Arsenal are unbeaten in their last nine matches across all competitions and sit pretty at the top of the Premier League table, boasting a 100 per cent record in the Champions League to boot.
Mikel Arteta answers Arsenal critics
There is a sentiment going around that the Gunners have adopted a ‘boring style of play’, but as long as they get the job done, Mikel Arteta won’t be in the least bit bothered.
Besides, this ongoing narrative is in stark contrast to their imperious win over Atlético Madrid in the Champions League last Wednesday, and club legend Paul Merson was quick to note that nobody blows away Diego Simeone’s side like Arsenal did that night.
Four goals inside just 14 minutes cemented what was a statement three points for Arteta’s men, and summer signing Viktor Gyokeres silenced his own doubters with a quick-fire brace to end his barren run without scoring.
“I think he deserved it,” said Arteta about Gyokeres’ goals against Atletico.
“Because everything that we were seeing in terms of what he was bringing to the team and how much he was helping the team in many areas, apart from scoring goals in the last few weeks, there was no debate about that. It was about keeping that belief in himself, that emotional state, that he can enjoy and play freely.
“I think he’s certainly done that today. Again, he was rewarded with two goals, and the biggest smile on his face. Look at his teammates as well in the pictures and videos, they are all so happy for him because he fully deserves it.”
The result means Arsenal still haven’t lost a single game in all competitions since their narrow defeat at Anfield in late August, and even that was down to a sumptuous late free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai which David Raya could do nothing about.
The catalyst for Arsenal’s amazing run has undoubtedly been their rock-solid defence, which has leaked the fewest goals of any Premier League side, with just three scored past them in nine top flight games.
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal
Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Much to pundit Jamie O’Hara’s detest, who said last week that Arsenal are “killing” the Premier League with their guerrilla tactics, the north Londoners have proved a constant menace through dead balls and long-throws — which have acted as a secret weapon that no opponent can match.
Gabriel already has four goal contributions as a direct result of corners and free-kicks, bagging a header against Atlético and setting up Gyokeres for his second, and teams barely have an answer to the Brazilian’s constant set piece threat.
It’s been a very promising start to 25/26, and their excellent Champions League run has now forced Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher into a U-turn.
Jamie Carragher admits he got one thing very wrong about Arsenal
Speaking live on CBS Sports last week, analysing Arsenal’s win over Atlético, Carragher admitted that Arsenal are now one of the favourites to win the competition — despite previously saying they’re not a Champions League team.
“I’ve said before on this show that I’ve never had Arsenal down as a Champions League club,” Carragher said.
“I know that might sound obvious because they’ve never won it before but I’ve always thought there’s something about them that doesn’t connect, they’ve never really gone close.
“Thierry’s [Arsenal] team was the best team I ever played against in the Premier League and even that team didn’t come close enough to winning the Champions League. It wasn’t that team that got to the Champions League final.
“I do look at this team now and see how strong they are defensively. My Liverpool team that won the Champions League were not a great team attacking-wise but we were strong defensively.
“That always gives you a chance, especially when you get to the knockout stages and the two-legged ties. If you’re strong defensively you’ve always got a chance.
“So, yeah, I see Arsenal as one of the four or five teams that can win this competition.”
After a summer of lavish spending, where Andrea Berta splashed nearly £270 million on eight major signings, the pressure is on Arteta to end the club’s two-decade-long wait for a league title.
Arsenal’s water-tight defence has formed the backbone for what could well be a successful challenge after years of near-misses, with both Gabriel and Saliba privately promising to remain at the club for years to come last summer.
With David Raya, who’s won back-to-back Golden Glove awards, commanding his area and defenders who don’t give an inch, Arsenal are proving they can grind out results when it matters most.
That kind of steel is exactly what you need to win a marathon like the Premier League, where every point counts and slip-ups are severely punished, with Arteta’s looking like real favourites for the crown as things stand.
