Bullies beware as ‘softies’ showing a glint of steel

SATURDAY’S triumph at Ewood Park might well be a turning point for this Arsenal squad.

Perhaps not such an obvious catalyst as the defeat to Blackburn in December 97, that sparked the heart-to-heart in the Highbury dressing room, which saw us go on to win the Double. Neither will it result in nearly so many column inches as the exploits of our Carling Cup kids, after scoring six at Anfield for the first time since 1914. Yet I’ve an inkling it could prove to be particularly significant.

Perceptions are everything in football and ever since the departure of Patrick Vieira, we’ve been perceived as a lightweight, pretty passing outfit, who could be bullied off the ball all too easily. As a result this has not only affected the approach of those opponents who’ve known full well that they can’t match us in a straight contest of ability, but it’s also impacted on the mindset of our players.