Exploding and controlling emotions — How did Arsenal beat Man City?
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The clock on the field marked the 85th minute when the ball rolled out of bounds near coach Mikel Arteta’s standing area. When preparing to approach and give instructions to his students, the Spanish strategist suddenly turned towards the stands and waved his hand to signal the crowd to cheer more enthusiastically. Excitement and energy, this is the time to channel them.
Responding to the call, the entire arena seemed to vibrate with powerful chants. In that moment, the endless energy in the stands fueled the Arsenal players present on the field. They definitely felt that atmosphere.
Less than a minute later, Thomas Partey’s effort to attack from a long pass across the line opened up the opportunity to reach Manchester City’s goal. Takehiro Tomiyasu caught the ball in the air and passed it back to Kai Havertz, then the German midfielder brought the ball to the right position following Gabriel Martinelli’s momentum. The Brazilian player’s curled ball hit Nathan Ake’s head and changed direction, flying straight into Ederson’s goal to the surprise of the blue shirt defense. The score is now 1-0. And every field at Emirates Stadium seemed to explode!
With screams and gasps of excitement and dizziness, the majority watching this match understood that Arsenal was finally facing a golden opportunity to defeat Man City. The Gooners have waited long enough for this moment, just like they patiently wait for the Arsenal players to come back strong after each defeat. A club that was once criticized for playing instinctive football, not having the coldness and calculation to play such matches. Everything is different now. A more resilient and brave Arsenal was gradually formed. They play football based on their emotions but also know how to control their emotions to aim for victory.
To reap the rewards of Martinelli’s finish, Arsenal players had to patiently wait for their opportunity. They maintain high concentration, thereby choosing moments to accelerate. Such an approach to the match is understandable. Mikel Arteta’s army received too many lessons from previous failures with Man City, so maintaining collective discipline is a key principle.
Legendary striker Thierry Henry had a few words to share at that time about his old team: «You can’t be too emotional in matches like that. You can feel your spirit pushing you, but don’t be too emotional because of that. In every situation, you must be calm.»
The reality of what happens on the field is not always easy to cover. If Nathan Ake had taken advantage of the opportunity and scored in the first shot, the course of the great battle would have turned in a different direction. The change can also come in the situation where Julian Alvarez rushes in and successfully steals the ball from goalkeeper David Raya’s feet.
Most notably, in Martinelli’s goal, one saw a defender who rarely advanced, Tomiyasu, present close to the Man City penalty area to receive the ball. Explaining this, Mikel Arteta shared after the match that he initially brought the Japanese defender onto the field to accompany Doku. Pep Guardiola also knew that, so the 52-year-old strategist asked Doku to move to the opposite wing, which was occupied by a tired Ben White. After Doku switched wings, Arteta decided to push Tomiyasu up high to put pressure on the opponent’s field thanks to his strong physical foundation. Finally, in the moment when Man City’s formation was pulled to the right, Tomiyasu very well exploited the space between Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias, dominating the ball in the penalty area to create space for Martinelli behind. Compared to a year ago, it is clear that Arsenal’s squad has thickened with many more quality backup plans.
In the end, the team that tried harder was the team that won. A victory may not say much when the 2023/2024 season is still very long, but keeping 3 points at the Emirates is a sign that Arsenal is now capable of competing fairly with any team. in the battle for the Premier League crown.
Most notably, in Martinelli’s goal, one saw a defender who rarely advanced, Tomiyasu, present close to the Man City penalty area to receive the ball. Explaining this, Mikel Arteta shared after the match that he initially brought the Japanese defender onto the field to accompany Doku. Pep Guardiola also knew that, so the 52-year-old strategist asked Doku to move to the opposite wing, which was occupied by a tired Ben White. After Doku switched wings, Arteta decided to push Tomiyasu up high to put pressure on the opponent’s field thanks to his strong physical foundation. Finally, in the moment when Man City’s formation was pulled to the right, Tomiyasu very well exploited the space between Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias, dominating the ball in the penalty area to create space for Martinelli behind. Compared to a year ago, it is clear that Arsenal’s squad has thickened with many more quality backup plans.
In the end, the team that tried harder was the team that won. A victory may not say much when the 2023/2024 season is still very long, but keeping 3 points at the Emirates is a sign that Arsenal is now capable of competing fairly with any team. in the battle for the Premier League crown.
