Arsenal enjoying themselves as confidence breeds creativity: "We know we can beat anybody"

LONDON — The Emirates Stadium crackled with appreciation and awe on plenty of occasions during Arsenal's win against Chelsea on Sunday. MORE — What we learned from Arsenal v Chelsea The swagger is back. The benefits of winning the Premier League last season are clear. The creativity is flowing. Confidence is high. Arsenal were excellent last season as they won the Premier League title. But at times it was a grind to finally get it over the line. In the early Mikel Arteta years Arsenal were mesmeric in attack. The early signs this season are that the swashbuckling attacking is back. A weight has been lifted off Arsenal's shoulders. The creativity is oozing. The pressure of over two decades of waiting for the title is over. “We know we can beat anybody” Speaking to reporters after the game, David Raya smiled as he was asked about the confidence Arsenal's title win has given them and how that helped them beat Chelsea. "Of course, winning the league after that many years and after those years that you are so close, it gives you that relief and it gives you that extra confidence," Raya said. "Coming from the three games, especially the Community Shield, winning against City, the way we played, that gives you extra motivation and extra confidence to play the way we want to play. "And of course, winning the title last year is a lift to make these fans happy. These people around the club are really happy. So hopefully, we can keep playing this way because we know how good we are. We know we can beat anybody in this league. Let's just focus on the moment and be in the present. And I just want more from me." The Spanish goalkeeper made a stunning crucial late save from Estevao to preserve the win but in truth Arsenal held Chelsea at arms length for most of this game. Silky forwards shine Raya hailed an "incredible" performance — Arsenal had an xG of 2.11 to Chelsea's 0.35 — and was also asked about Arsenal playing beautiful football in attack, with Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard picked out for special praise. “I think how good these two are, but not just these two, I think the whole team, the whole squad, not just the starting eleven," Raya said. "I think the people on the bench and the people left out. They're really, really important for us, and everybody is going to be really, really important throughout this season. No matter if you are starting now or you are on the bench. So that's a quality thing that we have. We have great quality players and great quality people around. So that's going to be really important for this season." Arsenal are first and foremost a team. Their huge squad, full of quality with at least two superb players in each position, is what separates them for the rest. And it is the main reason many are tipping them to win the Premier League and UEFA Champions League this season. Next up: Champions League glory for Arsenal? They lost in the Champions League final to PSG on penalty kicks last season and they kick off their Champions League campaign away at Napoli on Wednesday. Looking ahead to the Champions League this season, Pro Soccer Talk asked Raya about many labelling Arsenal as favorites to win the competition, and what winning the league last season can do for them. "We've been improving every single year in the Champions League, especially so many years without playing it," Raya said. "I think since we came back to the competition, we've been enjoying it. Which is the most important thing. Enjoying the competition is the biggest club competition that we can play for. So we just have to be ourselves, and enjoy the moment. Enjoy every single game, and we will see where we are at the end. So just try to be better than last year. That's all." If Arsenal are better than last year in the Champions League they will win it. There is a confidence, belief and swagger about the Gunners. There is no way you can measure exactly what a title win does for you mentally, but it's clear that this Arsenal side has gained extra confidence and belief that they can go on and dominate. Arsenal aren't relaxing and they aren't still celebrating winning one league title. They want more. They are hungry to do that and prove how good they are, but most importantly they are playing with confidence and they know how good they are. That is a very difficult thing to stop.