International football may have come at a wrong time for Arsenal but it also provides an ideal window for Mikel Arteta to reflect on his team’s 2023/24 campaign so far.
The Gunners have shown promising signs in the opening three months of the campaign, and even when their performances on a given day haven’t been great, the team has churned out results. Their unbeaten run in the Premier League was over at the hands of Newcastle United in a controversial manner earlier this month. Mikel Arteta expected a rousing response from his boys and he got that with comprehensive back-to-back wins over Sevilla and Burnley in the Champions League and Premier League, respectively.
There is plenty to dissect from the Arsenal camp after three months of action, and here are three appropriate takeaways so far.
#They need a potent goalscorer
In Gabriel Jesus’ injury absence, Eddie Nketiah has led the line very well for Arsenal. The 24-year-old’s status as a senior player at the Emirates hasn’t always been secure, but the striker has won over Mikel Arteta and now become a reliable player for the club.
However, Nketiah has only managed five goals in 12 appearances, of which three came in Arsenal’s 5-0 rout of Sheffield United—perhaps suggesting that the English striker is yet to blossom into a potent goalscorer. On the flip side, it certainly paints a healthier picture, making the Gunners less reliant on one player for their goals but providing more competition up front, and buying a clinical striker in January will give them the required depth to sustain the demands of this season.
#The Gunners don’t let their heads drop
Arsenal could have let their heads drop following their exit from the Carabao Cup at the hands of West Ham followed by the controversial 1-0 defeat to Newcastle in the Premier League, but they showed togetherness and character to bounce back with back-to-back wins over Sevilla and Burnley, respectively.
Earlier in the season, it took until 90+6 for Arsenal to make it 2-1 against Man United at the Emirates via Declan Rice’s deflected strike before Gabriel Jesus wrapped up things in the 101st minute. This reflects a clear hallmark of a top Premier League team — a never-say-die attitude until the final whistle in search of any scrap or morsel.
#Arsenal’s defensive setup is solid
Arsenal have the joint-best defensive record in the division, conceding just 10 goals in 12 games. This indicates how defensively robust the north London side are—disciplined and difficult to break down. It also further highlights Arteta’s tactical acumen and how he has built a strong defensive foundation for laying the groundwork for a quality, attractive Premier League side.
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are a powerful force at the back, and there is quite a bit of defensive responsibility put on the duo. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ben White are offensive-minded, and while the former spends time tucking into midfield, the latter nicely underlaps and overlaps with Bukayo Saka on the right flank. As a result, they aren’t always in the best positions to deal with opposition counter-attacks.
Also, the goalkeeper behind the back four, David Raya, is new to the Arsenal setup, and after a shaky start to life at the Emirates Stadium, the Spaniard has shown signs of calmness and composure in the last few games.
