If anyone wanted to see Mikel Arteta at his very best, they only needed to watch last night’s victory. It was an evening that underlined how dramatically the balance of this fixture has shifted. For many years, Arsenal were the side circulating the ball sideways, unable to break down a relentless Chelsea machine. This time, the roles were reversed.
Arteta tactically outmanoeuvred the opposition, setting a trap that Chelsea walked straight into. He has never been regarded as a manager obsessed with aesthetic football. Instead, he is far more comfortable building a side that is difficult to beat rather than one that creates chances freely. Even during his time as Arsenal captain, there were whispers that the club would not win another league title without restoring a strong defensive foundation. Since returning to the Emirates as manager, that has been his priority, and he has delivered. From back to front, Arsenal now resemble one of the best defensive units in the game, with the work rate of players such as Martinelli highlighting the collective commitment to pressing and structure.
A Tactical Stalemate
There is growing concern in England that the Premier League is becoming overly cautious and tactical, with matches resembling chess games rather than contests of ambition. This fixture reflected that trend. With Arsenal holding a first-leg advantage, uncertainty surrounded how both sides should approach the second leg. In theory, the initiative belonged to the visitors.
Yet Chelsea appeared content to survive rather than attack, a decision that surprised several former players-turned-pundits watching at full-time. Liam Rosenior, still learning his trade at the highest level, seemed to overcomplicate the occasion. His priority appeared to be keeping the tie alive until the final minutes rather than actively trying to win it.
Arteta’s Calculated Control
Arsenal, by contrast, waited patiently. Their approach was not about settling for a draw, but about forcing Chelsea to commit first. When that commitment never truly came, Arsenal had no reason to change. It was a cautious contest that suited the side already in front on aggregate. From an Arsenal perspective, it was a tactical masterclass from Arteta, even if it was a sobering spectacle for English football as a whole.
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The game was very tactical indeed from both sides.
I guess Arteta’s tactics was superior at the end, especially because we won.
Liam should have started with the trio of Garnacho, Palmer and Estevao behind Pedro then end the match with the 5-3-2 formation he started with. Maybe that would have given them a goal.
Anyway, I’m happy we were the better team over the 2 legs and we are in a final.
I think Arsenal complitely nullified Chelsea yesterday. Did they even once look like scoring? Strange of them to start 5 defenders and 3 defensive midfielders, but maybe they were counting on a lucky set-piece goal.
Yesterday was a masterclass from the defense, nothing much done by the forwards but that’s okay.
Yes, Chelsea’s starting formation explains how much respect they have for Arsenal FC. When keeping a clean sheet Arsenal has the quality to control any team, but when the opponents finds the back of the net our offensive shortcomings could be a challenge. Waiting for opponents mistakes can be very useful and it happened again last night. When our offensive play gets better we will be unstoppable 🏆🔴⚪️
Nice reading Dan, it’s time to give Arteta the credit he deserves 👍
Bit of a myth that I don’t praise Arteta
You rarely praise Arteta though.
It feels quite strange to get these positive articles about Arteta from you after this win last night.
The usual you would have been reminding fans to stay humble and wait until we get to win the final at Wembley before we express so much joy.
It feels strange for me to praise a manager when he does tatically well ?
What you mean is I don’t necessarily agree with those who says hes superior to Mr Wenger and Guardiola
Do you want me to offer examples where I have praised Arteta to prove it’s a myth ?
I know you do praise Arteta but it’s only a few times you do it.
He is not superior to Wenger or Pep yet, but if he works hard then in some years time it is possible for him to surpass them.
Arteta needs to win at least 3 EPL trophies and 1 UCL for him to surpass Wenger.
He needs to win at least 5 EPL trophies and 3 UCL for him to surpass Guardiola.
I know you want Arteta to succeed.
But you should loosen up a little because you seem like the JA Police that keeps us fans in check when we celebrate and get excited too much. 😂
No mate it’s more then you think
Not the JA police at all
You got to remember we live in a society online where allot of people want to have their say and can’t take not hearing what they want to hear so if you watch it’s people trying to change my mind and when they can’t getting personal
In reality why would my opinion ( a strangers matter ). My opinion is not as valid as anyone elses.
