Mikel Arteta's side sent a powerful message in their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea, outmuscling and outfighting the Blues at Stamford Bridge to secure a 3-2 victory. The Gunners' success was largely due to their ability to dominate possession without the ball, as exemplified by Martín Zubimendi's stunning goal that sealed the win.
Arteta's team displayed an unwavering commitment to winning, showcasing a sense of physicality and aggression that left Chelsea reeling. They suffocated their opponents, making every pass feel fraught with danger, and closing spaces around any opposition player who dared to receive the ball. The pressure was relentless, making it difficult for Chelsea to play out from the back.
The intensity was evident in the duels, where Arsenal players were always on the front foot, and in the battle to win the ball back after every opponent's mistake. Even when Chelsea attempted to launch counter-attacks, they were met with a wall of red shirts that made it almost impossible to progress.
The Gunners' set-piece prowess also proved to be a game-changer, as they sent waves of inswinging corners towards the Chelsea goal. The sheer number of bodies and the ferocity with which they closed down opposition players created chaos, and on one occasion, it ultimately cost Chelsea a goal. Ben White's header from Declan Rice's corner sealed the opening goal.
The 2023-24 Invincibles are shaping up to be a force to be reckoned with, inspired by Arteta's tactical acumen and the collective mindset of his players. As former player Gilberto Silva noted, rival teams often get the feeling they're about to lose before a ball is kicked. For this Arsenal team, that moment arrived at Stamford Bridge, leaving their opponents reeling.
Defender William Saliba believes that his side's physical strength and unity are key to their success, adding, "We want to be like this, strong everywhere – in defence and attack." The frustration was evident when Arsenal failed to put the tie to bed, but the overriding feeling was one of a statement of intent. When teams can suffocate their opponents with defensive solidity, they're often the ones who end up lifting major trophies.
Arteta's team displayed an unwavering commitment to winning, showcasing a sense of physicality and aggression that left Chelsea reeling. They suffocated their opponents, making every pass feel fraught with danger, and closing spaces around any opposition player who dared to receive the ball. The pressure was relentless, making it difficult for Chelsea to play out from the back.
The intensity was evident in the duels, where Arsenal players were always on the front foot, and in the battle to win the ball back after every opponent's mistake. Even when Chelsea attempted to launch counter-attacks, they were met with a wall of red shirts that made it almost impossible to progress.
The Gunners' set-piece prowess also proved to be a game-changer, as they sent waves of inswinging corners towards the Chelsea goal. The sheer number of bodies and the ferocity with which they closed down opposition players created chaos, and on one occasion, it ultimately cost Chelsea a goal. Ben White's header from Declan Rice's corner sealed the opening goal.
The 2023-24 Invincibles are shaping up to be a force to be reckoned with, inspired by Arteta's tactical acumen and the collective mindset of his players. As former player Gilberto Silva noted, rival teams often get the feeling they're about to lose before a ball is kicked. For this Arsenal team, that moment arrived at Stamford Bridge, leaving their opponents reeling.
Defender William Saliba believes that his side's physical strength and unity are key to their success, adding, "We want to be like this, strong everywhere – in defence and attack." The frustration was evident when Arsenal failed to put the tie to bed, but the overriding feeling was one of a statement of intent. When teams can suffocate their opponents with defensive solidity, they're often the ones who end up lifting major trophies.
They're absolutely dominating games and it's not just about their quality of players, it's how they're working together as a unit. I mean, you can see the intensity in every single duel on the pitch, and when they win the ball back, it's like a wall is coming at Chelsea! 
The set-pieces are insane too, those corners are like a magic wand for Arsenal. I think we might be witnessing something special here, an Invincibles team that's not just great in possession but can also grind out results when needed. The physicality and unity among the players are key to their success, and I'm all for it! 
they're so physical and aggressive on the pitch its like they want to win so bad 
arteta's tactics are genius and those duels were insane 
ben white's header at the end sealed it for them 
i think their set pieces are going to be a nightmare for teams to deal with too 
they're like a wall of red shirts out there 
anyway, the gunners are shaping up to be a real force to be reckoned with this season can't wait to see what's next 
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...Martín Zubimendi's goal was insane! 
And what's up with Chelsea getting dominated by the set pieces? 
Their physicality is giving me all the feels 
and I love how it was a team effort 
- Zubimendi's goal was insane 
! The set pieces were like a masterclass too, all those inswinging corners were like a wave of red shirts crashing towards the Chelsea goal 
. I'm loving this Invincibles squad, they've got that winning mentality down pat 
and it's gonna be super interesting to see how they progress in the tournament 
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Mikel Arteta's squad has won 6 consecutive matches in all competitions, with an average possession percentage of 55% 
. Their ability to nullify Chelsea's attack is on par with top-tier teams 
️. Arsenal's defense has conceded just 5 goals in 10 matches, with a clean sheet record of 3 
. Martín Zubimendi's goal was the 15th time Arsenal's midfielders have scored from outside the box 
. Chelsea, on the other hand, has struggled with set pieces, conceding 6 goals in 10 matches 
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Oh man, I'm loving this team spirit at Arsenal! They really showed Chelsea what's what on the pitch today 
. Mikel Arteta must be thrilled with the way his squad is gelling together 
. But what's really impressive is the mindset of these players, they're all on the same page and it shows 
. Zubimendi's goal was a masterclass 
. But what really stood out is how Arsenal's physicality and aggression wore Chelsea down 
with Arteta at the helm 
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. This kid's got the makings of a top player 
it's not just about having the best players, it's about having a cohesive team effort 
. It's like they have a sixth sense for winning 
. He's got his team playing with such physicality and aggression that it's almost impossible to play against them 
. Can't wait to see what they do next! 
i love how united the team is, it's clear they're all working towards that 1 goal 
go gunners!! 
! The fact that Chelsea got the feeling they were about to lose before a ball was even kicked is just insane 
i love how united they are as a team, it's infectious energy 
like, it's just another season, doesn't mean they'll win everything or something. and ben white's header from a corner? that's not exactly clever, it's just good old-fashioned marking out 
