It is a wonderful time to be an Arsenal fan for the time being.
Mikel Arteta’s aspect nonetheless have a protracted technique to go, however after one other virtually good weekend, they continue to be atop the Premier League desk, now six factors away from Manchester Metropolis and 7 away from Liverpool.
Furthermore, whereas the North Londoners might nonetheless enhance in some areas, corresponding to scoring from open play, they at present look one of the best they’ve been in a really very long time.
Arsenal’s latest type | ||
|---|---|---|
Competitors | Opponent | End result |
EPL | C. Palace | 1-0 (W) |
UCL | Atlético | 4-0 (W) |
EPL | Fulham | 1-0 (W) |
EPL | West Ham | 2-0 (W) |
UCL | Olympicacos | 2-0 (W) |
As if that is not sufficient, it is turning into more and more troublesome to disclaim that greater than a handful of Arteta’s gamers now rank among the many best possible within the league, together with one who’s turning into much more influential than Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.
Arteta’s Arsenal leaders
Throughout the last years of Arsène Wenger’s reign, and even below Unai Emery and early in Arteta’s time on the membership, it wasn’t unusual to listen to followers and pundits alike lambast Arsenal for a scarcity of leaders within the group.
Nevertheless, over the previous couple of years, such accusations have turn into far much less prevalent, a lot so, actually, that to say such a factor immediately can be thought of by many to be patently incorrect.
Arteta has helped flip the Gunners from a mushy aspect that opposition groups cherished taking part in in opposition to right into a monstrous aspect that few, if any, groups stay up for taking part in.
From entrance to again, there at the moment are leaders and mentality monsters throughout.
For instance, whereas he had a poor season final 12 months, Martin Odegaard has been the membership captain because the summer time of 2022 and has been Norway’s captain for even longer.
Usually alongside him, Declan Rice was the captain of West Ham United earlier than his transfer, has now captained England occasionally and is usually seen as essentially the most vocal and ‘old-school’ chief within the squad.
Even Saka, who continues to be simply 24 years previous, has turn into an actual chief in recent times, carrying the armband in Odegaard’s absence and retaining the aspect’s assault aggressive when his fellow forwards have underwhelmed.
With all that stated, there may be one other star of this Arsenal group who is not only turning into some of the influential gamers on the Emirates, however inside the whole league.
Arsenal’s most influential participant
In terms of different leaders on this Arsenal group, it’s turning into more and more troublesome to miss the completely very good Gabriel Magalhaes.
The Brazilian worldwide first joined the group in the summertime of 2020 for a payment of round £27m, and for the primary couple of years, was seen as one thing of a legal responsibility at instances.
Nevertheless, over the previous couple of years, the previous LOSC Lille gem has managed to rid his sport of the foolish errors that had been holding him again and remodeled into one of many best possible centre-backs within the Premier League, if not the world.
Which may sound considerably hyperbolic, however the information recommend in any other case: because the 23/24 season, the Gunners have had one of the best defence within the Premier League, and over these campaigns, the 27-year-old has made 36, 28, and 9 appearances, respectively.
Furthermore, as issues stand, the North Londoners have conceded simply three objectives throughout all competitions this 12 months, one in every of which was Dominik Szoboszlai’s outrageous free-kick at Anfield.
So, there’s a very actual likelihood that the Sao Paulo-born titan might play a vital function in breaking Chelsea’s file of conceding simply 15 objectives in a Premier League season this 12 months.
Lastly, whereas the 6 foot 3 wall’s most vital job is retaining different groups from scoring, he has additionally turn into a critical risk within the opposition’s field through the years, and has been a large cause why the Gunners at the moment are one of the best set-piece group on this planet.
For instance, since shifting to the Emirates, the towering “colossus,” as dubbed by Arsenal author Adam Keys, has scored 22 objectives and offered seven assists in 223 video games, and as issues stand, is now the a hundredth prime scorer within the membership’s historical past.
In the end, while you take note of his unimaginable defending, outrageous goalscoring risk and sensational management qualities, it is not possible to disagree with Jamie Carragher’s declare that he is “essentially the most influential participant within the Premier League proper now.”
