During the latter half of last season, Arsenal under Mikel Arteta really began to click seamlessly. The Spaniard’s tenure at the Emirates has largely been a mixed bag, with the primary issue being one of inconsistency
However, when the Gunners find their rhythm, the football on display is truly beautiful.
They narrowly missed out on UCL football last year, but the side did enough to convince fans that the upcoming one could finally bring back Europe’s premier competition to the Emirates.
The side is hard at work in the US, with 2 pre-season fixtures coming up. New recruits Fabio Viera, Matt Turner and Gabriel Jesus will certainly boost their top 4 aspirations, and going by reports, Oleksandr Zinchenko looks all set to join.
If Arsenal are to achieve their targets for next season, the fitness of key figures is a must, especially for the midfield.
The men in the middle play a major role during transitions and provide extra cover as part of Arteta’s system, and his preference last season included the stern duo of Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka.
The former became a fan favourite, as his quality was simply unmissable at times.
However, niggling injuries proved to be difficult roadblocks, meaning Arsenal lost Partey’s presence for key games.
Nevertheless, Xhaka and Partey are putting in the work, ironing out the kinks, and training to guide their side to the Champions League.
The two look to have formed a real bond as well, as exemplified by this image.
Through some immaculate timing by the cameraman, Gooners received this image of their midfield duo recreating an iconic template.
Fans found the firm handshake to be reminiscent of one from the 1987 action classic, Predator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Carl Weathers. In a popular scene from the film, 2 characters exchange a passionate handshake, producing a clap that simply cannot be replicated. The camera then pauses for a second, with their bulging biceps in the frame, a proper testosterone fest.
Fans online felt the image carried similar energy, and while that’s up for debate, the chemistry the players share can certainly rival that of the duo from Predator.
