By John ST

What appears to be the end may really be a new beginning. In its opening game of the 2009 Premier League season, Arsenal demolished Everton 6-1 in a scintillating display of attacking football. This was supposed to be a stiff challenge, after all Everton had the discipline and consistency to finish fifth for the past two seasons and was a FA Cup finalist last year. But it turned out to be a total mismatch.

The victory is especially meaningful given that many critics had written off Arsenal’s title ambitions during the pre-season. Adebayor and Kolo Toure, were offloaded to Man City for a total of £41m and the only player recruited was Thomas Vermaelen frrom Ajax.

Arsene Wenger stood by his principle of not signing star players to bolster his depleted squad. He defended his philosophy of cultivating raw talents, saying: “Other clubs have more money. At Arsenal we try to go a different way that, for me, is respectable. When you buy all the time, it becomes a trap. The team we have now gets there, and by that I mean it wins the championship.”

You can include some of Wenger’s own players as disbelievers of that statement. Few people can understand why Wenger refuses to spend even as there is surplus cash in the transfer budget. They have a right to be worried about how the “lightweight” Arsenal can challenge the mighty European champions Barcelona and the ambitious Real Madrid? Manchester City’s aggressive buying spree has also intensified the battle for a top four position in the Premier League and Champions League qualification.

Alex Ferguson even wrote off Arsenal’s chances, preferring to single out Chelsea as the main threat to their Premier League title. He has also ridiculed Manchester City’s spending spree and remarked that Liverpool have had their best season in twenty years and will be hard to improve. Mind games will come in handy, maybe in Christmas, but for now, Ferguson’s gambit in unsettling opponents has misfired.

With Manchester United floundering against Birmingham City and Burnley, Alex Ferguson will do well to stay focused on getting a positive response from his team rather than being a football pundit and expound on the strength and weakness of his competitors. If Manchester United continue with their insipid performances, they could lose not only the Premier League title but struggle with relegation.

Instead of talking up their chances like Manchester United, Arsenal kept a low profile during pre-season and prefer to let their feet do the talking. They have also kept their feet firmly on the ground despite some remarkable results - hammering Everton 6-1 (their worst home defeat since 1958) and being the first English team in 26 years to defeat Celtic at their home ground.

Indeed, many critics had waited for Arsenal to fall flat on their face against Celtic. Emmanuel Adebayor clearly has little love lost for his former club when he piled on the pressure by highlighting that Cesc Fabregas and some of the senior players will leave if Arsenal fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Still, Arsenal were too much of a class act for Celtic. The Gunners started the match with their usual fluid and intricate passing and had the best chances while Celtic can only lay claim to ruggedness and fighting spirit, egged on by the vociferous home fans.

Last season, Arsenal may have been outmuscled but this time, the physical game failed to stem the tide of attacks. To be sure, there was an element of luck to Arsenal’s 2-0 victory. After all, it is not often that a goal is scored via a deflection off the back of a player but William Gallas did just that.

Celtic survived an early scare when an unmarked Andrei Arshavin swept the ball into the net but the assistant referee has raised his flag for offside. While Arshavin is still a joy to watch with his sublime runs and beautiful touches, his impact thus far has not been as eye-catching as his debut season. Arshavin’s match fitness is also suspect as his contributions faded off substantially in the second half.

Arsene Wenger was right to replace Arshavin with Abou Diaby who lend a sharper impetus to the front line. But it is too early to lambast Arshavin. He has the knack of turning the game on its head in a moment of brilliance. Maybe a goal will boost his confidence and he will regain his pivotal playmaker role.

Arsenal had to wait till three minutes from half time before breaking the duck and it was a fluke shot. Van Persie tapped a free kick to Fabregas who aimed a screamer at Boruc but somehow the ball struck Gallas on the back and swerved to the other corner, leaving Boruc stranded.

After the break, Celtic did not improve on their potshots and stray passes but they certainly stepped up on their physical game. Arsenal’s defence and midfield held up well under the harsh treatment and the front line continue to camp in Celtic’s half, edging closer to goal with successive efforts.

