There have been ups and downs since Mikel Arteta replaced Unai Emery on Arsenal’s bench in December. There have been good periods, more difficult, positive and negative results. However, consistency was always missing. Consistency in performances, in style of play and, of course, in results. Finally, it seems that the Arsenal head coach has found the right formula, and with that, his rebuilding work has finally returned to normal.
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Norwich’s 4-0 demolition on Wednesday at Emirates Stadium, where the Gunners were in total control as rarely before this season, proves this point. Even if they benefited from mistakes from a poor and downhill side, Arsenal finally showed significant progress. Arteta always knew where he wanted to be. Now it seems he knows how he wants to do it and with who.
During the pandemic, when he was in daily contact with his players via video conference, and since the restart, Arteta has had plenty of time to evaluate his squad. He has insisted on having the right mindset as individuals and as a club. Those who don’t work hard enough and don’t have the right attitude won’t play. Mesut Ozil, who was not on the team again on Wednesday, is one of them, while Matteo Guendouzi was also fired from his confrontation with Neal Maupay from Brighton. On the other hand, Dani Ceballos has worked hard and earned the right to start, as he did against Norwich with a very good performance, particularly in the first half. Ozil and Guendouzi could still return to the team, but for that to happen, Arteta will have to see a positive response from them first. After Norwich’s victory, he was asked about Guendouzi and a possible comeback after dropping him in the previous three games. “Things will have to change [from him] and they still haven’t changed, “he said, stressing once again how important attitude and behavior is to him in training and during games.
However, like the staff, it was important for Arteta to find the right system. You can have big ideas and ambitions in your style, but without the right tactics it won’t get you anywhere. The Spaniard has changed a bit, but the 3-4-3 formation he has played in the last three games is clearly his preferred formation and what we should expect to see until the end of the season.
Not only does he put David Luiz in his best position, but he also seems to adapt perfectly to other players on the team. Granit Xhaka now has more protection behind him. Kieran Tierney and Héctor Bellerin are better in the future than in defense and are therefore more effective in forward roles. Here, we saw the Scotsman perform another very good performance against Norwich, exerting a lot of energy up and down his wing. left and showing undeniable quality with his left foot. With Tierney by his side, it also means that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can go a little deeper, especially when Alexandre Lacazette falls deeper to catch the ball.
The Arsenal captain reached a milestone on Wednesday, scoring his Premier League goals 50 and 51 in just his game 79, reaching these numbers even faster than the great Thierry Henry (83 games). “He can be so decisive at any time for us. He is willing to stay with us. He is happy, he can see what we want to do. He can still improve too. I am positive and I will continue to be positive that he can stay here for many years,” he added. Arteta when asked about the Gabonese striker’s contractual situation.
Regarding Lacazette, the Frenchman is going through a goal drought and lacks confidence at the moment, as we saw with the two opportunities he lost against Norwich, but his liaison game is still precious to the team. With this system, the team is also more balanced that way. Arsenal controlled the pace of the game well on Wednesday, and Arteta was very pleased with the team’s performance, game patterns, diagonals and game changes and movement off the ball. His reaction to his team’s second goal, scored by Xhaka, proved it. With a huge build-up from right to left, Aubameyang in half space and the Swiss midfielder’s deep career was the perfect goal and the type of goal the coach dreams of.
“Tonight was part of the process of what we want to do here. We have to respect what we are doing. We have had a difficult season, but the players are very willing and very willing to what we are doing. I am very happy with the attitude and the players’ understanding of what we’re trying to do and tonight proved it, “Arteta said after the game.
Spanish was also remarkably vocal in all the games, in English, in Spanish, and sometimes even a little French. He was always behind his players, repositioning, cheering, and even yelling too. It was nice to see him show off his leadership skills and challenge his team and even better to see his players respond.
Arsenal have now won three games in a row in all competitions, but there is still a lot of work to do. The club’s next two games, against Wolves on Saturday and Leicester on Tuesday, will define their season. Both teams sit above Londoners in the race for Champions League places, six and nine points ahead, respectively. Arteta and his players still believe they can enter Europe and two wins would keep them on the lookout for fifth place. Two wins would also confirm and enhance all the progress the team has shown in the past three games and will provide a springboard to end the season with force.
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