18th August it was. It was the 1st day of the Barclays Premier League and I was discussing about the potential title contenders with my brother (a Man Utd fan). As usual Arsenal was not included in his contender’s list and as usual I said that it’s going to be Arsenal’s season to savour. I really had that intuitive feeling that Arsenal would succeed despite Van Persie’s departure. I thought that we had all our bases covered and had done good and early business in the transfer market.
And the two weeks that followed made me question my decision to include Arsenal as one of the favourites. Two nil-all draws(but heartening displays)brought to the fore the clichéd line of “Same old, same old Arsenal.” I started wondering where our goals would come from after seeing Giroud struggle in front of goal. Alex Song leaving Arsenal was very difficult for me to digest as that left a very big void to fill with no clear-cut DMs in the squad.
I never considered Diaby to be a good player. I always considered him to be very fragile and dead-wood for the team(and that was my biggest mistake). The Walcott contact situation frustrated me. Things couldn’t get any worse.
But yes there were some positives for sure. Cazorla was playing like a man possessed. Diaby was slowly but steadily imposing himself on the game(and hence proving me wrong). Podolski was playing with a lot of conviction(
PODOLSKI = ARSHAVIN-2009esque + DEFENSIVE BACK TRACKING). Arteta was playing the typical Deep-Lying Playmaker’s role showcasing his defensive discipline and his passing range. Most importantly Arsenal was defending as a team. Arsenal was able to keep a clean-sheet at the Britannia Stadium against Stoke. Gibbs was finally playing to his potential, churning out consistent performances. The
STEVE BOULD effect was showing.
The stage was set. An all important match for both teams who have somewhat lost their ways and are in their quest to regain lost glory. Arsenal vs Liverpool at Anfield. The game was very lively. Arsenal creating more chances. Cazorla pulling the strings, Arteta and Diaby dictating tempo, Podolski’s pace and darting runs threatening the Liverpool defence. Then came a typical swift counter-attack, a move initiated by the determined Podolski who after finding Cazorla continued his run and finished the move with a sweet, trademark, powerful left-footed strike. Arsenal scored a second. This time Podolski returning the favour to Cazorla.
The chief architects of the victory were Abou Diaby, Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski and above all the ENTIRE DEFENCE. I do not remember the last time
Arsenal kept three consecutive clean-sheets. Suddenly Arsenal started seeming like a well-oiled unit, with the players combining well and the defence staying organized.
The talks of Cazorla and Podolski seeming to have played together since ages started surfacing. Diaby’s injury woes were behind him and the first few games showed how vital he could be in the Arsenal setup. Arteta continued to show his brilliance in the center of the park. Gervinho finally started showing glimpses of his ‘FINAL’ products!
Southampton was thrashed 6-1 at the Emirates. A very comfortable match indeed for Arsenal, harassing Southampton with their highly intricate play, TIKI-TAKA style!
THE CATALYSTS OF CHANGE-
1)STEVE BOULD and the DEFENCE- Arsenal’s defensive record is 13 goals better than last time. The same side who were vulnerable to a Peter Crouch header or a Stephane Sessegnon counter attack has taken a large leap. Explanations for this improvement are numerous but the most convincing is also the most obvious: Steve Bould, Arsenal’s new assistant manager. Those who believe that Arsenal have forgotten the basic principles of defending would certainly feel reassured by Tony Adams’s description of his old centre-back partner. “Steve doesn’t take chances,” said Adams. “Calm, strong, determined, never loses a header. Rock solid. Get the ball and give it. End of story.”
A No-Nonsense player in his times seems to be very vocal and no-nonsense during the training drills. A
“KHADOOS” as you would call it in Mumbai lingo.
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| Steve 'KHADOOS' Bould |
The elevation of Vermaelen “VERMINATOR” to the captain’s role has made him responsible. I see him as the ideal captain, highly vocal and commanding. Jenkinson and Gibbs have improved their defensive attributes too. Mertesacker finally seems to have adapted to the pace of the Premier League. And we are yet to see Koscielny and Sagna in action! Licking my fingers at the prospect of seeing them in action!
2)SANTI CAZORLA and LUKAS PODOLSKI- These signings have been like a breath of fresh air at the Emirates. Nobody had expected them to do so well at such an early stage. They both seem to have adjusted to the Premier League very quickly. This must be attributed to the Creative freedom given by Wenger to these players.
Cazorla has been highly influential for Arsenal. Virtually all the attacks go through him. Some Arsenal faithful even suggesting that he is playing better than Fabregas. A typical Spanish midfielder, diminutive, hugely skilled, possessing brilliant vision and passing range and an eye for goal as well, but highly underrated. "Cazorla has gained the respect of everybody very quickly. Cazorla is humble, he loves the game and that is what you want from every football player," Wenger said. He is playing the role of an
attacking lynch-pin to perfection.
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| Cazorla - Attacking Lynch-Pin |
Podolski has taken over the mantle from van Persie and is slowly becoming a fan favourite with fans chanting, “Lukas Podolski, he scores when he wants!” His work rate has been nothing sort of sensational. He is proving to be very dangerous in the final third with his ‘Lethal PREDATORY instincts’. His fearless running at defences at a threatening pace are proving to be too hot to handle for opposition defences. His tracking back to help the defence every now and then is proving to be critical.
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| Prince Poldi - The Lethal Predator |
In short Santi and Price Poldi have been nothing sort of sensational. Their link-up play in particular makes people wonder how long they have been playing together for. It seems like a partnership made in heaven.
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| Cazorla + Podolski = The Deadly Duo |
3)EMERGENCE OF ABOU DIABY-After his long injury hiatus Diaby said, “All I wanted was to play again. I am born with a strong temper. I never give up. Maybe some people would have given up in my position, but it was out of the question for me. I had some very difficult moments, some days when I was depressed when it was tough, but even then, I always kept faith. I always told myself that some people were in a worse position than me.” That is the determination we need from an Arsenal player.
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| Diaby - The Complete Midfielder |
"I do not need to be reassured by Diaby," Deschamps told reporters. "I saw him play at Arsenal. Obviously he has a lot of qualities. This is a
complete midfielder, able to do everything, including scoring. Of course I prefer to have him at my disposal." And yes Diaby is turning into a complete midfielder, imposing his huge frame on the game, a player who was supposed to be "languid, elusive, and athletic" and that he could either "dribble past opponents or slip passes to team-mates". Diaby also was supposed possess "superb touch" and "excellent close control". I doubted all of that. But finally he has shrugged of his injury woes, is showcasing all of the above ‘supposed to’s’ and is
proving me totally wrong(and I am happy for him). His partnership with Arteta is proving to be extremely vital for the team.
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| Mikel Arteta - Epitome of Consistency |
There is anticipation (of silverware or at least a genuine challenge)in the air. The players are playing with freedom and confidence. In short things are looking good for Arsenal. My optimistic ambition is finally taking a realistic shape and I do genuinely feel that THIS IS GOING TO BE ARSENAL’s season. I know it’s probably too early to jump to those conclusions, but I just cannot hide my enthusiasm. Only Time will tell.
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| The Catalysts of Change |
And by the way a crazy fact for you’ll-
THE LAST TIME ARSENAL WON 6-1 AGAINST SOUTHAMPTON, IT HAD JUST STARTED THEIR 49 MATCH UNBEATEN RUN.
