What makes a team truly hard to beat? Impenetrable defence? Suffocating press? Ruthlessness in front of goal?
Or is it the persistence that they will always find a way through in the end?
In the past two seasons, Arsenal have become a team hard to beat. Much of this has been down to their defensive discipline. Arsenal ended last season with the best defensive record in the league. David Raya is commanding, William Saliba and Gabriel imperious, the rotating left and right-backs seamless in slotting in. Leicester did not have a single corner on Saturday.
But the 4-2 win presented another reason why Arsenal have become such a nuisance to take points off – their ability to win right at the death. It was not pretty, with Leandro Trossard’s wayward shot deflecting in and sending Emirates Stadium into raptures.
After peppering the Leicester goal for the majority of the second half, nothing would stop Arsenal in their attempts to clinch the win.
That said, allowing Leicester back into the game might act as a small reminder that the Gunners are not flawless. Fans may still be haunted by games at West Ham and Liverpool two seasons ago when Arsenal twice let two-goal leads slip.
As such, at 2-1, there were nerves in the crowd; nerves that Arsenal will be keen to nip in the bud, particularly against stronger sides than Leicester.
Scoring winning goals in injury time can definitely be the mark of champions, but it did not need to happen in the first place.
Why make it easy for yourselves when you could give the 60,000 watching at the ground – and the millions around the world – a mild heart attack?
Please don’t do that to us again, Arsenal!
Find more from Laura Kirk-Francis at the Latte Firm podcast
