As the international break arrives, Arsenal sit firmly among the Premier League’s leading sides once again. The journey to this point has not been without turbulence, but the sense of maturity surrounding Mikel Arteta’s team continues to grow. The Gunners have displayed a combination of tactical refinement and emotional control that has kept them in the title conversation from the opening weekend through to mid November.
Twelve games into the campaign, Arsenal have collected points with a consistency that reflects both experience and balance. It has been a season of dominance. It has been a season built on intelligence, structure and patience. The evolution of this team is evident in how they handle momentum. They no longer live on adrenaline. They live on control.
Tactical Identity: Structure Meets Fluidity
Arteta’s Arsenal no longer resemble a young side learning how to win. Their movements are instinctive and their patterns of play arrive naturally. The manager’s ideas now define the team rather than simply guide it. Arsenal have become a side that prides itself on structure, yet still carries the freedom needed to express creativity within that structure.
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The team often shifts between a 4 3 3 in possession and a compact 4 4 2 when defending. The full backs step inside with intelligence, helping create passing lanes while protecting central spaces. Declan Rice anchors the midfield with a calm authority, using his reading of transitions and his quick distribution to set the pace of Arsenal’s play.
Further forward, Leandro Trossard and Eberechi Eze have developed a subtle partnership that gives Arsenal imagination in tight areas. Their decision making under pressure adds layers to Arsenal’s attacking build up. Whenever the team struggles to break down an organised opponent, it is often Trossard or Eze who provide the spark through movement or invention.
More than tactics, though, Arsenal have grown emotionally. They now manage matches without panic, a major step forward from the volatility of previous seasons. They understand when to accelerate and when to protect themselves. It is a type of maturity that cannot be taught quickly, but is now firmly visible in this group.
Defence: From Fragile to Formidable
One of the clearest signs of Arsenal’s growth is their defensive resilience. Where previous campaigns occasionally featured moments of fragility, this season’s version is far more composed. William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães have become the most complete central defensive pairings in England. Their understanding of distance, communication and timing gives Arsenal a base that is difficult to break.
Saliba continues to look like one of the finest defenders of his generation. His composure under pressure and his willingness to play progressive passes help Arsenal build confidently from the back. Gabriel’s strength, aggression and leadership complement Saliba’s calmness. Together they form a partnership that looks natural and well balanced.
Arsenal’s defensive record reflects that stability. They have conceded very few goals and many of those have come from single lapses rather than systemic failures. The only recurring issue at this stage has been defending set pieces. A few moments of lost concentration have proven costly, including at Sunderland. Arteta will see that as a correctable detail rather than a structural concern.
Midfield Control: The Rise of Declan Rice
Declan Rice continues to justify every expectation placed upon him. He has transformed Arsenal’s midfield from solid to commanding. Rice disrupts play with precision, wins duels consistently and distributes with purpose. His presence brings a rare combination of athleticism and intelligence.
His influence is not limited to the defensive side of the game. Rice drives the team forward with progressive passing and well timed surges into advanced positions. His energy lifts those around him and his discipline allows others to play with greater freedom.
Alongside him, Martin Zubimendi helps conduct Arsenal’s attacks. Even without eye catching numbers in every match, his ability to dictate tempo, create angles and find pockets of space remains essential. Eze adds dribbling quality and unpredictability, giving Arsenal another route through tight defensive blocks.
Together, the trio gives Arsenal a midfield that blends control, creativity and discipline. When all three are fit, Arsenal often dictate matches with authority.
Attack: Depth, Variety and a Quiet Leader
Arsenal’s front line is a mix of different qualities. Bukayo Saka continues to carry enormous responsibility and still finds ways to influence games despite constant double marking. Viktor Gyökeres provides a physical presence that Arsenal previously lacked. His strength, willingness to battle defenders and ability to hold the ball give Arsenal a more direct option when needed.
Yet the most important attacking figure this season has been Leandro Trossard. His contribution is not always loud but it is always meaningful. He plays in multiple positions, reads the game with clarity and brings a calm influence to moments when Arsenal need composure.
Trossard has become the stabilising force in Arsenal’s forward line. He understands when to widen the pitch, when to drift into midfield and when to attack the box. His goal at Sunderland was a classic example of his balance and intelligence. He recognises space a fraction of a second before others, which allows him to make decisive contributions.
What makes him vital is not only output but rhythm. Trossard keeps Arsenal’s attacks connected. When the team needs control he provides it. When they need movement he offers it. His versatility and intelligence make him one of Arteta’s most trusted players.
Young Stars and Supporting Cast
Arsenal’s identity remains rooted in youth but that youth is now experienced. Saka, Rice, Ødegaard and Saliba have all grown into leadership roles. They understand the demands of a title race and the responsibility of carrying a team with expectation.
Ben White, Cristian Mosquera, and Myles Lewis-Skelly offer depth and reliability. White’s flexibility continues to be invaluable, as he can play centrally or out wide without diminishing quality. Mosquera remains dependable in every role he is given. Lewis-Skelly has made important improvements in both positioning and confidence.
Mentality and Maturity
Perhaps the strongest sign of Arsenal’s evolution is their mentality. This team no longer collapses under pressure. They respond to setbacks with clarity and discipline. After the draw at Sunderland, the reaction inside the squad was calm and focused. There was disappointment but no panic.
Arteta has created an environment where players trust the process and each other. They understand that winning a title requires consistency, patience and emotional balance. Those qualities are now visible in every phase of Arsenal’s game.
Challenges Ahead
Arsenal have started the season well but the most demanding months are still ahead. The schedule will intensify, injuries will test depth and the Champions League knockout rounds will add further pressure. Arteta will need to rotate wisely to protect key players.
Creativity in the final third is an area where incremental improvement would make a significant difference. Arsenal often dominate possession but sometimes lack the killer instinct to turn control into comfort. A fully fit Gabriel Martinelli could help solve that.
Set piece concentration and late game defensive focus will also be crucial if Arsenal hope to push the title race deep into spring.
Regardless of individual results, the wider perspective is clear. Arsenal have built a sustainable identity. Their structure, recruitment and mentality place them among the most stable and coherent sides in Europe.
Where the club once relied on potential, it now relies on clarity. The team knows what it is, what it stands for and what it expects from every player.
The first third of the 2025/26 season has confirmed that Arsenal are not a project anymore. They are a fully developed side capable of competing for every major honour. Their growth under Arteta has been steady, deliberate and intelligent.
There is still a long season ahead, but Arsenal enter the winter period not as hopeful contenders. They enter as genuine leaders with the tools, balance and mentality to stay in the fight.