Only the team led by Mikel Arteta leads the Premier League with record numbers
Every new coach who joins a team needs the confidence of the leaders and the time to get to know the players, correct flaws, improve virtues and shape a playing style. Unfortunately, it is not always like that in the football world. Immediacy takes precedence over the process and when the results are not there, doubts arise and the technicians are quickly questioned. This is how Mikel Arteta felt when Arsenal signed their worst league start since 1954 last season. Despite everything, the former midfielder got the support of the board and the results are finally in. His team leads the Premier League, scoring more points in these first 12 games than Arsenal of The Invincibles in 2004.
After three and a half successful years as Guardiola’s second, Arteta took over at a time when North London was experiencing a tense climate following the departure of Arsene Wenger and the failure of Unai Emery. After a promising start by winning the FA Cup and the Community Shield, the disappointments were not long in coming. In the 2020-21 season, the ‘Gunners’ failed to qualify for European competitions for the first time in more than 20 years and, in addition to the crisis on the field, there were also problems in the dressing room: the coach of San Sebastián he withdrew the captain’s armband and removed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, his most distinctive player, from the team.
Despite Arsenal hitting a sporting low at the start of last season, the Spanish coach managed to revive the project and instill confidence in young talents who gave new hope to the fans. The team had a great second round and only two points deprived them of their qualification for the Champions League.
The feeling was that, after a long and hard rebuilding process, Arsenal rose from the ashes little by little. And this course confirmed it. With the acquisitions of Gabriel Jesús or Zinchenko and the return from loan of William Saliba, Arteta has put together a team that breaks records and plays futsal. From 4-3-3, with Martin Ødegaard leading in the engine room and Martinelli and Saka on the flanks, the London team dazzled England day in and day out thanks to their superb handling, the pressure after a loss and the dizzying pace imposed on them.
At this start of the competition, they have surpassed the numbers of The Invincibles, that team led by Thierry Henry that had players the size of Viera, Pirès, Ljungberg or Bergkamp. That same team was the last to win the Premier League in 2004, almost twenty years ago. That is the goal the Emirates Stadium parish dreams of. Quite a challenge as their main pursuer is Manchester City of Guardiola, De Bruyne and Haaland. There are 26 days ahead and a World Cup in between, all remains to be seen. But what is clear is one thing: Arsenal are back.
Source: La Verdad
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