DBasia.news – Arsenal will get a big test in the next two games against Chelsea and Manchester United. Mikel Arteta will be tested in these two matches.
Arsenal still struggles to win after a goalless draw against Everton and a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth. In the next two matches in Week 20 and 21 of the Premier League, Arsenal will challenge the two big clubs.
London derby against Chelsea will be held at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday (29/12) at 21.00 Western Indonesian Time. The same stadium will also hold a Week 21 Premier League match against Man United on Thursday (02/01) at 3:00 a.m. Western Indonesian Time.
Changes in managers can be positive or negative (the team goes backward). Arsenal did not win against Bournemouth, however, in that game the game Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang et al underwent development.
Arteta, a former Arsenal player for the 2011-2016 period, knew very well the club’s culture and had three years as assistant manager to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
One of the developments shown in one match with Arteta was a more organized way to attack Arsenal, especially when building attacks from behind. Player movements are also more flexible.
“Normally, when you are in this process and conceding goals, confidence decreases and a lot of things that happened in the past come back to haunt,” Artetadi told Arsenal’s official website.
“It did not happen, it happened in a completely different way (the opposite of that) and that is really a positive thing that can be exploited.”
No doubt the positive side referred to by Arteta will be tested when against Chelsea and Man United, two clubs who also target the same thing with Arsenal: get into the top four of the Premier League or the Champions League zone.
Against Chelsea, Arsenal, according to Opta records, has a good record of two wins from three Premier League home games. The Blues’ performance is also inconsistent this season under Frank Lampard.
Had a 2-0 win over Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea actually swallowed defeat at Stamford Bridge from the team that fought out of the relegation zone, Southampton, Thursday (12/26), with a score of 0-2.
That was the third defeat in their last five matches in the Premier League. This adds to the excitement of the London Derby between two teams looking for victory momentum.
While against Man United, a bitter rival in the past, Arsenal must be more wary of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s new 4-1 win over Newcastle United at Old Trafford. Red Devils game can also be troublesome for Arsenal.
Man United have a good record against six major teams (top six) Premier League this season. In addition, those who rely on quick counter-attacks can also be anti-thesis Arsenal’s game.
At the first meeting of the season at Old Trafford, the two teams drew 1-1 – while Arsenal was still trained by Unai Emery. Arteta’s carefulness in preparing the squad and formulate a strategy will be tested in both matches.
Achieving a positive result from the match against Chelsea and Man United could be the basis of Arsenal to start to get up to win points, and keep hope to enter the Champions League zone.