Wenger toasts Arsenal’s Fab display
Not only that, he also gave further credence to Wenger’s claims that his young squad are growing into men capable of lifting the Premier League title this season.
Such a success would be the perfect way to celebrate Wenger becoming the club’s longest serving manager. If Wenger is quick to remind everyone that there was no red carpet laid out for him when he arrived on October 1, 1996, half of north London would be red all over if he were to deliver the club’s first title for over four years. If they can sustain this kind of attacking menace and solve their defensive blips, they are genuine contenders.
It was somehow fitting that Thierry Henry, the man most associated with Wenger’s successful recent times was a guest of honour at the Emirates and the sight of the French international beforehand provided extra inspiration. But no one did more to inspire than the marvellous Fabregas, who turned in a virtuoso performance to completely unhinge Sam Allardyce and his team, who were determined to deflate the balloons and blow out the candles on Wenger’s cake.
Fabregas has struggled to find the pinnacle of his game so far this season, but as if he owed a debt of gratitude to Wenger and a desire to quash all suggestions he has failed to hit top form this season, he scored once and played a crucial part in four of the others.
“He was involved in everything. At the start, the middle and the end,” said Wenger.
There was even a bout of badge kissing underneath Henry in the stands, with Fabregas later suggesting he had done so to reaffirm his loyalty following yet more rumours linking him with Barcelona.
“The best way to show your loyalty and that you are happy is by playing well on the football pitch,” Wenger added. “Cesc is doing that and he has got stronger and stronger in the last couple of games.”
Arsenal are peaking with him and they can head off for international duty on the back of six straight victories, with a swagger that suggests they can improve further. “We can get better defensively,” added Wenger, not unfairly given Rovers posed their own fair share of problems.
But those minor flaws just add to the attraction. After the midweek success over Olympiacos and Manchester United’s slip-up against Sunderland, Wenger knew this was an opportunity to make another bold statement of intent about the club’s title chances, but Blackburn’s anti-football threatened to puncture the atmosphere.
An early 60-yard punt from Paul Robinson and Steven N’Zonzi’s header sent the visitors into the lead, but Fabregas ensured this was Arsenal’s day.
Wenger believes there is a resolution about Arsenal’s youngsters this season and the manner in which they twice came from behind and duly moved out of Rovers’ slipstream and powered to victory ensured there was no avoidance of last season’s embarrassment at the Emirates for Allardyce, who could be in further trouble for his harsh criticisms of the referee Peter Walton.
Last season they conceded eight goals without reply to Arsenal. At least on this occasion they managed two counter-punches, the second the result of a wonderful counter attack that Wenger would have approved of, although there was little Vito Mannone, the Arsenal goalkeeper could have done about the deflection off William Gallas that took Dunn’s shot out of range. If Arsenal’s defending could match their work at the other end of the pitch they would be more than a match for Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool, but they have a resilience about them that is admirable and razor sharp attacking instincts that will prove too good for better teams than Allardyce’s, especially with Fabregas in this kind of mood.
It was the Spaniard’s pass that Thomas Vermaelen launched past Paul Robinson from 25 yards for his fifth goal of the season.
Few seem capable of spotting a pass in tight situations better than Fabregas and twice before the interval he picked holes in a defence that seemed unfathomable.
One slide rule ball allowed Robin van Persie to equalise for a second time and, in almost identical manner, Andrey Arshavin added Arsenal’s third before the interval.
When Walton refused what looked a blatant penalty for Vermaelen’s tackle on Dunn three minutes after the re-start Allardyce feared the worst and he was not disappointed.
Robinson had already denied Fabregas twice from close range, but there was no stopping the Spain international when the ball sat up invitingly for him on the edge of the area and his volley was true and crisp.
His appetite was insatiable and he still managed to find a lung-bursting run from the edge of his own area to the edge of Robinson’s to assist in Theo Walcott’s goal in front of Fabio Capello.
Walcott’s fellow substitute Nicklas Bendtner may well have placed a rather nasty dent in his Aston Martin a few days earlier, but he placed the final dent in Allardyce’s dreadful day with a wonderful swerving shot from the edge of the area for the perfect way to round off Wenger’s day of celebration.
REFEREE: Peter Walton (Northants) 5: Missed a crucial penalty award to Blackburn when Arsenal were ahead 3-2. Whether it would have made a difference is a moot point.
MATCH RATING: ***** Arsenal are irresistible going forward. The fact that they attack with such desire leaves gaps at the back and that only adds to the excitement levels.
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