Arteta’s Arsenal are slowly turning a corner after Norwich win

After a horror start to the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, Arsenal managed to finally notch their first win of the season against Norwich. The 1-0 win did little in terms of the overall situation at the club, but it is a step in the right direction.

How Arsenal played, at times, was a sight for sore eyes. Far from excellent, after what had been on show in recent weeks, it was a welcome respite: the players hassled, ran all day, produced some superb attacking moments and the fans at the ground responded. It was the exact tonic needed for a club in a spot of bother.

While in truth, Arsenal should have won the game by three or four goals, and on another day they might have, all that mattered was three points for Mikel Arteta’s side.

The winning goal was not Arsenal-like at all. The ball was eventually bundled in over the line by skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 66th minute to give Arsenal a deserved lead.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1437514114931306497

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side are slowly turning a corner after their 1-0 win over Norwich as tougher Premier League tests await them

While Arteta certainly has had his detractors since he took over the reigns at Arsenal, he does have a few admirers and none other than a former legend of the club in Arsene Wenger.

The former boss Arsene Wenger spoke to beIN Sports and stated that despite the club’s early struggles, they are on the right track under Arteta.

"“First of all, honestly I like to usually say what I think, I believe in this situation I’m an Arsenal fan,” he said. “After that, of course, when I talk about Arsenal it’s a sensitive subject and at the moment the timing is maybe not the best to talk.“I must say I find the squad full of quality. I’m not pessimistic because I feel they had two difficult games out of the first three – Chelsea on a high at home and of course after they go to Manchester City. Of course, you go to Man City and you can say it’s predictable that you could drop points.“The bad result we made was in the first game against Brentford. After that it puts you straight away on the back foot. I wish them to recover and I think they will. The potential is there so I hope they come back.”"

It’s clear that Arteta still has his admirers but the fact is football is a results business and they have been sorely lacking of late. The Norwich win could signal a change in fortunes.

Winning breeds confidence and that is something Arsenal has severely lacked so far this season. Burnley is up next and after what they produced against Everton, the Gunners will be confident of going to Turf Moor and getting a positive result.

Following that, games against Wimbledon in the EFL Cup and then Tottenham greet the Gunners and if all goes to plan, Arsenal will be riding a wave of momentum come the north London derby.

Winning the next three games might seem like asking for too much but a club with the size and stature of Arsenal and in their current predicament can’t strive for less. If Arsenal wants to be in the Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United conversation again then nothing short of victory in these fixtures will suffice.

It is only one game, but the signs were really positive and fans now have a small resemblance of hope heading to Burnley. However, we know how temperamental football can be, so the match is anything but a given.

Arsenal turning an ever so small corner is what fans want to call it. They also know, undoubtedly, that there will be sterner tests to come, starting with the Clarets on Saturday, and that the only definitive way to know if a corner has been turned will be in a couple of weeks’ time.