How far can Mikel Arteta and Arsenal go this season?
It is hard to believe that at the start of 2021, the writing looked to be on the wall for Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.
With inconsistencies blighting their performances and a lack of points on the board, there was a school of thought that Arsenal and Arteta wasn’t going to be the match made in heaven perhaps people predicted it to be.
However, in the hire and fire age of the Premier League, Arsenal bucked the trend by sticking with their former captain and how it has paid dividends for the Gunners this season.
At almost the halfway point of the season, Arsenal sit 5 points clear of the chasing pack in the Premier League, having picked up wins at London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham , last weekends highly anticipated game against Manchester United and a myriad of other big results. They certainly look to have what it takes to stay the distance.
Crashing out of the Carabao Cup to Nottingham Forest was the only real blotch on the copy book this season, with Arsenal still in the hunt for FA Cup and Europa League glory too.
Even if Arsenal don’t manage to lift a trophy this season, it will constitute a real step in the right direction for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. But looking back at the first half of this season, even the most pessimistic of Arsenal followers must be starting to get a little bit giddy.
Two decades of pain to come to an end?
Whilst they have always been one of the great pillars of English football, Arsenal haven’t been operating in the upper echelons of the Premier League table for a couple of decades.
Remarkably, the ‘Invincibles’ campaign of 2003/04 under Arsene Wenger, was the last time that Arsenal managed to go all the way and win the Premier League title.
There have been flitting attempts to break their way back in to the Premier League title picture but the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool have dominated the landscape in English football for the past decade.
Mikel Arteta certainly has fans dreaming that their 19 years of league pain could be coming to an end and with confidence sky high in North London and some winnable upcoming fixtures, Arsenal currently have their fate in their own hands – something that hasn’t always been the case in recent years.
Confidence in the camp is high
One of the major things that has been noticeable about Arsenal under the stewardship of Mikel Arteta is just how confident the Gunners have become.
Often seen by many as a side that are potentially a little flaky, Arteta has instilled a huge amount of confidence in the Gunners and his young squad are playing without fear.
Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is one of the most consistent performers between the sticks in the Premier League, whilst the likes of Ben White and Gabriel have been hugely impressive in the Arsenal backline since the start of the season.
Captain Granit Xhaka has always endured a mixed relationship with the Arsenal faithfuls but his form this season has proved plenty of people wrong and his partnership with Thomas Partey in midfield has been hugely influential in the progress Arsenal have demonstrated this term.
Creativity is always at the heart of any Mikel Arteta led side and he currently possesses some of the form forwards in the Premier League.
Martin Odegaard has been in fine fettle throughout this season, whilst the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli possess pace to burn, combined with ice-cool finishing powers in front of goal.
Taking the mantle from Manchester City
With 4 Premier League title wins in the last 5 seasons, Manchester City have been the team to beat in English football for some time now.
Mikel Arteta left the Manchester City project and his good friend Pep Guardiola to go and manage Arsenal at the back end of 2019, having overseen one of the most successful periods in City’s history.
The link between Arsenal and Manchester City does not stop there this season though, with former City players Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus leaving City for the Emirates Stadium at the start of this season, how they would love to see a return on the decision they made to leave The Blues.
As it stands, Arsenal are 5 points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League title race with a game in hand– a healthy advantage. However, City and Arsenal will come head to head twice in the next few weeks. Tomorrow night The Gunners travel to The Etihad for the FA Cup 4th round. On the 15th February City will visit them at The Emirates which should be their toughest test this season.
Few would have anticipated it being even a contest at the start of the season but such is the progress that Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have made this term that it could well be getting the upper hand over Manchester City that proves decisive in regards to their trophy ambitions this term.
Author: ChampionsTravel
2023-01-26
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