IT’S BEEN nearly three years since Mikel Arteta joined Arsenal – and his masterplan is finally coming together.
The Gunners boss made two of the most impressive signings of the summer bringing in Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
After just two matches this season, you can already see how much those two have transformed the North Londoners.
Jesus took just 23 minutes to get his Premier League tally off the mark and doubled that shortly after against Leicester today in their 4-2 win.
But the goals were just one small part of an astonishing display of dynamism, guile and pure dribbling joy.
He terrorised the Foxes defence all day, making runs in behind and coming short, a guessing game of cat and mouse.
READ MORE ON ARSENAL
The Brazilian’s movement hasn’t been seen in a striker at the Emirates for many years, not to this level of quality any way.
His interplay with the two wingers in Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli was something to behold.
That, added to the fact Martin Odegaard was back to his best makes Arsenal a frightening prospect against any side.
But it’s not just the individual ability of Jesus that has made the Gunners a different animal.
The tactical intelligence of Zinchenko has added a whole new dimension to the way they play.
Most read in Football
The Ukrainian has brought Pep Guardiola’s style with him from Manchester City, albeit with a slight twist.
When Arsenal defend he sits in at left-back, his regular position where he looks as solid as ever.
As the Gunners get possession though, he moves into midfield, adding an extra man there to help tick the ball over.
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Granit Xhaka then heads over to cover him in the full-back positon, making Arteta’s team less predictable.
It’s something Arteta hasn’t been able to do since he joined the club back in 2019.
But he’s finally got the players he wants in, and can make Arsenal play like Guardiola taught him after all those years together.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
