ARTETA SHOWS THAT YOU CAN WIN WITH KIDS
MIKEL ARTETA must wish it could be Chelsea everyday.
And who needs Miracle on 34th Street this Christmas when you have Granit Xhaka scoring a stunning freekick – and not getting booked.
Last night, in freezing north London, it was definitely a different season from Arsenal’s FA Cup Final triumph over Chelsea at Wembley back in balmy August.
The Gunners’ nearest west London rivals in the Premier League table remain Fulham down in the drop zone.
But by denying the Blues the chance to climb to second place, Arteta delivered the second biggest result of his Arsenal tenure.
It felt like a new beginning on his first anniversary in the dugout.
Instead of fearing six-pointers against Brighton and West Brom this week, Arsenal can look forward to a brighter future with the young players who rose to the challenge last night.
It was the kind of vibrant, energetic display the former Manchester City assistant had promised sed on his arrival last December cember when he pledged to be “ruthless” and create a “winning mentality”.
Last night his side were as calm and assured as those words.
And they pressed and ran like a Pep Guardiola team as they blew Chelsea away like Storm Bella.
In a season of ridiculous scorelines, this comprehensive home win – where Arsenal might have scored six – was right up there.
What were the chances of that before kick-off, Mikel?
If Arteta was a little fortunate, maybe he has earned it after a crazy last year.
The first Premier League manager to suffer from Covid back in March was deprived of three Brazilians with former Chelsea stars David Luiz and Willian feeling unwell and Gabriel out because he was a contact case.
Spaniard Pablo Mari came in for his first start this season – and could have joined Arsenal’s long list of red cards for a cynical early challenge on Matteo Kovacic.
His rustiness was then concealed until he conceded a 90th-minute penalty, missed by Jorginho.
Arsenal’s spot-kick was debatable – or cynical – depending on your point of view of Kieran Tierney’s fall to the floor in pantomime fashion.
Tierney was also later booked for time-wast time-wasting but the Scot brings that winning edge. X Xhaka and Bukayo Sa Saka (left) will never s score with sweeter strikes in the same match.
Arteta kept Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the bench after his recent calf injury. He opted for an attacking three of Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli behind Alexandre Lacazette.
And Arsenal played with freedom when another defeat would have plunged them into full crisis mode.
Now Arteta has bought himself that most precious commodity – time.
He has shown he has the uncanny ability to beat the bigger teams.
Their previous Premier League victory was at Old Trafford eight long matches ago.
He had already seen off Chelsea and Liverpool – in the Community Shield – to lift silverware.
It is a nice habit to have. Now for the rest of the league.