Arsenal – the Champions League in sight
Coach Mikel Arteta’s boys have won all of their last five games. What washed Arsenal up to fourth – it’s one of the coveted spots in England’s league that’s for one Champions League– Place in the coming season would be enough. Arsenal’s big advantage over the competition for Manchester United: The team is currently not only one point better, but also has three games to catch up.
The first of these takes place on Wednesday. And that’s what it’s all about: Martinelli and Co. welcome FC Liverpool. And Jürgen Klopp’s team could win in the Emirates Stadium up to one point at the leader of the table Manchester City approach.
Martinelli and Saka – the wing tongs have it all
In addition to dribbling artist Martinelli, who is building up steam on the left with his incredible speed, Arteta can also regularly look forward to full-throttle football on the other wing: that’s where Bukayo Saka, who is also only 20, lies. The nimble right-footer has already scored seven goals this season – Arsenal are already on the verge of extending the contract with the homegrown player, who was born in London, beyond the current expiry date of 2024.
But it’s not just the two outside players who give the offensive game so much speed. Even in midfield, the “Gunners“, whose youth academy is still managed by Per Mertesacker, has a lot of young, talented blood. First and foremost, there is Martin Ödegaard, who holds the reins in his hand as a game designer.
Ödegaard – the former “child prodigy” takes off
The Norwegian, now 23, seems to be slowly making good on the promise at Arsenal that made him one of the most sought-after footballers in the world as a youth player. Ödegaard was already playing in Norway’s first division when he was 15 and was signed by Real Madrid when he was 16.
However, Odegaard was never able to assert himself with the “Royal”, mostly he was loaned to smaller clubs in the Netherlands or Spain. In 2021 he switched to Mikel Arteta – things have been going uphill ever since. Odegaard has become one of the best midfielders in the league this season.
Tierney, Xhaka, Gabriel and Co. – it’s all in the mix
And then there are players like outside players Kieran Tierney (24), “Six” Granit Xhaka (29) or the Brazilian central defender Gabriel (25). Tierney, in 2019 after 14 years Celtic Glasgow after London changed, really took off in 2020 during the first Corona phase. Since then, he has been a key player for both Arsenal and the Scottish national team as a physically extremely robust full-back with forward drive.
Just like midfield stabilizer Xhaka and central defender Gabriel, who take something like “father roles” in the team. Despite these experienced swabs, Arsenal are currently young and wild, which is really attractive to look at, especially in the offensive area.
England is safe: the future belongs to the “Gunners”
But: The young team often allows itself to be put on the defensive at times – even during the 90 minutes running – without needing to. Again and again the overview gets lost. As is the case with young players. That could (still) make the crucial difference against Liverpool. But the future – everyone in England agrees – should belong to the young gunners.