Mike Arteta's Arsenal recently held their nerve to progress to the quarter-final stage of the UEFA Champions League and with their performances in the Premier League, the Spaniard is cooking up something special.
The Gunners headed into the second leg of their round of 16 tie against Porto a goal down, but that changed before the half-time break when Leandro Trossard put his side back into the tie by caressing the ball into the back of the net after latching onto a wonderful pass by Martin Odegaard.
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With the aggregate score at 1-1, both teams struggled to land the decisive blow that would have given them an edge. As such, the match went to penalties after the sides could not be separated after 120 minutes. Part of a good mentality is good preparation and that is exactly what the Spanish tactician and his side did heading into the game.
They were resolute defensively and seemed determined to create chances and a way back into the game, showing their intent from open play. They were, however, also prepared for the prospect of a penalty shootout which they would end up winning 4-2 to progress past the round of 16 stage for the first time since 2009-10, also ending a run of seven consecutive last 16 eliminations in the UCL. His attention to detail and desire for success were illustrated after the game.
"We prepare everything, the extra-time, the scenarios, the changes, how the players have to drink and eat and all that and in the end, you have to do it in the game, and to replicate the scenarios is really difficult. Total credit to the boys, stepping up with maturity, with that confidence and they delivered," he said per the club's official website.
Evidently, his mindset has seemed to rub off on the players and a strong mentality is often the differentiating factor between good and great athletes, often giving the latter that slight edge that is required to cross the line. A player with this asset will also be better equipped to bounce back from defeats and other setbacks whether they're in the game or off the field.
As they showed in the penalty shootout, that strong mentality will help a team keep their cool while in high-pressure situations. It also adds to the confidence of the footballer, which can make a big difference to performances of a player. An example of this would be Bukayo Saka, who has put up good numbers over the course of the campaign so far. He has managed 13 goals and eight assists in 27 Premier League matches, in addition to the three goals and four assists he has accumulated in seven UCL appearances.
His mentality also shone through when he was asked about his side's upcoming clash against Manchester City. Despite the Gunners not winning an away game against the Citizens since 2015, the attacker oozed confidence as he answered the question.
"Yeah, we can," said Saka per The Standard. "Right now, we are top of the league and we are into the quarter-finals of the Champions League as we go into the international break, so that gives us a lot of momentum, a lot of belief, that we can go to the Etihad and get a result."
Another player who is an example of what Arteta has created is fellow Spaniard David Raya, who helped his side progress by making important saves in the shootout. Even though he made two saves, he admitted that he "should have saved three" which is the type of mentality Arsenal will need if they're to win trophies this season.
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