Forget yesterday, Arsenal are genuine title contenders
The most accurate barometer of how likely a club is to win trophies is a glance at the Premier League table: it rarely lies in regard to a side’s overall strength. And, after successive, emphatic victories over Bolton – a team emboldened by the arrival of a new manager – Arsene Wenger’s side is right in the mix, a clear threat to Manchester United and Chelsea, despite yesterday’s FA Cup exit at Stoke.
Detractors, and I was certainly amongst them at the start of the season, are being won over. By the day, it’s become less relevant to point out that Arsenal have won nothing since 2005.
It seems that trophy cabinet at the Emirates will need dusting down for fresh occupancy soon enough.
What’s so surprising is that this reclaimed stature has been achieved despite persistent puncturing by injuries. At times, the squad has looked threadbare and lightweight. And that was before football kicked off again in August.
I criticised Wenger for not going into the transfer market except for his acquisition of the excellent Thomas Vermaelen.
I decried the lack of a ‘leader’ and berated the style of football, their over-willingness to ‘walk the ball’ into the net.!
I take it back. Since Arsenal lost to Chelsea at the end of November – it seemed at the time to be a traumatic defeat – they’ve shown great character and have gone unbeaten in nine league games, winning seven of them. Generally, their form has been imperious and far more impressive than either of their serious rivals for the title.
Central to it is Cesc Fabregas. Personally, I like captains that ‘lead’ vocally as well as by their talent as players but I’ll make an exception for the Spaniard. Through necessity, he virtually stepped straight from the treatment table onto the pitch at the Reebok the other weekend and proceeded to give a virtuoso performance. I was purring in admiration.
He really is exceptional: the accuracy and incisiveness of his passing; the gliding movement that disguises his pace and acceleration; his goals, so far 14 this season. What does he need to shout when his feet and vision speak for themselves?
But Wenger’s commitment to youth, to developing these young players in the manner he sees fitting, is almost as important. So Gael Clichy is unfit: you hardly notice any difference in Armand Traore; the same applies to Craig Eastmond stepping in for Denilson; or the appearances of Carlos Vela, Fran Merida or the brilliant Aaron Ramsey. They all play in the discernable Arsenal way.
So the injuries, long-term to Robin van Persie, annoyingly persistent to the likes of Theo Walcott, appear manageable. And I think the short-term signing of Sol Campbell may be a masterstroke. He will provide marvellous backup to Gallas and Vermaelen and will provide, at least off the field, and occasionally on it, the leadership that’s been missing since the departures of Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira. Arsenal may not win the Premier League or the Champions League but I would no longer feel confident backing against them.
