Arsenal is off to a dream start! Four wins in the opening weeks of the Premier League – something not even the invincible side could achieve. Mikel Arteta is finally set to take the club to the big leagues. Despite the loss against United, we cannot disregard Arsenal’s success story in the opening rounds.
A successful transfer window saw the manager bringing all the important signings he wanted over the last few years, which reflected on the overall playing style that the club displayed over the starting weeks.
Arsenal ticket holders couldn’t have asked for a better start to their team’s campaign, and it looks like Arteta is taking the fight to Pep and Klopp this season.
The Gunners were fortunate to have some of the best signings in the Premier League but they also missed out on a few signings that would have increased their squad depth. In contrast to Arsenal’s previous transfer windows, this is right on top.
But is it too early to call Arsenal favourites? How is their season going to be unfolding?
Here’s a look at what happened and what will unfold.
Jesus – An absolute steal
The Premier League Champion at City, Gabriel Jesus, made it to Arsenal this season with intentions of setting his mark in the Premier League.
And this is exactly what he has done!
Jesus has made a perfect start as an Arsenal player, propelling the Gunners to the top of the table and bringing out some inspiring performances. In the games that Arsenal played, it was evident that Jesus brought in quality improvements in how they played.
He also has improved training intensity, syncing well with ex-City player Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Whether or not Arsenal challenge for the league title remains to be seen, but they’ve given themselves a fair chance with the signing of Jesus. The striker has changed the entire team’s mentality, and now, there’s a belief around the club.
Douglas Luiz – Rejected
Aston Villa wasn’t too happy to let go of Douglas Luiz to Arsenal with the final bid on the deadline day rejected. The struggling Villa did not heed the Gunners’ bids and it was clear that they didn’t want to go further.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta got the green light to make one last signing after confirmation that Mohamed Elneny will likely be sidelined for the rest of the year by a severe injury.
With Thomas Partey ruled out owing to a thigh injury, Arsenal is facing a problem in the midfield. But it was only after the 2-1 win against Villa that the club intended on pushing a deal for Douglas Luiz.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough time to reach an agreement for the 24-year-old. Douglas Luiz was one individual with whom Arteta worked at Manchester City before he moved to Villa in 2019.
The season to prove everyone wrong
This season is Arteta’s best chance at disproving the perception that he is not a high-class coach. With the new signings, there is a belief that he can achieve this feat as the season progresses. He was highly praised for the new signings, adding that “top players have inspired them, ruthless winners, and now it’s their turn to do the same.”
He is correct in his approach with players such as Zinchenko and Jesus, who have played with several legends at City and have drawn inspiration to perform better. Now the opportunity opens up for these players to push the youngsters at Arsenal.
However, one of the key concerns that Arteta will need to counter is drawing games. Last year, the team saw 13 losses, much to the disappointment of everyone who purchased Arsenal tickets, and the loss count was even higher than that of Manchester United, who had their worst season in decades.
While winning is great, minimizing the damage is one aspect that Arsenal will focus on this season.
Still, a long way to go for a Premier League title
While it seems like Arsenal has got their act together, experts believe they are still not championship-winning material and there’s a lot of work to be done to reach this threshold.
Arsenal icon Paul Merson was the first to point this out, stating that his former club is far from winning the Premier League title.
And he isn’t wrong because the teams ahead of Arsenal have had a continuous succession cycle over the last few years, and Arsenal has a lot of catching up to do.
“Neither club [Arsenal or Manchester United] is going to lift the title soon,” Merson told the Daily Star.
In the last few years, Arsenal hasn’t been at their best in terms of playing and overall player development. Similar to Manchester United, they haven’t brought in impactful players.
One plus, however, is the Arsenal academy. The academy players have repeatedly put their hand up for Arsenal, which impressed whoever purchased Arsenal tickets. The likes of Bukayo Saka are seen as a prospect for Arsenal.
Merson adds that the side should not get too much ahead of themselves but take the progression plan slow.
In the 2021-22 season, it is all about making it to the UEFA Champions League; a tournament Arsenal last played in 2018. They fell short of this, and now the focus should be back on chasing after this.
Next, Arsenal could be looking at their other achievements. This way, the Gunners’ could eventually lift the Premier League title within the next 3-4 years. The same happened at both Liverpool and City.
Maybe Arsenal could take a page out of their books. The fans who purchase Arsenal tickets for the Emirates have waited long, and they surely can wait another year.
A Year of Hope!
With Arsenal getting their act together, Arsenal tickets are running out at incredible speed. Official sources would’ve already run out of options for fans who want to see the Gunners in action this season, but reseller platforms don’t disappoint.
Thanks to the sellers who list their Arsenal tickets after a series of verifications, every Gunners fan has the opportunity to watch Arsenal play this season.
