Arsenal learn invaluable lesson in 2-0 Leicester win

Even the most cynical of supporters who have been wrestling with the idea of Arsenal being on the right track are now having to dig deep in order to find reason to not be on board with the project.

It’s all about the process and the process will be long. In truth, it already has been long. And whether or not one believes Mikel Arteta is the man to lead the club back into the upper reaches of the Premier League and elite European competitions, he now has a squad edging closer to it.

Going nine matches unbeaten with the 2-0 away win at Leicester, once again this team demonstrated their capabilities to blow sides away in blistering spells.

As seen against Tottenham and Aston Villa, Arsenal have found a formula and level of intensity even some of the better sides in the division can’t match. At the King Power Stadium the damage was done inside 18 minutes.

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Arsenal learn invaluable lesson in 2-0 Leicester win as Mikel Arteta’s side withstand long spells of pressure to build their confidence

The remaining 72 minutes were a different proposition. Guilty of sinking too deep after going two goals up, Arsenal put themselves into a position where Foxes attacks was almost encouraged. The positioning of the defensive line meant options playing out were limited and meaningful possession of the ball in areas to relieve pressure wasn’t obtainable.

It would carry on into the second half and not until Martin Odegaard came on was the team able to gain more control and force Leicester to back off.

Not the most engrossing period of football during this unbeaten spell, those phases without the ball may prove to be more important than those with it.

Noticeable is that Arsenal have the capacity to rip through teams in breathless spells, something they’ve developed in recent weeks, and on this journey of learning and improving they will need to pick up other elements of the game to strengthen them as a unit.

Facing an in-form Leicester outfit on their patch, withstanding the barrages of attacks and growing in confidence as a result will be an invaluable lesson on this road of discovery. This team is still finding out about themselves and each other, thus getting through 70 minutes of pressure against a top team will serve them well as they bid to climb up the table.

It should be seen as a positive, with the foundation now there to try and problem solve when it may next occur: how can they limit the pressure, gain more of a foothold and still be threatening with minimal possession?

The back five aren’t the only ones evolving as the whole group is taking these steps together. They will be better for outings like the one against Brendan Rodgers’ men. They will be better for how they can withstand when games swing in that direction.

Next up is trying to find new ways to reduce and tackle those periods. It has to be remembered that seven games ago this team was rock bottom of the Premier League with a manager on the brink. Each step of the way is another indispensable experience.

Leicester was, and Watford is sure to be too.