The ruthlessness of Mikel Arteta has defined his tenure at Arsenal.
Steadfast in his convictions, the Spaniard typically does not listen to the outside noise.
That is more so the case when faced by adversity. Nervous, feeling the pressure and signs of choking were all descriptions fielded by naysayers against the north London club recently, certain that history is destined to repeat itself for the three-time successive Premier League runners-up.
Having gone three league matches without a victory, Leeds away had, strangely, become a crunch game for the Gunners.
Not because Daniel Farke’s men match up to Arsenal’s in terms of ability or title ambition.
But because this mini slump in results has breathed renewed life into a title race many assumed had become a forgone conclusion.
Mikel Arteta tends to have courage in his convictions and does not usually listen to outsiders
The Arsenal boss faced calls to change it up after they went three league matches without win
This time around, Arteta arguably was influenced by opinion which helped architect this victory, alongside the north London club’s summer business.
He dropped Martin Odegaard to the bench, replacing him with the returning Kai Havertz who has had a torrid five months out due to a knee injury.
The fervour around Odegaard’s limited performances this season has been loud, supporters calling for Arteta to drop the midfielder.
Statistics can often be misconstrued; in the case of the Norwegian, they all point to one direction: downwards.
A drop per 90 in the league for total shots, shots on target and touches in the opposition box compared to his previous three seasons, Odegaard has found it tricky thus far.
Shoulder injuries haven’t helped, and he is a good team player. Though against Leeds, Arteta opted for the physical presence of Havertz — and it worked.
He only made four passes in the first half and didn’t look fully at the races, yet kept throwing himself into the physical duels which opened up avenues for his team-mates.
Even so, it was the wider message from Arteta to his team which resonated most: no one is guaranteed a starting spot, even the captain who came on after 61 minutes and provided an assist in a promising cameo.
Martin Odegaard was benched for the Leeds match in place of the more physical Kai Havertz
Odegaard has been disappointing of late and Arteta proved he is not afraid to drop his captain
It is that cold-bloodedness which is often a feature of title-winning teams.
Shrewd signings are a further ingredient, too, which the Spaniard gladly profited upon here having had to swap out Bukayo Saka for Noni Madueke in the minutes before kick-off because of a hip issue sustained in the warm-up.
With Arsenal’s keenness to forge attacks through Saka, this was a massive blow, the gulps felt around the stadium.
Instead, Madueke rose to the fore to lay the platform for the Gunners’ victory.
His curling cross for Martin Zubimendi’s opener was right on the money, and then goalkeeper Karl Darlow could not but help tip the winger’s troublesome corner into the net.
For it to land in the goal was fortuitous, but that doesn’t take away from the bend and sheer technique in the execution.
Still, both acts reflected the extent of their squad depth — and just why Arsenal should go on to win the league, after spending around £250million last summer.
How many teams can lose arguably their most influential attacker prior to kick-off and see their replacement seamlessly slot in to win the match? Not many, if any.
Noni Madueke replaced Bukayo Saka – who suffered an injury – in the starting XI on Saturday
The Gunners secured a 4-0 win to create a seven point gap at the top of the Premier League
So, in the end, crisis averted.
No team wins every game on the way to winning the title. Blips are expected.
It is how a side responds to them across a campaign which dictates who will finish top on May 24.
For now, Arsenal have responded to their latest short-lived glitch emphatically.
It is Arteta’s unwavering resolve and squad depth that has steadied the Gunners’ course – and looks set to continue so.
