United couldn’t cope with Saka
PEP GUARDIOLA told us there was fire in this Arsenal team and he wanted to see that more in Manchester City.
Well, Pep was right. Arsenal were absolutely relentless in their desire to win this game. What has impressed me most this season is the team have built on their personality. They are ready to win. I was listening to the crowd singing for their team and there is a real belief in the stadium right now. Every goal was celebrated as if it was a 94th-minute winner. They want it so much. There are a lot more fences to negotiate, but Arsenal are the real deal. Having been inside a group going for the title when I was a player, you know you have a chance of doing something special. You can never rest until it is won, but this was a huge win against a team in excellent form.
This was the perfect time for Arsenal to play them, given the confidence they would have taken from last week’s win at Spurs. They feel they can beat anyone and they are going after every opponent. Bukayo Saka keeps on finding another level. Luke Shaw is in good form but he could not cope with Saka — and what a goal his was. Eddie Nketiah scored twice and he has been a massive tonic for Mikel Arteta. For Nketiah to come in, perform and score goals like he has is a huge bonus.
He will get the headlines, but I thought Martin Odegaard was outstanding again. It was a real captain’s performance. He plays such punishing passes and appears all over the pitch. He sets the tone for that relentless approach. Not even the best teams appear capable of stopping Arsenal now.