Kevin Whitcher
In the early part of the Millennium, Arsenal enjoyed a large number of trips to Cardiff when Wembley was being rebuilt for Cup finals, a semi-final and Charity Shield games. Although those trips started and ended with defeats, there were many good times in between.
The only reason for a return to the city since the domestic cup finals returned to Wembley was an FA Cup match at Cardiff City’s old Ninian Park ground in 2009, a 0-0 draw in which Arsenal hardly set the competition alight. Aaron Ramsey had a poor game on his return to the club he had left a few months earlier, but what a difference almost five years makes, as the Welshman put in an excellent performance at Cardiff’s new stadium to retain the Gunners’ place at the top of the table.
I was surprised to see Mathieu Flamini not start. Mikel Arteta returned to the starting eleven, with Jack Wilshere retained as one of the wide attacking players. Perhaps there was an element of rotation to this, but for me, Flamini is a vital component of Arsenal’s spine, and should start if available. It will be interesting to see how this develops.
Wilshere seems to have adapted to a new role in the team. Wenger principally sees him as a deep midfielder, but if he is the talent everyone believes he is, he has the intelligence to adapt. The fluidity of the Gunners’ front line helps in that he is free to roam. The attempt very early in the game which hit the post was a signal of intent. Cardiff enjoyed two significant moments of danger before the interval, but for the most part, Arsenal were on top. When Giroud stopped playing thinking he was offside, it was understandable. He could see that Ozil had clearly touched on the through ball that made him offside. However, the linesman missed it and the chance of an easy goal was spurned. It turned out to be an afternoon when Giroud just wasn’t going to score.
However, the team’s other regular source of goals stepped up to fill the gap. I have previously compared Aaron Ramsey to Bryan Robson, and his opening goal was another moment reminiscent of the former England captain’s ability to break from midfield and finish off moves. Cardiff’s marking will not have pleased their manager, but it was nevertheless an excellent run from the number 16, finishing off a fine cross from Ozil. It was a lead that was fully justified.
Cardiff at home this season have been unpredictable. In the league they have won two, drawn two and lost two. However, wins over Manchester City and last weekend’s draw with Manchester United suggest that on their day, they can get a result against anyone. Early in the second half, after Giroud had a shot cleared off the line by a defender, the home side had their spell and put Arsenal under pressure. Wojciech Szczesny pulled off a Gordon Banks style save to deny their best attempt, confirmation that he has really developed his game this season and won Arsenal several points. It shows the true cost of all those wasted seasons with Almunia. Through the spine of the team, you need quality, from back to front if you are going to win things. Paris 2006 and that horrorshow for the Barcelona winner comes to mind. Sure he pushed the ball onto the post earlier, but when called upon to do the basics it was worth nothing. Szczesny is quite patently a greater talent.
Around 70 minutes, I thought the team were crying out for the introduction of Flamini and Walcott. The former to break up Cardiff’s rhythm and rally the troops, and Theo to provide an outlet that would give Cardiff something to occupy two players at the back instead of inviting the Alamo.
They did eventually enter the fray some minutes later, and both contributed to the goals that sealed the game. Flamini scored a cracker after an Ozil assist to demonstrate he is not merely a holding player, whilst Theo set up Ramsey’s second.
It was another convincing performance from Arsenal, especialy on the back of a midweek Champions League game, as they continue to beat the teams that dwell in the bottom half of the table. It is the stuff of title winners, and the side are beginning to develop the kind of aura that will give them a huge psychological advantage as the season continues. Manchester City and Chelsea aren’t going to be intimidated, but there are enough other teams in the division that can provide the points that can bring a title back to Arsenal for the first time since the Invincibles.
Naturally, having been burnt more than once in the seasons since, fans are still reluctant to start really believing. There have been collapses that still haunt. The issue is whether this group of players has something different from, for example, the sides of 2008 and 2010, who had every chance of winning the league in February of those years. The argument that things are different now is related to the experience of the players, and perhaps a more defensive mindset, a change of approach that was required to scramble fourth place last season.
So the foundations are in place, and performances like that witnessed yesterday against Cardiff do give reason for confidence. Hopes are currently higher than Cardiff owner Vincent Tan’s waistband. Luck will play a part, with the avoidance of injury to the key men something which needs to be relied upon. If not, then teams with greater strength in depth will win the day. Fingers crossed…
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