Arsenal’s response to conceding the opening goal scored by Idrissa Gana Gueye for Everton exemplified the mentality and character of champions that Mikel Arteta has been diligently cultivating within his squad. Despite going behind at home and likely being aware of Manchester City’s early lead against West Ham, Arsenal refused to be deterred. Their equalizing goal, clinically finished by Takehiro Tomiyasu, sparked a celebration that vividly illustrated Arteta’s previous assertion about the belief and unity permeating throughout the club.
Earlier, Arteta had spoken about the stability from the ownership and board filtered down, allowing strategic decisions to shape the squad and staff into a collective force united by an insatiable hunger for success. He described this as a “contagious” phenomenon, with new signings fueling excitement and driving everyone to elevate their performances, creating a snowball effect of growing belief. The unwavering support from Arsenal’s fans further reinforced this conviction that “something special is happening.”
Tomiyasu’s goal and the instantaneous, jubilant celebrations that followed encapsulated the very spirit and mentality that Arteta had articulated – a moment that crystallized Arsenal’s transformation under his guidance over the past two years into a team brimming with the qualities and mindset befitting of champions, regardless of their eventual final league position.