After 15 defeats to Manchester City in 16 matches over six years between November 2017 and April 2023, the tide has started to in Arsenal’s favour.
Thanks to yesterday’s 5-1 battering at Emirates Stadium, the Gunners are now five games unbeaten against Pep Guardiola’s side. Slowly but surely, Mikel Arteta’s evolving side has shed its inferiority complex to close a gap that once appeared impossible to bridge.
And it’s not just against City. Arsenal haven’t lost to any of the traditional ‘Big Six’ – City, Chelsea, United, Sp*rs, Liverpool – in 17 matches.
So what’s been the secret? According to Arteta, it’s all about belief.
“I think your emotional state, to work at this level, is crucial, it’s how you feel about yourself, how you feel about the team,” he said in his post-game press conference.
“The confidence, the trust in your ability, and how you are looking at your opposition. That took some years as well and a lot of good decisions but it’s down to the players.
“When they play with that tenacity it’s because they believe they can win and can go face to face the opposition. That’s the best thing. After that, you can win or lose because both teams are really good but what I like is the attitude.”
Left devastated by City’s late equaliser at the Etihad in September – a match that required the Gunners to jettison their original game plan after Leandro Trossard’s first half red card – there was a sense the players had unfinished business when they took to the field yesterday.
At the same time, after making the perfect start thanks to Odegaard’s early opener, they allowed the game to drift and nearly paid the price.
David Raya was forced into a couple of fine stops before half-time and then found himself picking the ball out of the net 10 minutes of the break. Were it not for a fortunate deflection on Thomas Partey’s strike a minute later, momentum in the game might easily have swung the way of the visitors.
“That was a turning point,” noted Arteta. “We reacted so quickly, had a bit of luck in that action and they set the tone for the team in the stadium as well to go and win the game.”
That fortune favoured his side didn’t go unnoticed. Several times Arteta pointed out the fine margins that decided the outcome.
“To beat them in the manner that we’ve done, a lot of things have to go your way. We were very aggressive, we played with a lot of courage with and without the ball, and with the high press, the limits are really, really thin.
“We scored a goal, should have scored another one clearly, and after even if you want it they are that good that sometimes you have to stay deep and defend deep, and suffer, and enjoy those moments as well.
“We had a bit of luck in certain moments and then we had the opportunity – our intentions, our aggression with the ball, how we wanted to hurt them. The way we finished the actions was exceptional.”
And on Raya’s impact, he said: “That’s why we talk that a lot of things have to go your way, you know, and in those moments you have to be very efficient, you need a bit of luck, you need individual action.
“We had it all today. That’s why probably the result reflects that distance because a lot of things go our way today.”
Having endured a series of decisions that haven’t gone his team’s way – questionable red cards, injuries to key players, late winners ruled out, and alike – it was about time Arsenal got the rub of the green.
For sure, they’ll need more of that if they are to stand any chance of hunting down Liverpool who remain top of the table by six points with a game in hand.
I saw yesterday that MA is now joint with Klopp and Tuchel as the only managers that have managed to go 5 games without defeat against a pep team. It would be quite poetic if he were able to go clear of those other two next season and we can start talking about the apprentice overtaking the master. Sure, he doesn’t have the silverware yet, but he has rebuilt a club from top to bottom, which Pep has never done – and if pep cannot find ways to beat us, then MA has legit claim to being the best manager… Read more »
Not the players we are looking for, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we panic and sign Jao Felix or Nkuku from Chelsea. Won’t be a loan, since we have Sterling and Neto already.
I would be amazed if either of those players are on Arteta’s radar. In
Felix has potential. I’d be less excited by Nkunku
I’m kinda suprised Oshimen’s name hasn’t really been in the press this window. I kinda understood he’d be available if someone wanted to buy.
Tel seemed like a reasonable option too.
That’s so true, I remember so clearly the late Wenger era, from about 2008 onwards after we had that title challenge that went in the toilets with the Eduardo injury, all those teams afterwards seem to have more than enough talent to beat any of the big teams on any given day, including those Bayern and other UCL ties. But the belief was never quite there, nor the mental fortitude to persevere when things weren’t going our way (maybe very rarely for one match like that home leg vs Barca or the draw in Munich but never enough to win… Read more »
So yesterday was a great day which I didn’t want to spoil. During Sky’s commentary, G Neville said “Noone who has ever played football would begrudge Haaland going for Gabriel” Now if that isn’t openly advocating for violence I don’t know what is. Then later on, in Match of the day it continued with that murphy guy saying about MLS’ goal celebration “You used to get a senior player giving you a reducer in the next match but you can’t do that anymore” Now i’m not getting precious but surely these type of comments need to be called out. Banana… Read more »
I’m glad you have mentioned that. Its gone under the radar (understandably) about Silva. I’ve just listened to Andy Jacobs (always willing to swing at Arsenal about anything), who unprovoked said Silva should have been sent off for the Trossard kicking alone! He prevented a free kick and hacked at Trossard. Add that to barge on Ode and its either 2 yellows or one red and a yellow. More should be made of this!
Still basking btw!
Yes, obviously winning, and obliterating them in the process hides,all that. I didn’t want to bring it up yesterday, but it needs to be pointed out to the right people by the suits at Arsenal.
It’s very deliberate baiting on his part. He contributed to more than his fair share of running rivalries with teams and individual players over his career so his indignation is pure theatre.
This is the same Gary Neville who had no opinion on twenty something covid postponements in 2021/22 only blew up on the issue when Arsenal were granted a postponement. He’s a weasel, tries to cover his tracks by throwing out the odd token compliment but he just can’t help letting the true colours through with regularity.
Shame we’ve dropped points to other teams though.
Now the problem is that we don’t realise you get the same reward beating Everton as Man City ie 3 points
Its a good thing Arsenal responded well after they conceded. Momentum was already building for those humble boys, but instead of soaking in, we took the game to them with alot of pressing and that made them gave away the ball carelessly. More of the same kind of intensity and penetration over the next few mths, surely we can eventually win this time. Coyg!