Arsenal have reached the League Cup final and will face the winner of the match between Manchester City and Newcastle. This match helps us understand several aspects of Arsenal’s progression.
Arsenal’s defensive solidity
Since the 2022–2023 season, when defensive issues cost Arsenal points and ultimately the title, the team’s progress in this area has been undeniable. Organized with four center-back profiles, Arsenal’s objective is to lock down the central areas and force their opponents wide. Whether it’s Timber, White, Calafiori, or Hincapié, the solidity and reliability of all four players in one-on-one duels are evident. Defensive ball recoveries allow Arsenal to quickly find their midfielders and launch counterattacks. Playing against Arsenal is like running into a funnel and risking getting crushed inside it. Chelsea learned that the hard way by repeatedly trying—and failing—to break through the block.
Titles are won with defense.
Arteta has changed the mindset
From attractive football to solidity, Mikel Arteta has learned something over his seven years at Arsenal: pragmatism. Coming from Guardiola’s school and shaped by the Catalan’s ideas, the Basque coach quickly realized that his possession-based, fluid style clashed with the quality and profiles of his players. By maximizing the physical side of the game, Arteta has built a cowboy-like army ready to do whatever it takes to win. And while trophies have taken time to arrive, Arsenal are clearly giving themselves the tools to get there by constantly improving. Sometimes lining up in a 4-2-3-1 with a No.10, sometimes in a 4-3-3, Arsenal can master every type of game and are just as capable of suffering without the ball as they are of dominating possession or attacking in transition with aggressive pressing.
Mikel Arteta has built a complete team, capable of adapting to anything.
Cup competitions are no longer neglected
Arsenal no longer neglect cup competitions in their quest to win trophies. Obsessed with the Premier League, Arsenal made the mistake for two seasons of sacrificing domestic and European cups to focus solely on the league title. Arsenal were beaten twice by Manchester City in 2023 and 2024, and it was clear that a lack of experience in decisive matches hurt this team. Defeated by Manchester City in April 2023 in a crucial match and unable to trouble Tuchel’s Bayern in 2024, Arsenal have still managed to climb step by step. The 2022–2023 season saw the team fight for the title, while the 2023–2024 campaign ended with Arsenal finishing at a very strong pace. The following season marked further progress, with Arsenal winning high-pressure Champions League knockout matches, most notably the two-legged tie against Real Madrid.
Arsenal now hold all the cards—and the pressure is firmly on them.