Arsenal Hit New Heights in Europe as Arteta Earns Man Utd Legend’s Bold 2008 Comparison
Arsenal delivered a dominant second-half performance against Bayern Munich at the Emirates, solidifying their claim as the top team in Europe. Mikel Arteta could very well be the best manager in the game.
Arsenal and Eberechi Eze performed admirably against Tottenham on Sunday, preventing the narrative surrounding their match against Europe’s leading goal scorers from being portrayed as a clash of “Beauty vs The Beast,” contrasting an attacking team with a side known for their defensive solidity and reliance on dead-ball situations.
However, the initial period of the game certainly played into that pre-conceived notion.
“We’ve studied and prepared for that,” Vincent Kompany stated prior to the match, clearly recognizing Arsenal’s danger from corners and free-kicks after acknowledging their own recent struggles defending set pieces. That preparation proved ineffective.
Bukayo Saka’s delivery was spot on, finding Jurrien Timber who cleverly guided the ball into the net just before Manuel Neuer could reach it.
It seemed straightforward, but there was some intelligent obstruction involved, and Timber’s slight nudge on the Bayern goalkeeper as he got ahead of him looked quite deliberate.
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These carefully planned details are a hallmark of Arsenal’s set-piece expertise, demonstrating their mastery in this area.
Bayern’s response, however, was a moment of pure brilliance. Joshua Kimmich retreated almost deeper than anyone else on his team to launch a magnificent long pass towards Serge Gnabry.
Gnabry’s initial control and subsequent pass were exquisite, perfectly setting up Lennart Karl, who had cleverly evaded William Saliba in the central area.
Karl then made a difficult finish appear ridiculously simple, showcasing the remarkable talent that makes him a natural on the pitch. It was truly a beautiful goal.
Myles Lewis-Skelly experienced a challenging and forgettable match, making several mistakes and unfortunately reflecting a season where playing time has been scarce.
He seemed like a noticeable weakness in the Arsenal lineup during this particular contest. Talented adversaries, such as Serge Gnabry and Michael Olise, repeatedly got the better of him with relative comfort.
Crucially, his replacement by Riccardo Calafiori, which was part of an unexpected double substitution that also saw Gabriel Martinelli come on for Bukayo Saka, turned out to be a game-changing moment in Arsenal’s victory.
Before these alterations around the 70-minute mark, Arsenal had largely dictated the flow of the second half.
Mikel Merino squandered a golden opportunity from a Declan Rice corner, and Cristhian Mosquera’s shot from close range was spectacularly kept out by Neuer after a threatening Rice free-kick.
Yet, it was ultimately Arteta’s clever and influential substitutions that proved to be the defining factor in the final result of the game.
Calafiori’s initial involvement in the play was a powerfully delivered pass that zipped across the face of the goal, finding Noni Madueke in a dangerous position.
Madueke, recently moved to the right side of the field, controlled the ball with exceptional skill and directed it beyond Neuer with his first touch.
It’s unusual for a coach to see such an instant and dramatically successful outcome from a substitution, especially when it involved removing arguably their most effective offensive player, who had been perhaps their biggest danger to the opposition throughout the match.
As if to emphasize the brilliance of Arteta’s tactical decision at the Emirates, Martinelli ultimately sealed the win.
He capitalized on Neuer’s poor positioning, beating the Bayern goalkeeper to a perfectly weighted long pass from Eberechi Eze, leaving the Brazilian with an open goal to finish the attack.
Declan Rice’s performance was, and continues to be, exceptional. Mosquera integrated perfectly into the team, replacing Gabriel effortlessly, much like Piero Hincapie’s successful substitution against Spurs.
Madueke has returned from his injury looking as incisive, maybe even more so, than at the beginning of the season.
Barring an unforeseen and massive wave of injuries, their path to the Premier League title seems clear.
They’ve also emphatically stated their intentions in the Champions League, not just winning against another contender, but dominating them in the second half.
Following Paris Saint-Germain’s recent loss to Bayern and their concession of three goals to Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal are arguably the top team in Europe at present.
Owen Hargreaves accurately pointed out the similarities between Arteta’s squad and the Manchester United team he was part of that won the Champions League final in 2008.
“They have the confidence to take on and defeat any opponent.” Absolutely anyone.
