Arteta Pen Drill No Be Joke, Arsenal Win Big For Lisbon

You fit admire Mikel Arteta o. The man dey hear all the whispers and the doubts wey dey fly upandan. Dem dey ask if he fit carry team win trophy finish. That perception go just dey grow if he fail to lift cup for this season. But despite all the noise from outside, and with cameras full ground for training session on Monday, the manager no even show say he dey fear any mockery or ridicule. Wetin he do? He introduce one drill wey players, for groups, dey dribble ball while dem dey hold pen. True leader na im dey stand by him convictions and refuse make outside pressure influence am to act anyhow.

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This one also show say the Spaniard dey feel secure for him role, no matter wetin go happen for the coming months. Many coaches wey dey similar position go avoid anything wey fit make dem look foolish if dem believe say their employer get doubts. The purpose of the pen exercise na to encourage multitasking and improve mental clarity. Na method wey dem dey commonly use for drama schools and workshops. E no too strange like when the 44-year-old bring lightbulb from house or try recreate Anfield atmosphere by playing You’ll Never Walk Alone for Colney through loudspeakers. For both occasions, Arsenal go on to lose their next match.

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One of the more memorable examples remain when he invite him squad go dinner, only for them to gradually realise say their wallets, phones, and car keys don disappear. The manager don arrange professional pickpockets, wey disguise as waiters, to carry out the exercise. Na him creative way to remind players of the need to remain vigilant, focused, and aware of their surroundings. E fit be simpler and less costly to just yarn that message direct. Some supporters dey fear say the campaign fit scatter, but when dem look to their manager for reassurance, wetin dem see na unconventional methods like sharing pens. E don reach 22 years since the Gunners last lift Premiership. Na pens be the problem all this while? To be fair, e work for Tuesday night.

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Arsenal don craft their way to Premier League top spot and Champions League quarter-finals with defensive control and tactical discipline, but Mikel Arteta’s impact substitutions no fit underestimate. Substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz combine for stoppage-time to snatch Arsenal 1-0 advantage heading into their Champions League quarter-final second leg at Emirates Stadium, while also inflict Sporting first home defeat for 17 matches. “For the end, magic moment from the finishers win us the game,” Arteta tell Amazon Prime after the win. “Na that impact you need when you reach this stage of the season. Everybody get to make impact, and dem certainly do am.”

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Arsenal arrive Lisbon in need of mighty kick start. For vulnerable point of their season, dem crave spark to resurrect their conviction. E come via late burst of intention and precision, carve out by Gabriel Martinelli and finish stylishly by Kai Havertz. How dem relish am. E no just be rewarding, na healing. E boost the whole team belief system. “Na big moment for the season,” Mikel Arteta reflect. Even at 0-0, Arsenal don do sufficient job under the circumstances. Priority number one here simple: no lose. After two bruising defeats, wey cost two cup competitions, another one for this highly sensitive part of the season no fit think. But for turning good job into excellent win, serving up advantage for Champions League quarter-finals with home leg against Sporting CP next week, Arsenal sense their season dey relaunch. Dem fit now get back to business for Premier League on Saturday lunchtime feeling good about themselves again.

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As the game kick off, Sporting supporters sing a capella version of “My Way”. But na Arsenal way turn the match. E no be particularly popular way as far as the locals dey concerned, but e dey tell say Arsenal set about pierce the intensity Sporting thrive on for their home matches. “Identity” na Mikel Arteta word of the trip. He must don utter am hundreds of times, drumming into him players the importance of rediscovering crucial parts of their character wey dem mislaid recently. Dem show few of the different elements wey make up their identity. First of all, dem get to be dogged and execute the part of their game plan wey design to suck spirit out of Sporting. The Portuguese champions dey very used to winning for house; dem love to strut their stuff for their own environment. To break that run, to diminish that confidence, Arsenal play conservative first half. Quite rightly, Sporting dey regard as very tough to beat. But for their own way, Arsenal show say when dem set up right and for mood, dem too dey tough.

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Then dem pick up speed for second half and Arsenal create plenty opportunities. Finishing dey erratic, but the uptick in progressive play ask very different questions of Sporting. The next element of identity wey Arteta proud of na the unity wey enable dem change the game with their finishers. Remarkably, the contributions of Martinelli and Havertz make am 38 goal involvements from substitutes this season — the highest of any team across Europe top five leagues. All these aspects together enthuse Arteta. “And respecting your role within the day. E no easy to leave certain players for bench to start with. Dem love each other so much say dem do am for the team. E be beautiful thing to raise the position wey we dey. Because we go need dem for the crucial moments to win.”

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Martinelli and Havertz no be the only decisive players. Other key individuals dey wey their contributions fundamental, none more so than David Raya. Him return to the team after sitting out two losses while Kepa Arrizabalaga keep goal underline him significance to Arsenal game plan and performance levels. Arteta spill forth with superlatives. “He extraordinary, magnificent, incredible.” Two stunning reaction saves — wey he calmly make look routine — critical. The base of Arsenal spine strengthen dem. With William Saliba and Gabriel back together in front of Raya, and Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi exert more influence from midfield as the game go on, Arsenal begin to lean into the key tenets of their identity. Martin Odegaard dey back scampering around. Noni Madueke na handful for right flank and send one of those swerving, dipping corners against the crossbar. Chances come and go until Havertz release the last arrow with smooth accuracy.

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Arteta proud of how him team respond to double setback. Look around you and see how people react. How dem talk, how dem look at you, how dem judge you, wetin dem do, dem look at themselves, dem start to criticise other people? Wetin else fit I do to help? He hopeful say the story of the game get capacity to put Arsenal back on track for the challenges ahead for two heavyweight competitions. “Because the demands from August na win and win and win and win, and if you no win, na disaster, and e no enough, and if you no win four trophies, wetin we dey do? So e be big reminder of wetin we be as team and the things wey bring us where we dey.” Arsenal stay Lisbon the night after the game because Portuguese airspace close early, so the time to prepare for their next big assignment limited. The enormity of the Bournemouth game on Saturday lunchtime just around the corner.

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Arsenal David Raya declare as “the best goalkeeper for the world,” teammate Kai Havertz talk after witnessing Sporting heroics from the football champ. He declare David Raya the best goalkeeper for the world after him saves help Arsenal secure 1-0 win over Sporting for their Champions League quarter-final first leg for Lisbon. David Raya make five saves, including outstanding stops from Maxi Araujo and Geny Catamo, as Arsenal beat Sporting 1-0 for their Champions League quarter-final first leg, when Kai Havertz call am the world best and Mikel Arteta talk up him “extraordinary” impact. “Unbelievable,” Havertz tell Amazon Prime of Raya. “He outstanding. He don save us so many times, and we dey very glad to get am.” Mikel Arteta discover say playing your best goalkeeper fit be good idea as him side recover from cup exits with late win for Lisbon. The label come as restored. David Raya make the difference to help Arsenal shake off their angst.

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Dem dey tempt to fixate on the moment when Arsenal win this game with goal wey fit change their season. E don be slog for Estádio José Alvalade. Arsenal attempt 488 passes, and e no be until the first of two added minutes say dem make one really count. Even so, Arsenal no for don dey position to head into next week second leg with 1-0 lead if David Raya no deliver one of those performances when e seem say nothing go ever get past am. Raya don be similarly impressive for Premier League, keeping the most clean sheets for the division of any goalkeeper this season, with 15, and only make one error leading to goal for 69 games across the last two campaigns. Arsenal go hope say him outstanding form continue for next week second leg and beyond as dem fight to win Champions League for the first time for their history, helped by goalkeeper wey dey demonstrate him world-class credentials.