Arsenal: What was that you were saying about “same old Arsenal”?

Arsenal may have finished the Chelsea match disappointed in the result, but don’t for a second pretend like nothing has changed.

I get how it might be compelling to, after seeing Shkodran Mustafi completely flub his lines, followed by David Luiz getting an early red while surrendering a penalty, call it the same old Arsenal. And true to form, so many fans were doing just that. Same old Arsenal. Same old. Same old.

Chill. Same old Shkodran Mustafi? Not even. He snapped back in a massive way. Same old David Luiz? For that smallest of catastrophic moments, sure. Same old club? Hell no.

Down to ten men at Stamford Bridge, down 1-0, this team fought harder and looked better than the numerically superior hosts. I have never seen such hard work from this team with no room for error. Another goal and this gets out of hand, but through collected determination, they held it 1-0 with the hopes that a moment of magic would spark something.

It did. Gabriel Martinelli, who is most certainly not “same old Arsenal”, launched a solo counter attack through a slipping N’Golo Kante and into the back of the net. Truly amazing. I haven’t seen a solo run like that ending in goal in ages.

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The momentum was at the Gunners’ feet, despite being down a man. But true to the Arsenal of old, a poorly defended set-piece gave Chelsea back the lead 2-1. Surely that was it, right? The announcers even said something to that effect.

Wrong.

With the match ticking away, Hector Bellerin pulled the Gunners back level, all the while the men in red never ever looked like that 2-1 deficit was insurmountable. They were biting and scratching and clawing and it paid off when Bellerin slotted home. Miraculous? Certainly. Heroic? Definitely. Same old? Absolutely not.

Calling this the “same old” anything is massively undermining how effective Mikel Arteta has been in changing the mindset of the club. Changing the outlook, the philosophy, whatever you want to call it. This was so far from the “same old” that it’s probably the most supercharged I’ve ever felt after a draw. Ever. And the commentators were right, this is the kind of match that can galvanize a club.

You know how I know? Because they were galvanized right there on the pitch.

Maybe we saw some similar issues, but on an individual level that should weed itself out before the start of next season. Big picture, this isn’t the same old anything.