Arsene Wenger has much to prove to his critics and with the recent results he has achieved, it looks like the Frenchman will finally shut em’ up! In this week’s Shady View, iSport’s Pulasta Dhar weighs Arsenal’s challenge….
There are very few players who can win matches on their own or at least those who can inspire their teammates to win matches at the death. In the current scenario of European football, a handful of names come to mind who can achieve that feat. Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Messi and Rooney have the teammates who can deliver along with them. But one player who stands out is Frascesc Fabregas. And he is almost Gerrard-like when it comes to winning it for his team.
Do not consider this an article dedicated to Cesc. But I cannot stop myself from being simply stunned by the way this player has developed. The point which makes his case even stronger is that he is just 22 years of age. Hell Yeah!! Arsenal is a completely different team when the talismanic Spaniard is pulling the strings from midfield. It is sad that they do not have van Persie in their ranks currently because that would have made them even stronger.
The London club has gone 9 games in an unbeaten run which consist of 2 draws and a victory thus collecting 23 points in their last 10. On the other hand, Manchester United has collected 22 and Chelsea 21. This has brought Arsenal closer to the number one spot, albeit with Chelsea having a game in hand. Surely Professor Wenger could not be happier.
The business end of the season has begun and it is now that Arsenal, who in the past have played well until this stage and then fizzled out have to show their mettle. They face United, Liverpool and Chelsea in quick succession and 2 good results out of these 3 fixtures will see them go top. The telling match anyhow will be the one against London rivals Chelsea.
As I have done so many times before, I would again like to ask myself whether they deserve to win the league this season. I would say they deserve to win it more than anybody. With a depleted squad most of the time and their star striker out since the very early stages of the season, the team has put together some excellent performances that has brought out the best in the youngsters. Arsene Wenger’s policy of team selection is by far the best and boldest in the country. Sometimes it pays off and sometimes it doesn’t but the Frenchman always keeps his faith in the young crop and never fails to protect them from criticism.
It is this faith since the last few years and the amount of experience gathered in their early twenties that makes Arsenal such a strong force now. It seems that the patience is finally reaping dividends after 5 frustrating seasons. Wenger has bought wisely and given game-time to upcoming starlets who have not let him down.
Examples would be of Armand Traore, Kierran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere, Diaby, Ramsey and recently Fran Merida. Excellent buys include the likes of Thomas Vermaelen, Samir Nasri and Andrei Arshavin. Arsene is shrewdness at its best!! I have always said that in the next couple of years, if Wenger is able to keep them together will become the strongest in all of Europe. And he knows why it is the perfect time to win a trophy this season….to keep at the club the tremendous Fabregas and van Persie.
After being written off at the start of the season and being pinged with questions at a shareholder meet, Wenger’s team has begun showing signs of maturing into one which can come from behind and kill off opposition with some brilliant play. I personally would like to see them win the league ahead of Chelsea and my bet is on them too.
There are no worries if the Gunners are losing a game. Just throw on Fabregas from the bench, give him a freekick, allow him to put a striker through and give him a one-on-one. All this if he is half-fit. Then what do you do? Take the kid off for some rest…...(Aston Villa know this trick pretty well!)
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