SAN FRANCISCO, December 27, (THEWILL) – A Boxing Day shocker was in store for any avid follower of the English Premier League this season. When the London derby between Arsenal and Chelsea was to begin, not many could have thought it was going to end the way it did. And with good reasons.
Arsenal were on their worst ever start to a Premier League season, languishing in 15th position, without their main striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and their sturdy centre back Gabriel Magalhaes. On the other hand, Chelsea were looking at going second with a victory over the hapless Gunners with a full squad unencumbered. It was not the type of game to be hopeful for the men from the Emirates.
It also had serious implications for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. His side had suffered a 4-1 bashing at the hands of Manchester United the last time out in the EFL Carabao Cup. Before kick-off against a free-scoring Chelsea side whose Senegalese keeper Edouard Mendy was becoming difficult to score against and with an attacking set of Gunners increasingly unable to find the back of the net, another bashing seemed inevitable. And his job on shaky ground.
But, the incredible happened as it often does in football.
Instead of a Chelsea advance, Arsenal stopped their slide down the Premier League table and eased the pressure on Mikel Arteta with a convincing and comprehensive 3-1 win over Chelsea that carried the Gunners up by one slot.
In truth, Arsenal boss had his hand forced into a handful of changes. Gabriel Magalhaes, who was self isolating for contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, was unavailable as was David Luiz and Willian, who were both ill. Arteta therefore handed starts to youngsters, the 19-year-old Gabriel Martinelli and 20-year-old Emile Smith-Rowe.
Together with the incredible 19-year-old Bukayo Saka, they returned the favour for the confidence reposed in them with the scintillating performance that upset all level-headed predictions of how the match was to end. Saka and Martinelli were supreme down both flanks, while Smith Rowe created two chances, including the assist for Arsenal’s third goal, in a free role off Alexandre Lacazette.
The manager finally gave Arsenal fans what the majority had been calling for and it worked like a charm. Fans had long called for Arteta to place more stock in some of the club’s younger and hungrier players. Although circumstances played a role in making it happen, the fans will be satisfied knowing that the trio of Martinelli, Saka and Smith-Rowe all justified their selection.
For the first time in a long time, there was an obvious energy and drive to the Gunners’ performance that were desperately missing for a while. Credit must go to the youthful lads for bringing that back. This could very well be the takeaway from this big result and become the turning point for the Gunners this season.
This is not the first rodeo for these youthful players. They proved their mettle in the UEFA Europa League group stages with a perfect execution of their first round of fixtures, winning 100 per cent of all their matches as the only team to do that this season. Arteta entrusted the execution of that competition to mostly youthful players with a couple of the old guard in place and they delivered efficiently.
Admittedly, fortune smiled on the Gunners in the end against Chelsea on Saturday, with Bernd Leno’s save from Jorginho’s penalty a crucial part of the victory. But, so far this season, ill-discipline, questionable commitment levels and underperforming senior players have brought opprobrium to the team from the Emirates. However, each time Arteta had had to turn to the youngsters, Arsenal suddenly became their old fluent self and things clicked once again.
It was a ploy ex-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger applied to great effect and, in doing so, groomed fantastic players by allowing Academy players to shine in the senior team and lift the team when it appeared the older players were worse for it. It is possible that Arteta has picked up the manual to continue from where Wenger stopped and rejuvenate Arsenal’s season before it is too late.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
