https://www.football365.com/news/arsenal-top-premier-league-winners-and-losers-man-united-chelsea
Winners
Arsenal
A hugely significant week for Mikel Arteta, a man who has been afforded plenty of patience during his 14 months in charge. There are very good reasons for that patience, not least the myriad squad issues at Arsenal that may well require several transfer windows and a change of ethos to solve.
Supporters of rival clubs might suggest that the acceptance of being a lower mid-table club for several months is proof of Arsenal’s acceptance of slipping standards. Whether that is fair or not, progress requires significant milestones to send a message that faith is justified. The last four days are one of those milestones.
The Europa League isn’t just Arsenal’s last shot at a trophy this season; it’s also their easiest route back into the Champions League. So to fight back from 2-1 down in an unfamiliar stadium with a quarter of the second leg left demonstrated a resilience that we have often questioned in Arsenal. To follow that with a 3-1 win at a ground where Arsenal had lost their last three games by an aggregate scoreline of 8-1 offers evidence of some squad depth, particularly given that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bukayo Saka were rested.
Arteta would have preferred plainer sailing, but there is joy to be sourced from resilience. Three of Arsenal’s last four wins have come despite trailing at some point during the match. Remarkably, they only did it four times in the league during the entirety of Unai Emery’s reign.
Arsenal’s chances of making the top four haven’t quite gone, which is a little mad given their position in November. They sit eight points behind that mark and still have seven of the bottom eight to play. Arsenal have won all five of their fixtures against the bottom five this season, scoring 13 goals and conceding one; they really could get a head of steam together.
But the general mood – not to mention the Europa League – is more important given the funk into which Arsenal fell when Arteta’s job looked in serious danger. That such positivity still lingers despite recent defeats to Manchester City, Aston Villa and Wolves is due to the improvement of several players (Nicolas Pepe, Granit Xhaka and even Willian), the rise of Emile Smith-Rowe and the continued excellence of Bukayo Saka, who really does feel like a season-saver. Now to go and get bullied by Burnley at Turf Moor, obviously.
