Gunners seize the initiative

A few myths were nailed and a few home truths emerged from the Emirates on Saturday as Arsenal dismantled a dismal Aston Villa to move three points clear of Tottenham and into the position of favourites to finish third in the Premier League.

The notion that the Gunners are a one-man — or should it be one Van — team, was well and truly buried as they turned on a goal feast without Robin van Persie getting on the scoresheet.

For the second successive game, Arsenal won without their talisman adding to his tally of 33 goals.

In fact van Persie has now gone four hours without a goal — hardly a drought of Torres proportions, but enough to suggest Arsenal need to ensure they still score when the Dutchman doesn’t.

Step forward Kieran Gibbs and Theo Walcott, who became the first pair of Englishmen to score for Arsenal in a league game since 1997, when Ian Wright, David Platt and Ray Parlour helped to despatch Barnsley. So much for Arsene Wenger’s lack of faith in English players.

And so much for those knockers, including Gunners fans, who doubted Mikel Arteta’s ability from free-kicks, after the Spaniard thumped home a sensational strike in stoppage time to make it 3-0.

All in all, it added up to a very satisfactory day for the red and white half of north London, who had earlier seen Spurs and Chelsea grind out a goalless draw, the ideal result for Arsenal’s own Champions League ambitions.

It was a far cry from the dark days of autumn, when Arsenal sank as low as 17th and were still 15th after losing at Tottenham in October.

Wenger admitted he could not have dreamt they would be in this position now.

“We started very weakly and I knew when we were 17th that we could not afford any weak periods any more,” he said. “So when that happened in January and we had a another blip after Christmas, it was very difficult.

“It was down to the fact we had no full-backs. But overall since October, since the team has gelled, we have lost only four (league) games.”

Indeed, apart from defeat to the Manchester clubs and Fulham and Swansea, Arsenal have shown a resilience in that period, and the return of Bacary Sagna and now Gobbs has given them a better balance.

Wenger is a great believer that full-backs are the most important attacking players, and Gibbs showed why when he waltzed through Villa’s flimsy defence to fire Arsenal ahead in the 16th minute for his first Premier League goal.

The 20-year-old dedicated it to his grandfather Jim: “It was strange to score. I didn’t have a celebration rehearsed, but I just said Hello to my Grandad, who passed away when I was nine. He was a scout for Arsenal and a big fan, like the rest of my family. It was a proud moment.”

Gibbs agreed with Wenger’s assessment that the Gunners have been overreliant on Robin, adding: “It’s not good to rely on just one player, although he is possibly the best striker in the world at the moment. I’m sure he enjoys the fact we are sharing goals among the team.”

Gibbs is especially pleased his great mate Walcott has turned around his own form and the opinion of those supporters who were calling for his head only a month ago.

“He’s one of my best friends and a model pro. It’s a pleasure and a joy to play with him. He’s an outstanding player and the best winger in the country. I wouldn’t like to be up against him every week.”

Walcott scored in the 26th minute when Villa’s defenders gave the ball away — not for the first time, and Alex Song chipped it forwards for the England winger to beat Shay Given from close range.

Villa were woeful for the opening half, with Alex McLeish admitting his players ignored pre-match instructions and ended up playing into Arsenal’s hands. “It’s a dangerous game to try playing in your own third against a team like Arsenal. We didn’t ask the players to do that and we shot ourselves in the foot.

“We gifted them goals today. Coming to the Emirates, it’s hard enough without saying: ‘There are a couple of presents for you.”

Villa are not safe, hovering just eight points above the relegation zone, but McLeish is upbeat. “We have to see the glass as half-full rather than half-empty.”

Gibbs admitted the Emirates is a transformed place. “It’s buzzing. I’ve not seen it like this for a long time, the way it’s been over the past few weeks. It’s great to make the fans happy and we need to keep this going.”

Can a strong finish augur well for next season? “Yes, if we can keep this group together. Everyone is hungry, we know each other well and are gelling.”