The introduction of Diaby was a shrewd move as the lad integrated quickly into the team and he made an important contribution by releasing Clichy to cross which Gary Caldwell inadvertently directed into his own goal.

Arsenal showed a collective resolve. Arsenal for their part looked better when playing the short passing game we have come to expect, long passes typically over hit. When the Gunners lost possession, they breathed down the neck of their opponent and afforded them little space and time on the ball.

Celtic were forced to surrender possession cheaply with stray passes. But the high tempo game was not the only killer, Celtic’s own lack of creativity meant they could not strike back after falling behind. Almunia had an easy night, he could have kept his gloves clean, had he not intervened in the only threat - a swerving shot from a corner which William Gallas had blocked.

The only saving grace for Celtic was their determination to put up a fight. It was a fierce battle,” said Wenger. “There were some bad fouls and the referee took some time to intervene. We got some harsh treatment.”

Wenger also had particular praise for former captain Gallas, who he said was playing his best football for two years. The good form of new signing Thomas Vermaelen has also pleasantly surprised Wenger and he believes that the left-footed Belgian has added balance to the team.

Overall, it was a good team performance, hard working and close passing. The understanding and cameraderie were evident for the full 94 minutes. The focus by every player, so impressive. This team will destroy all before it this season.

Van Persie and Bendtner were well-marked yet both still caused considerable problems for the Celtic back four, putting them under pressure and onto the back foot. Denilson and Song were both brilliant and played the destroyer’s role to a tee. Song is more elegant, more creative, than the Frenchman [Flamini], who brought industry and, in truth, little else.”…

Cesc Fabregas, The Midfield Engine

However, there is no mistaking the engine driving this Arsenal team -Cesc Fabregas. He has always created chances with his pinpoint passes and astute reading of the game. This season, Arsene Wenger has an added responsibility for Fabregas which is to bang in the goals.

If Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are scoring goals from midfield, there is no reason why Fabregas should be deprived of this license to go forward. He is now 22 years old, the right age to develop into a scoring machine, according to Arsene Wenger.

Fabregas has already shown what he can do by running 50 yards and unleashing a blitzer from outside the box to score against Everton. If Fabregras choose to be more selfish by firing long range missiles, taking free-kicks and penalties, or going on solo runs instead of passing the ball, he will certainly get twenty goals a season and give Arsenal’s title campaign a boost. But this will have to come at the expense of the strikers and the way the team operates.

With main strikers Robin van Persie and Arshavin not hitting the groove and scoring goals, Fabregas’s influence on the game is timely for Arsene Wenger. However, as the season progresses, Arsene Wenger will have to manage carefully the discontent from strikers, team structure as well as an over-reliance on Cesc Fabregas since he now has a dual responsiblity to pull the strings in midfield and to score goals.

The downfall of Arsenal in previous campaigns had often coincided with the burnout or injuries of Cesc Fabregas. It is unclear if the Spaniard has peaked too early and will be reduced to underwhelming performances by March. The more influence Fabregas has on a game, the more roughing up he can expect. To emulate Cristiano Ronaldo’s role for Manchester United is not just about sharpening finishing prowess and accuracy but also to improve on fitness.

Frank Lampard and Cristiano Ronaldo can feature in virtually every game because of their extraordinary fitness and ability to sustain hard knocks. In terms of technical ability, Fabregas is a shoo-in for personal accolades like Footballer of The Year awards but he cannot achieve his full potential if he cannot withstand the ordeals of a grueling season.

Arsene Wenger also need to fend off the temptations from aboard which have prised away proteges like Patrick Viera and Thierry Henry. Barcelona is interested in Fabregas and the rumor mill is in overdrive that Arsenal’s captain will arrive next summer in a £30m deal.

Arsenal have furiously denied any such agreement has been struck or that they have even had any contact with the Spanish giants, but given that the presidency of Barcelona Football Club is up for grabs next year, the deal may just happen.

