Arsenal are yet to concede in this season’s Champions League, with Mikel Arteta’s side set to welcome Atletico Madrid to North London in the third tier of the league.
Mikel Arteta has praised the “extraordinary” qualities Gabriel Heinze brings to Arsenal’s leadership. It is perhaps no coincidence that former Manchester United defender Heinze joined Arteta’s coaching staff this summer, and Arsenal’s statistics have risen to prominence.
Arsenal have only conceded three goals in eight Premier League games and are yet to concede in the Champions League, where they face Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night. Heinze has known Arteta since their time together at Paris Saint-Germain, and the former Argentina star has put even more emphasis on keeping a clean sheet.
It’s still early days, but Arteta’s side are on track to break Chelsea’s record of conceding just 15 goals to win the title under Jose Mourinho, and of course the Gunners have their own song from their European days: ‘1-0 to Arsenal’.
Gunners boss Arteta said: “I think it’s very, very much in line with all the coaches, players and their commitment. And I think Gabi has added something different, the will to win. We’ve obviously seen that throughout his career, that experience of winning and raising someone’s level and ambition and driving them to their highest limits. And he’s an extraordinary person in that respect.”
Arsenal are the team that has set the pace from the start in this season’s Premier League title race, and are already bookmakers’ favorites to win the title. The Gunners won 1-0 at Fulham, a club they have dropped points against over the past two seasons, and Arteta said his players are improving but need to focus on each training session.
read more: Mikel Arteta confirms injury for Arsenal’s Champions League match against Atletico Madrid
“It’s true that the team is showing a different maturity, threat and maybe belief at this stage, but it’s still early days. We have to do it now for one more game and that will be the goal,” Arteta said.
“The only thing I hold onto is that when I see the energy, the temperature, the dedication of the team and the quality that they can offer, it gives me confidence that we can go all the way. But that’s it. It’s just the feeling that we have to prove it the next day, we have to prove it in the next training session. There’s nothing else. We can’t be busy thinking about those topics.”
Arsenal currently face a tough test against Atletico and Diego Simeone, whom Arteta has great respect for, but also praised William Saliba, who was pictured watching the Atletico game on TV as soon as he boarded the team bus on the way home from Fulham on Saturday.
Arteta added: “I’m very happy about this with William because I didn’t recommend it. So it comes from them and that’s the most powerful thing. The game’s over, the job’s done, we’ve done it. But now, okay, what’s next, what’s the next challenge and what’s the next opportunity? And we know it’s going to be really tough.
“So the sooner you start thinking about it and preparing for it, the better. So I love that initiative from the players and it shows how much they want it and how focused they are on what’s next. Simeone is someone I look up to and learn from him on a lot of occasions, and what stands out for me is his passion.”
“You wonder how long he’s been in the game, playing at the same club and with the same players, how he still has those hands and the ability to convey such energy and the will to win. It’s a very tough environment we live in and you have to do exceptionally well to continue to convince the players.”
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