The Emirates is a fortress that could win Arsenal the title – it’s become as key as any player

Arsenal 1-1 Brentford (Trossard 66’| Toney 74′)

EMIRATES STADIUM — Even under a dull sky, the Emirates is alight with hope. Bright reds and bright whites, bright eyes and bright lights overwhelm and entice. A lone drummer at the foot of the Clock End gives the ground its own racing heartbeat. As is his wont, Mikel Arteta hops around his technical area like his Chelsea boots are made of Lego and mousetraps.

Arsenal’s early-season brilliance means that, for now, they can afford the occasional slip-up, if a 1-1 draw with Brentford can be called that. The Bees are still unbeaten in the Premier League since October, having visited the Etihad and the Emirates and hosted Liverpool and Spurs. Thomas Frank’s side played with a confidence their form allows and the unflinching organisation that underpins their every move, deliberate without being overthought. They should have gone into half-time ahead, but Ivan Toney and Rico Henry both spurned unmissable chances.

Arsenal are still six points clear of Manchester City, having played as many games as them (City host Aston Villa on Sunday). This fixture always had the feel of a mere appetiser for Wednesday’s post-Valentine’s Day feast, when the two sides play one another.

Despite the remonstrations and light fisticuffs toward this game’s close, fans and players alike know that a win on Wednesday will allow today’s lost points to be remembered as fuel for Arteta’s next great motivational number.

More from Football

Enzo Fernandez and Joao Felix are the exceptions in a flat Chelsea side without identity11 February, 2023The ‘educated’ Lindelof could be Man Utd’s midfield answer in Casemiro’s absence11 February, 2023Arteta sorry for Man City 'no comment', Ten Hag backs Garnacho, Auba’s Chelsea future11 February, 2023

For all the talk of how well Eddie Nketiah has replaced Gabriel Jesus after his injury, the young forward’s shortcomings were plainly exposed. Jesus provides a Pep Guardiola-instilled complexity and variety to his game that is simply not Nketiah’s skillset. Leandro Trossard’s opener was the Gunners’ first goal in three games and despite having seven shots on target, they rarely looked like scoring more.

The Belgian had been on the pitch four minutes when he swept home Bukayo Saka’s low ball across the face of goal, the starkest positive for Arsenal to take from this game. Trossard has instantly ingratiated himself to fans and assimilated into Arsenal’s attack, a clearly-needed attacking option. His understated signing is another seemingly minor note to an essay of successes at the Emirates.

Beneath Brentford’s totemic trio of centre-backs, Nketiah was once again a novice thrust into action before his time, that leggy teenager fans doubted by fans and pundits alike, a decent option for the early rounds of the cup, but nothing more. He remains at his best fuelled by the dying embers of matches, punishing exhausted legs and minds.

While the visit of Pep Guardiola’s side will perhaps suit Nketiah, a player more comfortable without the ball, against the run of play, taking advantage of space and defensive arrogance, Arsenal fans will continue to eagerly follow Jesus’ recovery.

At the other end, Toney was monstrous, harassing and haranguing William Saliba and Gabriel, unburdened by the respect they often receive from opposition strikers. His goal was understated, a finishing flick earned by petrifying the home fans and defence for 90 minutes.

Yet as the possibility of three points faded to naught, the Emirates support did not. In 2009, the Gunners announced a plan of “Arsenalisation” for the newly-erected stadium, to give the ground, as Arsene Wenger put it, “a natural soul”. Fourteen years on, it was not banners or statues that Arsenalised this place, it was Arteta.

Optimism and romanticism have long been linked, and Arsenal’s fanbase are among the Premier League’s most romantic. Now 18 years without a league title, there is a healthy mix of hope and desperation draped over every seat in the Emirates. Even as the game stopped, the drummer didn’t.

For any debate over whether or not Nketiah has helped or hindered Arsenal in Jesus’ absence, there is an atmosphere around the Emirates that feels bigger than any individual. Top of the table, the men in red dropped points, and it did not incite riot or rebellion. It is afternoons like this one, in which the on-pitch action underwhelms and the pre-match dreams are quashed, that signal whether a fanbase truly believe in the side in front of them.

Arsenal have still lost just one home game in the league this season, and each game that continues is testament to a romantic belief among all involved that this is the Gunners’ time, whether they wish to admit it or not. It does not have to be spoken, it is demonstrated through everyone from Trossard wheeling away in celebration to the unwavering drummer.

There is a security, a confidence, that Arsenal can now weather any storm. They can draw and still find themselves sitting comfortably.

That is, of course, until Wednesday.

from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/EVIJi3N