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Mikel Arteta said the prospects for From Arsenal The season is “completely different” after they beat West Brom 4-0 to complete three Premier League victories in eight days.
Before last weekend, the Gunners had gone eight league games without winning and found themselves struggling at the bottom end of the table.
But nine points out of nine have propelled Arsenal back into the contention for European places as they move up to 11th place and three points out of the top six.
“I am very happy that we were able to achieve the goal we had because the table looks completely different,” said Arteta, who had found his job threatened just four months after winning the FA Cup.
“The energy we have in the place is much better and the victories bring a lot of confidence. You can see that today in the way the team played.”
West Brom is yet to win in four games since Sam Allardyce took over and the former England manager needs to quickly instill the defensive discipline he has made his trademark at previous clubs so his new team has any chance of surviving.
The Baggies have surprised Manchester City and Liverpool with 1-1 draws on the road in recent weeks, but have now conceded 12 goals in Allardyce’s first three home games.
“I think we have to find a way to make sure we’re not as careless as we are about conceding goals,” said Allardyce, whose team is second last, six points from safety.
“That seems to be defending more deeply like we did in Man City and Liverpool. It seems that when we try to open up, we leave opportunities for the opposition and we cannot cope.”
Arteta’s decision to finally trust her pool of talented youngsters has changed her team’s season. Bukayo Saka was again the bright light, while Kieran Tierney and Emile Smith Rowe also impressed.
Arsenal’s losing streak was mainly due to the struggle to score goals, but they were a threat from the start despite the treacherous conditions on a snowy surface.
Sam Johnstone denied Hector Bellerin and Saka in the first 10 minutes, but was unable to stop Tierney’s impressive opener in 23 minutes.
The Scottish international left Darnell Furlong behind him before slicing in with his weaker right foot and ducking into the top corner.
Arsenal’s second was reminiscent of their fluid soccer at the height of the Arsene Wenger era when Saka fed Lacazette, whose brilliant pass put Smith Rowe behind the West Brom defense and set out for Saka to take advantage of an empty net.
The outbound traffic continued after the break and a comical West Brom defense led to third when Semi Ajayi slammed a dangerous cross off his own post and the ball snapped into Lacazette for a simple shot.
Moments later, another Tierney foray down the left pushed Lacazette for another shot at point-blank range for his fourth goal in three games.
