Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THREE CHEERS FOR GUNNERS
Gunners just can’t help believing after Mikel masterminds another triumph over champs
ARSENAL want to secure the future of three players as they look to tie down Pierre-emerick Aubameyang.
Mikel Arteta is also doing all he can to reassure Ainsley Maitlandniles and keeper Emiliano Martinez they have a future at the club. Striker
SIX weeks ago Mikel Arteta claimed there was an “enormous gap” between Arsenal and Liverpool.
That was after his Gunners had, against all the odds, beaten Liverpool at the Emirates during Project Restart.
Three days later, Arsenal knocked Manchester City out in the FA Cup semi-final. They went on to defeat Chelsea in the final and now they have won the Community Shield against Jurgen Klopp’s men.
It is difficult to read too much into the traditional curtain raiser but what is absolutely clear is the progress Arteta is making. And there might be a warning in there for Liverpool and Klopp.
Maybe even the best team in the country need a new face or two if they are to stay ahead of the rest.
Arteta has instilled confidence in his squad.
They believe in the direction they are going, he is coaching and giving young players like Ainsley Maitland-niles and Eddie Nketiah confidence and is ready to make bold decisions like sticking with Emiliano Martinez as his firstchoice goalkeeper.
The mood has changed from doubt and uncertainty to clarity and mental strength which, with the right additions this summer, will push them towards the top four. Arteta acknowledged they are narrowing the gap but insisted it must be about more than just three victorious days at Wembley. “I believe we are but it is one thing to do it in a short period of time, and then be able to sustain it for 10 months,” said Arteta. “We know this league, how competitive and challenging it is. We are going in the right direction.
“We are trying to assess in the market to improve our balance in certain positions and improve the quality.
“But my biggest fight is to convince these players we can fight with these clubs in the long term, and that they are better than what they showed last year. Let’s try to do that. That’s my job.”
The biggest change for Arsenal has been from being seen as a soft touch with a soft centre in defence to a team which has become hard to beat and defends as a unit. They now have a team mentality to stop conceding goals, let alone sloppy ones.
Arteta (right) said: “We know that if you want to fight for trophies you cannot concede the amount of goals we have over the last few seasons, that’s for sure.
“But obviously with the ball in the attacking phase we must do a lot better, too. We had some periods where we showed we are developing.
“Defensively we are solid, we are difficult to beat.
“If we have the mindset that we have 11 players doing it, that it doesn’t matter what your name is, I think we have a good chance.”
Arsenal are still a work in progress as they look to
complete the £27million signing of Lille defender Gabriel, announce Pierreemerick Aubameyang’s new contract and also find a midfield partner for Granit Xhaka.
But they would also be crazy to let Martinez and Maitland-niles go to help balance the books.
Both players have enjoyed remarkable transformations.
Martinez deserves a crack at being the new No.1.
And, rather like Martinez, Maitland-niles has gone from the brink of departure to FA Cup winner to another starring display at Wembley and also an England call-up.
Aubameyang’s first-half opener showed his class and then Arsenal defended bravely with Martinez twice denying
Sadio Mane with terrific blocks before
Takumi Minamino’s equaliser to take it to penalties, only for the Gunners to prevail with Aubameyang scoring the winner.
Liverpool were miles ahead of the rest last season but the danger in this league is if you stand still you go backwards.
Losing any of their midfielders would seem to be unthinkable, but perhaps if it leads to freeing up space and cash to sign Thiago Alcantara then it might be a good idea.
Liverpool should start the season as title favourites but maybe they need a new face just to freshen things up. Sometimes that is all it needs.