Under the guidance of manager Mikel Arteta, Arsenal is having its best season in 22 years, holding a notable seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The team has swept through its Champions League matches, winning all seven, and seems poised to make a strong push for the Carabao Cup final and FA Cup contention as well.
With a wealth of talent throughout the squad, Arsenal could potentially win multiple trophies this season. Their recent performance included a convincing 3-1 win against Inter, last season’s Champions League finalists and current leaders of Serie A.
After the match, Inter’s manager, Cristian Chivu, acknowledged that his squad struggled to keep pace with Arsenal’s high intensity, describing their style as “arrogant,” a trait often associated with elite teams. However, until Arsenal garners significant silverware, it’s premature to categorize them as a powerhouse. Despite their strong showing this January, the team has a history of faltering in the closing stages of the season.
Many fans and former players, including Theo Walcott, are quick to underestimate Arsenal. In a lighthearted moment during commentary for an Inter match, Walcott asked Wayne Rooney to compare the current Arsenal squad with his 2008 Manchester United team, to which Rooney swiftly retorted, “Yeah, we’re going to hit them,” eliciting a nervous laughter from Walcott.
This comparison was seen as overly harsh for Walcott, showcasing the gulf between the current Arsenal side and the formidable United team that dominated in 2007-08, a season where they clinched both the Premier League and Champions League titles. Arteta would face a stern challenge from Sir Alex Ferguson in a hypothetical match-up, with clear distinctions between the two squads.
Raya vs. Van der Sar
David Raya is arguably the most dependable goalkeeper Arsenal has had since Petr Cech, conceding just 14 goals in the Premier League and on course to clinch his third consecutive Golden Glove this season. He excels as a sweeper-keeper, known for his quick reflexes and sound distribution, making him vital to Arsenal’s playing style.
However, one area where he falls short is commanding the penalty area. In contrast, Edwin van der Sar had this talent in abundance; the towering Dutchman combined size and authority to dominate aerial challenges and thwart opposing attackers.
Van der Sar was equally skilled in other aspects of goalkeeping, with peak performances in the 2007-08 season marked by remarkable saves. His most iconic moment came during the Champions League final shootout against Chelsea, where he denied Nicolas Anelka’s penalty to secure a title for United.
Defensive Strength
That said, recognizing Raya’s challenges in goalkeeping is difficult. Arsenal has maintained 18 clean sheets this season, largely due to the impressive performances of center-backs Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba. This duo is quick, strong, and has developed a remarkable understanding that effectively neutralizes rival offenses.
Similar to Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, Gabriel and Saliba possess qualities that make them formidable opponents. Their physicality in set-piece situations would make for an interesting matchup, with Vidic’s ability to challenge Gabriel’s influence in the box and Ferdinand’s advanced positioning likely countering their attacking strategy.
While Arsenal might have contained Van der Sar at times, Vidic and Ferdinand would not hesitate to thwart any set-piece threat, a staple of United’s attacking strategy during the 2007-08 season when they led the league in goals from corners.
Arsenal would face its own challenges in attacking situations, particularly against Patrice Evra. The overlapping full-back played a vital role in United’s counter-attacks and often made a significant impact on matches. Although Jurrien Timber is a dynamic player, he hasn’t yet reached the same level of influence as Evra. The prospect of Bukayo Saka and Timber trying to match Evra’s pace would have been daunting, especially as he was part of a high-energy United squad filled with other dynamic players.
Midfield Masters: Scholes and Carrick
Arteta has favored a 4-3-3 formation this season, deploying Martin Odegaard, Martin Zvimendi, and Declan Rice as his main midfield trio. This dynamic combination has worked well, with Odegaard orchestrating play, Zvimendi dictating the pace, and Rice providing defensive cover. However, United could have leveraged their strengths to dominate this matchup.
Typically lining up in a 4-4-2 formation, United’s positional fluidity allowed Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes to adopt pivotal roles during crucial matches. They frequently converted to a 4-5-1 in defense, ensuring control of the midfield.
Carrick and Scholes would likely have matched up well against Rice, effectively cutting off Odegaard’s supply and limiting Zvimendi’s ball possession. Known for their quality passing, their capability to navigate through Arsenal’s press could have posed challenges for Arteta’s squad.