For example if a fan thinks we will all 4 trophies why would it matter what I say ?
But let me know if you want those examples
I can even just give examples from this season
Well, as for me I like most of your opinions because they are realistic to me.
The only thing I disagree with you is your underrating of Skelly because he is playing as a left back and he is 19 years old.
And for him to even be considered by Arteta to play there out of position during an injury crisis shows how good he is, but you think he is not good enough or overrated.
Well, it will be nice if you post an article on “the topics of all your positive articles about Arteta in the past 3 or 2 seasons”, if that’s possible.
Just to clear some people’s doubts about you not giving Arteta his flowers.
🙄
Seconded Didrik, nice to see Dan giving the credit MA deserves.
I’m waiting for Konstantin to do the same, but fear that won’t happen.
Not comparing the two writers by the way, as Dan always sees both sides of the coin…in most cases anyway!!
Unfortunately Ken
Leopards can’t change there spots
But we await to see if K has an opinion on the matter
Onwards and upwards
Thanks @Dan for giving credit were its due.
It must be a task achieving synergy among the arsenal faithful, following Bertie Mee, George Graham, Arsene Wenger eras but I sense we’ll see another historic swing in our trophy winner fortunes, with *Mikel Arteta as manager who is demonstratively better than he’s being given credit for by fans, media and interested parties.
I’m not here to get carried away as fans on this site repeatedly remind. I’m confident he has the wherewithal, backing and savvy to know what’s needed to effect a trophy winners renaissance. I’m wondering why some hold the position that he can’t get us over the line?
Because in a title race he never has
If he goes and does it people will report it as such
Some fans generally don’t care about being right as much as you think
Give you an example
I don’t think we will win the quarduple
That’s my opinion which is worthless in the scheme of things
If he does , I’ll be over joyed
@Dan
For the minute let’s forget the quadruple. We’re all entitled to our opinion/outlook. I must say I appreciated this write up regardless. And a last point “belief” or faith (even in a footy team) isn’t based on evidence (alone) OR on what’s gone by or based on stuff what WE can see, is it? Its a conviction about things we wish to see. 🙂
Disagree mate
There’s a certain logic and knowledge of the product
I was told last season that Havertz would score more then Halland
That’s based on what someone wants to happen not what they actually see
There is no way you look at this Arsenal team and believe they will win everything
Hence why one takes me up on that bet
Will bet you any price you want
A tactical master peice from the Spaniard alright.
Even the gaffer harshest critics are slowly coming around, to give him the flowers he deserves.
The Spaniard have now raised the bar by installing Arsenal the favorite to win four competitions, honestly I can’t see this happening as somthing will give, but the conversation is gathering momentum.
I don’t see us winning 4 trophies this season.
I can only see us winning the EPL which is still a long way to go.
We are in the League Cup final but it’s not a guarantee that we will win it, so let’s just stay hopeful that we just end up winning something.
I will be super excited if we get to win any trophy and I will be even more ecstatic if we win more than one trophy, starting with the Caraboa Cup.
Mate give me the Prem and I’m overjoyed
Rest would be a bonus
Long way to go
Yes, the EPL is what I crave for the most.
Every other trophy will be a bonus indeed.
I was just a little 10 years old boy when we won the EPL last in 2004.
I want to know what it feels like for Arsenal to win the EPL again now that I am an adult.
I have been through many disappoinment from this club so we all deserve to celebrate winning the big jug.
I’m quietly confident for the League Cup too. We have a very solid record against Man City over the last 3 years. They’re not back to their best yet, even with the addition of Semenyo, who has been electric. Rodri is not back to his best by any stretch, especially. I watched some of their game against Newcastle, who were missing two of their most influential players in Guimaraes and Joelinton, and not much of a contest, but they had a very porous defense as well. That’s not an issue we are struggling with.
Overthinking aside, it’s a trophy final. Both teams want it badly, so we may see a whole different story. Exciting time to be an Arsenal fan!
