Arsenal’s center-defender, David Luiz says the improved performance Arsenal have been enjoying lately shows the level of the team’s maturity. He noted that the team now has an understanding of the management of football games.
Arsenal started the 2020-2021 season struggling and before matchday 13, Arsenal were already 4 points away from the relegation zone. The poor form dragged on until some fans of the club began to doubt the capability of the club’s manager Mikel Arteta.
It got so bad that some Arsenal fans started calling for the sack of the coach because after every league game, it was looking like Arsenal’s movement would continue to be downward.
However, after Arsenal stunned Chelsea 3-1 on December 26, 2020, Mikel Arteta and his boys were revitalized and continued with a renewed form which has made them almost unstoppable.
Since December 26, Arsenal have gone on to win 4 matches in all competitions and drawing just a game in their last 5 Premier League matches. The renewed form has taken them from the 15th spot on the league table to the 10th spot with 27 points in 19 league games.
The interesting part of Arsenal renewed form is that coach Mikel Arteta made used of mostly the younger players at the club to brighten things up. Some of such youngsters that have brought back the light to the club are Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.
The two youngsters have taken the club on their shoulders in the last four league games and their efforts have brought positive results to the club.
On January 9, Arsenal took their Premier League form to the FA Cup and defeated Newcastle United 2-0 in the third round of the competition.
“I think this shows our maturity,” David Luiz said. I think our team is improving a lot. We understand the management of the game.
“It shows how we understand how some games will go. We know that sometimes the games are going to be tough to score.
“And of course, sometimes we’re not going to win, but I think our team is improving a lot. We understand the management of the game.
“Sometimes the game’s going to be tight like it was against Newcastle in the FA Cup last week, but we were mature enough and we kept calm to win the tie.”
David Luiz is 33-year-old and among the old players at the club filled with players in their early 20s. In their last few games, the younger players have been the ones making all the difference.
Players like 31-year-old Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Willian, and Luiz have not done as much as expected this season mostly because of match fitness issues and lack of form. But Luiz insisted that it is not about age but the approach to games.
“It doesn’t make a lot of difference between the old and new,” the Brazilian defender said.
“They are all good players who should be able to contribute in this way.
“Because they are young doesn’t mean they have no responsibility. They are picked in the eleven because they deserve to play more than somebody who is on the bench.
“But I don’t make the difference (with age). Everybody has to have the approach to the game that I am here and I am going to win it for the team.”
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