LONDON — Arsenal find a way. 3-2 win on Sunday against bitter rivals in North London Tottenham Hotspur It took hard work, quality and a bit of luck, but Mikel Arteta’s side grabbed the victory they needed to hold on to. Manchester city Honesty in the process Premier League title runs in.
The Gunners are determined to avoid a repeat of last season when they ran out of steam in the final weeks of the campaign. A leisurely team ready to face any opponent anywhere, anytime, lacks the adaptability to overcome the pressure of competition when the reward is in sight.
Arteta revealed in the build-up to this match that he sought advice from former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger on how to get through the “later stages” of the title race. That may not be enough – City will go top for the fifth time in six seasons if they win their remaining games – but Arsenal are showing clear signs of handling these situations with a skill set necessary, this serves as encouragement for the future.
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After sacrificing his principles to adopt a defensive, safety-first plan to secure a 0-0 draw at Man City last month, Arteta spoke of the need to sometimes “put ego aside”. and your ideology aside and do what you have to do to win.” game” to succeed in big matches. Arsenal were similarly cautious here, although this time Arteta admitted it was a product of Tottenham’s front-foot play rather than a strategy. The strategy was already in place. “They forced us,” Arteta said. “We had problems with the press.”
But Arsenal can still do it. And unlike their draw against Man City, this time the Gunners combined their attacking prowess with defensive diligence to take a 3-0 lead thanks to Pierre-Emile Højbjergown goal in the 15th minute, Bukayo SakaGreat counterattack by and one Kai Havertz headed in seven minutes before the break.
What follows is a reminder that Arsenal’s development as a team capable of winning in many ways with the power City regularly display is a work in progress. Spurs hit the post Christian Romero and there was Micky Van der VenTheir equalizing goal was ruled out for offside on VAR review, but they needed Arsenal to spark their comeback. David Raya gifted the ball to Romero after a simple finish in the 64th minute, sending the disgruntled crowd into a frenzy, further inflamed by another foul, this time from Declan rice when he kicks Ben Davies in the box, to put Son Heung Min he took a penalty in the 87th minute.
A frantic final ensued but Arsenal held their nerve to win, marking one of their toughest remaining tests. The fate of the title will surely come to a conclusion, but it seems fair to at least pose the question to Arteta as to whether Arsenal are showing real evolution from a team that was in decline in April 2019. back or not.
“I think so,” Arteta said. “When you win it always happens. Last season we didn’t, because we wanted to beat West Ham and we missed a penalty. [and drew]and against Liverpool we conceded in the 91st minute [to draw] and then you are incapable.
“Ultimately, the verdict will be based on that result. If they had scored in the last minute to make it 3-3, we wouldn’t have been ready. The amplitude is too small. Don’t understand bring yourself. We want to be better.”
Arteta’s side show wisdom as his opposite number, Ange Postecoglou, may feel Tottenham are lacking. The Australian has never employed a dedicated stager on its staff, leaving that responsibility to an existing member of the backroom. There’s no surefire way to achieve success, but on days like these, it feels like the 58-year-old may be missing a trick when it comes to contrasting Nicolas Jover. Signed from Man City in July 2021, the Frenchman is always prowling the touchline in every dead ball situation, setting a record that has so far seen Arsenal score the most goals in the Premier League (16 ) from more corners in a season than any other team since Tony Pulis’ West Bromwich Albion side in 2016-17.
However, Postecoglou focuses more on Arsenal’s maturity in their game management as the key factor explaining why Spurs are fighting – and potentially losing – in the race for the title. fourth place while Arsenal are facing a second consecutive challenge for the title.
The Spurs boss said: “If I thought fixing defensive situations was the answer to closing the gap then I would put all my time and effort into that but that’s not where I am now. we”. “For us, it’s about… we don’t focus on the details, it’s not just the set pieces. There were a lot of moments in the match where we didn’t feel that if you give your opponent good time and space to do it. Those things, they will hurt you.
“We’re still not focused on the little things to get you from where we were to being a competitive team. Credit to Arsenal. They’re there now. They’re a team that deals well with the details . There are thousands of little things, you cannot give time and space for good protest, you cannot lose focus at any moment.”
When asked specifically about Romero’s contribution, Postecoglou was unequivocal in his response when he replied: “He’s excellent. He’s a World Cup champion, and I just need to convey some his qualities into some others.”
Arsenal and Arteta appear to have done just that, capitalizing on Havertz’s big-game experience, Rice’s personality and Saka’s relentless willingness to commit to defenders and carry the fight. Gabriel And William Saliba continues to provide a solid foundation while Thomas ParteyHis physicality is a welcome addition to the midfield.
This combination may not bring them the title they crave, but Arsenal appear ready to take City to the finish line.