Hopefully our good record against City continues in this final and we win the Caraboa Cup.
It’s not a guarantee that we will win the Premier League either.
No, it’s not a guarantee that we will win the EPL but as it stands we have a 6 points lead and that’s like a 55% chance to win it.
But the Caraboa Cup is just a 50% chance for me because it can go to either team.
So because we currently have a 6 points lead at the top that’s why I’m only seeing the possibility of us winning the EPL more likely for now.
Chelsea’s lack of ambition surprised me, considering it was a Cup Semi-Final and they were trailing from the first leg, they never laid a glove on us if we’re honest.
Now don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t care less about Chelsea or the way they went about the game. But if that had been Arsenal, I’d have been very disappointed to have not at some stage of the game thrown the kitchen sink in my bid to overturn the first leg score.
That said, I did enjoy that when they finally did throw everyone into our half, we then finished them off. And Havertz scoring and pointing to his badge was the icing on the cake with the cherry on top. 😂👍
@DaJuhi
The forwards were busy contributing to that “defensive masterclass”…
It’s taken five long seasons for some fans to realize that MA has, slowly but surely, been learning the art of managing a club.
I was one of his harshest critics back in the 8th 8th and 5th season, but from then on could see his hard work, dedication and love for the club.
I don’t need trophies to understand we have a manager who now is respected within the game and see how players turn down other top clubs to play for The Arsenal and Mikel Arteta.
At the start of every season I hope we can win every trophy on offer and, at this moment in time, that’s a possibility.
I’m sure manure fans didn’t expect to win the treble , but I’m sure they never gave up hope, just as we never expected to go a complete season undefeated in the PL.
So there’s no shame in not being “humble” and I’m still hoping we can do the quadruple.
We must be starting to ruffling feathers, as I note Guardiola wants the rules to be changed so he can field his latest signing for the final.
Would it be “humble of me” to suggest he is panicking?
By the way, how do we know Havertz wouldn’t have scored more goals than Haaland?
Being out injured for so long hasn’t helped and Haaland hasn’t been the force he was last season so far has he?
This was said last season
By Xmas Halland was way ahead
Ken1945,
I agree with you’re post to a large degree, but there is no comparison regards Haaland and Havertz in the goal scoring steaks. Yes Haaland is what for him is a lean spell at present. But come on lets be real, although Havertz has turned out better than I first expected, as a goal scorer him and Haaland are just chalk and cheese.
We have hit rock bottom if we are having this debate lol
You see the movie Fury ?
I’m Shia LaBeouf right now …..’ Stop !!!! ‘
How do we know ?
Because in his career he’s never been a natural goal scorer and Halland is simply a better goal scorer
We won’t win all 4 mate
But yes I respect from a literal point of view in terms of pure meaning of the words ….no I do not know anything .
Yet I can only use my knowledge and what I see
For example I don’t know 100 percent Wales will win the World Cup as in literally of course it could happen
If a Welsh person said it to me ….I would say isn’t happening mate
Me too was a harsh critic of Arteta, and his initial handling of Saliba but have come to realize he’s the real deal.
I have witnessed a complete structural and mental overhaul of Arsenal football club.
Regardless of the outcome in May, the Spaniard has to be seen as a top-tier manager base on sheer sustained performance rather than just trophies, due to what I have observed and backed by recent analysis.
So despite the pain of near misses, the team has shown immense growth in maturity, handling the immense pressure of a title race and delivering consistent results that they belong to be among Europe elite.
Today Arsenal is a consistent, feared contender, and that is why they will cross the line, this time of asking,
Maybe Saliba knows something we don’t .
Disagree mate
I have always said win the Prem and he’s done a great job
You can’t say regardless of the outcome in May .
If we are not Champions in May you can’t say he’s the real deal
One one hand we are a juggernaut who will win the quarduple
In the next breath you say he doesn’t matter if we are not Champions in May
So which one is it ?
No Dan, your inserting words that have a different meaning.
“will win the quadruple” is totally different to “hope” or “may” win the quadruple and until it’s an impossibility, it remains a possibility doesn’t it?
