For some fans, the jury is still out on this latest incarnation of Arsenal, but the contrast between the side that lost its opening three matches and this vibrant version is stark. Arsenal looked clueless and overwhelmed, without energy and spirit in the opening matches. The lack of performances rather unfairly meant that the hopes of the Arsenal fans fell onto the shoulders of their two homegrown boys – Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.
Arsenal fans love players that give their all or show a genuine passion for the club and the Hale End boys fit the remit perfectly. Since those early days of the new season that saw Arsenal winless, goalless and pointless, rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, Arteta has acquired more young warriors n the form of White, Tavares, Odegaard, Tomiyasu, Lokonga and Ramsdale.
It appears that Arteta is not only looking for talented footballers but ones that have personality and ambition. It worked for George Graham who often mentioned the ‘hunger’ in the players he drafted in from outside the club, from smaller clubs and lower leagues.
Like George Graham, Mikel Arteta has a nucleus of emerging homegrown talent that will form the club’s future in the coming years. At present, the Arsenal academy can even afford to cherry-pick its ranks and is probably head and shoulders above any other club in the division.
There’s a tangible excitement about the future and for once, it’s not just empty words. Many of us will recall a time when we were constantly reminded by Wenger of how young his side was and how often he demanded patience. Well, the patience ran out and the potential, in most cases, never truly arrived at Arsenal, but Saka and Smith Rowe have us believing again.
Of course, the upturn is not exclusively down to the Hale Enders, Ramsdale and Tomiyasu have become instant hits with the shot-stopper proving to be a massive influence in an emerging and impressive defence and the new right-back showing pride and passion in every game.
Ben White is forming a decent partnership with Gabriel, who has looked nothing short of beastly this term and Tavares looks a very good substitute for Kieran Tierney. Alongside Partey, Sambi Lokonga looks the naturally-gifted successor to Granit Xhaka and within two seasons, the prospect will have graduated with honours.
You can bet your bottom dollar Arsenal haven’t concluded their transfer business, which includes incomings and outgoings as Arteta and Edu try to establish a spine. Yes, that much-talked-about spine of any successful team and there’s enough evidence to suggest that Arsenal are heading in the right direction.
Read More:
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- The Year Football Stood Still – 1989 | The Year of the Greatest Conclusion to a League Season…Ever.
- How Ben White is Perfectly Justifying the Price Tag and Faith of Manager Mikel Arteta
It’s far too early to get carried away or to predict a top-four finish because the season still has twists and turns ahead. There will be inconsistent games, average performances and flashes of brilliance, but consistency is still some way off.
At least, the Arsenal faithful seem more together and far more excitable than they were after the disappointing start to the campaign. Saka and Smith appear to have us believing again and that is something Arsenal have been missing, since forever.
