Beware Arsenal, the quiet title contenders
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Beware Arsenal, the quiet title contenders
Quietly and effectively, Arsenal are going about their business.
While Sir Alex Ferguson deflects attention away from his team’s sub-standard performance with a verbal assault on a referee, while Liverpool continue to implode as Rafa Benitez is beaten by the first beach ball seen on the North East coast and while Chelsea’s markers continue to go AWOL at set pieces, Arsene Wenger has the calm air of a man who knows his team are going places.
Pre-season, they were dismissed and Wenger was ridiculed for using only £10 million of his £40m transfer war chest. But that seems cash well-invested as Thomas Vermaelen continues to add his defensive steel to what was seen as a soft centre and while Alex Song matures into Arsenal’s own Claude Makelele at the same time that Robin van Persie is looking one of the most dangerous front men in the Premier League.
It has been four long years since Patrick Vieira’s last kick of a ball for Arsenal secured their last trophy with his strike in the penalty shoot-out against Manchester United in the 2005 FA Cup final. That drought could well end this season.
Wenger has never been one for buying star names – “we make superstars, we don’t buy them,” has always been his credo. The stars, though, are now starting to shine. Yes, they have lost twice but anyone who saw the 2-1 defeat at Manchester United and the 4-2 defeat at Manchester City will acknowledge that Arsenal could have won both never mind draw.
The proof of their maturity came against Birmingham last Saturday. Two goals up and cruising and suddenly it was 2-1 and the potential for panic. At least last season there might have been. Arsenal kept their cool and kept Birmingham at bay – then struck for the third goal which secured the three points.
There is an air of confidence – not arrogance – about the team these days. And it is emerging as one with the capacity and capability to contest the major honours. When I suggested Arsenal could compete for the top prizes at the start of the season, it was dismissed in many quarters. Not now it isn’t.
A win in Holland tonight against an AZ Alkmaar side in financial meltdown will basically secure a place in the knock-out stages of the Champions League. A home tie against a Liverpool team in disarray in the Carling Cup comes next week and on Sunday, West Ham are unlikely to have the strength to subdue Van Persie and company.
Third in the league with a game in hand. Watch this space.
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Yes, watch that space indeed. However, there is no guarantee that Harry Redknapp of the other North London outfit might steeal the show and silence the crowd.
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Originally posted by iveco:
Yes, watch that space indeed. However, there is no guarantee that Harry Redknapp of the other North London outfit might steeal the show and silence the crowd.
you must be joking... spurs?? HAHAHAHAHAthey partied just becuase they won portsmouth and you they think they are good? We do not need to worry much because jonathan woodgate is crooked, defoe is suspended..
Spurs will lose!!
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Originally posted by iveco:
Yes, watch that space indeed. However, there is no guarantee that Harry Redknapp of the other North London outfit might steeal the show and silence the crowd.
you must be joking... spurs?? HAHAHAHAHAthey partied just becuase they won portsmouth and you they think they are good? We do not need to worry much because jonathan woodgate is crooked, defoe is suspended..
Spurs will lose!!
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this season is interesting.
there are 6 teams competing for the title.
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next year then decide la
still gt 3 months from now -
uh? quiet meh?
expected what
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Originally posted by limpper:
uh? quiet meh?
expected what
Yeah quietly under the radar... lol... Cos at the start no one gave them a chance and most kind of expected them to be the one that is most likely to fall out of the top 4 should City manage to break into it...But once all these pressure are not on them, they start to build up slowly... Now not many belief they will fall out of the top 4 already...
