The swagger is back. The Arsenal are dispatching their foes (QPR aside) with the ruthless precision of assassins. Robin van Ninja leads the line with precision, technique, and uncanny movement that make fans and players alike green with envy. There was a moment in the Man City match where van Persie peeled off Kompany to move into space for the headed effort that hit the bar, and upon replay it is evident he knows the exact moment to make that move demonstrating the understanding that he and Song have developed.
It is no surprise the combinations between Song and Robin, Song and Theo and Theo to Robin have borne so much fruit this season. This comes from staying fit, playing with each other for a season uninterrupted, and hundreds of hours on the training pitch. Arsenal fans are seeing these benefits and rejoicing that this is a TEAM now with real leaders and a spine that’s hard as nails. It is no coincidence that our best run of form comes when our spine is intact. Szczesny, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Song, Arteta, van Persie. Dynamite through the middle, just how we want it. Unfair to leave Sagna out of the equation because he is the epitome of the Arsenal spirit and our best, most consistent performer over the last 5 years, but he doesn’t play through the middle. Sagna’s goal against Tottenham was the turning point of our season. He raced to meet that lofted cross knowing he would never be second best and went up and willed that ball in. There was only one place that ball would end up and upon delivering that kidney shot to the JV team of North London he didn’t celebrate, he picked the ball from the net and ran back to the center circle. The last thing the Tiny Tots wanted to do was play the last 5 minutes of the half and Sagna knew it.
Arsenal haven’t looked back and have stormed back to gain 15 points on that capitulating club in the past month and a half and St. Totteringham’s day draws near, its better than Christmas. This year of all years it will mean more than ever because there was a strong chance Christmas wouldn’t come and all we would get in our Arsenal stockings would be dirty spuds, and no one wants that.
The energy and togetherness being shown by the squad is rejuvenating and the fans are taking notice. The Emirates is becoming the fortress it should be, our away fans out-sing everyone the face, and the football on the pitch is immaculate. Sometimes immaculate because of how beautiful and flowing it is, and sometimes the beauty is derived from the spirit shown and the mettle to put games away with a late goal. Tell me that 1-0 over City doesn’t feel better than the 7-1 over Blackburn and I’ll kick you in the bollocks.
Sir Alex must be cackling at how we, like his other competitors, fucked up our early season. But you know that he sees this team and considers Arsenal the biggest threat to his eventual title next season. Van Persie will stay, we will reinforce the squad quickly because there will be no Champions League play in. Third is there for the taking, and like Wenger says, “It is hard to stop the horse when it can smell the stable.” The stable is in sight, and in the words of the greatest broadcaster I’ve been lucky enough to witness, the late, great, Chick Hearn, “This game’s in the refrigerator! The door’s closed, the lights are out, the eggs are cooling, the butter’s getting hard, and the Jell-O is jiggling….”
Up the Arse!