DW Thomas
I love beating Chelsea, especially at Stamford Bridge. You can’t ask for a better weekend result than that. I won’t go into detail about the game or each player’s performance. Just a few observations: we played with effort and commitment the entire 90 minutes. We don’t - or haven’t - seen that enough in past seasons. That’s what champions do. We came back twice down to win by two goals! We missed good chances, but still scored five goals! Santos, I have to say, I like. He is not the most disciplined defender, but he has great skill and can finish. Plus, he has already scored as many goals as Clichy did in his entire time at the Arsenal! And he can defend when he wants to. Ramsey played much better, Kos was immense - again - and, all around, the team looked like champions. And, as I said before, van Persie is our talisman, the key to our winning. No, we are not a one-man team, but where would we be without the Dutchman?
The West Brom game was another solid performance, albeit WBA did not play all that well and, with Odemwingie out, they really didn’t do much going forward. Yet Arteta’s goal is the type of goal I have been writing about for some time now. It was one out of the pages of the Invincibles era - a great series of passes with a skilful one-time finish - forward passing with end-product. We should be scoring a lot more of that type of goal with the quality we have. That’s the Arsenal I know and love. Yes, we need to win ugly sometimes, but we are a team known for that style of play the world over. RVP is the man of the season so far, but Arteta has put in the solid performances that you want from a midfielder. He is good defensively, passes well, and shows his quality each and every game with hard work. He is our man behind the scenes, helping make the team tick. It is his and the others’ work ethic that sets this team apart from seasons past.
Now, with all that said, we are not there yet. However, the little sparks of belief are coming back, not only to the team, but to us fans as well. Arsenal is looking like a group that pulls for each other and will work to win games. No longer do we look like a team that just shows up and expects to win based on our skill or tippy-tappy passing. We need still to win a major trophy this season, but the Arsenal train is not too far from the station of success. Despite our recent run, I stick by my opinion that we need reinforcements in January. I like the rumour of Götze from Dortmund. He is slick, young but not too young, and has won things. With him, Wilshire, Ramsey, Arteta, Rosicky, and Song, we would no doubt have one of the top midfields in England, maybe the world. Furthermore, we are in need of a top striker who can score goals and give RVP the breaks he will need, but no more unproven talented youth or inexperience! The team needs quality players who have been there and done that. More of them, please!
Now, a Christmas list of a few things we still need to see from the team and manager.
• First, Santos got a little payback on Lukaku. After he was fouled/checked by Lukaku, but no call was given, they scored, but, a little while later, Santos got him back and was not called for the foul. Give us more of that, boys. Let the other team know that, if you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us. You will get it back as well as you give it. It needs to be something this team does routinely: bleed for each other. Stupid fouls are never welcomed, but letting the other team see your resolve and toughness is something we’ve lacked for some time. Also, it was nice to see Vermaelen giving West Brom a little rough-and-tumble to break up their play, too.
• Second, someone (maybe Santos?) really needs to teach Wenger how to celebrate. It’s OK to raise your arms above your head and jump, Arsène! Don’t get me wrong, though. I don’t want to see anything like what Villas-Boas does with his OTT jumping around, but a little fist-pumping, or maybe a chest-bump with Pat Rice might do. That would actually be something to see, now that I picture it. Just do something more than hold your hands waist high and slightly shake them up and down. Especially after that fifth goal at the Bridge. Le Prof needs to let loose some steam!
• Last, let’s make clean sheets a top priority, at least against teams like West Brom or those who should be significantly below us in the table. I, for one, would love to see our opponents prevented from scoring in many games this year. That would truly show we have improved defensively for the long haul. It would also mean that each player would know their defensive job as a priority, and not secondary, but equal to their attacking work. Again, this is what winners do, in any sport. If only Wenger thought the same.
Add those things to our stockingful of a few new players in January and I do believe we might finish the season with something more than coal. This season could still have much in store.
