Until a team has finally crossed the finish line, there are always niggling doubts.
The psychological scars Manchester City had meted out on Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal over a period of three years were debilitating for this club.
It went beyond the ‘Second again, ole, ole’ chants or bottler jibes. It created a feeling that the men in blue were always just around the corner, waiting for the Gunners to slip up.
That imagery has been flung out the window. There is a confidence flowing through them after last season’s Premier League triumph and it augurs well for their upcoming campaign, which begins against Coventry at the Emirates on Friday night.
Arsenal just didn’t let up against City. When one goal came, the hunger for another superseded any thoughts to protect their lead.
In times before, going ahead so early on – 24 seconds into the game – caused the Gunners to panic or retreat.
Arsenal attacked Manchester City ravenously and served vengeance for years of coming second to Pep Guardiola
This is a different team, though, one emboldened to seize the moment of being on top, with the chance to be dominant in the months ahead. The rest of the ‘Big Six’ are going through transitions, remember.
Martin Odegaard typified this spirit the most. Having endured a stop-and-start season plagued by various injuries including to his knee and shoulder, the Norwegian hounded the opposition, desperate to make up for lost time.
Odegaard glided with a swagger which hasn’t always characterised him, transformed from becoming a champion.
He also played a number of incisive through-balls, constantly looking to pierce the opposition backline.
It wasn’t just his play. He pressed hard, not giving the forwards an inch on the ball. His goal on 48 minutes topped the display as he dumbfounded Jokso Gvardiol and Gianluigi Donnarumma with just three touches.
It’s been some time before the midfielder has played in such a commanding manner, leading from the front in a real captain’s display.
When he’s confident and fully fit, Odegaard is a tricky player to face. He also sets the temperature in an Arteta team in sync around his intricacies. They rely on his pressing and ability to create chances in congested areas.
The calls for Declan Rice to take on the armband have festered in the background but here reflected just why Arteta has stuck with Odegaard.
Martin Odegaard played with more swagger now that he is a champion and was constantly forward-thinking
Arteta warned afterwards: ‘Well, he missed five or six months for different things (last season) and it was extremely difficult for him to get any momentum. If we can maintain him fit, available with the players around him, we’re going to see a very different Martin.
‘I sensed from the first day he joined that he has something else in the belly that he wants to prove and show, because the team needs it as well.’
The substitutions sent a message, too. Having knocked the opposition off the park, Arteta brought on Declan Rice for the second half, and Bukayo Saka along with Piero Hincapie on 60 minutes.
There’s a depth to Arsenal which makes them an uncomfortable prospect to face when they’re on song.
The message is clear: the Gunners are firing and eyeing further silverware in the distance.
Gunners’ new flying winger
The attention given to Arsenal’s pursuit of a marquee left winger had somewhat let £34million Christos Tzolis go slightly under the radar.
He was earmarked as a squad player, an attacker who would be knocking on the first XI door in seasons to come.
The 24-year-old, brought in to replace Leandro Trossard, already looks like a smart piece of business on the left side of Arsenal’s attack.
His headed assist for Kai Havertz after peeling away from a defender, or accurate pass to set Odegaard on the way to scoring, reflected why the Gunners brought him in.
He’s there to impact play, targeting goals and assists in a team without a 25 goal-a-season striker.
It’s now six goal contributions in six pre-season games for Tzolis. The Greek isn’t here to settle for a spot on the bench.
Christos Tzolis looked right at home against Manchester City, providing two assists
There is an opportunity to stake his claim – even more so if a pricey winger isn’t signed before the end of the window.
Thus far, he hasn’t put a foot wrong.
A telling trio of absentees
The Arsenal squad omissions presented an extra sub-plot.
Those left out included Ethan Nwaneri, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.
Nwaneri has been the subject of interest from various clubs. So, too, has Martinelli, the subject of a £38million bid from Galatasaray. Jesus is edging towards a move to Napoli.
Of the three, Jesus is the closest to the exit door. Arteta played down the omissions, saying: ‘There’s nothing to do with that (leaving the club). It’s just a fact that we can bring 18 outfield players and we believe that for today’s game, these were the options that we needed, especially with the physical condition of certain players.’
The players that Mikel Arteta left out ar potentially telling for the upcoming campaign
He added to TNT Sports: ‘It’s really sad to not have the availability (for them). I’ve been fighting with the Premier League to get more in the squad. Hopefully we can change that rule so players can be part of the squad. They’re very important for us.’
All the same, their omissions pointed in a particular direction.
