Arsenal must beat Tottenham in Thursday’s north London derby

Arsenal Just Need to Beat Spurs, Then Worry About the Rest

Yet even without a third-place finish, a top four spot is certainly what this team needs to progress. This summer’s growth, thanks to that achievement, and the transfer market to come could be really something to witness.

The team will search for more young, talented and fluid players to add to the bunch that the team already fields match in and out. The depth of this team will be improved as well, and while re-signing players like Mohamed Elneny are positive, he will have new teammates that will join him and many of his current teammates in a larger player rotation than they have experienced this season.

The talent level too is sure to increase, as capital is thrown around by the Kroenke’s (hopefully) to bring in some really useful, really young players to mix in with Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah – whom this author believes should be re-signed too – Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard. Nicolas Pepe may not return, and some other faces might leave too, including Alexandre Lacazette and the aforementioned Nketiah, but others will come in, this team will continue to grow younger overall with young players growing more experienced when still only in their early to mid 20s.

This is the sort of Arsenal that Mikel Arteta wishes to build, and it is the one that the boss will now be guiding until 2025. This is really positive as well, as the stability that Arsenal will enjoy and the continuity that such a move illustrates can only lead to the team’s cultural growth during that term.

He was given this deal because of the belief that exists through Arsenal headquarters, the training grounds and the Emirates; Arteta is the type of boss for the type of matches that Arsenal will play on Thursday. He has a chance to prove them, and everyone else who has believed in him, correct come Thursday, and I do not doubt that his team understands the magnitude of the match as well as we all do, if not better.

They know what they are on the verge of accomplishing, and how special it would be for those players and their boss who has fought for them since he became their leader. They will not falter I do not believe, and they will come away with three points.

While it is scary to say, the Gunners have been maturing in front of our eyes – through highs and lows – across the entire Arteta era, and the Arteta revolution is nearly at its next stage. The Champions League awaits, but Arsenal must take it, and take it they will.