{"id":1371,"date":"2026-04-09T18:20:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T18:20:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=1371"},"modified":"2026-04-09T18:20:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T18:20:37","slug":"mikel-arteta-leaned-on-arsenal-identity-to-overcome-haunting-weakness-in-lisbon-masterclass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=1371","title":{"rendered":"Mikel Arteta leaned on Arsenal identity to overcome haunting weakness in Lisbon masterclass"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_32b220\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Arsenal&#8217;s win over Sporting CP showed again the threat of their season&#8217;s weakness but Mikel Arteta has the blueprint now to overcome it<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">07:00, 09 Apr 2026<\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated 08:50, 09 Apr 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"33732978\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Mikel Arteta managed to succeed in his game plan to see his Arsenal side win against Sporting CP\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33732978.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/1_Mikel-Arteta-and-Arsenal.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33732978.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/1_Mikel-Arteta-and-Arsenal.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33732978.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/1_Mikel-Arteta-and-Arsenal.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33732978.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/1_Mikel-Arteta-and-Arsenal.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Mikel Arteta managed to succeed in his game plan to see his Arsenal side win against Sporting CP\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Mikel Arteta managed to succeed in his game plan to see his Arsenal side win against Sporting CP<cite aria-label=\"Image: Valter Gouveia\/Sports Press Photo\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Valter Gouveia\/Sports Press Photo\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal\u2019s win in Lisbon was such a vital one for so many reasons. Beyond just getting the result and taking a lead back to North London for the second leg, the Gunners had just come off the back of two defeats and needed a response.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mikel Arteta\u2019s side remain favourites for the Premier League, and some still tip them to go all the way in the Champions League too. However, the last fortnight-plus no doubt rocked many fans\u2019 confidence and had them reeling.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Therefore, securing victory away from home against a very good Sporting CP side will have re-energised many. Sitting in the Jose Alavalade Stadium, watching the Portuguese side start so strongly, hit the bar and test David Raya, the nerves were certainly there.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">However, the return of David Raya, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes together definitely helped. Arteta has leaned on his team\u2019s spine for much of the season, and it has been the wide areas where scrutiny has been at its greatest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! <\/strong><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><a aria-label=\"Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook pageLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AFCFootball.London#\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Despite having more goals than any other side in the Premier League, only one player sits with double figures for goals, Viktor Gyokeres (11). The next highest is Eberechi Eze with six, and five of those came in the two games against Tottenham.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Bukayo Saka also has six, but many have said this is far below expectations for the Gunners\u2019 talisman. The strength has been in the midfield, the back line, and the keeper this season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Which is why it makes sense that when Arsenal go behind, they tend to really struggle. Eleven times Arsenal have conceded the first goal of the game, and they\u2019ve gone on to win just three of those matches: Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal, Bournemouth 2-3 Arsenal and Portsmouth 1-4 Arsenal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">They have either drawn (four) or lost (four) the other eight games. You get the sense therefore that Arsenal\u2019s biggest hope of winning their remaining games will rely on being the side that makes the breakthrough.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Unless, of course, they manage to overcome this record and come from behind to win in any of the fixtures that remain. But in Lisbon, their resilience certainly gave them belief. Murmurs went around the press box after the 70th minute, highlighting that Sporting looked as though they were tiring.<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContentsEmbed_affiliate-contents-container__oTiet\" data-testid=\"affiliate-contents-embed\">\n<div data-testid=\"affiliate-content\" class=\"AffiliateContent_affiliate-content-container__10EX_ affiliate-content\">\n<p>Up to 70% off Arsenal kits and merch<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-disclaimer__dG5ST\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-text__8nmDa\">This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM AffiliateContent_content-details__U6C2M AffiliateContent_has-content-img___LY95\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_content-image__FxPNL\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article32730319.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Untitled-9jpeg.jpg\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_content-price-details__OpMC_\">\n<p>Various Prices<\/p>\n<p>Kitbag<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"AffiliateContent_content-buy-btn__xWiVO buy-btn\" aria-label=\"Buy button\" href=\"https:\/\/kitbag.evyy.net\/c\/344386\/789332\/11316?subId1=Regionals-football.london&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kitbag.com%2Fen%2Fpremier-league%2Farsenal%2Fo-54310484%2Bt-47520158%2Bz-81-746375396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer\">Buy Now on Kitbag<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM\">\n<div id=\"product-description\" class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Kitbag has slashed the price of Arsenal kits and merch with up to 70% off select items.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal dug in, stayed strong and then hit Sporting with a sucker punch. It was rather pleasing considering the likes of Aston Villa, Sunderland, Wolves, Manchester United, and Liverpool have all struck so late to snatch points off the Gunners.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arteta spoke after of his delight in seeing his side stick to their &#8220;identity&#8221; which he clearly sees as the key to their potential success. &#8220;Extremely happy it was a big night,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;A big moment in the season. Especially where we&#8217;re coming from, I think we had a point to prove. Yesterday I talked about identity and the things that I wanted to see on that pitch. It certainly happened that it was a shift there.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Whereas this victory is the latest to join recent wins against Everton and Chelsea, where a late goal secured victory. Arteta needs to find a way to either fix this ongoing concern, or ensure his side follows the blueprint from Lisbon, but there is no doubt associated with risk should this Arsenal side fall behind in any of their pivotal upcoming clashes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arsenal&#8217;s win over Sporting CP showed again the threat of their season&#8217;s weakness but Mikel<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1372,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1371","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1371","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1371"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1371\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1372"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1371"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1371"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}