So here we are a quarter of the way through the season. Second in the Premiership, in complete control of our Champions League group, into the last eight of the Carling Cup and even some clean sheets! Plus we have players returning from injury.
Not to bad a start, better than I feared in the depressing aftermath of the West Brom game. We had a real wobble there and if our main rivals had taken advantage things wouldn’t look so rosy. But we got away with it and we are where we are. So what have we learned along the way?
1. We still need to sort the goalkeeper issue, but the door certainly isn’t closed against Fabianski.
Although the last few games have been error free we shouldn’t get carried away. The goalkeeping situation has been a weakness since the departure of Jens Lehman. Nothing can done until the transfer window. We have probably seen the best we will ever see from Almunia. Give Fabianski a chance to show what he can do in a consistent run in the team.
2. Jack Wilshere has arrived.
He isn’t quite the finished article yet, but at his age that’s fair enough. He needs better judgement sometimes in his tackling. But he has arrived as a regular first team player with a massive future. His talent is that he is comfortable both as a second defensive midfielder when we don’t have possession and an attacking midfielder when we do. In a few games he has defined Diaby and Denilson as rotation players. Someone commenting on an earlier post described him as a “Fabregas/Flamini hybrid” and that kind of covers it.
3. Samir Nasri is a great player.
For me, he’s the player of the season so far. He’s fast, hard-working, a great passer and a cool finisher. He’s the sort of player we’ve been missing since Robert Pires or Freddie Ljungberg before he got slow. He can play in the middle covering for Cesc or on either flank. Brilliant.
4. Chamakh, Squillaci and Koscielny were three good summer signings.
Marouane Chamakh came on a free – what a fantastic bit of business. Strong running towards goal for a through pass, or back to pick up possession deep. Quick feet and a threat in the air. How does he fit in the squad with a fit and on-form Bendtner? Don’t know, but a good problem to have!
Sebastien Squillaci – also money well spent. Not spectacular but solid and fairly unflappable. Laurent Koscielny – solid too, but faster and probably the better of the two. Taking the two together, we now have a more solid defence that is surviving the lengthy injury to Vermaelen. There are definitely better central defenders out there, I’m not saying these two are the last word, but they were both good buys that have already proved their value. With Chamakh they make us look more dangerous in corners as well.
5. We still have the capacity to blow points against weaker teams.
The West Brom game was too typical of the sort of match that has ruined recent seasons. Typically it was against a team we were tipped to beat, just after a strong win. Sometimes Arsenal players seem to get it into their heads that the last game makes them infallible and they substitute complacency for confidence. Then, when a ‘weaker’ team refuses to roll over and die, they don’t seem to be able to shift up a gear and respond.
All in all… a good start and plenty of potential in the fixtures ahead in November to keep the momentum going. Come on Arsenal.
