Gunners Reborn

On a weekend when Chelsea beat Man U to build a sizeable lead at the top of the Premiership, I can’t help but think that Arsenal may yet be the team to watch this season. Of course, no one could ever argue that the Gunners aren’t always a joy to watch; Wenger’s kids, with the free flowing passing game the professor favours, are always easy on the eye. But after four barren seasons, Arsenal may just be ready to step back into the silverware this season.

Okay, I’m not going to go as far as declare the title race over right now. Afterall, Chelsea still have the lead and are looking pretty strong, and the defending champions, Man U, are not likely to give up without a fight. After 11 matches though, I think Arsenal will be very much in the mix this season.

That’s not a notion that was widely shared when Arsenal started the season with Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure jumping ship to join nouveau riche Man City. But Mr Wenger always has a trick up his sleeve and his wards have responded superbly to get them off to a flying start. It’s early days yet, but their can be no complaints about a young team that now lie in second place, just five points behind the leaders – and with one game in hand too.

And they have been simply rampant in their march up the table too, scoring a league high 36 goals and posting a goal difference of +22 in the process. Not impressed yet? That’s an average of more than 3 goals per game. In contrast, leaders Chelsea have scored 29 goals, while 3rd place Man U – level with Arsenal on 25 points – have just 23 goals. And they’ve both played one game more too.

Sure, they’ve lost twice already, but defeats at Man U and Man City are hardly catastrophic, and save for the 2-2 draw at West Ham they’ve been simply perfect so far.

So how has last season’s 4th placed team turned things around so spectacularly?
First, the arrival of Philip Vermaelen from Ajax has added much needed steel and guile to central defence. The Belgian international settled in right away and has contributed immensely in both defence and attack. Toure has hardly been missed.

In midfield, captain Cesc Fabregas is back to his very best – especially with Alex Song finally settling into the defensive role beside him (I always thought his skills were wasted in defence) – and farther forward, Dutchman Robin Van Persie is finally injury free and scoring freely, and Russian Andrii Arshavin has adjusted nicely to the Premiership pace, and the whole team just seems to be getting along like a house on fire.

Then there’s Theo Walcott, Samir Nasri, Tomas Rosicky, Carlos Vela, Eduardo and up and coming kids Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere. Well, you get the picture.

Of course, there are still some weak spots – not least in goal – but the Gunners sure have the ammo and the swagger to go all the way this term. I think they’ll get much closer than last term for sure, but on current form I doubt they’ll get past those Stamford Bridge millionaires.