Photo from Arsenal.com
Morning all.
I think the media along with other anti Arsenal folk out there near to realise one thing. Premier League football isn’t as it was during the ten years of the Arsene Wenger era. Back then, it was usually two clubs challenging for the Premier League title, sometimes three. Going away to mid/lower league clubs wasn’t to be feared because honestly, for a long time, it felt like they were just making up the numbers. The gulf between the best and the rest was big, too big really. But in recent years, that gap has closed dramatically and it’s good for the game in my opinion. Every game is competitive and no result is a forgone conclusion. Just look at that once labelled small club on the south coast called Bournemouth, they are proof of how much the Premier League has changed.
But to win a Premier League isn’t about turning up for one game, it’s about a ten month campaign and notching up more points than any other club. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. A sprint is easy and thankfully Bournemouth had one in them again last night.
Mikel Arteta, having seen his teams struggle to get over the line in their challenge for the Premier League title, decided to make us defensively strong but with it, we became a little less exciting in attack. I guess in his head he was thinking “I’m going to do whatever it takes” and it’s worked.
I read an article in The Athletic which suggests the club consulted with Howard Webb over set pieces because Arteta wanted to know what his players can get away with. If true, no wonder the whistle seldom blows when there’s grappling in the box. Back in those Wenger days, the way to beat Arsenal was by deploying rough tactics. Eduardo, Ramsey and Diaby can testify to that but of course, No one cared back then, Arsenal were simply too soft.
Well, Arsenal are no longer soft yet “they” still don’t like it. VARsenal we have been labelled this morning by a few idiots online which is hilarious. The voice of people who clearly haven’t watched the endless number of decisions which have gone against us. The challenge on Bukayo Saka in our last game is just one of many.
I’d be a total hypocrite if I said I’d enjoyed watching Arsenal’s performance every week because I haven’t but it doesn’t matter what I think because all the time, Arteta was clearly thinking on the end game and it’s because of that we Arsenal fans are as happy as we are this morning.
There is a lovely video on Arsenal.com which is worth watching in my opinion. Thank you Mikel, thank you Arsenal FC and all who have brought this club back to life.
Catch up in the comments.