Arsenal may have only won 1-0 against Burnley, but the Gunners have taken a new approach to football – a better one. In recent years, Arsenal have always pushed for more goals, no matter what the score line shows. The old Gunners would see 1-0 on the scoreboard and feel the need to score a lot more to take the pressure off their defence, but the new Gunners see 1-0 on the scoreboard and know their defence will win them the match – birthing the new Arsenal of 2015.
With the emergence of Francis Coquelin as statistically the best defensive-midfielder in the Premier League, the Gunners have a sense of comfortability about them while on the defence. While watching games in the past, I would get really worried towards the end of matches – basically expecting a goal to be conceded. The 2015 Gunners have given us Gooners a sense of affirmation, to say simply – “we got this.”
As Gabriel transitions to life in the Premier League, he has shown a great amount of growth. The man can’t speak a lick of English, but he is fluent in determination. Laurent “Bosscielny” has become the most consistent performer for Arsenal. No matter what centre-back Le Professeur pairs him with, the job gets done. Our defence has transformed physically and mentally since 2014. The season began with Szczesny in net, Mathieu Debuchy and Kiernan Gibbs as full-backs to their respective sides, and Koscielny paired with the BFG in a central role – with no defensive-midfielder. Since then, the emergence of David Ospina, Nacho Monreal, Hector Bellerin, Gabriel Paulista, and Francis Coquelin has proven to England that the next crème of the crop is here.
Arsenal’s transformation has provided the foundation for a title contending squad, let’s hope we haven’t ran out of time this campaign. Arsenal started the 2013-2014 season so well but collapsed at the end into 4th place, and this campaign they started horrendous and have turned into the most in-form team in England. If the Gunners find a way to put these two halves together, we’re not only looking at the Premier League title, we’re looking at a double or a triple with the FA Cup and League Cup.
Absoulutely