Granit-led Gunners looking solid as a rock
AFTER Thomas Partey had planted his early right-footer into the top corner of Tottenham’s net, Granit Xhaka tried to calm the celebrations.
He called all bar Aaron Ramsdale into a huddle, the type normally reserved for pre-kick-off rituals. All for one – and all that.
There is always a bond within teams that are winning matches, that much is obvious.
Everyone gets on great when points are being clocked up at the rate table-topping Arsenal are clocking them up.
And there is a lot of phoney stuff spoken about the ‘group’, about the ‘project’, about ‘spirit’, much of it by managers trying to mystify their simple jobs. On that front, Mikel Arteta is a guilty party but there is no doubt he has instilled a new unity at the Emirates – among the players, the backroom staff, the rank-and-file supporters and himself.
There is belief, make no mistake. This is not a squad that look like taking a dip any time soon. And most importantly, there is, right now, a selflessness about the place, epitomised, for example, by Gabriel Jesus.
It might be early days but there can have been few better signings made in the summer transfer window (his ‘replacement’ at Manchester City isn’t too bad, to be fair). So much of Arsenal’s early dominance in this hugely enjoyable contest was based on Jesus’s work-rate and heat-map.
He was a constant source of threat and his dynamism and his persistent harassment of defenders freed up space for team-mates to exploit – the sort of space enjoyed by Partey on the edge of the area when he clipped home the first.
And Jesus’s reaction to Harry Kane levelling matters from the penalty spot just after the halfhour mark – after Gabriel’s silly challenge on Richarlison – was symbolic of the Arsenal approach.
He simply redoubled his efforts, poured more energy into his performance, a performance that was rewarded with a scruffy but hugely-deserved goal after Hugo Lloris had coughed up a Bukayo Saka cross-shot.
The Spurs keeper’s contribution to proceedings was also typical of his side’s display – sloppy and unconvincing.
If you are going to operate almost exclusively on the counter-attack, your defending needs to be foot-perfect and Tottenham’s efforts were far from it.
Emerson Royal was certainly not foot-perfect, his studding of Gabriel Martinelli’s ankle (right) earning him a slightly harsh red card.
In the kerfuffle that followed,
Xhaka appeared to be a calming influence.
Yes, you read that right. Xhaka. Calming. Influence.
As unlikely leaders by example go, Xhaka has emerged as a prime example, making so many sensible decisions in such a febrile atmosphere, twinning diligence with intelligence.
Again, Lloris did not distinguish himself by offering the midfielder the centre of the goal to aim at but
Xhaka’s finish was the perfect way to decorate an outstanding display and the manner in which he fashioned the opening was the product of a good footballing brain.
He never stopped and no wonder the 30-year-old was blowing hard in the closing stages.
And no wonder he received such fulsome acclaim as he made his way from the field after the final whistle.
This is a player who has turned his Arsenal career positively on its head, investing every last scintilla of effort into Arteta’s regime.
As if you could forget, it was less than three years ago when his time at the Emirates looked to be over after the shirt-throwing incident and his altercation with Arsenal supporters.
Five minutes after this victory was confirmed, Xhaka was still on a lap of honour, revelling in his rediscovered popularity.
And he warranted the acclaim.
Arteta (right) has managed to come up with an impressive blend in this unlikely start to the season – precocious youngsters following his urging with exuberance and experienced players leading by example.
And, believe it or not, none are showing more leadership than Granit Xhaka.