We all remember the likes of Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira, Fredrik Ljungberg, Dennis Bergkamp, etc. However, nobody could have predicted the sudden downfall of the team that dominated English and world football back at the beginning of the millennium.

More than 15 years have passed since Arsenal has been a genuine contender in their country. People stopped calling them “Gunners”. The fans stopped believing. Nothing seemed right year after year for the North London heavyweight. Nevertheless, a glimmer of hope was seen when Pep Guardiola’s pupil Mikel Arteta arrived at Emirates Stadium. The rest is history. Or future. Take a look below at the analysis on Arsenal made by Betting Tips 4 you editor in chief, John Pentin.

Mikel Arteta

Nothing suggested a sudden growth for Arsenal when Mikel Arteta first arrived in North London to be their new head coach. However, the board decided to trust the Spaniard and his process despite Arsenal missing out on the UEFA Champions League. Arteta never gave up his initial principles. He built the team according to his own wishes, whether or not the other “experts” liked it.

His transfer policy was unique. The Spaniard chose youth and gave the youngsters his full trust. And boy did it pay off. Arsenal are top of the Premier League standings in February with as many as five points between them and the second-placed Manchester City as well as a game in hand for the Gunners. Only the likes of Manchester United, Southampton, and Newcastle managed to get points off of Arteta’s troops in the first half of the 2022/23 campaign.

Hunger for Wins

The best thing about the current Arsenal team is not the fact they hold the top of the league table. It is in the way they play. And they do play like champions. Pep Guardiola gave comments about the hunger he recognized in Arsenal's players this season, something he claimed his players to be lacking. Leicester had the same hunger when they shocked the favorites to lift the Premier League silverware as enormous underdogs.

It is between life and death from the first to the final minute of the affair whenever these players are on the pitch. Every single piece of Arteta’s puzzle knows its role. We all speak about the main stars and the top scorers, but this Arsenal team would by no means be the same without the likes of Granit Xhaka or Thomas Partey at the center of the park.

A Perfect Blend

Aaron Ramsdale is one of the best goalkeepers in England. He is young, good on the ball, and everything Arteta needs right now. Saliba and Gabriel make a formidable centre-back pairing, while Ben White has become a phenomenal right-back. Kieran Tierney has unfortunately spent more time off than on the pitch this season, but Oleksandr Zinchenko has been a fantastic replacement.

As mentioned above, Partey and Xhaka make the core of the midfield, doing all the dirty job for the Mozarts and Bethovens in the final third. Speaking of them, Martin Odegaard is enjoying the season of his career. He has added efficiency to his phenomenal creativity segment and has eight goals to his name halfway through the campaign. The forward line brings a new story with a phenomenal trident of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus. The latter suffered a lengthy injury at the World Cup in Qatar but Arteta has found the solution for that as well in the like of Eddie Nketiah. His two goals in the derby against Manchester United in late January serve as the best proof of this team's mentality. Sorry Man City fans, it will take something special to prevent these guys from taking the throne.