The day Arsenal attacked relentlessly.

TPO - After enduring countless criticisms for their "cowardly" performance leading to a disastrous draw against Wolves, Arsenal seemed to have completely transformed when visiting Tottenham. It appears that the Gunners finally decided to play offensively until the very end and try to increase their lead instead of trying to protect their fragile advantage.

Arsenal bounced back strongly after the criticism. Photo: AP

With the typical hostile atmosphere of a London derby between Tottenham and Arsenal, the visiting team was booed and jeered from the moment they started. The stadium's loudspeakers even yelled: "They're trembling!". But the reality was quite the opposite.

The Gunners showed no fear. They entered the match with tenacity, determination, and unwavering resolve even in the most difficult moments – these were the elements that laid the foundation for their convincing victory at Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium.

Mentioning the psychological factor is understandable, especially after Arsenal's recent fragile moments. But Tottenham didn't realize that, over the past few days, Arsenal had been quietly healing, regrouping, preparing thoroughly, and recharging their energy behind closed doors.

Manager Mikel Arteta shared his thoughts on the period when his team experienced mixed emotions after a baffling drop in points against Wolves, only to then play with confidence just four days later and storm the heart of their city rivals:

"You have to pull yourself up because there will be times when you feel angry, frustrated, or even ashamed."
We are a multicultural team, each with different emotions, so you have to bring everyone together. We tell each other, 'Show the players love when they need it most.' It's a joy to spend time with them, to be all in one place. But ultimately, you still have to show that on the pitch.”

What Arsenal had been waiting for has arrived.

Arsenal's performance on the pitch was particularly noteworthy for one thing : their attack truly exploded as expected.

This is something the Gunners have been waiting for for quite some time – perhaps even the whole season, considering they haven't been able to maintain a consistent attacking style with a group of forwards who are truly cohesive and excel together.

Gyokeres has scored 10 goals in the Premier League. Photo: AP

Attention has recently focused on the three new signings brought in last summer to refresh and add depth to the attack. Arteta remains committed to them – and in fact, he has to – especially while waiting for Kai Havertz to be fit enough to handle a heavier workload.

In this match, Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze were both in the starting lineup (while Noni Madueke came on as a substitute quite late). Since joining Arsenal, both Gyokeres and Eze have consistently gone through difficult periods.

However, both looked as if they had just received a massive boost of confidence, especially in the second half. They played with so much energy and inspiration that it made people wonder, "Who are these people? Where have they been hiding this form all this time?"

Arteta was very clear about his expectations for the players: “You have to perform at the right time. When the game is on the brink and people start to doubt, that’s when you have to step up.”

And there could hardly be a more opportune moment for Arsenal to break free from their attacking constraints: in the derby, away against their most hated rivals, amidst the title race and the suffocating pressure of the Premier League.

Saka Key

It's no coincidence that Arsenal's attacking players are more enthusiastic when Bukayo Saka is in top form.

Like other expensive new signings, Arsenal's most important star also had a difficult season. He was plagued by hamstring and hip injuries, and had to rediscover his form after major surgery last year.

Saka celebrated his new contract with a top-class performance. Photo: AP

Returned to his preferred position on the right flank, Saka immediately made himself a nightmare for Tottenham. He was like the team's "orchestrator" despite playing on the wing: controlling the ball, accelerating, creating breakthroughs, and driving the entire system forward.

Very quickly, the chemistry between Saka and Eze – when both were in good form – created attractive attacking options for the Gunners. This duo shattered the notion that Arteta's team easily fell into a rut when facing opponents who played with a large number of defenders.

Arteta heaped praise on Saka: “I really like his attitude, his presence, and the way he controls the game. From the start, Saka’s first reaction was to dominate the opposition and assert himself. And that’s what I love most about him.”

Saka was at the center of almost every positive sign. His proactive approach to the game paid off when he broke down the wing and passed the ball back inside to Eze. With his first touch, Eze chipped the ball up, and as it fell, he gracefully stretched out like a ballet dancer to unleash a volley into the net.

Amidst the celebrations, Declan Rice reminded his teammates to keep a cool head. But then… Arsenal made things difficult for themselves, before clearing up all doubts in the second half. Arsenal's ability to stumble is sometimes truly astonishing.

Rice – who is usually the most reliable player – made a strange mistake, giving Tottenham something they could barely create themselves. In a situation where he was clearing the ball near his own penalty area, he hesitated and gifted the opportunity to Randal Kolo Muani, who capitalized on Spurs' only real chance of the entire match to score.

In a matter of minutes, the story that "Arsenal lacked character" suddenly made sense.

But then Arsenal completely shattered that idea in the second half. Once they regained the lead, they played with a completely different energy and focus. Instead of retreating to defend their advantage, Arsenal surged forward in pursuit of more goals.

That's a sign of a team that not only wants to win - but wants to prove themselves.

The day Arsenal attacked relentlessly.

Gyokeres had an outstanding game in almost every aspect. Arsenal had been waiting a long time for a performance like this. Both of his goals were exemplary for a top-class striker. In the first, the Swedish star controlled the ball neatly, then unleashed a powerful, unstoppable shot with incredible spin in an instant. The second goal was also finished with extreme decisiveness, after he outmaneuvered a Tottenham defender.

Has Arteta decided to abandon his usual perfectionist approach?

Gyokeres not only scored goals, but also played enthusiastically in pressing, off-ball movement, and linking up play with evident excitement.

Meanwhile, Eze seemed to enjoy the atmosphere of the game more and more with each passing moment. His delicate touches, his deceptive movements – this is the version of Eze that Arsenal cannot afford to lose. This is the Eze of imagination, of inspiration, of the freedom to spread his wings.

His effective performance against the very team that had pursued him all summer – before the fateful talks with Arsenal took place – became a special highlight in a challenging season of adaptation.

And if a player who grew up with a love for Arsenal has any sweet spot, it's undoubtedly shining against arch-rivals Tottenham. After a hat-trick at the Emirates in the first leg, Eze went on to score a brace at Tottenham's home ground, creating an incredibly impressive goalscoring record against this particular opponent.

Arteta revealed more about Eze's mood: "I can see he wants to prove something."
He was upset, even upset with me, because I didn't give him a starting spot the other day, and also because of some other decisions I made. And now I have to figure out how to get the best out of him.”

Many believe that Arsenal's decision to maintain pressure even after taking the lead was crucial to their attacking players' success. Against Tottenham, Eze and Gyokeres clearly benefited from not having to drop back too deep, and from their teammates not resorting to aimless clearances.

Has Arsenal truly transformed, or is it just a temporary change?

This is what's important.

When Arsenal beat Tottenham 4-1 last November, they went on to beat Bayern Munich 3-1 with a beautiful performance, showcasing the promising qualities of a growing team. Since then, Arsenal have experienced periods of triumph but also many setbacks, on their journey to find the form of a potential champion amidst the harsh realities of the season.

Arsenal maintained pressure until the very last minute against Tottenham. Photo: AP

Therefore, the question is: will this victory against Tottenham be a real turning point, showing that the Gunners have transformed? Or is it merely the result of a momentary emotional reaction to the criticism and the special significance of the derby?

That remains to be seen. Let's not forget Arsenal's rivals, Tottenham, who are currently at rock bottom and could lose to any opponent in England.

But perhaps, as this match has shown, the best way for Arsenal to cope with pressure and tension is to… attack proactively – attack to the very end.

Arteta concluded with a message that perfectly captures Arsenal's current spirit: "We've shown everyone what this team can do. But then, we have to show it again and again."

Source: https://tienphong.vn/ngay-arsenal-tan-cong-den-cung-post1822568.tpo