Jesus is really good
Last season writing these post-game talking points became a little difficult, not necessarily because there was a lack of incident discuss, but more because the topics of conversation were so similar each week. Coming up with a new way to say Alexandre Lacazette is not the man to lead the Arsenal line every seven days morphed into an onerous task. This year the same problem has emerged but for a different reason all together. Now, the trouble is discovering new ways to convey how much Gabriel Jesus is.
Mikel Arteta did a pretty good job of describing it in his post-match press conference when focusing on his gratitude for the next that he will never have to come up against the Brazilian on the pitch. "I wouldn’t like to play against him," the Spaniard said. "I’ve never been a defender, but I can imagine I wouldn’t enjoy it. He’s so mobile, so intuitive, always sharp and proactive to play in any moment and phase in the game, and it’s a real threat."
That laser sharp focus came into full effect when Jesus reacted within a split second of noticing Danny Ward off his line to impudently loop a curling chip over the Leicester keeper from the left edge of the box. His second was perhaps more fortunate as he turned home a deflection from the head of day's pantomime villain Jamie Vardy, but the 25-year-old more than deserved his luck.
READ MORE: Every word Mikel Arteta said on Gabriel Jesus' display, William Saliba's reaction and Xhaka
In the second period Jesus turned provider, again showing his quick thinking by immediately laying off a cross that Ward dropped for Granit Xhaka to score, before setting up Gabriel Martinelli for the game's final goal. With that he became the first Arsenal player since Theo Walcott against Newcastle in 2012 to register a brace of both goals and assists within the same game.
He has instantly become the central focus of everything Arsenal do in the final third of the pitch. While his replacement at Manchester City, Erling Haaland had just eight touches throughout their 4-0 victory over Bournemouth at the Etihad, Jesus managed 54 across the course of his time on the pitch at the Emirates. Remarkably though he left the pitch feeling unsatisfied and was said to be disappointed in the dressing room that he hadn't scored more. This relentless mentality is yet another reason why Arsenal wanted him at the club so badly, and it is starting to seep into the habits of the rest of their young squad.
"I think it lifts the standards the way every day he is, the way he's talking to them, the way they are connecting," Arteta revealed after the game. "I think it's very natural, but at the same time, it's pretty impressive to do it that quickly."
Regardless of how he feels though, it's safe to say Gunners fans are pretty happy with their new number nine and their serenading of him in the second half served as evidence of thison wasn't your cup of tea then there's bad news for you. It looks as though we'll be coming up with new ways to say Jesus is good for quite some time to come.
Left side rules
As we've already mentioned Jesus' influence on the side does not stop at his own output on the pitch. Wherever he goes the Arsenal attack follows, and his tendency to drift to the left means that the Gunners follow suit.
It was noticeable that in such a fluid attacking display, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard were not particularly noteworthy. Last year this would have been unthinkable. What's changed? The Arsenal attacking bias has drifted from the right, to the left.
It was clear from early on that the Gunners were looking to target the Leicester right hand side, and once Wesley Fofana picked up an early booking the downpour of Arsenal attacks on the left went from light drizzle to a full on deluge. During the first half drinks break it became even more clear that this was a tactic as Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Granit Xhaka all told William Saliba to begin distributing the ball out to that side of the pitch.
The reason for this is the understanding that Jesus and Martinelli appear to have quickly developed. Jesus is free to roam out on to the wide positions - as was the case for his first goal - and when he does this Martinelli is more than happy to drift inside and essentially act as the number nine. This is no coincidence, but rather a game plan that Arsenal have been working on for some time now.
"Within the structure, shape and unit, you have the freedom to decide and occupy any space," he said. "We work on that every single day."
It is possible that that was just what worked for the day, rather than an all out switch of focus from right to left. Saka and Odegaard will have their days in the sun at some point in the season no doubt, and this diversity to the Gunners attack is what is making them a far more potent force. Last season it took them six Premier League matches to reach the tally of six goals that they have already wracked up in their first two games. The unpredictability of their offensive play is arguably the biggest cause of this.
