Why is Arsenal flying high?

((Baonghean.vn) - The victory against Swansea City extended Arsenal's winning streak to six consecutive Premier League matches. What enabled a team with a shaky start, earning only one point from two games, to achieve such an impressive record?

Ever since Thierry Henry moved to Barcelona, ​​manager Wenger has been struggling to find a replacement for the French international. Many players have been brought in and offered, but none have satisfied the "Professor" or the Arsenal fans.

Perhaps this season will be different, as Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez are doing a great job. After only 8 rounds, the English player has already scored 5 goals, matching his tally from last season. According to statistics, since joining Arsenal, Theo Walcott has never scored more than 5 goals in a single season. This shows that Theo Walcott's form is a strong basis for believing in a successful season for Arsenal, at least in the 2016-2017 Premier League.

Walcott is in excellent form at the start of this season.

Meanwhile, the Chilean player was deployed by manager Wenger as a central striker. However, the difference was that in each match, Sanchez was allowed to drop deep into his own half to organize Arsenal's attacks and counter-attacks, instead of just waiting for teammates to create chances to score. In specific situations, Sanchez even took on the role of Ozil and vice versa. All three of the former Real Madrid player's goals so far have been assisted by Sanchez.

The former Barcelona striker's performance in the recent match somewhat mirrored that of Thierry Henry about 10 years ago. If Sanchez can maintain his recent form, Arsenal won't be intimidated by any team in Europe, not just in the Premier League.

The third player contributing to Arsenal's impressive run of form is none other than Mesut Ozil. Having started in the Gunners' last six matches (coming on in the 73rd minute against Leicester City), the German player has made a significant impact with three goals.

This represents a significant shift in the midfielder's playing style, as manager Wenger no longer automatically assigns Ozil the role of playmaker. Being freed from the responsibility of orchestrating play has allowed Ozil to approach the opponent's goal more frequently, creating scoring opportunities for his team. His three goals against Watford, Chelsea, and Swansea City are clear evidence of his danger in this new role.

Now, when facing Arsenal, teams don't know which player to "closely mark," unlike how they used to neutralize the German midfielder, effectively cutting off about 50% of the Gunners' attacking potential. With the arrival of Iwobi, and the versatility of Santi Cazorla, Theo Walcott, Sanchez, etc., it's not easy for opponents to figure out Arsenal's playing style, at least not at this moment.

Speaking of the attacking excellence, it's impossible not to praise the London team's defense. Petr Cech continues to provide solidity in goal, as is his usual standard. Koscielny has improved with each season, particularly in his ability to read situations and remain alert to opponents' provocations. Bellerin, with his superb acceleration, remains a reliable defensive anchor on the right flank.

The outstanding performances of these players didn't surprise many, as they were, after all, key players for Arsenal last season. Perhaps the name that made the biggest impression was center-back Mustafi. When Arsenal announced that the Valencia player had become Wenger's pupil, there was considerable skepticism surrounding this new signing. However, Mustafi quickly dispelled those doubts with his impressive performances.

Center-back Mustafi is a reliable anchor in the "Gunners'" defense.

The fact that new signing Mustafi has integrated so quickly is good news for Arsenal fans. Since the German defender arrived at the Emirates Stadium, goalkeeper Petr Cech's goal has been significantly safer. In the first three matches without Mustafi (before his transfer from Valencia), Arsenal conceded 5 goals, earning 4 out of a possible 9 points; in the last 5 matches, the "Gunners" have only conceded 4 goals, earning 15 out of a possible 15 points. And the London derby against Chelsea is proof of Mustafi's rapid integration, as he and Koscielny successfully neutralized the attacks of the team led by manager Conte.

Although the season is only a quarter of the way through, and there are many shortcomings that manager Wenger needs to address quickly, what the Arsenal players are showing is truly admirable. And one thing is certain, no one would dare call the "Gunners" a "team of kids" anymore. Simply put, Arsenal is one of the strongest contenders for the 2016-2017 Premier League title.

Tram Uyen