Has Arsenal really found the right path in the Premier League title race? The answer can only appear when the season ends. But the 2-1 victory over Chelsea is very likely to be seen as a turning point moment.
There were no beautiful goals. All three goals came from set pieces. It was not a flowery performance, but a pragmatic victory - something that once made Arsenal suspected in the past. But at this stage of the season, the most important thing is not beauty, but the ability to withstand and overcome pressure.
Coach Mikel Arteta rejected the view that it was not a beautiful victory. He emphasized that in the current period, every team must know how to endure. Arsenal has had to do that for weeks, and they are no longer too concerned about form.
Although they cannot completely erase the regret from the draws against Brentford and Wolves, Arsenal has now won 2 consecutive victories in difficult London derbies. Those are matches where they may have dropped points before. And this is especially important for psychological momentum.
In previous seasons, especially the 2016-2023 period, people often felt that The Gunners lacked firepower stability and would collapse against Manchester City in goal chases. But this season is different and Man City is no longer the absolute dominant version.
City's hard-fought 1-0 victory over Leeds put great pressure on Arsenal. Pep Guardiola's team also struggled. Arsenal too. The championship race is now a battle of endurance rather than explosion.
When Piero Hincapie scored an own goal to help Chelsea equalize right before halftime, familiar worry reappeared. But Arteta reminded his players that they had been in a similar situation against Tottenham a week ago, and they won. Arsenal once again maintained emotional stability.
However, they did not completely control the match. After Pedro Neto was sent off in the 70th minute, Arsenal should have controlled the game more easily. Statistics show that from that time on, Chelsea made 114 passes compared to only 55 for Arsenal - a paradox when the red team had a numerical advantage.
The biggest highlight of the match and perhaps of the whole season is still the set pieces. Arsenal continues to prove that this is their most powerful weapon. William Saliba opened the score, Jurrien Timber sealed the victory, all from dead balls.
Coach Liam Rosenior complained about tackles and pulling people in the penalty area, but also admitted that his team did not handle it well enough. The Blues conceded too many goals from set pieces this season, and that problem continues to recur.
Meanwhile, the "Gunners" are increasingly proficient in the art of taking advantage of such moments. Arteta sees this not as a trick, but as an adaptation to the way the Premier League is operating.
At the end of the match, David Raya became a silent hero with a save that made Arteta's heart stop beating. If the ball went into the net, the story could be very different.
Arsenal has won, not perfect, not magnificent, but enough bravery. In the championship race, sometimes the most important thing is not how you win, but that you don't drop points. And at this point, Arsenal is doing it.