Not the captain, but still fantastic
Much of the talk in the week surrounding Granit Xhaka was about his role as a leader in the squad, without necessarily being it's official captain. Throughout the Amazon All or Nothing documentary series it has become abundantly clear that the Swiss international is one of the most influential voices in the Arsenal dressing room, and he does not need a tight piece of cloth around his bicep to prove it.
"Of course, you don't need it", Xhaka told football.london in an interview about his leadership role. "Everyone can see the leaders in this team. Of course, you need a captain for the team when we need him. But I don't believe a lot in the armband.
"At the moment I have a feeling that it's not only one but a lot of people who are so good in this team who can speak with, and they will help you. This is what makes a big difference at the moment."
Xhaka is one of the few players in the Arsenal squad who is the traditional shouty, tough tackling kind of leader that the club has been used to in the past, but in recent weeks we've also started to see him lead by example in the way he plays on the pitch as well.
By his own admission the Swiss international is someone who, by his own admission, is at his most comfortable when he has the game in front of him in a deeper position, but he was spotted in the box as much as almost any forward throughout Saturday's match.
This is not his game, but for the sake of the team Xhaka is willing to adapt. Each time we ascribe as ceiling for the 29-year-old's potential to peak at recently, it does seem like he finds a new way to smash through it. This is what Arteta demands from his leaders and after the game, he challenged the Swiss midfielder to even do more when he's playing in this advanced eight position.
"Granit is arriving in the box, he should have scored last week, he should have scored two today because he had another header," the Spaniard said.
"It's to play the role that we want," Arteta then went on to add. "Granit has certain characteristics, and we can develop other characteristics because he has the ability to do it. When Fabio Vieira plays in that position, he'll have a different role because his qualities are different and Martin's as well. The team has to adapt, but the players as well have to have an eye for goal if they're playing there and the feeling that 'I want to score.'"
It's telling that Xhaka got as loud a cheer as any player before the game from the Arsenal fanbase who seem almost completely on board with his redemption arc. That same crowd did, in fairness, give a large standing ovation to Youri Tielemans in a bid tempt the Belgian to come to the Emirates and potentially replace Xhaka, but if it was a battle between the two for that starting role on Saturday, then it was the current Arsenal man who clearly won out.
Crowd play their part
It may have been the sunny 35 degree heat, but atmosphere around the Emirates Stadium does not appear to have lost any of its warmth over the summer break. If anything the mutual adoration between players and supporters appears to have got stronger.
It started before the game as a brass band assembled outside the club shop to get the atmosphere going with renditions of a few classic Arsenal chants. Even on your way into the stadium the newly coloured club badge outside the Emirates, and freshly installed big screens but an added shine on a glorious day.
Contrast that to the turgid atmosphere at games towards the end of Unai Emery's time in charge and it is night and day. The club have actively tried to make this happen and deserve credit for it, but the fans have certainly played their part too.
After William Saliba turned into his own net the Frenchman was visibly distraught at the only black mark against an otherwise superb home Premier League debut and as Aaron Ramsdale raced over to quickly console him, something pretty rare occurred. The Emirates crowd rose in unison to applaud Saliba and encourage him to go again after what could easily have been a confidence shattering error.
"What they did today with William Saliba after the own goal is something I've never seen anything like that in my career," Arteta said of the supporters. "That shows the connection and really to be there when it matters and when it's difficult to be with somebody. We should be really proud to play in front of them because that was special. I think it lifted Willy's confidence and how he played in the last minutes after that and at the end of the game."
The wins certainly help, but the fact this Arsenal fanbase can clearly see the path their team is on means they are seemingly unconditionally behind the squad they have right now. It's an exciting feeling in and among what has been a brilliant start to the campaign for the Gunners.
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