By
Steve Stammers
Quietly and effectively, Arsenal are going about their
business.
While Sir Alex Ferguson deflects attention away from his
team’s sub-standard performance with a verbal assault on a referee,
while Liverpool continue to implode as Rafa Benitez is beaten by
the first beach ball seen on the North East coast and while
Chelsea’s markers continue to go AWOL at set pieces, Arsene Wenger
has the calm air of a man who knows his team are going
places.
Pre-season, they were dismissed and Wenger was ridiculed for
using only £10 million of his £40m transfer war chest. But that
seems cash well-invested as Thomas Vermaelen continues to add his
defensive steel to what was seen as a soft centre and while Alex
Song matures into Arsenal’s own Claude Makelele at the same time
that Robin van Persie is looking one of the most dangerous front
men in the Premier League.
It has been four long years since Patrick Vieira’s last kick of
a ball for Arsenal secured their last trophy with his strike in the
penalty shoot-out against Manchester United in the 2005 FA Cup
final. That drought could well end this season.
Wenger has never been one for buying star names – “we make
superstars, we don’t buy them,” has always been his credo. The
stars, though, are now starting to shine. Yes, they have lost twice
but anyone who saw the 2-1 defeat at Manchester United and the 4-2
defeat at Manchester City will acknowledge that Arsenal could have
won both never mind draw.
The proof of their maturity came against Birmingham last
Saturday. Two goals up and cruising and suddenly it was 2-1 and the
potential for panic. At least last season there might have been.
Arsenal kept their cool and kept Birmingham at bay – then struck
for the third goal which secured the three points.
There is an air of confidence – not arrogance – about the team
these days. And it is emerging as one with the capacity and
capability to contest the major honours. When I suggested Arsenal
could compete for the top prizes at the start of the season, it was
dismissed in many quarters. Not now it isn’t.
A win in Holland tonight against an AZ Alkmaar side in financial
meltdown will basically secure a place in the knock-out stages of
the Champions League. A home tie against a Liverpool team in
disarray in the Carling Cup comes next week and on Sunday, West Ham
are unlikely to have the strength to subdue Van Persie and
company.
Third in the league with a game in hand. Watch this space.