As for Haaland and Havertz this season and this season alone, because that’s where your taking some fan to task, how can you say that the former would have outscored the latter, when our man has missed so many games through injury?
Be humble and say you don’t really know, because none of us do, do we?
What do you think of Pep trying to change the rules for the final Dan?
So every year that Klopp, Guardiola, Wenger, Mourinho etc etc didn’t win the PL, they weren’t the real deal then?
Oh I agree , you can hope we win all 4 but we won’t
Lots of things I can hope for that won’t happen
I can say it because in terms of scoring Halland is superior to Havertz . Also it was last season I took them to task but no ( unless an injury ) Havertz would never outscore Halland
What an insult to the Norwegian ( go look at his record )
Pep is wrong and they won’t/ shouldn’t change the rule ( I’ll write something about this )
Its more he’s yet to get over the line
So yes of course , if Mr Wenger came to England and won 1 FA Cup I wouldn’t call him the real deal
These managers only got the hype after they won things
Arteta wins the Prem he will get all the praise in the world mate
Well won’t it be Kroenke family’s fault if we don’t win the league?
Nah Sue this is my point
I report things as they change
I give them all the credit in the world for bringing in Berta
Can show you articles where I said is that the turning point
I mean imagine that – the moment they invest we might win a title …who knew lol
Difference is …we win the title I will give Arteta and the Koronke Family credit because how could I not
Some readers if we don’t win title will say …..it’s okay , trophies are not everything
My mistake then as I thought you’d said we would never win anything with the Kroenkes in charge.
Similar in fact to me saying there has to be context (those pesky moments in time when a trophy is less important than stability). The joy for Spurs last season to still be in a terrible rut now. Leicester winning the league but currently disappearing down the plug hole just a few seasons later. So in certain contexts stability is more important than the short term gain that a trophy brings , especially if it can’t be sustained
The one thing that has been a positive about KSE is that they are stable and it’s a very good place to start from
Let’s not be sidetracked SueP, as Dan has said many times that we would win nothing with Mr Kronkie as our owner.
As have so many other fans with regards to Mr Kronkie and Mikel Arteta.
The way we are performing at this moment in time, they must be squeezing their buttocks together, as ut is certainly squeeky bum time!!
And if I’m wrong and we lift the Prem do you know what will happen ?
I’ll say yes I was wrong , finally the Koronke Family listened and invested
What a pleasant surprise
It’s really not that deep lol
Ken1945,
Just to put my two pennies’ worth in. I’ve already given you a view regards the Haaland v Havertz goal scoring issue on a post above. But again purely in the goal scoring steaks, chalk and cheese.
Regards you comments, so that every year that Klopp, Guardiola, Wenger, Mourinho etc etc didn’t win the PL, they weren’t the real deal.
Well once they won it they proved themselves to be the real deal. And yes they had their seasons where they didn’t, but having proved they are the real deal with their previous successes’.
And as for Guardiola wanting a rule change, well if that were to happen it would be a farce. If the rule was in place at the start of the season, the time to change it if decided to should be next season.
Just how many favour’s do City want. 🤦♂️
We have hit rock bottom in our arrogance if we are even having a debate about Havertz outscoring Halland
So, Derek and Dan, when Dalglish and Ranieri won the PL title with Blackburn and Leicester , they were the “real deal” then?!
So what happened to them after that?
Both got sacked and were never to be seen at the top again – that’s the problem with judging Managers by the PL trophies they’ve won.
Mikel Arteta gas done so much more for our club than these two individuals ever did for theirs, even though they won the PL once each.
The fact that you can’t see further than a trophy when judging a manager, is your problem not mine and, at this moment in time, I cannot see anyone who would be better in the role of Arsenal manager than Mikel Arteta.
Let me ask you both, would you swap either of these “real deal” managers, would you swap either of them for MA?
As for Havertz /Haaland, what’s arrogant about saying you cannot compare the two of them this season?
