Chris Sutton has now been explaining an interesting change he noticed as Arsenal comfortably dispatched Lens last night.
Sutton was speaking on the BBC’s Football Daily and thought that Mikel Arteta had decided to be more pragmatic for the game.
The pundit noticed that David Raya wasn’t playing any risky football at the back, preferring to clear his lines primarily.
And Sutton praised Arteta’s Arsenal approach against Lens, one he thought boded well for the future.
Sutton said: “I thought it was really interesting tonight watching David Raya.
“I mentioned a few times in commentary, the fact that he wasn’t playing any risky football from the back.
“I mean probably on five or six occasions he clipped long balls down the park and it was about the second ball.
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“So, there may be a slight tactical change, a change in mentality from Mikel Arteta, just thinking we just need to be effective and find a way of winning games and that’s a great habit to have.
“So, maybe he’s learned his lessons of this high-risk football which he seemed a stickler for last year, so maybe he’s adapting.”
Chris Sutton thought David Raya showed a new Arsenal dimension against Lens
It’s certainly interesting to hear Sutton’s comments on Arteta’s ability to adapt.
The Spaniard’s tenure at the club has been one full of transformation, an Arsenal side is now rarely recognisable one year to the next.
And although he will insist on some of these principles being followed regardless of mistakes, he will also adapt when needed.
Moreover, with David Raya back in the spotlight after missing a game, he too will have surely enjoyed a more stress free evening.
That’s not to say he wasn’t being careful with his distribution, rather he was just eliminating unnecessary risk.
Raya looks an astute signing for a proposed £30m, something that is often forgotten with all the Aaron Ramsdale debate.
And with Ramsdale now increasingly linked with a January departure, Raya is undoubtedly sticking around for the long-haul.
Given Sutton’s comments about Arsenal’s subtle change against Lens, it will be interesting to see if it continues against Wolves on Saturday.
A fixture the focus will now be switching to.