Every great immovable force starts with a solid base. After season after season with a revolving door of a defence, crazy Brazilians, and odd fitting squids, Arsenal have finally found that solid mixture of talent and experience. Our defence has now become one the best in the league, perhaps even the finest. But Arsenal are push over’s and make too many errors to win the league, right? Hanson nods emphatically.
There was brief period when our nutty keeper ate too much cornflakes and became a liability in between the sticks. It prompted a world-wide search for a top quality keeper to give him the kick up the backside he so clearly needed. And we should thank Wenger for that. With the arrival Viviano, who has not played a single second as of yet, our polish stopper has really stepped forward and cleaned up his act. He’s sure hands with corners, something us Gooners always used to fear with Almunia, Fabianski and Co. He taunts the opposition with his cheeky winks, an arrogance within our team that we have missed in recent seasons. His reactionary saves are often spectacular. And now, even when the game has been quiet, he spreads his wide frame when called upon and several times this season he has ensured the points remain ours. And he’s knighted too… But if there was doubt among anyone that our keeper was not back to his brilliant best then go check out his new long term contract. He is the last rock of our defence, and so far his has proved every bit of his worth.
No amount of praise will do these two magnificent warriors justice. Truly, the partnership between Mertesacker and Koscielny is remarkable. It’s without the doubt the strongest in the league. But pundits wouldn’t admit to that would they? They’ll stick with their Ferdinand’s and Evans’. With Mertesacker’s 10,000 BC knowledge of interceptions and tactical prowess, joined with Koscielny’s unrelenting recovery speed and all around dominance, they are the perfect pair. Koscielny’s pockets are quite the collection nowadays: Messi (once), that man Ibra, Bayern Munich’s whole team, Lewandowski, even with his elbows, Rooney, Judas, SOS…it’s endless. I don’t count corners. It’s bad to dwell on dark times. Oh, we’re still top? The partnership blossoming with these two at the heart of Arsenal’s defence is the very reason we are stunting Europe’s big guns. And mixed with two flying fall backs, and handy keeper, we’ve got ourselves a very prosperous base.
Gibbs. Gibbs is my man of the hour. Ramsey deserves the praise. Ozil will get it anyway. But for me, a big factor in Arsenal’s revival and all round solidness has come from a certain left back, and he is criminally undervalued on the international front. I love that we have Kieran Gibbs. He’s improving as a confident defender, and he is pivotal to our attack down the left hand side, and has developed a particular partnership with a very keen, smiling German. And now, whether unlucky from an Arsenal point of view, he has been granted his long awaited call up. If that means he plays more meaningless friendlies then so be it. But I for one really wish him the World Cup call up. He’s turning into a fine left back, both in offence and defence. Again it’s a player marred with injuries, however, again like Ramsey, like Sagna, Wenger kept faith and now we’re seeing the talent he see’s every training session. The players are flourishing and the team is rocking.
Last season people were calling for Sagna’s time up. Promote Jenkinson they said. I was one of them. Now I feel guilty. After suffering several leg breaks we thought we’d never see our once Europe dominating right back to full fitness. Thankfully though, as with the almost perfect timing of the rest of team and form, this season he has come back with a bang. Just look at his crossing lately. He was quite clearly our best attacking outlet against United – an aging right back. He doesn’t seem to have the same shakiness as last season, and I’m sure that Judas penalty at the Emirates last season firmly haunts him. But like every single one of our players, he bounced back.
This current Arsenal team shows one thing: form is temporary, class is permanent. Reaching the top of the summit by the middle of November is clear emphasis of that. It’s truly brilliant to see. And it’s all started because of a rock solid base.