Arsene Wenger has reminded his players that integrity is defined by a person’s commitment to a contract and Fabregas, who is midway through a seven year contract, owes his loyalty to the club who polished his skills and gave him a platform to shine.

Fabregas is non-committal about his future but he has admitted that he wants to go back to his native Spain one day. I believe Arsenal’s flying start matters little to the Spainard as he may be intent on leaving in 1 or 2 years time. If Arsenal clinch titles, Fabregas will want to seek fresh challenges and if Arsenal fails, he will be convinced that Arsenal are just not ambitious or capable enough.

Thomas Vermaelen Stabilizes Shaky Defense

Thomas Vermaelen has proven to be another shrewd acquisition by Arsene Wenger. How did such a talent slip under the radar of top clubs and emerged on Arsenal’s shopping list with a price tag of only £10m?

To be sure, even this £10m was spent carefully. Arsene Wenger’s scouting team watched Vermaelen play for Ajax and Belgium on more than 30 occasions. So far, the research has paid off as Wenger is suitably impressed by the assurance of Vermaelen’s performances. Vermaelen has also found his way into the hearts of Arsenal fans but more importantly, he earned the respect of his peers in just two competitive matches.

Usually, the debut season is the hardest, because of the expectations and the need to adapt quickly to a different management, culture, egos, and playing style. However, Thomas Vermaelen had transitioned into English football so seamlessly, it put some of the seniors to shame.

“Thomas looks like he’s been at the club for more than a few months,” said the goalkeeper Manuel Almunia after the play-off first-leg victory at Celtic. “He’s a very calm player, very relaxed, and that makes the defenders around relaxed as well, not only William [Gallas] but me, Gaël and Bacary. We have confidence about this player.”

You can count on Almunia’s words because the defensive wall in front of him is extremely important to his livelihood. The central pairing of Vermaelen and Gallas cover each other well and were rarely caught out of position. In fact, the stability has prompted Arsene Wenger to comment that William Gallas is enjoying his best form in the last 2 years.

Clichy and Sagna constitute the other components of the bulwark and it is nice to see all of them functioning as a unit without any discords or engaging in blame games (at least not yet).

Vermaelen’s characteristics of a typical British centre-half - toughness and fearlessness have probably made his transition easier. He is strong in the air and has a great left foot but it is his attacking instincts which have surprised me. Vermaelen likes to surge out of defence with the ball at his feet or to join the attack in dead ball situations but he is no slacker in tracking back to cover the gaping defensive hole when the opponent counter-attacked.

That is a taxing act to follow but being young and eager, Vermaelen edged out his precedessor Kolo Toure as a more useful asset. The test for Vermaelen will come if he puts a foot wrong and Gallas starts criticizing him. Will he react positively or his confidence will be affected badly? Vermaelen also needs to prove his versatility if Wenger rotates Gallas with an inexperienced Djourou or a much slower Silvestre.

Arsenal’s New Found Team Spirit

Much has been said about the character of Arsenal’s young squad, even in previous seasons. Granted they had the quality, self belief and fighting spirit but young players bring with them a high degree of unpredictability, immaturity and silly conflicts. It is difficult to select a leader from this class who can win everybody’s respect and motivate the team in its darkest hours, much like what Patrick Viera did.

Have they finally put their differences aside and incorporated Wenger’s mantras about mental strength? I believe there is a good chance of seeing a rejuvenated Arsenal after Adebayor and Toure moved on. Sometimes, clearing dead wood is essential for a manager. Pep Guardiola was vindicated in his decision to sell Deco and Ronaldinho and then leading Barcelona to an unprecedented Spanish treble.

Denilson and Song are comfortable in midfield and are gunning for goals whenever possible. Arsenal showd their confidence and desire to win when they refused to relax even as Everton wilted under the pressure from all the passing and goals conceded. Against Celtic, they did not back down from the physical challenges and their fans’ incessant vitriol.

Besides the obvious quality of the youngsters, there is a desire and confidence. Everybody in Arsenal squad likes to go forward and score goals which can be a nightmare for opponents.

