Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal: Are They the Real Deal? - SportsLounge

The clash against Manchester City felt like a defining moment. It wasn’t just a routine match; it was a statement of intent. Coming into the home of the Premier League’s most dominant force over the last decade and nearly walking away with all three points showed that this Arsenal team has evolved.

The way Arsenal responded to going a goal down early in the match was telling. Erling Haaland, the most fearsome striker in Europe, struck in the 9th minute to put City ahead. At that moment, you’d be forgiven for expecting Arsenal to crumble under the weight of City’s firepower. But instead, they stood tall. New signing Riccardo Calafiori made his Premier League debut in style, curling in a sensational left-footed strike to level the score. Gabriel Magalhães then rose highest to head in Bukayo Saka’s corner, sending shockwaves through the Etihad as the Gunners took a 2-1 lead.

For a team that’s often criticized for lacking resilience, this felt different. Arsenal weren’t just hanging on; they were fighting. Unfortunately, John Stones’ 98th-minute equalizer denied them a famous victory, but even then, it was clear that Pep Guardiola and his City team had been pushed to their limits.

Consistent Performances in the Premier League

It’s not just this one result that hints at Arsenal’s growth. Their Premier League form this season has been impressive. They’ve faced tough away fixtures already and come out unscathed. A gritty 2-0 win over Wolves on the opening day, followed by a controlled 2-0 victory against Aston Villa who they failed to beat last season, laid the foundation. Even when they faced setbacks, such as the 1-1 draw against Brighton, the Gunners displayed the resilience to bounce back, securing a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby – a game that would have unsettled previous Arsenal sides.

This consistency, especially in high-pressure matches, is exactly what separates title contenders from pretenders. Arsenal’s performances suggest that they have the mental strength and tactical discipline to maintain their form across the long, grueling Premier League season.

Arsenal’s 2024/2025 League Results So Far:

August 2024

September 2024

Manchester City Look Ordinary Without Rodri and De Bruyne

One of the major talking points of this season is how Manchester City looks without their midfield maestro, Rodri, and the ever-influential Kevin De Bruyne. With De Bruyne sidelined by injury since the opening game of the season, City have struggled to maintain their usual fluidity in attack. The absence of Rodri for the larger part of the game, due to injury he sustained earlier in the match against Arsenal was equally telling, with the City midfield lacking its usual steel and organization.

Rodri is not just City’s best defensive midfielder; he is the glue that binds their entire team together. Without him, the cracks in Guardiola’s system were glaringly obvious. Arsenal exploited this weakness, dominating large portions of the match and exposing City’s vulnerability without their midfield enforcer.

Manchester City, for all their strength and squad depth, may not be as invincible as they seem. A long-term injury to Rodri, De Bruyne, or even Erling Haaland could seriously derail their season. The champions rely heavily on these three players and if they were to lose them for an extended period, it’s not hard to imagine City struggling to maintain their momentum.

Reminiscent of Chelsea’s 2004/05 Defensive Resilience

If you’re looking for a team from the past to compare this Arsenal side to, the most fitting comparison might be Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea of the 2004/05 season. That Chelsea team was renowned for being incredibly tough to break down, boasting a resolute defense that conceded just 15 goals all season – a Premier League record.

Similarly, Arteta’s Arsenal have shown an ability to shut up shop and defend as a unit. With William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães forming a formidable partnership at the back, and Riccardo Calafiori bringing extra quality to the defense, Arsenal have become difficult to break down. They’ve added steel and determination that fans haven’t seen in years. This isn’t the Arsenal of old that would crumble under pressure; this team thrives on it.

Like Mourinho’s Chelsea, Arteta’s side is willing to do the dirty work – they’re organized, disciplined and more than capable of grinding out results when necessary. They’ve already kept several clean sheets this season and their ability to see out games is becoming a defining characteristic. It’s a far cry from the Arsenal sides of the past that would fall apart when put under pressure.

Disciplinary Issues: Cause for Concern?

Arsenal’s newfound toughness has come with a price: a growing disciplinary record. It’s a double-edged sword.  While it shows their willingness to battle, it’s also a potential Achilles’ heel. The match against Manchester City saw Leandro Trossard receive a red card for a second yellow after kicking the ball away. This mirrored the incident involving Declan Rice just a few weeks earlier against Brighton, where he was also sent off for a similar offense. These red cards were a result of ill-discipline rather than reckless tackles, but they highlight a worrying trend.

Since Arteta took charge in December 2019, Arsenal have received 17 red cards, more than any other team in the Premier League during that period. While Arteta’s Arsenal is tougher, they’ll need to learn to manage that aggression, especially in high-stakes games. Losing key players to needless suspensions could prove costly in their quest for the title.

Arteta’s Arsenal: Tougher, Smarter, Hungrier

One of the most noticeable changes in Arteta’s Arsenal is the added steel and toughness. Gone are the days when teams could bully the Gunners into submission. Now, they’re the ones dishing out the physicality, as Kai Havertz demonstrated by body-checking Rodri just five seconds into the match. Arsenal no longer plays with just flair and finesse; they have an edge, a nastiness and a willingness to scrap for every inch.

The defensive duo of Gabriel and Saliba looks formidable, add that with a cast of Ben White, Justin Timber and Calafiori they are arguably the defence in the league. They’re streetwise, they’re resilient and they’re not afraid to get stuck in. It’s precisely the mentality shift Arsenal needed to compete with Manchester City over a 38-game season.

A New-Found Threat from Set Pieces

 Another key element in Arsenal’s evolution is their threat from dead-ball situations. Last season, they led the league with 22 goals from set pieces, and this campaign appears to be no different. Gabriel Magalhães is proving to be a menace in the air, having scored 14 out of his 16 Premier League goals from corners. His header against City was yet another example of how Arsenal is becoming a more complete team, capable of scoring in a variety of ways.

Can They Sustain This Momentum?

So, are Arsenal the real deal? It’s still early in the season, but the signs are encouraging. They’ve navigated tricky away fixtures at Aston Villa, Tottenham, and Manchester City, coming away with two wins and a hard-fought draw. This is the kind of form that builds belief and momentum. The only question is whether they can sustain it over the grueling winter months when the games come thick and fast.