Arsenal have continued to show their strength this season, with goalkeeper David Raya crediting a new addition to the coaching staff for his positive impact. The Gunners faced some early challenges, losing narrowly to Liverpool and drawing with Manchester City, but they have since bounced back with impressive performances.
Currently leading the Premier League table, Arsenal has secured four consecutive wins in the league, putting them six points ahead of both Liverpool and Manchester City due to their slip-ups. With 18 goals scored in 10 games, the team’s offensive output is commendable, but it’s their defensive performance that has truly stood out.
So far this season, Arsenal has conceded just three goals in 10 Premier League matches, maintaining four clean sheets in a row. In all competitions, the team has not conceded a goal in their last seven matches, with the last goal against them coming from Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade on September 28.
Raya has been a key figure in this success, but he credits a former Manchester United defender for the change in the team’s approach.
Gabriel Heinze, who previously won the Premier League with Manchester United, joined Mikel Arteta’s coaching staff over the summer. Raya believes Heinze’s influence has been crucial.
“He’s a coach who wants us to fight with a lot of intensity,” Raya said after Arsenal’s win against Burnley. “To win games, you have to defend very well, especially in this league. This is the toughest league in the world. You have to be very, very solid to be able to win games. Normally, the games are won by one goal. So, it’s really important to keep that asset from us, from everyone. Not just the back line, but every single player. So, it’s a lot of credit to him as well.”
Arteta also praised Heinze’s dedication to success, highlighting his unique contribution to the team. He stated: “I think that’s something very collective with all the coaches, with the players, with their commitments as well. Gabi added something different, that willingness to win. We’ve seen that obviously through his career, that experience to win and to elevate somebody’s level and ambition and drive to the highest limit, and he’s extraordinary at that.”
The players have also embraced Heinze’s presence on the training ground, with Arteta noting that they “love” his work ethic.
Heinze, who is 47 years old, has had a varied coaching career. He has managed clubs such as Godoy Cruz, Argentinos Juniors, Velez Sarsfield, and Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina. He also briefly managed Atlanta United in MLS. His most recent role was with Newell’s Old Boys, which ended in November 2023.
His move to Arsenal has roots in Mikel Arteta’s loan spell at PSG from Barcelona during the 2001-02 season, when Heinze was playing for the French club.
Arteta has spoken about the influence of his former teammates, including Heinze, during his time at PSG. He said: “The other inspirations were [Mauricio] Pochettino and Heinze, those two were next to me all the time, behind me, and they were guiding me in everything I had to do in my professional life, how I had to understand the game, and they were inspirational to me.”
As Arsenal continues to dominate the Premier League, the contributions of both Heinze and Raya have played a significant role in the team’s success. Their combined efforts have helped the Gunners maintain a strong defensive record while pushing forward with confidence.
