I was at the Emirates last night to witness the dismantling of a team who I thought would put up a bigger fight – then again, Arsenal simply cut through them like a hot knife through butter.
Marouane Chamakh is the best natural forward we have had at the club for a long time, he is pure center forward, hard working, holds the ball up very well, a brilliant first touch – a defenders nightmare. He also has pace and finishing skills to top it off. I can see why Arsene waited a year to get him, he is worth the wait.
Cesc Fabregas is probably the best attacking central midfielder on the planet. It is as clear as day why Arsene would have moved hell or high water to keep him here because he is the engine of this team, without the engine everything would falter.
Then again, his successor may have been playing, Jack Wilshere. He was brilliant in a position that isn’t natural to him. I think its harsh to compare his development to Cesc because they are two different players so there are bound to be similarities and differences but one thing was clear last night. He has one hell of a future and keeping Rosicky and Denilson out of the team last night just shows how far he has come on in the last eight to nine months.
The team looks like it is working much harder off the ball, we gave Braga little space last night and the hard work of Cesc, Song and Wilshere made sure that Braga hardly had so much as a sniff in the direction of our goal.
Koscielny is becoming a fine defender, he is still adapting but all the natural ingredients are there to be seen. He is stronger than he looks, his positioning is very good and the communication in the defence as a whole look a lot better. Squillaci seems to be a fine purchase too, well worth the money and looks to be a real leader from the back. Him and Vermaelen are probably first choice right now, fitness permitting.
Bakary Sagna is back to his best – interceptions, tackles, crosses – he did them all well. At his best there are very few better right backs in the league and worldwide.
There is an air to this team that has been absent in the past few seasons I think, they are led by a man who looks hell-bent on getting us a trophy – moreover there is a winning attitude emerging, Cesc went on TV last night and explained his disappointment at not getting more goals – his third in particular. In previous seasons we have took our foot off the pedal after getting the first or second goal – last night this team wanted as many goals as it could get, and if the referee gave one of the numerous penalty appeals it could have been a rugby score.
We were clinical last night, how many times have we won 6-1, 5-0 etc when it could have been 9 or 10? There were no such wasted chances last night.
Sunderland are up next and they will be a massive test away from home, I’m confident though. Things are looking good.
Back later with information from the AGM in all probability.
Til then.
Arsenal News 24/7
Agreed with nearly all your article. However, one must remember that any team that comes to the Emirates AND ALLOWS ARSENAL TO PLAY, will be badly mauled. This is what Braga did and they paid the price. Whether we can grind out dodgy wins when the opposition are particularly reluctant to allow us the ball,……we shall have to see. I sure hope that we can carry on as we have started and, for once, our future injury list will only be average.
But we have already ground out results this season.
Away at liverpool on opening day with a hard earned point late on
Then away at blackburn. Another tough place to go.
Not too mention we let bolton back in the game then mauled them 4-1
I’d say this has been far from plain sailing so far but we’ve lashed the goals in and looked quited solid at the back.
This squad looks quality to me right now
goonertank
Tell me we have ground out most of our away games, next Easter, and I will then tell you we are winners of the EPL. At present, we have only played 4 games out of 38.
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Jack has improved tremendously no doubt.But I think HE didn’t keep Rosciky and Denilson out. Rosciky would probably start at Sunderland, Denilson is being gradually eased into matches after being out for such a long time out,thats why these two were not in the starting line up. But Jack’s performance is as good as any of these two would have given. Rest of the part is agreed.
nicky
Exactly – we have only played 4 games and we have soundly beaten 2 of them. So in my opinion there is no need for fans to find criticism when we have had a great start
venky
What is important though is that DIbay/Denilson/Rosicky are all looking over their shoulder which is only positive.
Last season Diaby and Denilson were in cruise control at times as (after Ramseys injury) there were literally no challengers to their position in the side, so complacency set in.
goonertank
As my old grandad used to say “Don’t count your chickens”
nicky
As mine said “enjoy the moment”
goonertank
Point taken, matey!
Love when Arsenal get a chance to turn on the style. Agree whole-heartedly on Squillaci – excellent purchase who seems to communicate all over the pitch and be a steady hand (Gallas for all his talent was not a good communicator, that much we know). Almunia seems to be full of confidence.
Obviously Cesc was top class. Enough said. Chamakh is everything I want Bendtner to be – he is lethal in the air and finishes most of his chances but, most importantly (and unlike Nik at this stage), he rarely loses the ball and always holds the ball up for us. That is one of the most underrated qualities in a striker, and it is something he has in spades.
Jack looks much better and has cut out some of the dribbling and casualness he displayed earlier in the season. Andrei can make you pull your hair out but he loves a good finish. Also props to Vela, looking much better – he really has that little sublime chip down (which is very difficult).
And yet it’s injuries that’ll determine our season just like the last five.
What most fans don’t realize is just how much ‘luck’ plays a part in winning trophies. In the past few years it’s been Chelsea and ManU that have had it. It’s something you just can’t legislate for. We can have the best team in the world and still end up with nothing.
What we have this year though is strength in depth to a point where nearly every position is covered by someone who can do at least a first class job. The exceptions being in goal (by choice) and at centreback (where Song can cover for Djourou if needed – Djourou hasn’t been all that good so far for the reserves – he should improve though).
We’ve seen that Nasri and Rosicky can cover for Cesc – even better with Wilshere. And, although we’re currently missing RVP, Theo and Bendtner, we’ve enough quality up front with Vela and JET to spare.
But mostly this year we have a determination that should gain us those extra results. We had a glimpse of it last season when we were battling hard just before the final run in. This year it appears to be there.
Will there be defeats? I’d expect so. But this team won’t be ‘afraid’ in the big matches. Moreover, ManU isn’t the team it’s been in the past – neither is Liverpool or Villa. But Man City have got better as have Sp*rs. With Chelsea still the team to beat, it’s these teams that will determine whether we win the PL this year or not.
That said, Chelsea haven’t been tested yet and City and Sp*rs are nowhere near our standard nor are they particularly consistent.
Yes, this could be our year, but all we’ve had so far is a start. If Almunia, TV5, Song, Cesc, and Chamakh/RVP can be available for most of the year then we should be fine.
Is that too much to hope for?
Nicky
Yup, only 4 games in and we’ve done well. I will celebrate everytime we win and if anyone wants to celebrate after Easter, well, whatever tickles you dude.