Arsenal are making a habit of reacting quickly after conceding — like many aspects this season, it is not the worst trend for them to be setting.
Gabriel Martinelli’s winner secured a 2-1 victory against Aston Villa and came just 151 seconds after Douglas Luiz had equalised.
It took Martin Odegaard eight minutes to equalise after Fulham took the lead at the Emirates and Granit Xhaka and Martinelli restored Arsenal’s two-goal cushion against Leicester City within two minutes and one minute of conceding.
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Importantly, those quick responses have not come as a knee-jerk reaction to poor performances. Arsenal have started on the front foot in all their games, being one of only two sides (Brighton & Hove Albion the other) yet to concede in the first half of Premier League games this season. They have faced a league-low 10 shots and three shots on target in the first half of games.
Despite this, they have lacked a clinical edge to put the game out of sight or open the scoring. That will require work, or luck in some cases, with Bukayo Saka’s near-goal-line miss an example of a moment that could have helped assert dominance early on against Villa.
Nevertheless, like their comeback win against Fulham and all-round solid display away to Crystal Palace, this was another instance where a shift from the Arsenal of last season was visible.
“That’s the mentality we want to show as a team and the character we want to show: to react immediately,” Mikel Arteta said.
“The disappointment (of) conceding goals is part of the game like giving the ball away or having a bad action is. It’s about the next action, the next phase and again, when you play in front of this crowd, that helps. The energy they generate is amazing.”
Arteta’s constant praise of the Emirates crowd was once again valid. Their reaction when Douglas Luiz’s goal was given was of immediate support, as opposed to the groans that had become customary after conceding in years gone by.
That type of reaction is a much more common occurrence now and was first noticeable when Arsenal suffered a setback in the 2-1 win over Wolves last season. This was the only game Arsenal won after conceding the first goal, which brought a reaction of constant encouragement.
While the impact of that positive energy can be felt by all in the ground, it is down to the players to respond in those ‘next actions’ and ‘next phases’, which is exactly what is happening.
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Against Leicester, it was Arsenal’s press after James Maddison made it 3-2 that led to Martinelli’s goal. Against Villa, it was a mix of being proactive straight from the restart on and off the ball which worked.
Albert Sambi Lokonga initially won a free kick on halfway which he played short to Takehiro Tomiyasu. The 23-year-old immediately looked forward, trying to play in Gabriel Jesus down the right channel, but the Brazil forward was clipped. When it was clear no free kick was coming, Jesus sprinted forward as the ball reached Ezri Konsa to start a press. He was supported by Xhaka and Odegaard and Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez was forced to kick long.
Once the ball settled, Gabriel had one touch out of his feet and floated it over to Martinelli. The calmness and composure that followed from Tomiyasu and more importantly Saka — who did well to slow himself down before picking out Martinelli at the back post again — was exemplary of what was needed in that moment: decisiveness.
This Arsenal side are just built different!
Gabriel Martinelli fires the Gunners head immediately after Aston Villa had them pegged back 👊 pic.twitter.com/vN708OMxpJ
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 31, 2022
Arteta has mentioned the word belief when addressing what is different about his squad this season, but what generates that?
“Going through positive experiences and overcoming difficulties,” he says.
“It gives you the confidence that you can do it. That can be individually or as a team and when you start to get that belief and create those moments, it’s not only us (players and staff) that believes, the crowd believes. When that connection happens, anything is possible.
“We try to improve our players and there are many things that are not just technical or tactical aspects that play a big part in football matches.”
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It may be early in the season, but aside from the responding to goals conceded, there have been individual examples of players overcoming difficulties to have positive experiences.
Gabriel was the most recent, scoring the winner against Fulham after his mistake gifted them the lead. William Saliba’s own goal gave Leicester a lifeline at the Emirates but he remained composed throughout the rest of the game and then backed that up with another strong performance (with a 100 per cent pass completion rate, clean sheet, goal and new song) against Bournemouth.
These quick responses have come after all four goals Arsenal have conceded. It is not a fluke and is something that has been recognised by players as well as staff as they try to ensure more steps forward are taken.
(Photo: Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
