Chelsea 2-4 Arsenal: 4 massive positives from top four revival

2. Arsenal Deliver Under Pressure

Some aspects of the team have been overly criticised. They’re only young. But that youth still has to deliver as they are the ones representing this football club – and that means performing under pressure. Just as it does for Arteta.

This is where the team have fallen short before. One need only look at April’s of seasons gone past to witness months of hard work be undone in the face of adversity. When the pressure is piled on, it has proven too much.

In the case of Arteta, he’s shown himself to be a fantastic coach and manager when the ball is rolling. When it comes to crisis he is more guilty of anyone at failing to find solutions. Oftentimes he over-complicates or remains too stubborn. On this occasion he too delivered under pressure.

And this was more than just pressure: Arsenal hadn’t lost four consecutive Premier League matches since 1995 and their thin hopes of securing a top four place were on the line as they traveled to the ground of none other than the European champions.

If you’re looking for a pressured environment, three successive defeats and multiple players out injured is about as clear of an example as one could ask for.

This team pulled through in glorious fashion and they deserve immense credit for it. They showed unbelievable fight, determination and character, as well as composure when it mattered at both ends of the pitch.

Crisis? What crisis?

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