Kevin Whitcher
There have been a number of times in recent seasons when Arsenal have failed to capitalize on teams they are competing with dropping points. Seizing the moment is not something they have really done since the days when they did actually compete in the league right until the very end of the campaign.
However, yesterday was a welcome change as the Gunners took advantage of all the teams in the title mix dropping points, including shock defeats for the two Manchester clubs. Their odds of winning the title have sailed in to 9/2, and you can now get longer odds on holders Manchester United.
The first half of the game against Swansea proved a damp squib. Initially Michael Laudrup’s team pressed high up the field, and the visitors failed to establish a great deal of rhythm. Mesut Ozil was caught in possession more than once and neither side registered an attempt on target. Things could only get better.
Fortunately, after the interval, they did. Serge Gnabry was a bit of a surprise start after looking so shattered in the latter stages of the League Cup game against West Brom. However, as against Stoke, he was frequently involved, seeking the ball and playing a full part in Arsenal’s possession game. Additionally, he drove at the Swansea defence in a way that his senior colleagues rarely did. It’s something Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain used to do, and Jack Wilshere occasionally does. Eventually, this sense of natural initiative gets coached out of them at London Colney, but it served Arsenal well in Wales.
The second half presented a greater amount of space to work in for both teams, and Arsenal were more clinical. Ozil remained peripheral, a reminder that it will take time for the player to fully integrate and adapt to the different style of the Premier League. Next time he gets the kind of gilt-edged chance he enjoyed in the second half, one imagines he will convert it. In fairness, there are many imported Arsenal legends that also took their time to get up to speed in England, so fans can afford to be patient. The player himself looked very disappointed with his own display when he was substituted, but he needs to remember the bigger picture. The team are winning matches, and psychologically, his arrival has created the belief that the club are title contenders once again.
Momentum of course, is key, but a caveat needs to be made for the purposes of perspective. Arsenal have gained 15 points from their six Premier League fixtures this season. In the equivalent matches in 2012-13, they gained 18 points. And still finished 16 points off first place. So, although it is very pleasing to be clear at the top of the league, it’s early days. What Arsenal must do is to continue beating the teams they should, which has happened in the Premier League so far this season with the exception of the first fixture. Winning on the road is certainly an excellent habit to have established, and the record sequence continues. The bench looked a little stronger today, at least in terms of defensive options, which helped when the substitutions were made. It is still a bit surreal to see Nicklas Bendtner back in the frame, and he might make a very unlikely hero at some point down the line.
For now, though, it’s more of the same please, with fingers crossed that key form players do not get injured – the two centre-backs, Giroud, Ramsey and Flamini (who has become integral to the team’s organization and focus). Napoli will be a real test on Tuesday evening with the following weekend’s visit to West Brom totally unpredictable. But Arsenal have established a winning habit in recent weeks. Defeats are bad, but draws are almost as expensive. Teams can afford to lose a number of matches, such as Manchester United have done a couple of times in recent campaigns, but remain top of the table as long as they do not draw too many. The one hope is that, if Arsenal do manage to maintain a healthy position through the next three months, they use the cash in the bank to improve their chances of success in January. That would be another example of exploiting an opportunity, as the team did by picking up the three points at the Liberty Stadium yesterday evening.
The current issue of The Gooner (with exclusive material unavailable elsewhere) will be on sale as you approach the stadium for the home matches against Napoli, Norwich and Dortmund. It can also be posted to you should you wish to buy it online here.
DIGITAL ISSUES
The Gooner is also available in digital form, through The Gooner App on iPhones and iPads, the Exactly App for Android devices and now Kindle Fire owners can also get their fix by searching the Amazon App Store for The Gooner.
You can also subscribe at www.exacteditions.com and read it through your internet browser as well as receiving a code which will enable you to access issues on all the above devices.
All digital subscriptions include access to our digital back issue library which dates back to August 2010.
