Arsenal’s double response to Man Utd that ultimately sparked a revolution at the Gunners

Arsenal’s double response to Man Utd that ultimately sparked a revolution at the Gunners

Few days in Arsenal history are darker than August 28, 2011, but three days later a light appeared that would help the Gunners shine more than a decade after that afternoon.

 

Arsenal’s double response to Man Utd that ultimately sparked a revolution at the Gunners

Few days in Arsenal history are darker than August 28, 2011, but three days later a light appeared that would help the Gunners shine more than a decade after that afternoon.

 

On August 28, 2011, Manchester United handed Arsenal their heaviest league defeat since 1927 by beating the Gunners 8-2 at Old Trafford.

Although many Arsenal fans saw that day as the day Arsene Wenger, then manager, should have either been sacked from his post or left voluntarily, he remained at the top for seven more years and won three more trophies. in the process.

 

But these three FA Cups are arguably not the Frenchman’s best contribution to the club between the day Old Trafford was demolished and the day he left. Many might argue it happened just three days after United’s humiliation 12 years ago when Wenger received the signings of Mikel Arteta and Per Mertesacker before the 2011 deadline.

 

Two talented and technical players, that’s undeniable, with Arteta best known to English football fans since his time at Everton. The pair would win two of the aforementioned FA Cups together, but Arteta had ended his playing career before the Gunners won the third in 2017. However, what matters most to Arsenal fans around the world is not what the two did on the pitch back then, but what they are doing off the pitch now. Had it not been for that disastrous capitulation against United at the start of the 2011/2012 season, it is likely that Arteta and Mertesacker would not have been signed. To this day, many believe both were ‘panic buying’ in response to Manchester’s dismal performance.

 

Whatever the motivations behind Wenger’s decision to sign Arteta and Mertesacker, they are no longer relevant. Most importantly, both clearly learned from the iconic French manager during their time as Arsenal players and both now hold two of the club’s biggest roles.

 

Mertesacker and Arteta have proved crucial additions to Arsenal both on and off the pitch (Image: Bongarts/Getty Images)

 

Arteta is now, of course, the first-team coach, while Mertesacker is now in charge of Arsenal’s youth academy. They work in close collaboration with the aim of bringing out a maximum of internal talents and making them available to the former. It seems to be a success as Ethan Nwaneri, Amario Cozier-Duberry and Myles Lewis-Skelly will soon be part of the first team.

 

At first-team level, Arteta helped transform Arsenal from the club he found on his return in 2019. The Spaniard himself admitted the Gunners were in a sticky situation when he was appointed successor to Unai Emery.

 

Earlier this summer, the Arsenal manager told MARCA: “It started three years ago. I was Pep’s assistant at City, we played against Arsenal and I saw that the soul of the club had been lost.” It has not been enjoyed, it has not been felt. I knew shortly after that there was a chance to sit on the other bench and I knew this club is so big that you had to connect the team with the fans.

 

It was hard to do and now I feel happy. We have a clear identity, there is unity and we are full of energy. This is the biggest. From top to bottom they all push in the same direction

 

The kit comes with a shock yellow base which is complemented by light blue accents on the collars and sleeves. The field version of the jersey is made with Addias’ famous HEAT.RDY technology and is optimized to make players feel comfortable. The replica version of the kit features AEROREADY technology, which uses breathable or absorbent materials to keep players dry.

£80

 

Their second-place finish last season has raised hopes that they can take it one step further this season and win their first Premier League title since 2004. Arteta knows how tough it will be against powerhouse Manchester City, but for now his focus will be on try to win the next game. Much of Arteta’s relationship with Arsenal has been linked to clashes with Sunday’s opponents United. His first victory as Arsenal boss? A 2-0 win over the Red Devils on New Years Day 2020. It was Arteta who guided the Gunners to their first league victory at Old Trafford in 14 years. It was Arteta who thought of the answer for Wenger after the infamous 8-2 loss. Twelve years later, it seems like the right move for the Frenchman.