Many feel that the honeymoon period of Mikel Arteta is over and Arsenal are back to being the strugglers. I strongly stand against the speculations and feel that the Gunners are going on the right path under new boss and will prosper soon.
The Sheffield setback has left United lurking in the 10th position but had Nicolas Pepe been awarded the penalty, things could’ve changed and Arsenal would be sitting in top 6. Nonetheless, there are a lot of positives to be taken from the 1-1 draw.
Arsenal owned the game and were in front for almost 90 minute. Had it not been for VAR decision, the Gunners would have won. A spirited Sheffield squad was kept at bay except for the moment they scored an equaliser.
The draw was Arsenal’s 11th of the season which also meant that Arteta has only won one game in his first 5 outings as Arsenal’s boss. The stalemate would not have been possible if it was not for VAR’s decision to overturn the penalty.
If the penalty was awarded, Arsenal would have succeeded in gaining a fine result against a Sheffield United squad who are four points ahead in the points table. To defeat Blades would have been equivalent to beating a top 6 club.
Arsenal are just 5 games into the era of Arteta and their confidence is evident. They are a threat even without their star performer Aubameyang which speaks volume about the development Arteta has already done in so little time.
The attackers are running with zeal and intent of winning; the midfielders are there to create innumerable chances; and the defence with all it’s vulnerabilities is still trying to help the squad in every manner they can.
There are a lot of positives to be seen from every game that Arteta has mastered. The Gunners are now allowing only 11 shots per game as compared to 16 when Emery was in charge. The shots that they are hitting on target has also increased and so has the number of chances.
Arteta, as we all see is a long-term solution and needs time to change the tide.
“I inherited a team that was in a difficult situation and we’re trying to improve it as much as possible,” said Arteta after Saturday’s draw.
“In the second half, Sheffield United didn’t generate any efforts on goal – it’s just one long ball, a second ball and then someone put it in the goal from an incredible angle. It’s difficult to control it.”
The problems may be many and solvable only in the long-term but the silver lining for Arsenal is the presence of Arteta and his vision to develop Arsenal into a squad that was once called the INVINCIBLE.
