Can we share Arsène’s unshakeable belief?

THE benefit of Saturday’s 5.30pm kick-off was that it enabled the visiting Kerry couple and their two kids to do the rounds of the museums, before meeting up with me.

Three of the four were Man United fans, and while Mum and the eldest boy were heading back to the hotel, the definition of devotion was demonstrated by Dad, who was taking his Arsenal-supporting youngest to his first live game.

It wasn’t the wonders of the science or natural history museums but the bizarre displays at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum, which were the biggest hit with the kids. And for a while there on Saturday, they could’ve been forgiven for wondering if they were still among some of the planet’s strangest phenomena, as they experienced the unprecedented sound of the more fickle members of the Arsenal faithful, begrudgingly singing the praises of Manny Eboué after the Ivorian hothead had set up our second goal with his perceptive back heel.

The lack of any big-name signing before the transfer window shut was not a surprise. Le Boss is a stubborn bugger who certainly won’t buy players merely to pander to media and fan pressure to bolster his squad. Nor will his pride allow him to be held over a barrel by any selling club and I suspect he’d rather walk away, than be forced to pay over the odds. Arsène has no qualms about sticking to his guns and continuing to swim against the tide of Premiership opposition, who’ve managed to convince the guardians of their respective purse-strings that they can spend their way into contention.

Ask me again, after awkward consecutive away games at Blackburn, Kiev and Bolton, if I concur with le gaffer’s philosophy, as I’m not going to get carried away, merely because we made hay with our mazy passing patterns against Toon. Unlike many opponents, they never come to our place intent on merely shutting shop and this usually results in the sort of open contest, which often encourages the best out of us.

Cesc Fabregas’ midweek return against FC Twente was the perfect cure for our Craven Cottage hangover as our little Franco restored the fluency which had been so sorely missed until then, and with the resulting four goals, we welcomed back the feelgood factor. Then we were aided and abetted by Rob Styles’ award of an 18th minute penalty. It helped to extinguish any remaining ambitions of the Toon team that had done us the favour of denying Man Utd three points at Old Trafford and any remaining Arsenal butterflies were banished as Robin Van Persie emphatically banged home his spot-kick.

Having waited far too patiently for the perfect goal-scoring opportunity in the opening couple of games, Van Persie was transformed into an influential contributor, intent on making things happen. The whole stadium held its collective breath as the Dutchman hobbled off, hoping against hope that this timely reminder of his class wasn’t about to be interrupted by yet another injury.

Nevertheless, nothing was going to put a dampener on what ultimately proved to be a good day to be a Gooner, as Carlos Vela came off the bench to offer a cameo display of his Eduardo-like abilities. Minutes earlier Wenger was making like the proud dad, applauding on the touchline as Denilson iced the cake by capping a lavish flowing move with his debut league goal.

I’m yet to be convinced of the Brazilian’s ability to impose himself as Cesc’s midfield partner. It worries me how often he allows opponents to get goalside and ends up conceding free-kicks when forced to tackle from behind.

It feels as if it’s become almost obligatory for an international fortnight to be timed to coincide with the Gunners hitting good form. Hopefully the three games on the road when we reconvene will prove to be the boarding ramp for us all to begin sharing Arsène’s unshakeable belief in his squad.