Nicklas Bendtner has played better now that Adebayor has departed. Robin van Persie who was unsettled previously has recently exhorted the ‘new found team spirit: “I think we showed in both that we really want to fight for each other and if we can produce that every three or four days, we can make a big step forward.”

However, team spirit is easy to play up when times are good. Last season, Arsenal had a 21 game unbeaten run but they lost the plot after a petulant act by captain William Gallas who sat on the ground at St Andrews in protest. As events unfolded, it soon became obvious that the team spirit in Arsenal squad is broken with players splitting into different camps. The conflicts - who should wear the armband and which players should be in the first XI - eroded Arsenal’s competitiveness.

It is only in adversity that we get the measure of a man. When staring at a string of defeats, will the blame be pushed around or the squad close ranks and shoulder the collective responsibility of turning draws and losses into wins?

William Gallas behavior will be under intense scrutiny, especially at the match in Old Trafford where the Red Devils are sure to put the fight of their life against their old nemesis. Defensively, it will be more challenging and stressful as few teams can counter the attacking verve of the current Premier League champion, when it is lubricated fully.

I am not sure if the fragmented pieces in Arsenal have finally gelled together but so far, I like the new camaraderie in Arsenal squad. The Gunners are supportive of William Gallas and if he doesn’t self-destruct and alienate himself again, then Arsenal stand a good chance of ending their trophy drought.

Injury List And Misfiring Strikers

The 2009 season has just started only but Arsenal’s injury list is already a troubling issue. The good news is that after two games, the list has not got any longer.

Theo Walcott still hasn’t recovered from a back injury, but Wenger said it was a matter of days not weeks. Nasri, Djourou, Rosicky, and Fabianski are all still out, while Eduardo has recovered from a tight hammy that kept him out of the Celtic match.

If all the players are fit for selection throughout the nine month quest, Arsenal is a sure bet for trophies but a full squad is a tough ask, given that harsh treatments will escalate in the coming weeks as every team wants a shot at tripping up the league leader.

Arsene Wenger should also look into why Bendtner, van Persie,and Arshavin who have started up front in a 4-3-3 formation against Everton and Celtic left their scoring boots at home. Even though goals are in abundance currently, it is not healthy to depend on defenders and midfielders to score goals. They should be supplying the assists and not gunning for glory, else van Persie may have to find another job elsewhere.

Time To Deliver The Goods

The objective is to win the Premier League title and possibly land the Champions League but I believe the fans will still accept a top four finish and allow Arsene Wenger time to build his team. But even the professor feels that there should be no more excuses and goods must be delivered.

Wenger said: “At 22 or 23 I think a team is mature enough to deliver, and this is a massively important year for our club. To talk of winning the league is an audacious statement, but I built this team, and I want to deliver with this team.”

I believe the Gunners are already very hungry for success and they are due some luck too. Arsenal hasn’t won a trophy since the FA Cup in 2005 and they last won the league in 2004. The Gunners finished fourth in the Premier League last season, spending several weeks in fifth place and nearly lost out on Champions League qualification, if not for Aston Villa suffering a near cataclysmic collpase.

Arsenal have started off brightly before, only to end up with their hopes in tatters but this time, they may just defy the odds as the underdog. The squad is a year older and wiser and hungrier, and when you put your egos, feuds and differences aside, miraculous things can happen.

Barcelona achieved unprecedented honor with virtually the same squad before Pep Guardiola stepped into his debut managerial appointment. There is little technical skills he can teach the players which they do not know already so his job is not to impart knowledge but to get the players to function as a unit, the way he wants it.

Man-management skills take precedence and the fact that he has been a player in a successful Barcelona team helps. Guardiola knows what the players want and can channel their desires for silverware to selfless and hard work in training and competitive matches.

I believe Arsene Wenger can coax this team to rise to the occasion and punch above their weight. If Arsenal pass the tests at Manchester United and Manchester City with flying colors and continue to stay cautious, focused and motivated, they could very well end their five year trophy drought.