Not going to engage mate as your not liking the answer and just asking the same question in a different way
Arteta has to win a Prem to be considered the real deal at Arsenal
Yes it’s arrogant to ever suggest Havertz would out score Halland and shows al lack of knowledge to the sport
Already say comment was made last summer
My opinion mate
Of course your not going to engage Dan, as my examples of Ranieri and Dalglish blow your concept of being the real deal only when you win the PL as nonsense.
Again, I’m not comparing Havertz and Haaland, as I didn’t make the comparison – what I am saying is that one cannot compare their contribution this season, as Havertz has had a long term injury.
In fact, I do believe Haaland is having his worst season in the PL regarding goals scored, but my lack of knowledge of the game might be wrong.
No they don’t mate , it’s a straw man argument .
I’m trained in this .
It’s a very common technique.
But I’ll answer it just to show others ……
Okay , your suggesting Daglish and Raneri are not the real deal correct ?
Yet would you argue they were the real deal if they never won a title ?
Because that’s why your asking for Arteta
Your saying , if he wins the title give him his flowers and the likes of me are saying of course ….
But if he doesn’t you don’t want anyone to question him ?
I’m also trained in reading and digesting what people say Dan.
I’m asking YOU if you think they were the real deal, as that’s what your saying Arteta has to do before he can be seen as such.
For the sake of the “others” you mention, if Mikel does win the PL this season, stays as manager and we get relegated the following season, would you still class him as the real deal?
At Blackburn and Leicester of course
I would suggest expectation is a bit higher at Arsenal
Again though you want a manager to be call a real deal for not winning a Prem.
So shouldn’t you be asking is Poch and Ole and Rodgers the real deal for not winning a title ?
Just so I’ve got this straight Dan – your the real deal if you win the PL, no matter what happens after that… is that correct?
. If, in the following season or two , the club is relegated with the same manager, he’s still the real deal, because he won the PL…. Is that correct?
I’m not sure why your now bringing in other managers who haven’t won the PL, as they are irrelevant to your definition of the real deal, can you explain that to me as well?
Look forward to your three answers mate and just thought it worth mentioning your “gang” theory.
I’m not sure how old SueP and HD are, but I know they are well over the sixty mark, as I am.
We’ve been through seasons where the club you and I support were seen as relegation fodder, never challenging for anything, let alone winning a trophy.
That kind of experience over the years, tends to give one the same kind of thoughts and priorities regarding the club.
You and I agree about the incredible work Arsene and David Dein accomplished together and I see the same kind of thing happening with Mr Kronkie and Mikel Arteta… you don’t and that’s fine.
But to call it ganging up on you is OTT and quite unnecessary.
I enjoy debating with you and always read and digest your articles, which I find thought provoking.. Let’s not go any deeper than that, as it will spoil the interaction of true Arsenal fans.
Focus on our club
Yes if Arteta left Arsenal without a Prem or say CL medal I wouldn’t view him as being a great Arsenal manager
I’m bringing in other managers but you want Arteta to be called a real deal even if he doesn’t win the Prem ?
Don’t misunderstand, I don’t care .
I wouldn’t call everyone I debate with as a real fan
Some knowledge is shocking . Let’s just say there are some who come after me where I got a pretty good idea what is going on In their life .
I’m also trained in reading and digesting what people say Dan.
I’m asking YOU if you think they were the real deal, as that’s what your saying Arteta has to do before he can be seen as such.
For the sake of the “others” you mention, if Mikel does win the PL this season, stays as manager and we get relegated the following season, would you still class him as the real deal?
Forgot to answer your last question Dan, sorry.
I question Mikel after every game and have done from the very beginning.
If he doesn’t win the PL, I’ll consider what he has achieved this season and then give my opinion.
Again mate , the fan said it last summer.
Your now asking how would I know if Havertz was fit he couldn’t ?
Go look at his scoring record in his career
Look back at Henry’s scoring record before he came to The Arsenal and yet he did it.
Look at how Jesus has come back from a long term injury and is scoring goals.
It is pointless holding up one person’s opinion regarding Havertz /Haaland and chastising other Arsenal fans by saying be humble.
