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Whisper it quietly, but could Arsenal win the league title?

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Laurent Koscielny’s slammed finish Manchester City not only confirmed the Gunners would walk away from the Etihad with a well deserved point but arguably, confirmed that Arsene Wenger’s team would be genuine contenders for the league title this season. This was to be the proverbial acid test. Arsenal had had a good start to the season but Sunderland and Stoke barely got out of their halves, Liverpool are clearly not the force they once were and Southampton were… Southampton.

The trip to the reigning league champions would be throw up interesting tests for Arsenal players all over the pitch. Could Vito Mannone really cement himself as number one against City’s aerial power? Could Carl Jenkinson handle himself against the likes of David Silva? Could Per Mertesacker deal with the pace of Sergio Aguero? Could Mikel Arteta effectively play the sitting role against Yaya Toure? Could Santi Cazorla still find pockets of space and probe amidst the strength of City’s midfield? How would Gervinho do as the striker, where he excelled so well against Southampton, but this time against Vincent Kompany?

In truth, the answers to those questions were not completely in Arsenal’s favour. Mannone may have saved well at times but was partially culpable for Lescott’s goal, while Gervinho, though possessing good movement lacked both his touch and finishing prowess in the forward position. However, elsewhere, it must be said that Arsenal were hugely impressive. At the back, the defense of Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny and Kieran Gibbs were on the whole, superb. Jenkinson and Mertesacker in particular really seemed to come of age and appear to now have confidence in themselves as first team Arsenal regulars.

Additionally, in Gibbs, the Gunners have one of the best left backs in the country at the moment and would be knocking on the door of the England squad were it not for the form of Ashley Cole and Leighton Baines. So good were the Gunners’ backline that the absence of flu-ridden captain Thomas Vermaelen was barely noticeable. It was simply unrecognisable from the ramshackle defence of last season, where at the times it looked as if the opposition could score every time they came at Arsenal. Arsene Wenger may not enjoy it, but full credit has to be given to Steve Bould for the way he has re-organised this defence.

The Arsenal defence is getting all the headlines at the moment but are the midfield being slightly overshadowed? Against the likes of Southampton, the midfield of Arteta, Abou Diaby and Cazorla are expected to excel and control the match but to do so against Manchester City’s midfield power and guile is clearly a better indication of Arsenal’s progress.

Diaby’s authority is there for all to see although he did not hit the heights of Anfield a couple of weeks ago but Mikel Arteta’s adaptation and understanding of his new, deeper, defensive role was quite outstanding. Many people praised Alex Song’s ability to begin attacks from a deep position but the reality was Song would be anything but deep; often he would be Arsenal’s furthest midfielder despite his nominal position as their deepest, leaving Arsenal’s defence and midfield exposed to opposition midfield runners or “between the lines” players such as City’s Silva.

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  • Ted Hughes says:

    No.

    City are a long way below par at the moment but still should have won. Aguero won’t miss many from5 yards.

    Arsenal will bottle it as usual then lose games to mid table teams & hand 6 points to Utd as they always do.

    Either City or Utd will win the title.

  • Croby says:

    Not a chance, teams like united are just to composed for arsenal, this arsenal team won’t win anything, the teams in their way are just better than them, just an honest opinion

  • 5aliveitried. says:

    um………No.

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