Arsenal’s Time to Shine: Why Arteta’s EPL Squad Is the Only Team to Stop Man City

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Arsenal’s Rise & Potential

The previous season was really impressive for Arsenal – they fought to the end, and finished strong, but narrowly missed the title. Despite being 2 points behind Manchester City, the Londoners had a club-record 28 league wins and 91 goals scored. The intensity and quality of training increased dramatically. Players who had looked drained found a second wind. Instead of ending on a low note, Arsenal found a way to maintain their excellent season, taking the title race to the final day and pushing the team to new heights. They also featured the league’s best defensive record. So, Arsenal’s fans can be proud of the 23/24 season. Yet, for Mikel Arteta, it is not enough. While communicating with the fans, he emphasized that they want much more, and they are going to get it.

On September 22, the most exciting match in EU club football in 2024 took place at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester. Two strongest English teams met – Manchester City, winners of the previous 4 national championships, and London’s Arsenal. The latter has grown to be the hegemon’s main competitor and seems the only team with the consistency and potential to challenge Manchester City in the coming season. 

The match began with an exchange of crudities and continued with great attacks from both sides. Arsenal defender Gabriel made a great run into the goal area after a corner and could have put the ball into the champions’ goal, but he shot too high. A few minutes later, the situation repeated, only this time Gabriel’s attack turned into a goal. However, the draw (2:2) left Manchester City in the 1st place in the EU championship standings. The team has 13 points. Arsenal is 4th, but only 2 points behind.

Recap of Arsenal’s 23/24 Season

Being the head favorite, Arsenal finished 2nd in the EPL. Arteta has assembled a special task force, and Londoners showed significant progress compared to previous seasons. Thus, it scored 89 points after 38 rounds and took 2nd place at the end of the English championship season. Arteta has been systematically compiling a constructor – an ideal team that plays his football and ensures top results. Composure, self-confidence, and a willingness to fight are the essential traits of a true champion. Just look at the key statistics points with Tips.GG!

• Total Points: 89 – 47 Home & 42 Away
• Goals: 91- 48 Home & 43 Away
• Defeats: 5 – 2 Home & 3 Away
• Penalties (awarded/scored): 10/10 4/4 Home & 6/6 Away
• Defensive Improvement: Kept 12 Clean Sheets

All the goals scored featured an impressive attack! Arsenal went through a number of unbeaten streaks and were seen as real title contenders for a good part of the season. Of course, this leadership was preceded by many years of development – an idea, an academy, and a transfer policy. Nevertheless, the main magic is created by the coach. It was Mikel Arteta who returned the club to the Champions League zone. In the 2021/22 season, when the Londoners started with 3 defeats in a row, it seemed that Arteta was hanging by a thread from being fired. Fans walked around the Emirates with posters calling for the Spaniard to be kicked out, but Arteta continued to build the team. 

Now he has completely renewed the squad – he selected those who were necessary for him, and the management was patient and not afraid to spend big money. As a result, Arsenal got into the Champions League for the first time since Wenger and even dreams of great achievements.

Expectations From Mikel Arteta

Arteta has been praised for his ability to unite the squad and implement a clear tactical vision. However, the transformation since he took over at Arsenal in 2019 has been dramatic. He established a set of standards that all players and staff had to meet. Those who consistently underperformed were dropped. This led to the high-profile departures of Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Another key change has been the transformation of Arsenal into an ultra-competitive environment. The training environment has become more intense. Players have moved from a tactical and technical focus to using more emotion, energy, and motivation. Arteta has applied the same principle to his coaching staff as he did to his players – he has focused on skills rather than age. He looks for knowledge, passion, and loyalty rather than a CV.

A key part of Arsenal’s impressive performances last season was their ability to keep key players such as Magalhaes, Saliba, Rice, and Odegaard injury-free. This was partly due to managing training loads, but also to their transfer strategy. Arteta and Edu have focused on player availability. For instance, Rice and Havertz are of good playing age and have virtually no injuries.

Arteta has learned from the near-miss last season, and the squad is expected to mature under his guidance. Perhaps Arteta’s biggest contribution to Arsenal has been the club’s culture transformation. He has sought to restore the club’s identity. The training ground has been extensively refurbished – the walls are now adorned with iconic Arsenal images.

Arteta’s energy can make him seem like a dour figure, but he tries to bring a sense of fun when the schedule allows. The club regularly invites players, staff, and families for meals together. There were team-building sessions, including dominoes and lemonade-making. During Arsenal’s 2022/23, the squad enjoyed a spa day and a trip to the Crystal Maze in London. Nevertheless, we are to mention Arteta’s philosophy of aggressive pressing and possession-based football. He just wants to win! He doesn’t care if he has to dig deep or change personnel or players. The main thing is to win and improve as much as possible.

Key Arsenal Players

Since the foundation of Arsenal (October 1886), many legendary players have played there. However, we are interested in those who make the modern history of the club. Let’s start with Bukayo Saka. Arsenal’s brightest young talent (23 y.o.), who consistently performed last season with goals and assists. He has never played for any other club except Arsenal, but at the beginning of his career, he twice became the vice-champion of England with the Gunners and the EU vice-champion in 2021 with the national team. Saka is incredibly versatile. Arteta values ​​him for the fact that he constantly wants to learn and is good in any position. Not long ago, Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka said that he wants to win the English Premier League in the 2024/2025 season. Thus, we expect him to continue growing and becoming even more decisive.

Midfielder Martin Odegaard has been named the best 2023/2024 Arsenal’s player. The team’s fans gave 33% of the votes to the 25-year-old Norwegian. This is the 2nd award in a row for Odegaard. As captain, he was crucial in midfield last season. His vision and leadership will be key in orchestrating Arsenal’s play. The Norwegian moved to Arsenal from Real Madrid in August 2021. The transfer amounted to € 35 million. His contract with the club runs until the summer of 2028. 

Gabriel Jesus, as a central striker, brings energy and versatility to the attack, which could be crucial in unlocking defenses. Mikel Arteta has said that he is absolutely pleased with his current squad and attacking players. Moreover, the coach will focus on improving Jesus.

Declan Rice began his youth career at Chelsea before joining West Ham’s academy in 2014, signing his first professional contract a year later. Rice joined Arsenal from West Ham United on a long-term deal. For Rice, pre-season has been a whirlwind of new information. He has been given a crash course in Arsenal’s playing model, and putting theory into practice has not always been easy. Besides, he has been nursing a calf injury in his first few weeks at the club. Signed to bolster the midfield, Rice is expected to provide the defensive solidity and leadership that Arsenal needs to take the next step.

Can Arsenal Challenge City?

Surely! In this regard, one cannot ignore Gary Neville’s opinion, a former England and Manchester United player. He believes that Arsenal are Manchester City’s only rivals in the Premier League. Liverpool is currently showing interesting defense but they are still missing something. The same is about Chelsea – they will not win the league. So, the last season shows that Arsenal is one of the few teams that can keep pace with City. Their squad depth has improved with new signings, and key players are entering their prime. Meanwhile, Arteta continues to work towards perfecting tactics and team spirit. We all remember that he wants nothing but victory! Besides, of course, his experience under Pep Guardiola gives him insight into City’s strengths and weaknesses.

Arsenal: A Title-Winning Mentality

The 2023/2024 season and Arsenal’s close run have clearly shown that Londoners look primed to push even further. Arteta deserves a lot of credit for this and he is not going to stop there! So, the proper mindset and performance could bring the team to the final  Manchester City dethrone.

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