It has been nothing short of joyous to watch Arsenal this season. They went into the World Cup break five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, collecting 37 points from 14 matches.
The Gunners have evolved into an exciting and robust side under Mikel Arteta, playing some lovely stuff this season. With the major leagues across the world on halt due to the World Cup happening in Qatar, it is a good time to review Arsenal’s season.
That being said, here are three things we have learned from Arsenal’s campaign so far.
#A settled unit
Arsenal have enjoyed a smashing start to the 2022-23 campaign so far, and one of the prime reasons for their early success is the stability and continuity in the team.
Mikel Arteta is well aware of his first XI and currently has a settled first team. The Spanish tactician has used 23 players in the Premier League, but he has relied fully on the same starting XI. And the outcome is there for everyone to see, with the players producing the goods week in week out.
Barring the left-back position which Oleksandr Zinchenko had a firm grip on before getting injured, Arsenal’s back four has had the same look. Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka have formed the base of their midfield, with Martin Odegaard acting as the creative force. Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus have linked so well in the Arsenal attack, playing every single game.
#Genuine title challengers
Arsenal entered the international break off the back of a comprehensive 2-0 win over Wolves, putting another side aside to continue their ascendancy in the Premier League this term. The time has perhaps come now for Mikel Arteta’s side to make the transition from ‘early pace-setters’ to ‘title contenders’.
The north Londoners have dropped only five points from their opening 14 games, quickly becoming the team to beat in the current campaign. Although they have not yet faced Erling Haaland and Manchester City, Arteta’s boys seem to have effectively negotiated the fixture congestion relatively unharmed before the World Cup hiatus.
#Mentality to win big games
In the past, Arsenal have been criticised as being a soft touch and unable to win against the big teams, but things have been completely different this time around.
Mikel Arteta has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to construct a team that now gives the look of a mentally strong unit capable of fighting until the final blow of the whistle. Arsenal boasts of the youngest squad in the Premier League, but the way they have gone about things while beating the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea so far is commendable. The 3-1 defeat to Man United at Old Trafford in September was a learning curve for the young Arsenal team and they have since responded brilliantly by beating every single big team.
This means the Gunners have now beaten three of their top six rivals—Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea—on their way to deservedly sit at the apex of the standings.
