Wenger’s slip of the pen marks Arsenal’s card
“April is obviously a very important month for us,’’ he wrote. “We have eight games so it is very busy.’’
Wenger was wrong. Arsenal were scheduled to play just seven times this month — it will only be eight if Villarreal are dispatched in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Spaniards might well be tempted to pin up a copy of the Frenchman’s words in El Madrigal’s home dressing room tomorrow, but such is Arsenal’s belief just now that they will surely make light of such pitfalls.
The north Londoners are reborn, the memories of their struggles in the bleak mid-winter banished by a run of form which must have surpassed even Wenger’s dizzying expectations.
This most routine of victories extended the club’s unbeaten league run to 17 games and, most ominously for their rivals at home and abroad, only now has Wenger been availed of his squad’s full sweep of resources.
This game saw triumphant returns for Cesc Fabregas, who had spent the previous four months recovering from a knee injury, and Emmanuel Adebayor, absent since early February with a hamstring problem.
The Togolese marked the occasion with two goals, both set up by Fabregas, and Villarreal’s delegation of sharp-suited scouts will have departed with furrowed brows.
The news that Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri, ruled out here, have a fighting chance of featuring will only add to the gloom enveloping the Spaniards.
For Arsenal, the spring sunshine that beat down on north London on Saturday was apt. Wenger’s squad have a unanimously sunny disposition just now as they steel themselves for a run-in that could yet yield silverware on two fronts.
“It’s not normal to focus on just one competition,’’ Adebayor said. “As a player, you always dream of winning things and maybe I want it more than some of the others here.’’
If that last statement carried an antagonistic ring, it was deceptive.
Adebayor’s appetite for trophies stems simply from failing to win any honours in his professional career. A solitary youth team medal with his first European club, Metz, remains the sum of his achievements and the desire to atone has become all-consuming. “When I joined this club, I was told by most of my friends and team-mates that I had a great chance of winning something,’’ he said.
“But for the last three years I have gone on holiday with an empty heart. Now it’s the time to achieve things. The Champions League is always the dream for a professional. I couldn’t bring myself to watch last year’s final as I thought it could have been us there, so I will do everything to play in it.’’
Adebayor’s wish might yet be fulfilled, although he should not anticipate the kind of space afforded him by City’s defence on Saturday at Villarreal.
Both his goals came as a result of errors from Richard Dunne: in the eighth minute, the Ireland defender left the striker all alone from Fabregas’ free-kick, and duly watched him head past Shay Given; then, four minutes after the interval, he failed to intercept Fabregas’ delicious lofted pass, leaving Adebayor to waltz around Given and tap home.
It was another chastening day for City, who are no nearer finding a cure for their away hoodoo.
Stephen Ireland might return for Thursday’s UEFA Cup tie with Hamburg, but City’s problems look so deep-rooted, it might take more than even the midfielder’s Superman underpants to prompt a revival.
REFEREE: Howard Webb (Yorkshire) 6: Rather card-happy in the first half, which hardly featured a poor tackle, but he improved after half-time.
MATCH RATING: *** Arsenal were worthy winners, even if City did threaten after going one down. Fabregas and Adebayor provided the necessary story-lines.
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