On September 7, 2024 (CEST), in Premier League Matchday 3, Arsenal FC defeated Chelsea FC 2-1 at home, securing their third consecutive league victory since the season opener. Following the match, Isaan Khan, a Daily Mail reporter covering Arsenal FC, published an opinion piece analyzing the match and the team's current situation.

Analysis

If Chelsea FC can finally step up as genuine title contenders, Arsenal FC has proven with their performance that they have every capability to lead the pack. This is no exaggeration whatsoever.

From another perspective, the Gunners could have scored even more goals.

Before the match, this clash was widely billed as a battle between Chelsea's strong defense and Arsenal's sharp attack, with Chelsea's "CPR" trio (Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Rogers) planning to counter-attack against Arsenal's backline.

However, Arsenal dominated Chelsea with outstanding football, demonstrating the team's true sharp vision: the other "Big 6" clubs in the Premier League are in turmoil right now, and they need to seize this opportunity to surge ahead.

Failing to sign a world-class striker before the transfer window closed did not weaken Mikel Arteta's team. They committed fully in the final third, determined to win and creating numerous chances.

Despite winning the league title last season, Arsenal FC was often criticized for playing too conservatively. After taking the lead, they feared making mistakes and were reluctant to press aggressively to deny opponents breathing room.

But this match was entirely different: Arsenal's defense gave Chelsea space to counter-attack, yet the home team seemed unbothered.

They were confident that goals would come eventually, and so they pressed relentlessly. In the end, Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz each scored. If they maintain this style of play, Arsenal FC will score many more goals in the matches ahead.

Calafieri scored but was ruled out for offside. Arsenal also missed several chances, mostly falling to Kai Havertz in the first half, but he adapted quickly and played well throughout the game.

This harkens back to the 2022-23 season when Arsenal FC could always seize the opportunity to launch lightning-quick attacks on opponents.

Compared to the style fans have become accustomed to in recent seasons, this playing style is clearly more exciting. Mikel Arteta's team long adhered to a "safety first" strategy, which ultimately helped them win the league title again after 22 years.

Mikel Arteta's post-match comments clearly show his ambition to build on last season's title win and aim for an even greater peak.

He said: "This game proves we have the full capability to play at a higher level than last season. It depends on whether we can maintain this hunger and humility, and commit to improving ourselves and the team every day."

"We still have much room to develop and can create more results – this is the team's ambition."

All signs point to Arsenal FC's style of play shifting. The mental burden of being perennial runners-up is long gone, and Arsenal FC's players and staff are confident they have the strength to return to the top once more.

We may see an Arsenal FC that is more fluid and can inflict serious damage on opponents whenever the opportunity presents itself. For Arsenal fans and neutral supporters alike, this is an incredibly exciting future.

If Mikel Arteta's team can maintain this form, there will be few teams capable of stopping them.

Arsenal FC's strong defense is already well-known, and the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori has further strengthened this aspect.

In the 56th minute, Calafiori made an incredibly effective sliding tackle on Moisés Caicedo, causing home fans to jump to their feet and cheer. Caicedo was eyeing space ahead, preparing to surge forward, when Calafiori slid in with precision and went down cleanly.

Mikel Arteta described this defensive play after the match as a "typical English tackle" that directly halted Caicedo's attacking momentum.

Now, let's focus on the attack. In theory, Arsenal FC's depth at left wing may not be ideal, but when the team plays in this formation, this weakness is easily masked.

Equally exciting is the sustained form of Martin Ødegaard. His league goal tally this season has doubled, and his recurring injury problems over the past few seasons appear to be a thing of the past.

He seems to have urgency, "racing against time," not only delivering passes brilliantly to create chances for teammates frequently but also charging eagerly into the opponent's penalty area. If Arsenal FC can maintain this momentum, it will undoubtedly provide a massive boost to the team.

Finally, let's talk about Moisés Caicedo. When he was substituted in the 87th minute, home fans shouted at him: "You should be at a bigger club."

His performance in this match was razor-sharp, constantly threatening Arsenal's backline with repeated counter-attacks. His shot in the second minute of the game showed from the start why Arsenal FC wanted him all summer.

But as Arsenal FC demonstrated in this match, they may just have enough quality to sweep aside the other contenders in the league.

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