Arsenal arrived in Lisbon in need of a mighty kick start. At a vulnerable point of their season, they craved a spark to resurrect their conviction. It came via a late burst of intention and precision, carved out by Gabriel Martinelli and finished stylishly by Kai Havertz. How they relished it. It was not just rewarding, it was healing. It boosted the whole team’s belief system. “It was a big moment in the season,” Mikel Arteta reflected.
Even at 0-0 Arsenal had done a sufficient job under the circumstances. Priority number one here was simple: do not lose. After two bruising defeats, costing two cup competitions, another at this highly sensitive part of the season was unthinkable.
But in turning a good job into an excellent win, serving up an advantage in the Champions League quarter finals with a home leg against Sporting CP next week, Arsenal sensed their season relaunching. They can now get back to business in the Premier League on Saturday lunchtime feeling good about themselves again.
As the game kicked off Sporting’s supporters sang an a capella version of “My Way”. But it was Arsenal’s way that turned the match. It might not have been a particularly popular way as far as the locals were concerned, but it was telling that Arsenal set about piercing the intensity Sporting thrive on in their home matches.
Mikel Arteta instructing his team from the touchlines against Sporting (Patricia de Melo Moreira / AFP via Getty Images)
“Identity” was Mikel Arteta’s word of the trip. He must have uttered it hundred of times, drumming into his players the importance of rediscovering crucial parts of their character they mislaid recently.
They showed a few of the different elements that make up their identity. First of all they had to be dogged and execute the part of their gameplan designed to suck the spirit out of Sporting. The Portuguese champions are very used to winning at home, they love to strut their stuff in their own environment. To break that run, to diminish that confidence, Arsenal played a conservative first half. Quite rightly, Sporting are regarded as very tough to beat. But in their own way Arsenal showed that when they are set up right and in the mood they are too.
Then they picked up speed in the second half and Arsenal created plenty of opportunities. Finishing was erratic, but the uptick in progressive play asked very different questions of Sporting.
The next element of identity that Arteta was proud of was the unity that enabled them to change the game with their finishers. Remarkably, the contributions of Martinelli and Havertz made it 38 goal involvements from substitutes this season — the highest of any team across Europe’s top five leagues.
All these aspects together enthused Arteta. “I think that’s a reflection of the chemistry that there is in the team,” he said. “And respecting your role within the day. It’s not easy to leave certain players on the bench to start with. They love each other so much that they do it for the team. It’s been a beautiful thing to raise the position that we are in. Because we’re going to need them in the crucial moments to win.”
Martinelli and Havertz were not the only decisive players. There were other key individuals whose contributions were fundamental, none more so than David Raya. His return to the team after sitting out two losses while Kepa Arrizabalaga kept goal underlined his significance to Arsenal’s gameplan and performance levels. Arteta spilled forth with superlatives. “He’s extraordinary, magnificent, incredible.” Two stunning reaction saves — which he calmly makes look routine — were critical.
The base of Arsenal’s spine strengthened them. With William Saliba and Gabriel back together in front of Raya, and Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi exerting more influence from midfield as the game went on, Arsenal began to lean into the key tenets of their identity.
Declan Rice helped exert hiysiuss influence over midfield (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Martin Odegaard was back scampering around. Noni Madueke was a handful on the right flank and sent one of those swerving, dipping corners against the crossbar. Chances came and went until Havertz released the last arrow with smooth accuracy.
Arteta was proud of how his team responded to a double setback. “I think the best thing that you can do instead of talk a lot is observe. Look around you and see how people react. How they talk, how they look at you, how they judge you, what they do, do they look at themselves, do they start to criticise other people? I cannot be prouder to work in a club with people that the only thing they could do is ask, ‘what else can I do to help?’”
He is hopeful that the story of the game has the capacity to put Arsenal back on track for the challenges ahead in two heavyweight competitions. “Because the demands from August is win and win and win and win, and if you don’t win, it’s a disaster, and it’s not enough, and if you don’t win four trophies, what are we doing?
“So it’s a big reminder of what we are as a team and the things that have brought us where we are.”
Arsenal stayed in Lisbon the night after the game because Portuguese airspace closes early, so time to prepare for their next big assignment is limited. The enormity of the Bournemouth game on Saturday lunchtime is just around the corner.
