out, if this team wins the league it would be the youngest team ever to win the premiere league. We’re only going to get better.
We are such a joy to watch, and we still haven’t seen some other big combinations and chemistry just yet. Here’s hoping we keep the purple patch running.
Timber-Martinelli, Timber-Saka…in fact Timber-Anyone hehe…. Vieira-Martinelli, Partey-Rice-Odegaard…
At one point last night, commentator was saying he thinks we are faster than City and Pool when we break, and I thought, nahhhhh stick to shitting on us, because if we can just go all the way, we will still tell you lot where to shove it!
Up The Arse!!
That was Jim Beglin, the former Liverpool fullback who understands football and, in my experience, always describes what he is seeing, not some pre-conceived narrative. One interesting moment last night was his praise for the referee in allowing the advantage for Havertz’ goal.
Agree with all of what you said, but the ref should still have booked the defender for assault after we scored.
That’s true, but it’s hard to get worked up about it when it’s the fourth goal and it looks like we can more or less score at will.
Interestingly, our second half of this season is looking more like the first half of last season. We seem to be peaking at the right time and might just blitz our way to the title! COYG
Except we’re better now than we were then. More mature, more well-rounded and multi-faceted.
I always knew MA would continue to evolve the team. Guy is a walking football brain.
COYG!
Boa constrictors don’t cut off air to the lungs as is commonly believed, they squeeze so tightly that they stop the blood flowing to the heart. Arteta’s Arsenal destroys the opponent’s vital organ, then annihilates them. NF walked on the field in very poor health but look at what we did to West Ham, to Liverpool, and especially Newcastle. It’s not the defense, it’s not the midfield, it’s not the offense – it’s all of them as one. Never seen anything like this. 31 goals and three conceded in seven matches, most of them over by halftime. Madness! We can… Read more »
“All of them as one” is the key phrase there.
That part in “All Or Nothing” has always stayed with me. The part where MA is teaching them about knowing where everyone is without looking.
I think this is absolutely central to his methods.
What is NF?
Nottingham Forest
If Rice could’ve scored that one touch sequence on edge of the box. That back heel from Odegaard. I think there were 8 passes in 5 seconds. Rice should’ve hit it when it opened up at first. Would’ve given Wilsheres Norwich goal a run for its money?
Absolutely. Some parts in the 1st half reminded me of vintage Wenger days, first time in a long time.
Bit of fun…
Wilshere vs Fulham
or
Giroud vs Palace (scorpion)
or
Ramsey vs Fulham (under Emery)
?
Classic list, it’s still Wilshere for me. I might add Aubameyangs goal I forget against who. Where Ozil dummied and laid it off for Auba. Dummies like that are so aesthetically pleasing.
Yea I always have a soft spot for the JW goal but the OG goal won the Puskas and is probably the best counter-attacking goal I’ve seen.
The Ramsey one is also a big favourite and is probably under-rated.
Leicester City, if I remember correctly
Oops I meant Wilshere vs Norwich
No Bergie goal on the list?
I was thinking team goals but yeah dreamy Dennis!
Bergkamp vs. Newcastle. I still can’t believe he pulled that off.
That Vieira goal against Spu*s the day we won the title in 2004. From our box to theirs in literally no time – Thierry-Dennis-Patrick-goal. What a side that was too!
For importance as well great shout
Err Wiltshire v Norwich me thinks but ollie scorpion but then what about Ramsey v Gala? Or 1 of the greatest of all time in or 7 0 demo of Everton ? Vieira goal even said to my son we will score a goal that is so breathtaking than fans will pause for a second to take it in. Yeah similar to Jack’s v Norwich
There’s also a Rosicky goal which is similar to jacks which is worth a mention
Yes, against Sunderland, right in front of me sat in row one of the upper deck behind the goal. Best goal I’ve ever seen live (I don’t get to see many matches live, it’s 1-2 per year at best), even better than Eduardo’s ridiculous beach football goal with the outside of his foot against Burnley (?) in 2009. But out of the list above I still have to go with the Wilshere goal against Norwich. The sheer skill of the six consecutive one-touch moves that left a whole defense and midfield frozen in place was beyond breathtaking. What a goal!… Read more »
Reading MA’s comments; ESR, Eddie, and Nelson are gone this summer. Vieira is a better player than Nelson and more technical than ESR. Firstly, they’re not good enough. Secondly, Arsenal need significant sales to keep on the right side FFP. And yes, its absurd that FFP only matters to the “little” clubs (i.e., not Man Shity) but you better believe they will come after Arsenal in a major way. Last, MA isn’t sentimental, he wants players. And selling a talent like ESR (who doesnt’ play) is a bold move and he’ll bring a windfall. What academy players are for, barring… Read more »
I absolutely hate the idea of selling ESR but, as a musical artist, I do fully understand the maxim “you have to kill your darlings”.
Eddie to Fulham or West Ham
Nelson to Dortmund or Brighton
ESR to Villa
All home-grown profit.
ESR wont be worth half what he was a few years ago, but thats just football business unfortunately.
Selling all 3 of these should bring us at least 60m ish? That would go a long way to a new striker / midfielder / winger.
Wages are the most important factor that determines whether a player can feasibly be brought to another club or not. Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson are both on 100k per week. That’s just 30k less than what Aston Villa are paying Ollie Watkins and 40k more than Newcastle are paying Anthony Gordon. The top earner at an average French, Italian or German side is on about 60k. Ramsdale is on 120. Partey is on 200. The few teams that could afford contracts in excess of 100k per week have cheaper, better alternatives to choose from in Europe and world football.… Read more »
I have noticed a possible tactical change from last season and also from early this season. Previously when we went 1-9 or 2-0 up we sat back and invited pressure which let our opponents back into the game ( the Liverpool and West Ham games when we were 2-0 up and top of the league). After this Dubai trip it looks like we are going all in to destroy the opposition and finish them off. This could be a coincidence or an actual change in how we approach a 1-0 or 2-0 lead.
To be fair, in the first half against Burnley we looked like we we went 1-9 up, we would keep on going at them.
Don’t forget how Raya has learnt on the job too. I think Artetaball is so technical it takes most a while to adapt to it learn the playbook. Rice is a bit of an exception because he’s come in full of confidence and is the right player. Havertz has come in low on confidence and you can also see his game is based on understanding the players and squad direction. Raya had to (understably) prove his worth to the fans and also understand the playing style of who can receive short, who can receive long. I think losing Timber was… Read more »