Despite criticism, Arsenal has long chosen pragmatism as the path to glory this season, and coach Mikel Arteta now has more evidence to strengthen that belief.
The requirement from August is to win, win, win. If we don't win, that's a disaster. If we don't win four titles, people will ask what we are doing. But we need to look more objectively at what the team has and is having" - Arteta admitted.
Kai Havertz's goal in injury time helped Arsenal defeat Sporting 1-0 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final, turning a somewhat lackluster performance into a promising result. For most of the time, the away team did not create many clear chances other than the familiar set pieces.
It was a lackluster attacking performance, but covered by the discipline and calculation characteristic of European football. The most prominent was David Raya. This goalkeeper made an excellent save in the sixth minute when he used his fingertips to push Maximiliano Araujo's shot into the crossbar. In total, he made five saves, including three important situations before Havertz scored.
After the match, Havertz called Raya the best goalkeeper in the world in the last two seasons. Although he has not yet taken a starting spot in the Spanish national team against Unai Simon, his role at Arsenal is irreplaceable.
Arteta also did not hesitate to praise his student: "He is extraordinary. It's hard to find words to describe. We are very lucky to have him".
This makes the decision to use Kepa Arrizabalaga in the defeats against Manchester City and Southampton even more controversial.
Arsenal's decisive moment came from reserve options. Gabriel Martinelli launched a pass that tore apart the opponent's defense, creating conditions for Havertz to control and finish delicately.
This continues to be Arsenal's strength this season. They have had 38 goals and assists from reserve players - the most in the top five European leagues. In the Champions League alone, the combination between Martinelli and Havertz brought in 4 goals from the bench - the highest achievement in the league.
That's the story of the season. Players who come on from the bench always make a difference at the right time" - Arteta said.
The Spanish captain also emphasized the team spirit: "It's not easy to accept being on the bench, but players understand and respect their role. When you have such desire, good things will come.
This victory helps Arsenal regain their spirit after their ambition to win the quadruple was dashed by defeats in the domestic arena. Now, the title goal is still present, especially in the Champions League.
Sporting, with a 17-match winning streak at home, is still a formidable opponent and can completely create a surprise in the second leg. However, reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since 1983 makes them underestimated.
In the future, Arsenal may have to face top opponents such as Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich. These challenges will test the limits of the pragmatic playing style that Arteta is building.
However, when reaching their peak form, Arsenal still showed that they are a very formidable team. "We talked about identity and what needs to be shown on the field. That has improved. If we can maintain this, we have a great chance" - Arteta concluded.
