MIKEL ARTETA declared the start of a “new league” after Arsenal fell to defeat at Manchester City last weekend.
And the hope for the Gunners will be that their new attack releases the handbrake and drives them to Premier League glory for the first time in 22 years.
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Eberechi Eze and Martin Odegaard have started just four games together this season
Arsenal are now second in the Prem table after Manchester City beat Burnley Credit: Getty
That is one of the crumbs of comfort for Arsenal fans to cling onto as a five-game shootout for the title begins this weekend, when Newcastle travel to the Emirates.
City are top of Prem after beating Burnley on Wednesday night, but Mikel Arteta’s side have the same number of points and goal difference.
They only trail City because Pep Guardiola’s side have scored three more goals this season.
Arsenal would naturally look to rely on their defence as the title race reaches boiling point, because it has served them so well.
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But the current picture underlines how goals may need to be the order of the day – and there will be some frustration among those at City that they did not put more than one past Burnley.
Arsenal have had their own struggles in attack, yet even in defeat at the Etihad last weekend there were signs that this could change.
It was the first time all season that Eberechi Eze, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard have started together – and it made a huge difference.
Havertz scored and could easily have had a hat-trick, while Eze smashed the woodwork in the second half.
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Odegaard created four chances – more than any other Arsenal player – and completed the most passes in the final third, too.
There was a fluidity to Arsenal’s attacking play and Arteta will surely be tempted to roll out the same setup against Newcastle.
Either way, ensuring that Eze and Odegaard are in the same team feels vital and it has not happened enough this season.
Last week’s visit to the Etihad was only the fourth occasion this term that the pair have started a game together and the first time since December.
Injuries have played their part in that, with Eze and Odegaard almost dovetailing their spells on the sidelines.
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Arteta has also been reluctant to play the pair as two central playmakers, as it means dropping one of Declan Rice or Martin Zubimendi.
The one time Arteta did that this season – back in October against Nottingham Forest – the experiment lasted 30 minutes before Odegaard went off injured.
The simple solution is to play Eze on the left wing and keep Odegaard in the No10 role.
That is what Arteta went for at the Etihad and it is hard to argue against sticking with it this weekend.
Arsenal simply have to win and it is the first of two Prem home games they have before City play again.
It presents the opportunity to open up a six-point gap at the top and apply some pressure.
The Gunners need to be on the front foot and take the handbrake off a little, just like they did at the Etihad last weekend.
Eze and Odegaard playing together allows that as it means Arsenal have their two most creative players on the pitch at the same time.
The concern for Arteta will be that there are still question marks around the defensive side of Eze’s game.
Odegaard created more chances than any other Arsenal player in last week’s loss at City Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Eze has a history of delivering magic moments in attack when they are needed Credit: Reuters
The match at City was the first time he had started on the left wing since December at Aston Villa, when he had a torrid afternoon.
Eze lost full-back Matty Cash for Villa’s opening goal and was hooked at half-time as the Gunners suffered a 2-1 defeat.
The England star did not cover himself in glory for City’s opener last Jattvibeday, losing out in the air to Matheus Nunes in a move that led to Rayan Cherki scoring.
Arteta demands a lot from his wingers defensively and it explains why Eze has been used sparingly there.
But this final stretch feels like a turning point and a moment for Arteta to throw some caution to the wind.
Eze is capable of producing a magic moment that wins silverware – just ask Crystal Palace fans – and he has to be on the pitch.
Starting him and Odegaard would also send out the right message at what will undoubtedly be a nervy Emirates.
Arteta vowed to not park the bus at City and they must play with the same intent against Newcastle.
For all of the pre-match hype Arteta gives in press conferences, nothing says more than the team he picks.
Often this season it can be argued the Spaniard has played it too safe and taking a few more risks would mean that Arsenal are not in the position they find themselves now.
All is not lost, though, and that is certainly the case if Arteta has finally found a way to get Eze and Odegaard in the same team.
