Arteta’s Arsenal vision brought to life with Tottenham win

Trust the process and judge Arsenal when the team plays together. That is what Arsenal fans have heard from Mikel Arteta and Edu over the last few months. What a difference a day makes.

After an eighth-placed finish last season and a three-game losing streak to start this campaign, fans and media personalities were calling for Arteta’s head, and understandably so. However, wait for the project to ‘bang’ and judge us when the team plays together were the staple replies.

Fans were disgruntled at results on the field and the signings that were made in the summer left a lot to be desired by many. Backups, they were called. However, a key component of the poor early season form was that Arteta had several of his stars missing: Gabriel, Ben White, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Thomas Partey, and Alexandre Lacazette all missed games in the first three weeks, not to mention Martin Odegaard who had yet to be integrated.

Then there were the summer signings fresh into London Colney: Aaron Ramsdale, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Martin Odegaard, and Takehiro Tomiyasu have all stamped themselves down as fan favorites in just a matter of weeks as they embody everything the fans want in a player; a real enthusiasm for the game, dogged, athletic, willing to put their bodies on the line and, most importantly, play for the badge.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1442368405261234177

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal vision brought to life with Tottenham win as the process fans were told to trust is as clear as it has been

So after a horror start to the year in which Arsenal lost three consecutive matches, conceded nine goals, and scored none, Arteta was under severe pressure. Then came the home match against Norwich where he would finally have his full-strength team available. It was his team, his tactics. Everything was on the line.

While the Gunners sneaked over the line in a 1-0 win, it was three vital points and there were elements of it where fans could see how Arteta wanted his team to play with a gluttony of chances missed on the day. The away match against Burnley produced a very un-Arsenal like game from the visitors as it was a tough, gritty and united performance at a venue and with a type of opposition that had given Arsenal trouble in the past.

Going up against teams who play a physical style of football has been Arsenal’s Achillies heel in recent years. However, against Burnley, they dealt with everything the home side threw at them. Arsenal being a frail and weak side is a narrative that no longer exists. Consistent pressure and crossing from wide areas put the Arsenal rearguard to work for the majority of the second half but the team stood tall with Ramsdale, Gabriel, White, and Tomiyasu the standouts.

Moving on and there was a relatively comfortable 3-0 win over Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup and although there were several stars rested, Arsenal still had to get the job done, which they did.

And then came the North London Derby. A statement win Arteta needed to validate his ideas and signings. Could he get it? Oh yes.

Continued on next page…

Arteta Shows the Light With Excellent Win Over Tottenham

Now for the North London Derby. Much had been made of Arsenal’s start to the year and Arteta was, supposedly, given a run of five games to save his job: games against Norwich, Burnley, Tottenham, Brighton, and Crystal Palace all had to show distinct improvements.

With Arsenal’s bitter rivals in a state of freefall after their start to the campaign in which they notched three consecutive wins, they came to the Emirates vulnerable and Arsenal took full advantage.

From the opening whistle, it was clear how much more Arsenal wanted the three points than Spurs as for the first half an hour, the Gunners were irresistible. Goals from Emile Smith Rowe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Bukayo Saka in the first 34 minutes sent a rampaging Arsenal on its way.

Every player seems to have bought in to the Arteta way and against Spurs the Spaniard’s version of Arsenal was plain to see. Constant pressing, fluid ball movement, and a staunch back four led by Brazilian Gabriel dealt with everything Spurs had to throw at them (which was very little). The visitors did manage to grab a late goal back courtesy of Son Heung-min with 11 minutes remaining, but the jig was up, it was Arsenal’s day.

This was a group of players capable of executing the manager’s gameplan; Arsenal built up from the back, used centrality with Partey and broke lines from the defence with White and Gabriel.

Having blown away their fiercest rivals in a devastating spell, Arsenal was in cruise control. It was a superb win, but it was how the Gunners won they pleased every single fan around the world either in the stadium or watching at home.

Since Arteta has near enough had his full complement of players, Arsenal has won four games on the bounce, scored eight goals, and conceded just once. Coincidence? Hardly.

We were all told to ‘trust the process’ constantly and after what we witnessed at the Emirates on Sunday, the process that is being undertaken at Arsenal and the progress that is being made under Arteta is finally being laid out in a visible manner. There is substance to the vision.

What the Tottenham result does is validate Arteta’s roadmap for the future as well as his signings in Ramsdale, White, Tomiyasu, and Sambi who have all fitted in seamlessly and are among the biggest factors in the club’s change of fortunes.

It is only a four-game stretch but after what we witnessed on Sunday there is reason to be confident about the direction the club is going, not be cautiously optimistic or hesitant. We now have a genuine belief in what the squad is capable of, the manager who is at the helm, and the vision for what the team can eventually become.

There is light at the end of the tunnel. There is hope that Arsenal can climb up the Premier League table once again, and maybe, just maybe after all the calls for his head, Arteta can prove that he is the man to lead the charge. This is the clearest indicator yet.