YOUNG GUNS GET ARSENAL FIRING AGAIN
Arteta stumbles upon winning formula at last
HOW Mikel Arteta needed this. Wins over Chelsea f or those with Arsenal connections are always welcome, but this one was especially sweet.
Inspired by the club’s academy youngsters and seen home by their elder statesmen, Arsenal finally seized a lifeline.
Arteta has worked tirelessly to solve the problems that have beset his first full season as a manager. And it was not only the result that offered the first thread of encouragement he has enjoyed for weeks. Rather it was the performance — bursting with enthusiasm, energy and verve — that put a bounce in his step. Youngsters Bukayo Saka, 19, Emile Smith Rowe, 20, Gabriel Martinelli, 19, and Joe Willock, 21, were at the forefront of Arsenal’s improvement.
And when the ship needed steadying as Chelsea threatened an extraordinary comeback, it was experienced campaigners Granit Xhaka, Hector Bellerin and Bernd Leno — who saved Jorginho’s late penalty to stop Chelsea reducing the arrears to 3-2 — who strode forward.
Arteta has found it difficult to settle on a starting XI this season. Poor results have encouraged the Spaniard to tinker as he looks for the right balance. But judging by this display, he may have finally identified a winning formula.
Three of the six changes Arteta made to the team who lost 2-1 at Everton the Saturday before were enforced — defenders Gabriel and David Luiz and forward Willian missing out due to Covid and illness-related protocols.
Nevertheless, t he Gunners looked stronger — particularly in the attacking third, where Saka, Martinelli and Smith Rowe stole the show.
It remains to be seen whether Arteta was sufficiently impressed to use the team he selected as the basis to move forward. But there must be temptation to keep faith with his kids. Indeed, with PierreEmerick Aubameyang approaching full fitness following a calf problem and Thomas Partey to return in midfield, the Arsenal boss must be optimistic results can continue to improve.
‘It was very good,’ said Xhaka, back following his suspension for the red card he received against Burnley, when he grabbed Ashley Westwood by the throat.
‘We worked very well together as a team and we can only get points if we do this. It was better because we carried out the plan the coach gave us. To press, to be focused for 95 minutes. We scored at the right times and going 3-0 up helps.’
Xhaka typified Arsenal’s spirit. His long-term future at the Emirates remains under a cloud, but t he Switzerland midfielder emerged as one of the Arsenal heroes on Saturday evening.
It wasn’t just his goal — a brilliantly executed free-kick from 25 yards to double the lead following Alexandre Lacazette’s penalty — but more the way he helped ease the team’s late anxiety as they threatened to throw all their good work away.
Xhaka was particularly satisfied with his own contribution following a storm of criticism over his sending- off against the Clarets. Arteta had described Xhaka’s i ndiscipline i n that 1- 0 home defeat as ‘unacceptable’.
‘There was a lot of speaking after the red card. A lot of people started speaking again, and again and again,’ said Xhaka.
‘I will always show my character. I was very disappointed about my red card and I knew what I did was wrong for my side. But I am more than happy. I helped the team today and I am back.’ One swallow does not make a summer, of course. That adage applies to Xhaka and Arsenal moving forward.
There is still plenty to prove. Two positive results in their forthcoming games at Brighton and West Bromwich would offer more substantial evidence that Arsenal are turning the corner.
‘The next two games away are very difficult, but i f we work together like a team, as we did against Chelsea, we have the chance to take all six points from the next two games,’ added Xhaka. Two defeats, however, and Arsenal would be back to square one.