Has the tide finally turned for Arsenal? Are the Gunners over-reliant on Robin van Persie? What does About Diaby’s return mean for the Arsenal midfield?
Wengerball attempts to chart yet another season in the Arsenal red and white, one that hopefully culminates in much anticipated glory in England’s highest footballing echelon.
Sunshine and Blue Skies
What a difference a month or two makes in football. Scarcely three months after a horrific 8-2 capitulation to Manchester United, it seems Arsenal are back on track. While fans in some quarters might have been holding their breaths and muttering counter-wards in order as not to jinx the run of good results the team have been racking up, the team has now gone nine games unbeaten in all competitions.
Not since a 2-1 reverse to bitter rivals Tottenham away at White Hart Lane have the Gunners lost a fixture. Of course the 5-3 win (also away) at Chelsea did much to lift the doom and gloom at the Emirates, but much has gone Arsenal’s way these past weeks.
Thomas Vermaelen’s return has done much good for the defence, even if Per Mertesacker may still commit the odd clanger or two. While he may have looked clueless at times, including failing to control an awkward ball in the box and letting Steve Morison steal away for Norwich’s opener, it seems the Arsenal faithful are much more forgiving of late. The general consensus is that Mertesacker needs a little more time to adapt, and that his undoubted pedigree will see him come good in time.
Bacary Sagna’s unfortunate injury has been papered over too by Laurent Koscielny’s tireless work at right back. While it may have seemed unlikely a year ago, Koscielny’s dependability in defence meant he has been preferred over Johan Djourou. While he might not offer much penetration on the right flank, his defensive abilities mean Arsenal have not missed Sagna too much. Besides, is there really that much need of an overlap when you have Theo Walcott marauding up the wing?
Speaking of Walcott, while the much-maligned forward has blown hot and cold all career, there have been signs that he is maturing fast. His understanding with Robin van Persie has been key, and with Gervinho similarly linking up from the opposite flank, Arsenal’s winger problem seems to be a thing of the past.
It can’t have come at a better time really. With progression in the Champions League secured (amazingly the first of the English clubs to do so, who’d have thunk?) and a steady progression up the league table, the press have been left to question whether Arsène Wenger might be inclined to leave the club next season on his own volition.
With Fulham up next, and Manchester City right around the corner, the stage seems set for the mother of all revivals. Beat the current league leaders and Arsenal might just find themselves in with a huge shout. All of which would have been inconceivable barely three months ago, when the shock thrashing to Man Utd forced Wenger into making what most people thought was a rash last minute panic buying spree.
Sunshine and blue skies, it’s certainly a world gone mad.
Running on RvP
Can you really blame the hacks? When Robin van Persie leads all comers in the Premier League goalscoring charts with 13 goals in 12 games, and the next highest Arsenal scorer is on a measly two goals, surely it wouldn’t be out of the question to ask if the club would be the same without its striker extraordinaire.
It’s a valid query no doubt, and of course the answer would be that Robin van Persie is irreplaceable. There’s a reason why Gunners fans worldwide are praying Arsenal’s number 10 stays till season end, and a reason why Arsène Wenger made a deal with the Dutch FA to bring the sharpshooter home early from international duty. A crooked van Persie is of no use to anyone, and given his renowned fragility, the Arsenal captain has to be carefully nurtured through the season.
While there is no doubt that Robin van Persie has played a huge part so far in Arsenal’s upturn in fortunes, it is one thing to laud the striker and another to claim that he is single-handedly pulling the club up the table.