Archive: May 10, 2024.

The god Prometheus seemed to have come through for Arsenal when they needed to unlock a new world of possibilities.

‘What I've learned mostly is that you have to be ruthless and you have to be consistent and you have to fit every day the culture of the club to create a winning mentality’.

A ferocious Mikel Arteta aphorism that he has so far instilled in his players.

It would have been impossible to believe the Arsenal coach if he'd openly shared his process of “Trust the Process” at the start of his managerial career. A young coach taking over the realm of one of the biggest footballing clubs in the world.

He kicked off his tenure with selling off several of the club's top players including the previous season's top scorer, Pierre-Emerick Aubayeyang. Some Arsenal fans sniffed contemptuously. During the pandemic, the blue days struck; everyone lost ground including Arteta, at a club that has faced enchanted times in the last few years.

Unmoved by the low moments, the new Arsenal manager seemed to know one or two things at the club that we didn't, having been a player there.

Northbanksy. (2024). [Mural] Photo Gordwin Odhiambo. Blackstock Road, Islington. Arsenal's deffense line has been instrumental in treading the Premier League Table

When he finally got the full swing of fears a manager goes through in hard times, the Spaniard embarked on his new role with a sharp ambition. Ruthlessly treading up the league. His initial test was to try and win some matches against the big six. He got the most points off the top teams. Skeptics were concerned if he could make the top four! Arsenal finished second. There was a common recollection of past Champions League results. How far could he go in the tournament? The team fought up to the quarter-finals.

The mood on one side of the Northern part of London is gleeful. The atmosphere around Arsenal football club has wedged the movement and everyone is now fully back supporting the club they like. Feelings can now be seen, and it’s always more visible, especially on match days when the streets around the Islington area are crammed in red and white.

Blackstock Road, in Islington, which passes through the Arsenal area of support, can look like a deserted town when Arsenal is playing. To a stranger, it might look like a scene from the old country movies, a little city that is waiting for some miracle to happen that would destroy the ghostly creature that has kept them inside. If they stay for a while, the screams from the bars and the stadium might hit like thunder whenever Arsenal makes an attempt or a goal is scored.

Coming from Nairobi a few weeks ago and staying close to the Emirates Stadium was like being part of a larger extended family, that of soccer enthusiasts. A footballing community that has entrusted Arsenal to deliver. Two seasons have gone by since the team began a resurgence. The spirits have risen and there's optimism around the club's future. With two games to go after a convincing win at the Emirates against Bournemouth, winning the league ultimately lies in Manchester City fumbling; drawing, or losing any of their three remaining games.

The loss against Aston Villa at home and Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final nearly shattered Arsenal’s season dreams. The sports bars became scattered for a while.

In the away game against their North London rivals Tottenham, Arsenal knew that scoring chances were going to be scarce. The presence of the Ghanaian Thomas Partey made the team trudge forward with ease and less worry about their backyard. He was immense, and questions about him staying at the club will be key at the end of the season. William Saliba breaking the defensive line to man-mark Son in some instances in the game whenever he came on the left side was part of the strategy to keep the Spurs star striker out of his game.

Maddison couldn't get an opportunity to shoot. The introduction of Richarlison was one of causing frustrations, injecting intentional physical demeanor toward his fellow Brazilian Gabriel Magalhães. The Arsenal defender, aware of his fellow countryman's antics, remained composed in his game.

With the absence of Destiny Udogie, Tottenham's left-back, Bukayo Saka maneuvered around Ben Davies with ease. The control in Bukayo’s first touch was exquisite, with the long passes mostly coming all the way from David Raya, the Arsenal goalkeeper. This meant that Davies had to rely on his closest teammates along the wing and in midfield, Timo Werner on the left wing and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg in the defensive midfield. This call limited Tottenham's movement forward on the left side while Ben White and Martin Ødegaard flourished on the final third of the pitch.

He's becoming intentional with his layup headers. The 60-million man has illustrated how destructive he can be in the current position Arteta has entrusted to him.

Northbanksy. (2024). Kai Havertz and Jorginho [Mural]. Blackstock Road, London, United Kingdom.

When Liverpool could not hold on to the momentum and pressure as league leaders, it meant that Arsenal's ascendancy was the only threat Man City had to worry about.

Last season, Arsenal bottled the league, but the team has done well in everything they needed to do this season. They have scored many goals and always seemed to confirm their wins in the early stages of the games, except in a few where they had to hang on in the last few minutes. For now, there's hope that Arsenal’s arch-rivals Tottenham could stop Man City at White Hart Lane in the next game—an unlikely god towards Arsenal finally winning the league. Will they stop the current champions or usher in a new one? Their London neighbors!

Having the opportunity to write this article while stationed in North London just three blocks away from the Emirates was like a dream come true.

Written by Gordwin Odhiambo.