Over a quarter of PL games played and things are looking fabulous for Arsenal. Top of the League, third highest goals scored, meanest defence, shared biggest goal difference, four points clear of nr.2, and that all with a high number of injuries in the attacking third AND trying to embed a large number of new signings!
There is a long way to go and but there are well-founded reasons for optimism. Let’s try and sum them up:
The obvious one, other than our current position at the top of the league, is our squad-depth. Arsenal have been praised for spending their money much better than most other PL clubs. There is quality everywhere, including the backup, and that is a necessary-luxury – to use an oxymoron – we have all dreamed of.
The goals are spread out and we are as unpredictable as ever when it comes to who will score in a game. Haaland FC owe 14 of their 23 PL games to the berserker. That team are over-reliant on him and a drop of form, injury or suspension is likely to cost Citeh dearly. This does not take away that we need to score more goals: 20 in 11 games is okay but not great. But Arsenal had to do without our creator exceptional, Martin Odegaard, and our inability to use either Havartz, Jesus or Madueke for most of our PL games has surely also led to a reduced goal threat.
Viktor Gyokeres has four PL goals which is certainly not a bad return. We all know that he does so much more for the team, and I am glad he is having a break from it all to take it all in and come out all guns blazing when he is fit again. Viktor is exactly the sort of player we were missing last season, and I am really glad he is Gunner now (sorry girlfriend).
A really clever move by the club was the improved contract for Leandro. He is no longer paid peanuts and he certainly is no monkey. I think he has fought very hard for making the left wing as threatening as the right wing, and that is no mean feat. His interplay with Rice and Calafiori is clever, three-dimensional and deadly, and he certainly is playing his best football (in a red and white shirt) now.
This also puts less pressure on Bukayo who, without Madueke available to give him a rest, needs to keep himself fit and play as efficient as he can. And as a result we have a much more balanced attack by using both wings equally. This is helped by Gyokeres’ tendency to play slightly more on our left. And when Odegaard returns we are likely to see even more balance in our attack, as he likes to play more on the right side of the pitch, with Bukayo being the biggest profiteer of this.
The attackers are aided significantly by the the quality wing-backs Mikel can choose from. Calafiori and Timber, MLS and White, they are all just fabulous support for overlaps and passing mates to get through those doubled/tripled-up back-areas. I am still a bit shocked when I see one of them in the box to try and finish an attacking move, but I feel this will make a real difference this season.
The duo of Rice and Zubimendi – RiceMendi – is a joy to watch, and there is even more to come from them. They are the complete midfielders with big football brains, and together they form a wall on which the defence and attack depend. And again, there is ample backup with Norgaard and Merino, which means that Mikel can rest our Kings-duo on a regular basis.
Talking about Merino, what an incredibly versatile player he is, and we are lucky to have him. It will not be easy for Arteta to keep him happy, as his fellow Spaniard is the sort of player who wants to play as many games as possible (and is in high demand). But this season Merino is super important because of his many skills and attitude, both as a starter and a sub, and he is making a big difference for us.
I think we are much less vulnerable to injuries this season, but Big Gabby is my only worry. He has become a real leader of the team, not just at the back but also during set-pieces. His contributions – in hard cash – are out of this world. Defensively an injury to Gabriel would be bearable, with Mosquera and Hincapie (or Calafiori) being good replacements, but the aerial threat during set-pieces AND his ability to inject energy and chutzpah into the team are almost irreplaceable.
Our set-pieces are works of art that sell for top-dollar straightaway. Arsenal do not play to get set-pieces – the big difference with the likes of Stoke in the past – but realise that they are part of the game and it would be a waste to not try and maximise on them. And boy do Arsenal do that. We are leading the pack on this and long may it continue.
Finally, I have been impressed with Eze’s contributions to the team so early on. Clearly, he needs time to settle in and understand Arteta’s style of play, but he is calm, silky, solid and just so mature by nature, and I love watching him. There is certainly even more to come. I am also happy with Nwaneri’s progress this season. He is without doubt finding his feet in the nr10 position and has not been as electric as I think he can be, but this is all part of growing from a ferocious talent to an effective squad/starting-11 player, and that is certainly the most difficult stage in a player’s career ask ESR). I think Arteta is managing this really well. My big hope is that Odegaard will return soon and play a big part in the second half of the season.
By TotalArsenal