Arsenal’s impressive performance in their Sunday win over Manchester United has sparked discussions about their championship potential, with former players drawing comparisons to their title-winning campaigns. Mikel Arteta’s side displayed the mindset and determination synonymous with champions, handling the occasion with composure and taking control of the game. Their defensive solidity was particularly notable, as evidenced by their ability to secure 18 clean sheets in the Premier League this season.
Former Arsenal players reflected on their own experiences, noting that victory at Old Trafford often correlated with winning the title in their playing days. While it remains to be seen if history will repeat itself this season, there is a sense of optimism surrounding Arsenal’s prospects.
Regardless of the eventual outcome, Arsenal’s journey this season reflects remarkable mental resolve and determination in overcoming obstacles. Their progress demonstrates a significant step forward under Arteta’s leadership, signaling potential for future success.
They have won 15 of their past 17 Premier League games to make it as difficult as possible for Manchester City to defend their crown, going into the final week of the season.
The pressure was on the Gunners against United, and you could feel that tension in their performance. I think the history of this fixture was a big part of that, because there have been some huge games between these two teams down the years – I know, because I played in a few of them.
It all meant Arsenal were not at their best but sometimes when you are in a title race, you just have get through days like that and grind out the result, and they were so professional in the way they went about it.
Arsenal’s defensive improvement this season has helped them go the distance in the title race, and it was the platform for their win over United too.
There were times during the game where all 10 of their outfield players were behind the ball around the edge of their own area. Everyone was in position, they were dogged and resolute and it was like they put up a shield and were saying to United ‘can you get past us?’
United couldn’t get through which meant that, even when they were seeing a lot of the ball, they ended up getting frustrated and shooting from distance when they probably should have tried to play an extra pass.
Arsenal have gone on the attack in most of their games this season but we have also seen them play this way before – it was the same when they drew with Manchester City at the end of March. Their whole team had the same mindset, or shared defensive brain, against United and at the heart of it were Gabriel and Saliba.
They have played together in 33 of Arsenal’s 37 league games this season and their partnership on Sunday was like the opposite extreme of Jonny Evans and Casemiro, who are United’s latest pairing at the back. Casemiro is not a specialist centre-half and it really showed.
Source; BBC SPORT
