Why this season thus far is trying superb for Arsenal

To one purpose from set-play – Gabriel’s header was their ninth of the season, as per Premier League’s X deal with – and a superb end from Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal added a brace from Viktor Gyökeres. Scruffy poacher’s targets each, they have been rewards for the Swede’s trade and ended a barren run of 9 video games for membership and nation.

This was the longest Gyökeres, purchased for £64m, had gone with out scoring since 2021-22. How Gyökeres holds up by such a interval would show how good he’s, Mikel Arteta had mentioned. If this efficiency is any indication, the Arsenal supervisor can be pleased with what he noticed.

Gyökeres hassled Atletico Madrid’s defence and backline for all the 82 minutes he was on the pitch. In the eleventh minute, he made a pointy run to create space for Martinelli however Myles Lewis-Skelly selected to play into the midfield. In the twenty eighth, Gyökeres received the ball as Atletico tried to play out from the again and Arsenal circulated it to Martinelli whose cross was cleared by Robin le Normand. He acquired Atletico’s central defenders José Maria Giménez and Le Normand booked. In first half stoppage time, Gyökeres hurried Jan Oblak right into a clearance resulting in Bukayo Saka retrieving and beginning an assault.

“He (Gyökeres) makes us a greater workforce. We turn into far more unpredictable. He is so bodily; he opens area for everyone. The method he presses the ball, heads the ball; he’s phenomenal,” mentioned Arteta in a flash interview.

Early within the second half, Martin Zubimendi discovered Gyökeres who had run into area however Oblak acquired massive on the striker. The reprieve was short-lived as Arsenal discovered a gap when Martinelli was fouled by Marcos Llorente. Declan Rice’s free-kick was headed house by Gabriel within the 57th minute triggering a purpose rush that encapsulated Arsenal’s superiority barring a Dávid Hancko’s free header and two moments each involving Julian Alvarez.

A momentary lapse of cause from David Raya had led to the primary however Alvarez was unable to swing it into an open purpose from an acute angle. The second had Alvarez’s shot thudding into the horizontal.

Connor Gallagher being a step slower, presumably as a result of he had simply been launched, led to Lewis-Skelly working unopposed down the center and drawing Llorente out of place. It freed Martinelli who bent it like Beckham to place Arsenal 2-0 forward within the sixty fourth minute. An enormous deflection off Hancko fetched Gyökeres his first purpose within the 67th, his second coming three minutes later off a Rice corner-kick that generated chaos within the field.

Like Alexander Isak, Liverpool’s British switch file £125m purchase, Gyökeres has struggled for lacking pre-seasons. Gyökeres was described as invisible within the final worldwide window.

“He (Gyökeres) scored two very various kinds of targets at the moment and hopefully begins to get some momentum and a great run of targets,” mentioned Arteta of the participant who netted 97 targets in 102 matches in all competitions for Sporting CP together with 54 in 52 matches final time period. Gyökeres now has 5 targets in 12 video games for Arsenal.

Where Liverpool and Arsenal have been completely different, and why the present Premier League leaders are 4 factors away from the champions, is in defensive play. Manchester United have been the fourth workforce in succession to point out Liverpool’s vulnerability on the again, particularly at set-pieces. Liverpool have had two clear sheets in 12 video games, Arsenal 9. Arsenal have conceded three targets thus far in 2025-26 and none within the Champions League the place, together with Paris St-Germain and Inter Milan, they’ve received on all three match days.

Arsenal have been scientific in entrance – Atletico Madrid supervisor Diego Simeone mentioned it ought to be a lesson for his workforce – and stable on the again. Saka and Jurrien Timber can whip up a storm on the suitable, Lewis-Skelly’s inversion into midfield provides muscle in a area bossed by the skillful Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze and Rice. Sometime subsequent month, Martin Odegaard ought to be again however not like final season, Arsenal haven’t seemed wobbly with out him. “We have quite a lot of gamers who can play in two-three positions… it’s trying superb,” mentioned Raya.

It’s an extended method to the ending line however Arsenal have been ok to imagine that this may very well be the season that ends years of harm.

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