Arsenal: Moving upwards as easy as ABC

Arsenal’s 1-1 draw versus Leicester City felt more like a defeat, but hope is not lost in the slightest. Moving onwards and upwards is as easy as ABC.

There is nothing more frustrating than seeing your team not win a match they should have won. It makes anything besides three points feel like a crushing defeat, even when the team they drew to is third place in the Premier League and has the league’s top scorer leading the charge. Despite all of the positives from Tuesday, Arsenal supporters can feel unhappy with the draw.

Nevertheless, this Gunners outfit is built of sterner stuff than previous North London sides, who have wilted under the pressure. They have some defining traits that make the difference between force and flop. Moving onwards, then, really is as easy as ABC.

A is for Arteta

Mikel Arteta is the first new quality, and it’s clear to see why. Arsenal have conceded fewer goals, created more chances, have a higher expected goals and a lower expected goals against. The team have also ceased to be the draw-masters of the league under his command. No more are Arsenal on par with Newcastle United and Everton. The new head coach alone catapults the club’s standards and expectations, and often the play, too, into ‘Big Six’ standing.

But more important than that is the players’ faith in him. With the notable exception of a certain cantankerous Frenchman, the public support of Arteta at the club, from players and staff alike, is absolute. And you can see it in the way they play. Shouts of frustration and slumped shoulders have morphed into screams of joy and resolute effort seemingly overnight.

This is the first time in the last five years that many at the club can put their faith in one man with no pause for reconsideration or doubt. Arteta has rebooted the team. He has done a bang-up job with rejuvenation and renovations, and there’s no room to rethink because he’s the man for the job.

<p>Nevertheless, this Gunners outfit is built of sterner stuff than previous North London sides, who have wilted under the pressure. They have some defining traits that make the difference between force and flop. Moving onwards, then, really is as easy as ABC.</p> <div id="attachment_103149" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-103149" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/09/arsenal-moving-upwards-easy-abc/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1254877486-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Mikel Arteta" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>A is for Arteta</h4> <p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/09/arsenal-moving-upwards-easy-abc/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=mikel+arteta%22>Mikel Arteta</a> is the first new quality, and it’s clear to see why. Arsenal have conceded fewer goals, created more chances, have a higher expected goals and a lower expected goals against. The team have also ceased to be the draw-masters of the league under his command. No more are Arsenal on par with Newcastle United and Everton. The new head coach alone catapults the club’s standards and expectations, and often the play, too, into ‘Big Six’ standing.</p> <p>But more important than that is the players’ faith in him. With the notable exception of a certain cantankerous Frenchman, the public support of Arteta at the club, from players and staff alike, is absolute. And you can see it in the way they play. Shouts of frustration and slumped shoulders have morphed into screams of joy and resolute effort seemingly overnight.</p> <p>This is the first time in the last five years that many at the club can put their faith in one man with no pause for reconsideration or doubt. Arteta has rebooted the team. He has done a bang-up job with rejuvenation and renovations, and there’s no room to rethink because he’s the man for the job.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/09/arsenal-moving-upwards-easy-abc/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> B is for Backbone </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_103224" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-103224" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/09/arsenal-moving-upwards-easy-abc/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1225427505-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>B is for Backbone</h4> <p>How long has it been since Arsenal had defence they could rely upon? And a midfield they could trust? Rhetorical questions aside, there is something different in the air, something that has turned <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/09/arsenal-moving-upwards-easy-abc/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=david+luiz%22>David Luiz</a>, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/09/arsenal-moving-upwards-easy-abc/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=shkodran+mustafi%22>Shkodran Mustafi</a>, and <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/09/arsenal-moving-upwards-easy-abc/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=granit+xhaka%22>Granit Xhaka</a> into confident, composed, dependable defenders.</p> <div class="recent-posts "> <h4>More from <b>Pain in the Arsenal</b></h4> <ul> <li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/09/arsenal-moving-upwards-easy-abc/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/arsenal-interest-miguel-gutierrez-girona/"> Fabrizio Romano confirms Arsenal interest in Girona star </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/09/arsenal-moving-upwards-easy-abc/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/when-will-martin-odegaard-return-from-his-injury/"> When will Martin Odegaard return from his injury? </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/09/arsenal-moving-upwards-easy-abc/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/2-midfielders-arsenal-could-sign-in-january-transfer-window/"> 2 midfielders Arsenal could sign in January transfer window </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/09/arsenal-moving-upwards-easy-abc/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/thomas-partey-unlikely-to-play-for-arsenal-again-in-2023/"> Thomas Partey unlikely to play for Arsenal again in 2023 </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/09/arsenal-moving-upwards-easy-abc/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/predicted-arsenal-lineup-vs-burnley-saka-fit-to-start/"> Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Burnley: Saka fit to start? </a> </li></ul> </div> <p>Three players associated by nature with errors and blunders, games-to-forget have become a concrete backbone of this Arsenal squad. They are not necessarily the long-term solution, but the trio dubbed ‘clowns’ on Twitter has led Arsenal to 13 points out of 15, with just two goals conceded.</p> <p>But it’s not just them. Arsenal have begun to look like a hardened, disciplined, workhorse unit in the way they commit everybody possible to the defensive cause. One turnover against Wolves comes to mind: Adama Traore picked up the ball on the halfway line and was immediately mobbed by three red shirts.</p> <p>While Wolves retained possession, they were unable to force a way through the Gunners midfield as all 11 players were back behind the ball, pressing forward in an unstoppable wave that led to a promising counter. Defensively, the team is working in tandem with one another, pressing hard, covering ground, sometimes scrapping. They have shown backbone, which is something to build upon.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/09/arsenal-moving-upwards-easy-abc/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> C is for Cohesion </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_103136" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-103136" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/09/arsenal-moving-upwards-easy-abc/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1254867235-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>C is for Cohesion</h4> <p>Arsenal’s best moments — the entire first half, really — came when the system worked as a whole. With the wing-backs stretching the Foxes’ backline, Alexandre Lacazette dropping deep with his back to goal, and the centre-backs suppressing the counter, the midfield played splitting balls through to the forwards, who in turn found late runs or recycled back to start the process again.</p> <p>And when Arsenal did turn it over, they forced repeated turnovers. With one man pressing and two cutting passing lanes, Leicester couldn’t find an answer. Their fresh legs in the second half gave them the upper hand, but the substitutions were forced by Arsenal, who ran them completely ragged.</p> <p>As they face some stiff opposition in the second North London Derby of the season this Sunday, cohesion will be the most important part of their game. Arteta has implemented a style and definition that every player has adapted to and now executes in conjunction with one another. It is a connected system.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Arsenal Vs Leicester City: 5 things we learned" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/09/arsenal-moving-upwards-easy-abc/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Arsenal Vs Leicester City: 5 things we learned </a> </div> </div> <p>ABC. It’s easy as 1-2-3. With faith in Arteta, in his ability to build a resolute, cohesive unit, Arsenal are on the up, no matter what the table may say.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">