Arsenal have built a squad—truly built a great team. Arsenal possesses the best bench in Europe’s top five leagues. Their substitutes have saved them in the Premier League’s toughest battles in recent months. On the bench, Arsenal have players such as Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Ødegaard, Calafiori, Madueke, White, Merino, Eze, and Hincapié. Arteta can unleash the heaviest artillery from the bench.
What have Arsenal achieved already:
“Arsenal has been created fantastically with knowledge and experience, and very analytically. This group of players together is the greatest thing in the Premier League in years. For the creation of this Arsenal team, the board, owners, and Mikel Arteta, who was coordinating the project, deserve a football Nobel Prize for football.“
The depth and quality of this bench show how intelligently and brilliantly Arsenal have constructed their team, which is now firmly in the Premier League title race. To illustrate the situation clearly, any team facing Arsenal, the current league leaders, must first survive against Arsenal’s starting XI. Then, from the bench, an entirely different set of players enters—players of immense quality, with completely different profiles to those who leave the pitch.
How is Arsenal breaking their opponents:
A team that prepared to stop Saka and Ødegaard suddenly has to deal with Eze and Madueke, or Merino and Trossard. This forces opponents to defend in a completely different way, against different movements, combinations, and attacking patterns. Those tactical adjustments are one of Arsenal’s greatest weapons.
Arteta has solutions, not problems:
Whoever planned and built this Arsenal squad has done the best job in football over the past five years. Arsenal now have superior tactical variations and very great players in every position compared to their opponents. Around one billion euros have been invested in this squad, creating enormous depth and giving Arteta perfect solutions in every situation, not problems.
If we compare Manchester United’s bench with Arsenal’s in the same round, it becomes clear that squad depth separates Arsenal by a full light-year from United, even though United beat them in the previous round. Arteta introduced five star-level players, while United’s coach brought on Cunha, who scored the winning goal.
Arsenal’s problem is playing in the field with possession. Open play football is the biggest concern at Arsenal.
Arsenal must dominate games through possession, control midfield territory, impose their rhythm, and dictate play. In terms of results, Arsenal have often survived difficult moments precisely because of their bench and strong roster.
Crucial fights and battles on all fronts are coming for Arsenal.
Squad building has clearly gone hand in hand with Mikel Arteta’s work. He has done an exceptional job. However, the decisive battles across all competitions are now beginning.
Arsenal’s ambitions also include winning the EFL Cup, where they defend a 3–2 home advantage gained at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.
The crucial battles in the Champions League are also approaching. Arsenal enter the competition as one of the favourites and one of the strongest teams in the tournament. This is no longer an underdog story, as it was when Arteta first arrived. Arsenal are now expected to win—but with that comes pressure. Arteta has yet to win the biggest trophies as a coach, and expectations are enormous.
Liverpool last season- Huge expatriations destiny:
Liverpool’s example from last season is a warning. Despite winning the Premier League, they fell at the first major Champions League fixture against PSG. Arsenal are now first, they are favourites, and they are expected to deliver. Pressure comes at the top—there is no room for excuses. This Arsenal team must win the Premier League and must reach the Champions League final.
However, Arsenal have not been in this position in the last ten years. They have never been this strong simultaneously in the Premier League and the Champions League. Reaching the top is one thing; staying there is another. At the top, survival requires mentality, control, confidence and consistency.
Arsenal should fully embrace their creative strengths, dictate tempo through Martin Ødegaard, and rely less on strict defensive balance in midfield. They have to take risks to make a success in the Champions League.
As the season progresses, Arsenal will use their full-backs more aggressively as it was on the first months of the season. This is a world-class squad, and the key factor will be Arteta’s approach in the Champions League.
A defensive mindset alone will not lead Arsenal to the results and positions they desire. Titles of Premier League and Champions League.
Now Arsenal has a great team, and there is no single doubt about it, but whether their current Helmsman is capable of leading them to promised lands remains to be seen. If he is not, Arsenal will have a new manager next season who will take over this great team.
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