‘Arsenal just elevated’
An Arsenal blog from a coach’s perspective
Sometimes it’s hard to see the big picture when you’ve just watched an individual game. Even if it’s a 5-1 win over City.
Whatever the very large percentage of the footballing world is that do not support Arsenal, they are now talking about Arsenal in glowing terms. And so they should. Even though City aren’t the version that stomped everyone in their path, smacking City around is not normal. So, where does this put Arsenal? Is it just a a great result? In the short term for Arsenal it is 3 points, keeps City at arms length and keeps us in touch with a long shot of winning the league.
It’s bigger than that though. It’s the soft factors that have changed. Mentality and perception have just elevated.
Those at Arsenal have just done something that the very best do, but Arsenal don’t. They have thrashed a big team. It’s the one thing that all of us have been waiting for. How often have we said,’ someone’s going to get spanked by this Arsenal team,’ or ‘when are we going to destroy a top four team? We are good enough.’ Now that this has happened the players will be experiencing a brand new feeling.
They say that you rarely remember games, but you do remember how you felt. So true. There is a huge difference between saying that you are better than City and undoubtedly proving you are. As an example, much of Gabriel’s bravado around Haaland has been to motivate himself. Now he will feel superior. If our players thought that they were good enough to win the league/CL, they will now know. This can change everything. All coaches want self motivated players but rarely get them. They spend way too long trying to find original ways to motivate because they are nervous that the players aren’t fully focused. It can lighten the physical load. They say that when a team is ‘in the zone’ they feel like they are skating. Gliding. In comparison, when confidence is low it can feel like you are pulling sandbags.
For individual players it can change the trajectory of your career. In some ways it shouldn’t but if you look at Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri’s situation, even though we weren’t surprised by their performance, that huge chunk of non-Arsenal fans wouldn’t have been aware. That includes the press. It shouldn’t but they don’t see potential. They are consumed by chasing drama. Those two were the big memory from the game. The ‘do you remember when’ moment.
Others aren’t aware that David Raya could well be the best keeper in the league. Arsenal fans wouldn’t have swapped him for anyone before the game but his performance will have others debating this.
The interesting one is Thomas Partey. He is one of the most underrated players in England. Never in the headlines or conversation regarding on pitch performance, yet there is a good argument that he is the best in his position in Europe.
The perception has changed too. If you partner this with the single most important job of a club, recruitment, then there will be players globally who won’t ordinarily watch Arsenal that will have seen that game and will be on their phone to their agent this summer. I know this is not what we want to hear today but Arsenal vs City could be the last Arsenal game that Striker McThirtyGoals watches this season.
Arsenal are on everyones lips now. It’s normally hate that puts us in the headlines. That has been replaced, at least for today, by respect.
POSITIVES:
Mikel Arteta:
Take a minute to remember what a complete mess Arsenal were during the same fixture just before Arteta took over. City had mercy on us in the last 1/3rd of the game and were largely playing keep away. Whether Arteta wins a major trophy or not, he will undoubtedly go down as a coach who successfully turned the club 180 degrees.
Raya:
He is so consistent. So reliable. His reflexes are not bettered anywhere else and yet many doubted why we signed him. His signing is one of the reasons that I trust the club in the market. An upgrade from 7.5/10 to 9.5/10.
Rice and Gabriel:
Rice’s appetite for the big game is infectious. He is so trustworthy when you really need him. His energy couldn’t be matched by City’s aging midfielders. One of the advantages of him playing left eight rather at DM, is that he is elite at knowing his distances out of possession. He positions himself far away enough to encourage the pass, but close enough to pressure. All this was evidenced against City in some of our big moments.
Those of us on social media know that one of the most common attacks is on a player that hides in big games. These two thrive in that environment. You could see how Haaland has stopped acting superior to Gabriel. He can sense a defender who fears him and one who loves the challenge.
Partey:
With Jorginho going to Flamengo this summer, I’d be surprised if we sold Partey too. I know that off field situations may be the reason that he has to leave, but if not I can only think of one reason to release him and many to keep him. The length of his contract is the only reason that we might not keep him as players in their 30’s normally go with security and want 3 yr deals. Now that he has proven his fitness, I’d still consider a 3 yr contract, but I understand if Arsenal want to do no more than 2 years, especially on his wage and fitness history.
On the flip side he is unique and has a large affect on those around him. There aren’t many central midfielders that are as serene as Thomas is on the ball and added to his calm personality, he will give those around him such confidence. If Arsenal don’t renew him I bet we will value him more when he’s gone.
MLS:
Others have noted how MLS reminds them of Moussa Dembele. A rare breed of footballer who could’ve been a professional ox, if such a job exists. It’s hard to see a weakness in his game. Power, pace, skill, game understanding, 1 on 1 defending, reliability, dribbling ability, passing ability and now the memory of his goal giving him confidence to drive forward more. There is a good argument that he would be what we lack at left eight at times, and that Calafiori could step in as first choice left back.
