Arsenal haven’t conceded a goal in eight straight wins, and the Gunners are beginning to break free from their Premier League stalemate last November after a whirlwind run of 10 consecutive wins in all competitions.
After Brian Brobbey’s dramatic stoppage-time equalizer snatched Sunderland a point at the Stadium of Light, the frustrated challengers were held off by 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge following Moises Caicedo’s 37th-minute red card.
Then a nasty blow came to Aston Villa as a harried and weary Arsenal failed to clear their lines, allowing Emiliano Buendia to bring home a last-gasp winner, and at the time looked like they had blown the title race wide open.
Mikel Arteta’s side fought back professionally in Belgium, defeating Club Brugge 3-0 and taking on Wolves, who had not won in their opening 15 top-flight games, in Saturday’s 8pm kick-off.
Things looked good on paper, but Wolves were in contention for new manager Rob Edwards and Arsenal didn’t take the lead until the 69th minute. Bukayo Saka’s corner kick hit the post and coincidentally bounced off Sam Johnstone’s back.
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However, the tenacious Wolves refused to give up and in the 90th minute Tolu Alokodare scored a deserved equaliser, converting Matheus Mane’s shot into the net, only for defender Jerson Mosquera to head the ball past his own goalkeeper moments later to gift Arsenal the three points. Arteta exploded onto the grass in the technical area.
The statistics showed a one-way street, with Arsenal having 69.2 per cent of possession and 16 shots on goal compared to Wolves’ three. However, there is no denying that it was a worrying home game, lacking in quality and nerves, against a team that has been called one of the worst teams in Premier League history.
As Arteta entered the venue for his post-match debriefing with coaches (this will take place before he addresses the players), a well-placed source said the Spaniard was adamant that Arsenal had indeed played well in their Test match schedule.
Mikel Arteta kicks the grass after Arsenal’s 90+3 win against Wolves
Other key members of his backroom team did not necessarily agree, and some of the basic data presented to Arteta – that Arsenal had lost possession 11 times in their own defensive third and 39 times in the middle of the pitch – is said to have begun to irritate the Gunners manager.
It’s tough for Arteta to criticize his players, especially after a decisive win. He defends them fiercely, and if certain aspects of his performance fall short, he usually reflects and takes responsibility himself.
When he arrived at the post-match press conference, his tone had changed dramatically. Manager Arteta labeled the performance “unacceptable” and blamed Arsenal’s “horrible defensive habits”, which in his view were “far from the level you would want against a team that didn’t have a single shot”.
It was a scathing assessment that felt completely justified. A series of important results followed, which begs the question: Was this a cautious sliding door moment in the season? Deviating from the standards was never allowed.
Arsenal fought hard to beat Wolves in stoppage time in December
Arsenal then overcame an awkwardly rescheduled away game to Everton to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals, beat Brighton despite a late injury to Ricardo Calafioli in the warm-up, then demolished Aston Villa and a thrilling five-goal win at Bournemouth.
The arrival of Arteta’s “older brother” Gabriel Heinze was a game-changer for Arsenal, who had finished second for three consecutive years. The two formed a unique bond during their time at PSG in the early 2000s, and have remained in loose contact ever since.
A source close to Arteta said the club had been trying to bring Heinze to the club for some time before he arrived in July last year, but the stars just didn’t align.
But after Heinze watched Arsenal brutally crush his former club Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in April 2025 (and met Arteta after the match), the desire to make the collaboration happen grew, and Carlos Cuesta’s departure for Parma in June provided a timely catalyst to finally make ends meet.
When Mirror Football asked one of Heinze’s former Whites team-mates for some insight into his background and character during the September international break, they were quick to stress that the Argentine and Arteta were a match made in heaven.
Anonymously (according to their wishes) they said: “When I first heard that Gabi was joining Arsenal, I honestly knew it. He was an animal in training, a ‘volcano’, very competitive, very superstitious, very dedicated. Arteta basically just got another limb!”
Gabriel Heinze joined Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal backroom staff last summer (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Heinze took Arsenal’s defense to new heights and challenged Arteta respectfully, while fixing their questionable disciplinary record.
Last season, the club received 67 yellow cards and six red cards, more than any other team in the Premier League. Most of these layoffs proved costly and ultimately hindered their chances for glory.
A year on, Arsenal have made a dramatic comeback, topping the fair play standings with 50 bookings, no red cards and no penalties conceded.
The 1-0 win against Burnley was also the Gunners’ 32nd clean sheet in all competitions, more than any team in Europe’s top five leagues have achieved this season.
Only in 1970-1971 (37 people) and 1979-1980 (33 people) were more registrants registered. The final line has become Heinze’s baby, but Arteta is still confiding in both him and Albert Steifenberg before making any key choices.
For example, after Ben White’s recent MCL injury at West Ham, Arteta was seen asking Heinze on the touchline: “(Cristian) Mosquela or (Martin) Zvi?” Zvimendi eventually agreed.
Heinze has given Arteta fresh energy. They share a deep emotional understanding of each other and their relationship is built on respect and trust.
Gabriel Heinze is very popular at Arsenal and respected by the players.
After the 2-1 defeat at Manchester City on April 19, Heinze ate an Argentine steak as ‘The Boss’ as Arsenal geared up for a final charge for the title. They are believed to have dined at La Patagonia in Camden High Street before the 1-0 win against Newcastle.
Meanwhile, in Heinze’s home country, multiple media outlets speculated that Heinze could be playing a behind-the-scenes role in the club’s move to sign Atletico Madrid striker Julián Álvarez, who sporting director Andrea Berta is keen to sign (again).
There are currently rumors that Alvarez could still stay at the Metropolitano, but if he were to leave, Barcelona would be his preferred destination, despite interest from PSG. This means Arsenal will have to give it their all if they somehow manage to win the two-time Premier League champions.
Interestingly, a few days after Heinze and Arteta visited La Patagonia, Alvarez, who was in London for the Champions League semi-final second leg, also visited the restaurant and sampled the food.
Arsenal transfer target Julian Alvarez at La Patagonia restaurant earlier this month
Alvarez’s strikingly mysterious appearance does not necessarily indicate direct contact with Heinze, but it is clear that he received a glowing recommendation from someone.
A few weeks later, it was Arteta’s turn to ignite the ‘Parilla’ by choosing to share Arsenal’s best moments with Heinze.
Captain Martin Odegaard has requested that his coaching staff and squad be assembled for Bournemouth’s match against Manchester City. That was, in effect, a request on behalf of the entire dressing room.
Arteta quickly gave his approval and the club arranged to screen the match at the Sober Realty training centre. However, once the match started, his anxiety became so great that he decided to drive home. He told Sky Sports he was accompanied by Heinze and another member of Arsenal’s coaching staff.
Mikel Arteta did not initially celebrate Arsenal’s Premier League win with his players on his return home (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arteta recalled that when he arrived, he greeted his three excited children and wife Lorena Bernal and immediately headed to the garden to start the barbecue.
It seemed quiet at first, but soon it became impossible to ignore the various chirps echoing from the living room and from the neighboring garden.
When the backdoor finally opened, Arteta’s eldest son Gabriel, who made his Arsenal Under-18s debut last month, jumped on his father to confirm the Gunners were champions. Soon followed by teary-eyed siblings Daniel and Oliver.
The fact that Heinze was there to witness the outpouring of emotion that spanned nearly six-and-a-half years is a shining reflection on the role he played in getting both Arteta and Arsenal over the line. It’s definitely a moment that will stay with them forever.
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