The first real insight into Mikel Arteta’s duel-winning mania came during Arsenal’s All Or Nothing Amazon documentary. As he famously raged in one particular dressing room dressing down, “When I lose a duel I am upset!” Comparing and contrasting that version of Arsenal from three seasons ago with this, you can chart how much more powerful and competitive they have become because the duel-o-meter is now off the scale. He has much less reason to be upset.
Look at them. Jurrien Timber whipping the ball away with fierce precision. Gabriel and William Saliba demonstrating as much joy and satisfaction in a fine defensive action as a goal — they are pumped every time. Declan Rice charging for the ball. But — and here is where it gets interesting — it is not just the players you expect it from.
Listen to Kai Havertz: “Back in the day I wasn’t the player who won duels and everything, but right now I love it,” he enthuses. He is transformed, his hunger to compete constantly piqued.
Listen to Bukayo Saka: “We’re all attacking-minded, we want to go forward, but the manager has emphasised a lot the other part of the game. I’m sure if you stand on the sideline, you can hear him a lot when we’re out of possession! It takes a lot of sacrifice and discipline, because, to be honest, I do want to be more forward, but it’s what the team requires. When I see the results, we have a lot of clean sheets, so it’s paying off and it encourages me to keep doing it.”
The level of buy-in within this group is unyielding. They demand of themselves and each other. They can all see the benefits of maximum energy and effort.
It is far too early to predict what Arsenal might or might not do this season, but what is abundantly clear is the desire to fight to play. If that means attacking with verve and velocity, fabulous. If that means sitting tight and being hard to beat, they are ready for that too. In defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Arsenal required a bit of both, and had the weaponry to successfully manage different aspects of the game.
Certainly in their two European contests so far, they have more composure and confidence than they did last season, which is understandable considering that was a more cautious experience, dipping their toe back into the Champions League waters for the first time in years. Now they want to jump in. Make a splash.
There is a well-programmed pragmatism that underpins the team at the moment and they have been able to transfer that from Premier League to Europe. It speaks of the maturing of the team. Arteta saw a developing character against PSG that he liked a lot. “I think we showed a lot of maturity in the way we played and we put our stamp in the way we want to behave in Europe against top teams.”
He observed that the squad has a different feeling about themselves now in these encounters. “I sensed something different in the way we were preparing the game and how they wanted the level of focus. I think they wanted to prove a point — against a top team at home we can be ourselves and we can be very dominant as well. It creates a special night, the amazing European nights against big clubs. That belief is something that lifts the energy and spirit of everybody.”
Arsenal can play multi-faceted football. They are able to show different faces at different points, to deal with different challenges within the game.
Arsenal began with their dynamic, exuberant face. At times when Donarumma had the ball at his feet for a goal kick he looked up to see a pack of hyenas eyeing him up — Arsenal’s front four were high up and hungry, eager to prey on a moment of weakness.
This victory was constructed on an aggressive first half, with the chase for goals backed up by snaps into tackles and the stern protection of their own goal.
Before long it was, as the old song goes, “1-0 to the Arsenal”. That resonated, given that the tune was born in a tussle between these two teams 30 years ago. It’s worth noting that was the last time Arsenal won a European trophy. The quest feels very big.
The opening goal was all in the timing. The combination play between Leandro Trossard and Havertz is improving all the time as they blend their talents as a pair. Trossard, on the run, had a look and delayed his canter in anticipation of a move to find. Havertz was trotting and suddenly switched into a sprint. The timing of the cross coincided perfectly with the run and Havertz was on point to continue his fine scoring form.
Captain Saka carved out the second. His free kick came with the element of surprise. While everyone has come to expect a higher ball aimed at the giants in Arsenal’s team, this was a low, flat delivery, which was confusing enough to evade a load of players who might have got a touch.
In the second half, when Paris Saint-Germain found enough of a foothold to force some personality on the game, Arsenal showed their tenacious, highly concentrated face, There was a five or ten-minute period when they seemed to flick a strategy switch and retreat into their ultra organised, deep block, designed to minimise any dangerous incursions.
Arteta was pleased with the intent, even if it was a less appealing half. He was conscious of how his team were 2-0 up at half-time against Leciester a few days ago only to let them back into the game. He praised his team for “managing emotionally and staying in the game in the way we had to do”.
Having more than one way to cook is giving Arsenal a much more refined European palate this season.
It was all too much for PSG. “We won none of our duels,” noted Luis Enrique. “We couldn’t overcome that type of pressure.”
The assurance to dominate and intimidate a club that regards itself as part of the establishment in the latter stages of Champions League football is new for today’s Arsenal. It is another solid step in the right direction.
(Top photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
