The team selection was wrong, they did not manage a single shot on target until the 89th minute and little threat was carried through the middle and out wide.
Yet, in the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, despite an unsophisticated and deeply unimaginative Arsenal performance, Arsene Wenger’s side showed a quality seldom seen over the last two seasons: resilience.
The Gunners did not warrant a point on Saturday. Fluency had deserted them and they lacked ambition in a display contrary to the one which saw them tear apart Chelsea in September. The fact they were even in a position to snatch a point minutes from time through Olivier Giroud’s bulldozing header, perhaps says more about Manchester United than it does Arsenal.
But what it did tell us is, is that they are built to challenge for trophies this campaign and they’ve proven that both domestically and abroad so far this season.
Wenger’s side are unbeaten since the opening day defeat to Liverpool and they’ve remained so despite their season being punctuated by displays bereft of quality.
A newfound toughness has put them well in the hunt to end their 14 year-wait for a league title and on course to finish top of their Champions League group for the first time since 2011/12. And speaking on Saturday, Wenger touched upon this trait, saying: “At least we had a good mental response to come back with a point. Last year we would have lost this game.”
He’s right. Arsenal in the past have been bullied by United, physically and mentally. A late bullet header to drop points is a scenario you’d expect to see go against them.
But they are more robust now and late goals have hallmarked their season. Against Southampton and Burnley they grabbed all three points in time added on. In the Champions League, they completed a comeback win against Ludogorets with an 87th minute strike having been two goals down.
Their aesthetic excellence has been longstanding but right now they’re showing an ugly side to their game with a stubborn refusal to accept defeat. It’s not just a hardened character which is giving Arsenal the edge, though.
The squad is far more settled, without being complacent, and the depth of options has improved exponentially in the last 18 months. Going into tonight’s clash with PSG, one crucial in deciding who tops the group, Wenger’s treatment room currently houses Danny Welbeck, Per Mertesacker, Lucas Perez, Hector Bellerin, Santi Cazorla and Mathieu Debuchy while Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey are both lingering outside.
Unlike past seasons, though, the Frenchman is not left to consider hanging his coat up and lacing up a pair of boots himself. There are options with their bench on Saturday including Granit Xhaka, Gabriel Paulista, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Giroud. Wenger has long loathed talk of needing a Plan B, but all of a sudden there is variety. Take, for example, Giroud.
Alexis Sanchez has been a revelation as the first-choice striker but when defenders are tired during games in the balance there is no sight worse than the barrelling Frenchman.
He’s now scored 10 league goals from the bench, a club record, and is the perfect impact-sub. In a way, he embodies this Arsenal team – they don’t give up and if sides can’t be passed to death akin to a thousand knifes, then a sledgehammer can also get the job done.
Na na na naaaaa, @_OlivierGiroud_ #AFCvPSG pic.twitter.com/4qKthQ9I7S
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) November 22, 2016
