Arsenal have continued their march towards an illusive Champions League crown as they bested in Slavia Prague in an interesting clash
Wednesday evening, for Arsenal, should have never been something that was more than a procession. However, what Mikel Arteta did at half-time speaks volumes for how he is looking to manage the season.
The Gunners took the lead in the ninth minute from Noni Madueke before Victor Gyokeres netted the second. It was all too easy for Arsenal, who never really had to move up the gears.
And with his side cruising 2-0 at the break, Arteta changed tactics – the goal now seemed to be conserve energy for upcoming matches, and it could prove to be pivotal come May.
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Arsenal, along with just about every other major club, have a packed schedule this season – and when you add that to the World Cup players can became overworked very easily.
Arteta, using this chance to almost move away from high octane football was a stroke of genius. It wasn’t entertaining – but it didn’t need to be, Arteta just wanted his players fresh.
It is risky, of course, it invited pressure onto the Arsenal backline. Wiktor Nowak did eventually find the net for Slavia, but it was too little too late for the Czech team – who could have been blown away in the first half.
Bigger tests are on the horizon for the Gunners, who enter a tricky run of fixtures after clashes with Hull and Newcastle in the Premier League. It all starts on November 24, when they welcome Borussia Dortmund before Manchester City at the weekend.
That, presumably, top-of-the-table clash is followed by back-to-back Premier League matches against Brentford and Spurs before they turn their attention to Europe and Real Madrid.
However, for the moment, Arteta can only take it one game at a time, and with the Gunners back on their perch in the Prem, he’ll be hoping they can make that final step in Europe.