This Arsenal team has something truly special

Arsenal ensured that their midweek defeat to Liverpool was nothing more than a minor blip as they put in a commanding performance away at Aston Villa, emerging as deserved 1-0 winners.

Bukayo Saka’s well-taken strike in the first half was enough to separate the teams, although further chances were squandered for Arsenal to extend their lead.

Backed by an exceptional away following, the team responded valiantly to losing to Liverpool, as well as losing Aaron Ramsdale and Gabriel Martinelli. With the news emerging just before kick-off of the first choice goalkeeper suffering a hip injury that will rule him out for ‘a few weeks’, there was some panic setting in.

Leno is still a fine goalkeeper, but he hadn’t kicked a ball in the division since August last year when he conceded five goals in an Etihad drubbing, so naturally there was some concern. Equally, Emile Smith Rowe has been battling injuries, illness and Covid recently.

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Aston Villa 0-1 Arsenal: This Arsenal team has something truly special on show, as witnessed in their Premier League win at Villa Park

But the group stuck together. These were just minor changes to them. In fact, they weren’t even changes at all. Setting up as they always do, they got about their business like they would every week, and were richly deserved winners on the day.

It’s what happened after the game that stood out. Leno had just made a flying save to clear the danger from a late Aston Villa kick, an intervention that proved to be the final act of the game. Immediately after the whistle blew everyone congregated together, in a huddle, around the German keeper.

That’s special. That’s unity. That’s a spirit that that football teams around the globe dream of having in their ranks.

In a frustrating Premier League campaign for Leno where he’s barely had a sniff, to see the reaction of the players going straight over to him to congratulate him on a clean sheet warms the heart. Those in the squad not getting minutes are no less valuable than anyone else. Absolutely not.

Each member of the team went over to celebrate with the 30-year-old, including someone who wasn’t even in the squad.

Indeed, Ramsdale, ruled out with a hip injury, insisted on traveling up with the squad so he could support his teammates, and Leno in particular. Cristiano Ronaldo, when ruled out of the Manchester derby through injury, wasn’t even in the country.

This is someone who will be devastated to miss out on international duty and another chance to impress Gareth Southgate before the World Cup. He was still there.

Goalkeeping is an intense position as you train with two or three people every day knowing only one of you is going to play. So to see Ramsdale run over to his teammate and competitor, one whose replacement has already been signed in Matt Turner, further demonstrates the love that this group has for each other.

They’re brothers in arms.

What this football team has is a bond that won’t be broken. And when you are that connected as a group, you fight even harder for one another.

While some will say you can buy this, you can’t. Money buys talent. It requires a unique and rewarding atmosphere to have this degree of attachment between players.

It truly is special.