Arsenal are higher. Arsenal are prepared. Arsenal are again. From the place and what they’re prepared for remains to be up for debate, however the excited plenty of supporters have been – totally understandably – near-giddy on the Gunners sitting prime of the early Premier League desk.
nquestionably, there’s better cohesion in components of the crew initially of this season, higher depth in key areas and particular person enchancment on present within the squad.
On the sidelines, Mikel Arteta continues to chop an invested, demanding determine. He deserves credit score for Arsenal being a extra watchable, pleasurable (oh, and a extra steadily successful) crew for positive, even when there stays greater than a tinge of over-animation about his technical space dramatics.
Various have expressed the opinion of it being faintly comedic watching the Spaniard in motion: furiously gesticulating and stretching to bellow orders at a participant three yards away from him on a throw-in, or burying his face in his palms after the concession of a purpose.
However therein additionally lies part of the puzzle to resolve which now lies earlier than the Gunners: to actually transition right into a aspect which might compete on the prime once more, they have to have the ability to deal with setbacks much better than the proof till this level suggests.
Head-in-hands Arteta is just a metaphor for this, in fact. In physique language phrases, the Previous Trafford counter-attack sucker-punch defeat will already be out of the system – however the thoughts additionally performs a humorous function on this sport.
Arsenal, too usually, have allowed one defeat to spiral, with one other following quickly after and dropped factors being racked up shortly in fairly in the identical means Martin Odegaard racked up final-third passes within the opening 5 video games of the season.
The factor is, in that first quintet – all victories – the north London aspect didn’t really play anyone sure to complete within the prime half this time period. Crystal Palace definitely would possibly, however the remainder – Leicester, Bournemouth, Fulham, Aston Villa – will not be screaming early-season definites to take action. It means the primary actual check they confronted, the primary opponent to play them who held critical ambitions of their very own, beat them.
Evaluation and reasoning for the defeat performed a major half within the aftermath, as is common when the most important butt heads. Arsenal performed effectively and dominated possession however didn’t win. It occurs.
It definitely does, however on this case, that’s the complete level: up till now beneath Arteta and earlier than him, with Unai Emery, the crew had been simply identifiable by runs of wins over the league’s fodder, and failures to win towards higher outfits … and people which observe.
Overblown increase and all-too-predictable bust has for too lengthy been the established order on the Emirates.
Roll it again to the beginning of 19/20 and the unravelling of Unai. Only one defeat in eight was an affordable begin, albeit with too many attracts, however that was adopted by one win in 12.
Arteta, both aspect of the Covid interruption, acquired issues again on observe with eight unbeaten beforehand and solely two losses in eight to complete up with. However he additionally managed a run of seven defeats in 10 initially of 20/21 and one other run of 9 non-wins in 13 mid-season.
5 straight wins to finish the marketing campaign gave confidence, however beginning 21/22 with three straight defeats shortly eroded it. On and on it goes: they’ve overwhelmed the likes of Wolves, Brentford, Watford and Leicester in a row, however a troublesome defeat to Liverpool sends them spiralling to additional subsequent losses to Palace, Brighton and Southampton.
It’s a course of to enhance in teambuilding and one which can’t be compelled or rushed (a minimum of if lots of of hundreds of thousands will not be accessible), however it’s additionally a major psychological barrier to beat as a crew relating to successful these most important of encounters … and bouncing again shortly once you don’t.
Final week, United gained. Whether or not Arsenal performed effectively or not finally doesn’t matter within the rapid aftermath: Erik ten Hag’s ways have been employed higher, or extra clinically, than Arteta’s have been.
Maybe not in a sustainable vogue, however that’s inappropriate – you must win the sport which is performed, not theoretically win extra events if the identical fixture was performed ten instances over.
Since that hurdle was not crossed, the subsequent one have to be, and much-changed line-ups within the timid, glamourless Europa League don’t rely within the seek for consistency.
Everton, Brentford and Tottenham lie in wait, every with their very own large causes for needing factors and their very own psychological obstacles to leap, however Arsenal – if they honestly need to present they’re prepared to combine it close to the highest as soon as extra – can’t let that, or the rest, get in the best way of an instantaneous return to kind this time.