If there is one core element that shapes Arsenal's success under Mikel Arteta, it is the ability to suffocate opponents, even when the "Gunners" have to face the most unpredictable teams.
"Control" is often considered Arsenal's most important thing in the past 3 seasons. However, it seems that those two words are still not enough to describe the breathlessness The Gunners created. Previously, Mikel Arteta shared that he did not like the word "control". Instead, the Spanish captain aimed for "dominance".
The cold and effective victory over Paris Saint-Germain was a perfect demonstration of their playing style. In particular, the relentless pressing ability of the Emirates team made it impossible for PSG to play football easily.
Arsenal have failed many times in the European arena under Arteta in the past 5 years, their best result is only reaching the Europa League semi-finals. Although the result is not commensurate with the transformation that the 42-year-old coach has brought. However, the victory over Luis Enrique's team shows that Mikel Arteta is taking another step forward.
During the match, the TV camera repeatedly turned to Mr. Nasser Al-Khelaifi's position. The PSG president did not show too much emotion on his face but it is still possible to see the disappointment when his team was helpless against the superior strength of Arsenal.
When you look at Arsenal in such a sublime state, it can be seen that Mikel Arteta's army is gradually surpassing Man City in terms of the ability to diversify their playing style. An impressive performance as the "Gunners" could easily disable PSG without taking too much effort.
While Pep Guardiola depends on absolute possession, Mikel Arteta is outlining another path. Arsenal can change the state very quickly such as pressing up the formation or defending deep. This makes them dangerous, the victory over PSG is a strong testament to the London team's ability to change the system depending on the situation and each stage of the match.
Luis Enrique has also praised Arsenal as the best team in Europe without the ball. Every time they lose the ball, Mikel Arteta's team considers it a serious mistake and must press continuously to regain control. In addition, the Gunners' ability to recover the ball also becomes easier when the chains in the squad show synchronization.
At first glance, it seems that Arsenal's success is largely based on their excellence in set pieces. Bukayo Saka's free kick marks his 6th goal from set-pieces in just nine games this season. However, Arsenal's threat was not limited to dead balls as the hotpot became a harmful weapon for The Gunners.
Luis Enrique seems to have no solution to deal with Arsenal's playing style and PSG's only hope is that they may be awarded a lucky penalty. However, the "Gunners" are no longer a weak team. They may lack the sharpness to expand the score, but Mikel Arteta can be proud that he easily defeated Luis Enrique.
With the absence of captain Martin Odegaard, Mikel Arteta has moved from a team that focuses on ball control to a state of readiness for counter-attacks. In addition, the intensity in midfield also became different when the duo Thomas Partey - Declan Rice completely overwhelmed Vitinha - Warren Zaire - Emery.
With the above factors and a solid defense, Arsenal has kept a clean sheet for the 17th time in 2024, only behind Real Madrid in the Top 5 of Europe's top league. Mikel Arteta and Arsenal are getting better and better and know how to adapt to all the circumstances at the moment.