For now, his emergence has solved a problem at Arsenal and England both. I don’t see a better option for England at left back anywhere. Not even close. He will debut in March and likely stay there for 10 years. I can’t see Ben Chilwell, Kieran Trippier or Tyrick Mitchell seriously competing with this level of talent. Only Luke Shaw can compete but I think he plays darts these days.
I loved his celebration, also. Such confidence to be that cocky.
Nwaneri:
Along the same lines as Myles, Ethan will likely get in the England squad in March. With Saka out and Bowen, Madueke and Foden not in form, enter Ethan Nwaneri. Palmer will likely start on the right but Nwaneri is more of a natural there.
All that is secondary to the start of his Arsenal career. I knew that his talent would sparkle but what has surprised me is his refusal to blend in. He comes across as a very shy guy and so you would assume he would be submissive on the field, especially at the age of 17. In the few minutes before he scored his arm was up in the air repeatedly. He was begging for the ball. Such desire. Such belief. Only one thing in his mind. Something that you can tell that he and Saka have been practicing regularly for the last two seasons and now they are showing a similar inevitability to Arjen Robben.
Havertz:
If Kai didn’t play striker, he would be the fan favourite. British fans love effort more than any other quality and he has more than any striker I’ve ever seen at Arsenal. You’ve got to love the confidence to take on that fourth goal especially after missing a sitter.
That will be a big moment for him because he seems to struggle with confidence in front of goal.
Moments:
Arsenal need to play with a quicker tempo on many occasions. They will be encouraged by two Rice moments. The first goal wouldn’t have happened if Rice takes a touch.
The last goal was also a Rice one touch to Ethan. Switching the field is often a risk because of the chance of a transition. If you receive a gently rolled pass you can do that because the block has seen your intent and started to shift. I’m glad Rice is seeing the value in this as he already has the technique.
The fourth goal was also an improvement. We are too often too slow to counter and too reluctant to be ruthless and kill the game. Kai’s goal was both of these things.
Not sure how Bernardo stayed on the field. Two easy yellow cards when he got angry and possibly a straight red. VAR were obviously having a snack break. The ref is getting plaudits for not being the star of the show. That is like me getting a standing ovation for having a shower in the morning. The bar is sooooo low with British referees.
NEEDS:
Signings:
I’m ok with Arsenal not spending actual money on an attacker in this window. Ollie Watkins would’ve made perfect sense for the next 4 months, but I can respect that the club can’t buy him and Sesko in the summer. I do wonder if the club saw Watkins at 40M as a good Jesus replacement, but not at 60M. I think it is important to understand that putting a new player in Arteta’s system specifically could be a negative. Arsenal play a coaches game. Very little improvisation and much to learn. If you don’t learn it then you are potentially a hazard.
What I’m struggling with though is the thought that we didn’t need ‘a body.’ If the player isn’t Arsenal level which I agree is a high bar right now, there has to be great value in bringing in a player like Tel, even if it gives Havertz a 20 minute breather every once in a while. I know that Trossard has played false 9, Nwaneri played striker last season for the reserves and Martinelli is capable but I’m concerned that in games when we are under pressure we don’t have another physical presence as an out ball or an aerial threat in the box.
Perhaps we will get lucky with injuries and we will look back in May and feel grateful that we didn’t sign an attacker because Nwaneri had to play more and was a big part in bringing us some glory.
Odegaard:
Did you think he looked like he was gaunt in his post match interview? He looked like he’d lost too much weight through sickness.
HOPES:
I’m having a hard time thinking that this team won’t win something big. Seven or eight players that are possibly the best in their position in the league, Two potentially elite Academy players. The best back five in the world. An elite coaching staff. A club with a solid foundation. No team with the level of consistent effort and attitude. The list is longer but this team is up there with the majority that have won the Premier League and Champions League in the last 25 years, and better than many.
There is every chance that this team will go down as the greatest in Arsenal’s history, especially if the win the Premier League and Champions League both.
TWEETS and THOUGHTS:
Never thought I’d see Myles Lewis-Skelly, Pep, Keir Starmer and Ruud Van Nistelrooy all in the same photo. RVN is a stretch though.
It won’t be long before Nwaneri is mentioned in the same conversation as Yamal. Not long at all.
Iconic. Funny. Sadly, probably true.
I could write a whole blog on this.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
A great day. A huge win and the formal introduction of these two….
I fancy us to beat Newcastle now. You don’t need to get three goals, you need two and a few good penalties.
This team deserves Dubai.
Thanks for reading!

Former Highbury regular. Moved to TN, USA in ’99. Married with 3 kids. Coached in UK and US for 27 years.
Mike McDonald Soccer Academy in Morristown TN, Olympic Development coach, Regional Premier League Champion.
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