Arsenal's start to the English Premier League season

 It's that time again. Club football is on a lull and we get the international break that no one asked for. Depending on where your team is on the Premier League table , you were either begging for the break to come sooner or you were dreading it. Arsenal fans fall into the latter. That said the prospect of gloating over Arsenal's league position to rival fans for fourteen days is mouthwatering.

This break also gives us a chance to reflect on how Arsenal has started the season. Seven games is big enough of a sample size to tell us where a team is in it's development. Are Arsenal actually a better side or have they just had a good start to a season? 

The arrivals of Gabriel Jesus and Zinchenko in the summer transfer window spoke of a club putting the final touches on their project. It was no longer time for patience, it was time for lift off. Arsenal realized that they were actually not far off the top four sides in the league. They needed the star quality to compliment what was an already commendable rebuild by Edu and Mikel. The duo definitely needed a good start to the season. The owners have invested alot into the playing squad since they took over in 2018 and have shown a lot of faith in the young leadership at the club. Edu and Mikel needed to justify that faith. 

The new look Arsenal side was complimented by the arrival of William Saliba. After years of endless fan debates on twitter about whether Mikel Arteta liked him or not, Saliba finally made his premier league debut. The giant 21 year old has been almost flawless in defense forcing Mikel Arteta to deploy Ben White on the right despite Tomiyasu being fit. His performance against Ivan Toney was a work of art. Toney couldn't bully him nor keep up with his pace. This unbelievable individual defensive ability from Saliba has given us a different dynamic. 

The last part of the puzzle was getting a dynamic midfielder. One who could substitute for Martin Ødegaard when we needed to rest the Norwegian. In came Fabio Vieira. We had to be a bit patient to see him in action but it was worth the wait. He made his first start against Brentford and didn't look out of place for a single moment. The low profile signing was 19 year old Marquinhos from Brazilian side Sao Paolo. He looks a decent prospect and will get chances to impress in the cup games.

Despite a decent transfer window many Arsenal fans felt we were two players short. A winger and a Thomas Partey back up in midfield. There was a last ditch effort to get Douglas Luiz in on deadline day but Aston Villa proved too stubborn. Many fans felt we those two positions would hurt us in the long run . Maybe they still will. 

The Performances

Arsenal fans are experiencing a different feeling when they watch Arsenal play . There is an expectation that Arsenal will dominate games now. Every misplaced pass is frowned upon. Maybe that comes from the manager. Mikel Arteta always refers to the standards he wants to set at the club. Fans can now see what that actually means on the pitch. 

The game against Brentford was a big statement made. A tricky away game against a side that has been fond of giving the top six clubs a torrid time . All the eyes on Arsenal. Many hoping for a Brentford win. What happened was complete domination from start to finish by Arteta's team. It was an important win especially after the loss at Old Trafford. Arsenal did well to silence the loud mouths with a dominant show.

It's not just Arsenal fans who can see this. Thomas Frank has been very complimentary of Arsenal. Before the game he heaped praise on how we had played in the opening games. He labeled the first twenty minutes against Crystal Palace as unbelievable. After the match he said," They were brilliant, I think they will compete for the title." 

He also had a few words of admiration for Saliba ," Saliba… Oooof! He’s going to be a full international player for France, I’m sure. He will be in the starting lineup soon for that National team and that’s a strong national team." 

When outside voices are beginning to sound their appreciation for what Mikel is doing then you know something is going right. Arsenal players are now regularly featuring in team of the week debates. Arsenal are starting games quicker, more intense and have a ruthlessness in them. Even the only loss against United was still an impressive performance . 

What do the stats say? 

Performances are a good indicator of a team's trajectory but they do not always tell the whole story. Stats are becoming more important in the modern game. There will always be an anomaly like Spurs for example whose performances & stats might not be the best in terms of dominating games but they score which is what football is about. However, good performances and stats are a recipe for huge success. 

Arsenal rank in the top three for attacking and defensive stats. We have scored 17 goals only behind City and Spurs with 23 and 18 respectively. We're also taking more shots with 116 again only behind City and Liverpool. Arsenal are also second for headed goals with 4 behind Spurs on 7. In terms of clean sheets only City have more with four. 

In terms of expected goals (XG) Arsenal are on 14.17 according to understat.com only second to City. The stats are definitely on Mikel Arteta's side. 

Mentality

One word that keeps getting mentioned by Arsenal players and even Mikel himself is mentality. Almost every press conference or post match interview you will hear the players emphasize the word alot. It shows that it's something Mikel has been trying to relay to the squad. 

There's been plenty of evidence of a change in mentality. You have the huddles that last a few minutes when we score and one of Granit Xhaka or Gabriel Jesus is offering advice and pointing to their heads. They are demanding complete focus . 

The quick goals after conceding against Leicester and Fulham earlier on were also a show of strength. This side do not let their heads drop after a mistake as Gabriel Magalhães showed vs Fulham. Saliba as well scored an own goal against Leicester but has been flawless since. 

Granit Xhaka probably embodies the mentality of this Arsenal side. He's not perfect but he will always be there and give his best. He's Arteta's general on the field while also being the big brother to the young ones.

The fans are also on board with this team. There's almost  always a new chant for a player every match day. 

The quality of football is simply at the top level. The rotations in midfield and forward areas are a thing of beauty. Arsenal are now having consistent 60-70 minutes of top tier unrelenting football. Mikel Arteta finally has a side that has the technique as well as flexibility to play the football he wants. 

It's still only seven games played and October will prove to be a brutal month for the players. But for now early signs are promising. Players are enjoying their football and the fans can't wait to watch their team again. This I believe is Mikel Arteta's biggest achievement so far as Arsenal manager but I'm guessing it's only a matter of time before he eclipses this feat. 

The North London Derby is the next fixture after the international break. Time to prove we're a much better footballing side. But for now there's no shame in opening up that Premier League table again :)