Hectic week yields maximum return for go-go Gunners

ARSENAL’S 3-1 win over Manchester United on Saturday typified what had been a hectic week for Mikel Arteta and his players.

Their two wins in four days, the first against Chelsea, were played in a chaotic fashion, a far cry from the usual fare offered up under Arteta.

The games did, however, yield six points and, once again, the momentum in the race for Champions League qualification has swung back in their favour.

After Tottenham drew at Brentford later on, Arsenal stayed in fourth, two points clear of their rivals.

That would have been the dream scenario for Arteta this time last week, and the mood at Emirates Stadium has shifted, with the crucial north London derby on the horizon. “This is why we are here, to play big matches that can define big moments,” said Arteta.

Last Wednesday’s match at Stamford Bridge was played in a breathless manner, which was summed up by Bukayo Saka’s late penalty. Arteta was unsure who would take the spot-kick, and in the end it was the England winger who missed a penalty during the final of Euro 2020 who stepped up.

Saka (right) was the hero again for the Gunners on Saturday, scoring another penalty against United. It was another hectic match — but that is not surprising given Arsenal’s preparations.

After beating Chelsea on Wednesday, Thursday was spent doing a light recovery session and then, on Friday, the squad trained at 6pm at Emirates Stadium before spending the night in a nearby hotel.

Even the post-match celebrations were unusually busy on Saturday.

As the United squad boarded their coach back to Manchester with their heads bowed, players from Arsenal’s 2003-04 title-winning ‘Invincibles’ team went to the home dressing room to join the celebrations.

Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry were in attendance and came down after the game to speak to players. Theywere generous with their time, and well over an hour after the final whistle, both Saka and Emile Smith Rowe were still picking their brains, when only the week before they had been reeling after a third successive Premier League defeat, at Southampton. It only sums up how quickly things can change in this season’s race for the top four.