OPINION: Gunners may have a historic finish to the season, however there’s an enormous query dealing with the supervisor proper now
Mikel Arteta may write himself into the historical past books at Arsenal this season (Picture: Getty)
No matter occurs between now and the tip of Might, it’s going to nearly actually outline Mikel Arteta’s managerial profession. The Spaniard will both be the person to finish Arsenal’s watch for a league title, turn out to be the membership’s first-ever European Cup-winning coach, each, or, reasonably inexplicably, as soon as once more fall on the remaining hurdle.
The latter doesn’t bear occupied with for Arsenal followers, provided that for almost all of the season, the Gunners have been favourites in all 4 competitions. The opposite consequence not talked about is a home cup triumph or two, however after so a few years of craving, it’s one of many massive two titles that everybody linked with Arsenal craves.
But when we go to that hypothetical comfortable place Arsenal supporters will likely be dreaming of and say they win considered one of – and even each – the Premier League or Champions League, it does throw up an attention-grabbing conundrum.
In pursuit of glory, it’s truthful to say Arteta has turn out to be extra Jose Mourinho than Pep Guardiola at occasions, with a heavy emphasis on defensive stability and, in fact, set items.
Arsenal followers gained’t care, and assuming it delivers silverware, nor ought to they. Arteta noticed a glitch within the system and, together with set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, has exploited it to their benefit. It’s the primary week of March, and Arsenal boast the joint-most objectives from corners in Premier League historical past.
They joined West Brom in 2016-17 and Oldham in 1992-93 as having scored 16 occasions from corners, and whereas the corporate they preserve in that regard would possibly let you know all it’s essential to know in regards to the attractiveness of this type, its effectiveness can’t be argued with. However what subsequent?
Opposition groups will ultimately clock on and discover a strategy to put an finish to, or at the very least restrict, Arsenal’s menace from corners. It would come too late to cease any potential silverware success this season. It won’t even arrive till subsequent season, or the one after that. However as is the case with all tactical tendencies, somebody, someplace will ultimately discover an antidote.
What occurs when the Arsenal set-piece objectives run out? (Picture: Getty)
That’s not even to say the prospect of referees clamping down on the grappling and holding both. Arsenal set-pieces resemble a rugby scrum at occasions, and there have been events the place referees would’ve been justified in blowing as much as award a foul in the wrong way.
The underside line is, this type of play isn’t sustainable.
It’s Arteta’s largest energy proper now, as a result of it’s the one factor Arsenal’s opponents don’t have any reply to. However when/if the preliminary part of success comes and finally goes, the place do Arsenal go from then?
It’s to not say that Arsenal are solely depending on set items, as a result of as demonstrated within the latest win in opposition to Tottenham, they’re not. However they’re additionally not far behind.
The win in opposition to Chelsea marked the ninth time Arsenal have scored a match-winning aim from a nook thus far this season – you guessed it, one other Premier League file.
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Possibly that is simply the preliminary part of Arteta’s masterplan. Maybe it’s a case of getting that first title win over the road by some means, after which the prettier stuff will observe.
However it’s onerous to see that being the case, and whereas it is perhaps working properly proper now, Arteta’s largest energy may quickly turn out to be his kryptonite if he’s not cautious.
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