Arsenal secured a victory in the north London derby and were described as playing “like a Jose Mourinho side”.
The Gunners maintained their impressive recent performance against Tottenham, achieving a slim 1-0 victory thanks to Gabriel’s header in the second half at their opponents’ home ground. Mikel Arteta’s squad was depleted, without players such as Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.
Their performance was suboptimal as they struggled to generate several goalscoring opportunities, however succeeded in thwarting their opponents. Theo Walcott acknowledged that, after gaining the lead, Arsenal effectively handled the game while limiting Tottenham’s opportunities.
He stated on Match of the Day: “The manner of acquisition is inconsequential; it was an excellent outcome for Arsenal.” They demonstrated their ability to adapt, as they played in a manner reminiscent of a Jose Mourinho team to secure the victory.
Mourinho, particularly during his initial tenure at Chelsea, became renowned for systematically dismantling teams and denying them opportunities. His Blues ensemble was known for its defensive prowess, yet they were fully equipped to engage in a confrontation should their adversaries want to escalate the contest.
This has been a defining characteristic of his managing career, during which he has secured league titles in four distinct nations. Arteta has persistently evolved as a manager, and while his squad has been remarkably captivating to see, he has instilled resilience in them, with Walcott highlighting this attribute as a significant advantage when important players are out.
He stated: “Despite the absence of key personnel, their rigorous training and structured approach demonstrated that the identity of the players is inconsequential, as they are all trained uniformly in defensive strategies.” This is contingent upon their efforts on the training ground.
I had the fortune to observe them throughout pre-season, and the number of coaching staff participating in each session is remarkable. The presence of meticulous detail and instructors dedicated to each individual player significantly facilitates the players’ experiences.
“As a team, they receive the same message reinforced daily, so I am no longer surprised when they achieve a result like this.”
Arteta stated following their victory on Sunday: “To appreciate the game and achieve success, one must undertake numerous actions—often referred to as unappealing by some.” Deriving pleasure from engaging in unpleasant tasks is a significant commendation for this crew at present.
