Changing times at Arsenal, as Pat Rice believes ‘we have turned the corner’.
The Arsenal assistant manager also reckons the worst is over for the Gunners, believing that they will only get better and better as the season progresses.
Arsenal drew their first Champions League Group F match at Borussia Dortmund, after a stunning last minute volley from Ivan Perisic before Robin van Persie gave the Gunners a first half lead. Arsene Wenger watched from the stands due to a touch line ban given to him by UEFA, leaving his assistant Rice in charge of first-team duties.
When asked by Sky Sports whether Arsenal had changed for the better, Rice said:
‘Very much so. It seemed the game on Saturday (against Swansea) was our start of the season because of the uncertainty as to who the players would be that leave us and whether they wouldn’t.’
‘It was very much like playing Arsenal. Now we know what it is like whenever we are on form.’
‘The players that we have acquired are very, very good players, contrary to what other people have said.’
‘I have no doubt that they will show it and in the games to come.’
In my opinion, Arsenal are changing their ways. It’s a slow but ongoing process.
Signs showing this were the signing of four experienced players added to the squad during the summer transfer window, which in recent seasons has only been one experienced player coming in along with a handful of talented inexperienced youths.
With the defence, due to the recent summer acquisitions of Mertesacker and Santos, set plays from opposition teams are slowly becoming less of a threat due to the improvement in our back-line. There is also more commitment in the players, eagerness to fight for possession and avoid conceding goals, which is encouraging to see.
The way the team presses for the ball is still a little weak, but they are only just starting and will improve as time goes by. If this tactic can be strengthened, then our game will drastically improve, and like Pat Rice said ‘we can only get better’ and sure enough we will. Furthermore, with the new players eager to show what their made of, that should induce a winning mentality into the team – something that has been much criticized by the media.
For now, only time can tell how much better of a team we will become. However, things are starting to look up!
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