I note you say “the fan” as in a singular opinion.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Haaland scored more goals than Havertz, but I can’t say that this would have happened this season for the reason I’ve already given you
Good try
For younger fans …
Henry was younger then Havertz when he joined us and was learning a fresh position
He wouldn’t have had that goal scoring record as he had played as a winger so your correct …how would we know how he would settle
Havertz though we know by time he became a Gunner had played a few years in English football and never been prolific
I think he scored like 32 prem.goals in 3 / 4 years at the Bridge ?
So no someone with that record is not scoring more goals then Halland lol
If you want a bet in the summer let me know
And if I’m wrong and we lift the Prem do you know what will happen ?
I’ll say yes I was wrong , finally the Koronke Family listened and invested
What a pleasant surprise
It’s really not that deep lol
They have been investing for a few years.
I disagree
Last January was a disgrace
And I think they learnt from that hence did what was needed in the summer
That seems a bit of a weak statement all things considered. Liverpool faded but already had a grip on the title by the time Jesus got injured imo. You talked about loans etc but would that have changed anything enough to have made a winning comeback? Arsenal weren’t prepared to pay the asking price for Watkins which suggested to me that the summer window was what it was all about .
Peeps we been through this we won’t agree and that is okay
Surely the main thing is I give them credit this season
What else do you want me to say
I have always said ….go prove me wrong Koronke Family
Equally , I said this a decade ago and your gang never once said Dan was right lol
So well done Koronke Family . You joined the board in 2008 ? And might finally win us a Prem lol
And no Sue we were 5-6 points behind Liverpool in Jan
Same as City now approx
City brought Guehi and Sememyo
Last Jan we did nothing
The positive I think they learnt that lesson not to leave squad short again
You obviously never took into account FFP and PSR.
So all the signings we’ve made in the last few years have been cheap ?
It’s an old argument
This is the only season I felt like since they first joined the board that they really went for it
Look at last January
A manager literally asks for help and they do nothing
Like I said though , old ground
I give them all the credit for doing the right thing this season
Not an old argument at all, just facts ! Even under the last manager they spent over £100m in one season !
You keep going on about last January, but like I posted above, FFP and PSR would’ve been a consideration.
Nah we were told at the time we were not close to breaching that
We could have afforded a loan for example
You think we would be in danger of breaching FFP in Jan but then suddenly have all this money in January ?
They been terrible owners for Arsenal football club
I’ll give them credit this season though
If we fail I can’t put it on them
Who said we weren’t close to breaching the rules ?
How about the millions of £s the club owe Silent Stan ? Have you forgotten that ?
You weren’t around in the mid 70’s and 80’s when we didn’t spend like the likes of Man Utd and Liverpool. Would you say we had a bad BoD’s then ?
Loads of experts and it’s common sense.
You don’t go from not being able to not afford even a loan in January to having hundreds of millions in July lol
And if depends . I wasn’t around so can’t comment in terms of were they charging fans some of the most expensive tickets and yet watched us regress as a club ? If so did they do anything to change it
I know going further back we were called the bank of England famously and guess what ….we won things
Imagine that …..invest in the team and you might win something? Who knew lol
Name those so called experts. Of course a club can be stopped from spending in the January Window and then go on a spending spree in the Summer window, as in July that’s when the new financial year starts for FFP and PSR.
We have always been on of the most expensive clubs concerning ticket prices. Nothing changed.
As for when we were known as The Bank of England club, we didn’t have a new stadium to pay for 😁
I agree with the Emirates and originally defended them on that
To be honest though it’s an old debate we will never agree on
Been writing on here for over a decade so people know my views
Dan,
Have you checked out that Russ Abbot song yet?.
Yeah ….I can see it …..the Prem In the middle of the pitch ….players in a huddle
The Emirates singing
Very 80’s video
Dan,
👍👍👍👍👍
How emotional will it be if we have that Prem and North London Forever is playing
Dan,
I’ve just hired Russ Abbot in the event we win the League. 😂🤣👍
🤣🤣 You’re so funny, Derek 🤣👍
We probably could hire him to hang around with us for a day
‘ celebs ‘ do that
Lives in Portugal apparently
Not sure Arsenal would let him play but maybe outside the stadium?