Cesc Fabregas has now admitted that he ‘did not expect’ one thing from Arsenal that is ‘great to see’ as Mikel Arteta’s squad fight to win the 2023/24 Premier League title.
The Gunners sit at the top of the tree through 31 games in search of the club’s first top-flight title in 20 years. Not since Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles team won the only golden trophy yet in 2003/04 for Arsenal’s third Premier League title has the crown returned to north London.
Arsenal came close to ending their drought last season as Arteta oversaw a shock title push. But after starting the campaign simply aiming to qualify for the Champions League, their bid to beat Manchester City for the top spot fell short. Now, they are fighting City plus Liverpool.
Cesc Fabregas thinks it is ‘great’ that Arsenal are learning to adapt
Just one point even separates the top three in the table through 31 games, with Arsenal also only above Liverpool on goal difference. The Gunners boast the division’s best offence so far this term with 75 goals scored and defence with 24 conceded to get 22 wins and five draws.
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Two of those draws came during Arsenal’s meetings on the road to title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City, as well. But the manner in which Arteta set about securing a 0-0 stalemate at Etihad Stadium in March shocked Fabregas as he expected a ‘completely different’ game.
“Slowly, slowly you see that this team is growing,” Fabregas told the Evening Standard. “This is 100 per cent a fact. You see the way they are competing in a different manner.
“The way they prepared [for] the game against City, even I didn’t expect it. I was expecting a completely different approach.
“But you see that they are managing maybe the situations a little bit better. They are getting this experience – the coaching staff and the players – to find different solutions. It is great to see and I do think they are very close to getting something very soon.”
Nathan Ake had Manchester City’s only shot on target vs Arsenal
Arsenal lost 4-1 at Manchester City during their late-season collapse last term after trying to go toe-to-toe with the Citizens. But Arteta learned from the defeat and favoured a defensive approach in March. It also worked wonders as Manchester City struggled to unlock Arsenal.
The Gunners let Pep Guardiola’s team enjoy 72.5% of the possession at Etihad Stadium. But Manchester City only directed one of their 12 shots on target thanks to centre-back Nathan Ake in the 15th minute. Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus even had arguably the best chance to score.