This past weekend, Arsenal showed the rest of the Premier League why they are now the dominant force in the country. In an impressive three-to-zero victory over a Manchester City team now devoid of their greatest-ever manager, Arsenal proved why they are now the team to beat. This year’s Community Shield may have foreshadowed a shifting of power in the Premier League, as Mikel Arteta looks set to take up Pep Guardiola’s mantle. One thing is certain: Arsenal have set a precedent in the Community Shield that could create a ripple effect throughout the league.
Guardiola is undoubtedly one of the greatest managers the sport has ever seen. No other manager has had as much of an effect on how the game has been played since the turn of the century. By implementing his “tiki-taka” style of play at Barcelona, he created one of the greatest teams of all time and molded the greatest player ever, Lionel Messi. On top of that, he has consistently dominated in every country where he has managed, never finishing below third place in Spain, Germany, or England.
The question remains: Who will soccer’s next great manager be? Pep has influenced many current managers around the world throughout his illustrious career. Three current Premier League managers have earned their stripes under Pep: Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca, and, most notably, Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta.
Alonso and Arteta are already bona fide elite managers with top-flight league titles under their belts, with the former winning his first title undefeated. While Maresca found success during his time at Leicester City, winning England’s second division, his tenure at Chelsea was hampered by the owner’s ineptitude. Despite Arteta having a six-year head start in the Premier League compared to his contemporaries, new managers should never be counted out. After all, Arne Slot was able to win a league title in his first season with Liverpool.
While early predictions point toward Arsenal being the favorites to win the title again this season, Chelsea and City have both invested heavily in players for their new managers. It will be interesting to see how City adjusts after losing two immensely influential players in Bernardo Silva and Rodrigo. Despite spending over £100 million on Elliot Anderson, it remains to be seen whether he can control games at a similar level to Silva and Rodri. If the Community Shield is any indication of what the future holds, Anderson may struggle to maintain the high standard that City fans have come to expect.
A key factor pointing toward Arsenal’s potential dominance in England is the squad’s experience and depth. Many of the team’s most influential players have been at the club for nearly half a decade, including three title races. Furthermore, Arsenal was able to dominate City with a lineup that was missing key players such as Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and William Saliba in the first half. Thanks to the quality of squad players like Myles Lewis-Skelly and Christian Mosquera, along with new signing Bruno Guimarães, Arsenal did not skip a beat.
It should be remembered that Arteta’s Arsenal has achieved back-to-back finishes above Pep’s City, something not even Klopp’s dominant Liverpool team could accomplish. With Arteta ready to sign a deal extending his contract with Arsenal, it appears he is poised to become the Premier League’s dominant managerial force in the coming years.
Arsenal fans have known just how good Lewis-Skelly can be for a couple of years now. After his introduction at left-back two seasons ago, it was clear that he had the ability to meaningfully impact games from deep positions on the field. After failing to displace Piero Hincapié or Riccardo Calafiori at left-back, there were questions about MLS’ future at the club. However, after Arteta started him in his preferred midfield position in the Champions League final, it became clear just how bright his future was as a Gunner.
Lewis-Skelly played in midfield throughout his entire Arsenal youth career, drawing comparisons to some of the club’s midfield greats, such as Patrick Vieira. In the Community Shield, Lewis-Skelly showed why those comparisons were deserved, completely dominating the game and even providing a surgical assist for the first goal. At just 19 years old, he already possesses a level of athleticism and skill that few players in the league can match.
Arsenal is once again going to challenge for the Premier League title this season. After three years of competing with Guardiola and one season competing with the Slot anomaly, it remains to be seen who can provide the same level of competition this season. Arteta has built a team capable of competing with the very best in world soccer, and it seems as if only hubris can bring the Gunners down this season. Arsenal will have their sights set not only on matching their success from last season but also on taking the next step and achieving even more.
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