So, Arsenal have the early lead in England – even if it’s early days yet – and they’ve looked well worth their place at the top, I must confess. To think all the “experts” had them well out of contention a few short weeks ago.
I’ve seen the Gunners twice in the last week now – plenty for a non-Arsenal fan – and if anything, they look far stronger this term than they did in the previous one. They showed great resolve and character while riding their luck to a comeback win against Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday and their 3-0 demolition of Sevilla on Wednesday – in truth a closer game than the scoreline suggests – was an impressive display against one of Europe’s top teams.
Arsene Wenger’s team always play brilliant passing football, but they clearly lacked a clinical cutting edge last season, especially with Thierry Henry missing for long spells. How ironic then that they’ve become much more ruthless after the departure of the prolific Frenchman. Togolese Emmanuel Adebayor is looking pretty sharp upfront and the skillful midfield duo of Alexander Hleb and Tomas Rosicky are finally looking a part of the Emirates family.
The key man, of course is 20-year old midfield general Cesc Fabregas, despite his tender years, one of the best schemers in world football. Already with 4 goals to his name this season, the youngster is showing he can score goals as well as he’s created them over the past couple of seasons. Then again, despite his slim returns since joining Arsenal, Fabregas knows a thing or two about scoring goals. He won the Golden Boot as top scorer (as well as the Golden Ball, for best player) at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2003. If the Spanish genius can have what I call a Lampard season – 20 goals from midfield – then there’ll be no stopping the Gunners this season.
On another note, they say one should not speak ill of the dead – or in this case the departed – and so I’m being really careful with my take on the exit from Chelsea of a certain Mr. Jose Mourinho. Trust me, it’s not easy. But there’ll definitely be more on that topic later this week.
2 comments:
Well, it's too early to talk about the arrival of Gunners. They have the tendency of making people to believe that the world is at their feets, when in actual it's not.
Nonetheless, I am must admit that they are playing good soccer this season. But again, after 11 years on the bench of Arsenal, Mr Arsene Wenger got to make his team a continental champion NOT a local champion this year. For how long does he want to play a second-fiddle role in the UEFA championship?
I still think it's a bit premature to consider Arsenal as genuine title contenders. Despite the fact they're currently top in the Premiership, they needed to be tested against the bigger clubs - United, Chelsea and Liverpool.
If Fabregas picks up an injury they could well struggle, and the same could be said with Van Persie and Adebayor. Still, they've shown that they have another quality set of youngsters, thanks again to Wenger.
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