While Ferguson had to manage an aging Scholes, United had ample substitutes like Owen Hargreaves and Anderson ready to step up as well.
Arteta has shaped Arsenal into a cohesive unit that efficiently channels opponents wide, contributing to their stability. In contrast, during the 2007-08 season, United’s combination of creativity and tenacity uniquely disrupted Arsenal’s game plan.
Historic Attack
Arteta benefits from a wealth of attacking talents, but his current squad focuses more on function than fluidity. This may explain why new star Victor Gokeres has found it tough to adapt, with many of his intelligent runs overlooked, leading to fewer goals and assists from established players like Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
The Gunners are likely prioritizing secure victories rather than an expansive style, possibly due to Arteta’s past experiences finishing behind Manchester City and Liverpool. Conversely, United maintained unwavering confidence during Ferguson’s era.
Ferguson’s aggressive strategy turned Manchester United into the most formidable team in the league. He maximized the potential of a star-studded attacking lineup, including Rooney, Tevez, and Ronaldo, who collectively struck fear into every opponent. Notably, Tevez spearheaded their attacks with relentless energy, while Rooney’s creativity shone through, and Ronaldo transformed the winger role, notching an impressive 42 goals across competitions.
United also had veteran talents like Ryan Giggs, who transitioned effectively into midfield, and Nani, known for his unpredictable brilliance.
United was relentless on the counter and exploited opponents’ weaknesses, making them a tough foe for Arsenal. Their competitive history includes dramatic encounters like a thrilling 2-2 league match at the Emirates, followed by a decisive 2-1 win at Old Trafford and a commanding 4-0 FA Cup victory over the Gunners.
Strength in Depth
Nevertheless, Arteta is managing a superior squad. Arsenal features at least two top-tier players in each position, making them resilient against injuries, a key advantage over other European clubs.
For instance, Odegaard, Noni Maduke, Kai Havertz, and Christian Norgaard were all substitutes against Inter, with Rice and several others taking the field later. The quality of Arteta’s second-string lineup rivals that of his first-choice team.
Ferguson, though, had to be strategic with player rotations. His offensive setup included talents like Tevez, Rooney, Giggs, Scholes, Anderson, and Hargreaves, while the backline remained consistent mostly featuring Brown.
Many of United’s stars were often rotated effectively, allowing players like Nani, Fletcher, and Saha to step in during lean periods. Like Arsenal now, United had no glaring weaknesses throughout the season, meaning Arteta wouldn’t have secured an advantage through in-game adjustments.
Ferguson’s Tactical Superiority
In a head-to-head matchup, Arteta and Ferguson are mismatched; Ferguson was already in the 21st year of his remarkable tenure at Manchester United in 2008 and had mastered the craft of achieving consistent results. He guided United back to dominance in England, but also delivered greatness by constructing a series of strong teams.
Known for demanding total commitment from his players, Ferguson instilled a culture of excellence, enabling his teams to achieve notable success. Additionally, he was a master of psychological warfare, a talent that would likely unsettle Arteta, who can sometimes exhibit emotional outbursts.
While Arteta has shown great coaching abilities, he hasn’t yet reached the level of a world-class manager. For a club of Arsenal’s stature, only one FA Cup win in six years falls short, and Arteta’s cautious tactics in crucial matches contribute to their underwhelming trophy cabinet.
It seems he hasn’t fully grasped lessons from previous setbacks, as evidenced by Arsenal’s early-season missteps—a 1-0 loss to Liverpool, a 0-0 draw with Manchester City, and another 1-1 draw at home against City. During these matches, Ferguson thrived, while Arteta appeared anxious. Ferguson’s approach inspired a combative spirit, making his players relentless in pursuit of victory, where a draw felt like a loss.
Rooney exemplified this fighting spirit, and his confidence certainly supports the belief that United would give Arsenal a formidable challenge. Until Arteta delivers tangible success, it may be wise for the club to refrain from discussing legacy comparisons.
Fan Take: This analysis highlights the evolving landscape of soccer competitiveness, emphasizing that while Arsenal shows promise, they still have a significant journey ahead to reach the highs of historically great teams. For fans, understanding the nuances of team strengths and weaknesses adds depth to the appreciation of the sport, illustrating just how hard it is to maintain elite status in modern football.
