Forget Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at Panathinaikos. Something far more important happened late in Arsenal’s stylish 3-1 win over Aston Villa at Highbury last Saturday. It’s the kind of thing that will send a shudder of fear through Manchester United, their fading opponents at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
No, it wasn’t the fact that Arsenal moved 11 points clear of United after that awful goalless draw at Birmingham — and within one game of the fabled 50 Premiership games unbeaten.
And it has nothing to do with the fact that the top Gunners have scored twice as many goals as anybody else in the division and are the only unbeaten club left in the top flight after Chelsea’s spineless 1-0 defeat against Manchester City last Sunday.
It happened in the midfield, during the second half. First, Patrick Vieira went off injured in the 66th minute to be replaced by Mathieu Flamini (20). Then Jose Reyes was replaced by Jermaine Pennant (21) in the 76th minute. And six minutes from time, Robin van Persie, just (21), emerged to give Robert Pires a break.
It was done. Those three substitutions, alongside 17-year-old starter, Spaniard Cesc Fabregas, meant Arsenal had fielded their youngest midfield in the Premiership, the four of them producing a combined average of just under 20.
And this is a side who haven’t been able to invest much money over the past couple of years as they attempt to fund their new Ashburton Grove, sorry Emirates, stadium.
A side that people (like me) have been writing off as being on their last legs as Dennis Bergkamp, Tony Adams, Ian Wright, Martin Keown, Ray Parlour and David Seaman hit their thirtysomething sell-by dates.
Somehow, in his sensational seven years in charge (let’s just forget the European jinx and concentrate on domestic honours), French guru Arsène Wenger has done the unthinkable. He’s invested in youth.
Last year we saw it in the back five. Having inherited the legendary but creaking quintet of Seaman, Adams, Keown, Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn, we witnessed the emergence of Cameroon’s Lauren and Côte d’Ivoire defender Kolo Toure with Spurs signing Sol Campbell and young trainee Ashley Cole.
Sadly Wenger never did find anyone better than German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, though he can always claim to have been the number one in a defeat-free season. This year, it’s the midfield revolution.
United have spent freely over past years to revive their position as the nation’s top club. They have failed, dismally so far.
Ferguson has trouble from the back, where Tim Howard and Roy Carroll appear equally incompetent, to the front, where the expensive gathering of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha and Alan Smith have managed just nine Premiership goals in nine games so far and stuttered to another 0-0 draw against lowly Sparta Prague in Europe on Tuesday night.
Ferguson, aware of the ‘All we are saying is give us a goal†chants from the Old Trafford faithful, confesses: ‘It’s always a concern when you don’t score, particularly with a team that has such a great strike rate.â€
Arsenal of course are cruising. Thierry Henry (nine), Robert Pires (five) and Jose Reyes (six) are scoring for fun and even if Vieira is ruled out by injury, that new midfield looks lively and sharp — with depth.
At the back things are less certain — just ask Jens Lehmann after his debacle in Greece on Wednesday. But the way Arsenal are playing right now, who cares? They’ll score more than the disjointed United, nobody doubts that.
The week ahead:
Aston Villa vs Fulham
Fulham chairperson Mohamed Al Fayed has dragged his former manager Jean Tigana through the courts this week, while coach Chris Coleman has been touted for the Wales job after they threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 to Liverpool last week. Villa, crushed 3-1 by Arsenal, could do with a strong three-pointer as boss David O’Leary stands on the verge of signing a new three-year contract.
Verdict: Villa 2 Fulham 0
Chelsea vs Blackburn
Chelsea, impressive 2-0 winners against sister club CSKA Moscow on Wednesday, haven’t been bursting with goals in the Premiership and with all the upset over Adrian Mutu and with Didier Drogba’s injury, they’ll have to rely on Mateja Kezman and Eidur Gudjohnsen (barring John Terry’s head from set-pieces of course) to beat Blackburn , arguably the worst side in the world under Mark Hughes, who may just be regretting ditching Wales for these ragged Rovers.
Verdict: Chelsea 1 Blackburn 0.
Palace vs West Brom
The battle of the dead men. Palace haven’t a hope of survival this season, West Brom have just a shadow of a chance. Andy Johnson, with five Premiership goals, has to be Palace’s only hope of survival, which is probably why they’ve given him a new five-year contract. The Baggies have pushed clear of the relegation zone lately, but I can’t see it lasting.
Verdict: Palace 0 West Brom 0
Liverpool vs Charlton
Rafael Benitez has pulled a real rabbit out of the hat in signing Xavi Alonso from Real Sociedad. Brilliant in their 4-2 recovery from a 2-0 deficit against Fulham, he failed to lift them to European victory on Tuesday night against Deportivo. Charlton? I just get the feeling that their trio of useful signings, Danny Murphy, Francis Jeffers and Dennis Rommedahl is beginning to settle. Murphy would love to get one over on Benitez, who let him leave Anfield.
Verdict: Liverpool 1 Charlton 1
Norwich vs Everton
Norwich’s Great Dane, Thomas Helveg, comes up against compatriot Thomas Gravesen at Carrow Road. Should be some battle. Norwich, who came up as champions, have yet to win, but I can’t help thinking the Everton bubble will burst. Third in the Premiership? I can’t see them in Europe, can you?
Verdict: Norwich 2 Everton 1
Tottenham vs Bolton
I warned Spurs fans (I do actually know some) that former France boss Jacques Santini wasn’t the answer. He got them off to a dull but effective start, but with just five goals from nine games, they are now little better than mid-table and might as well get David Pleat back in charge. He’s cheaper. Bolton continue to over-
perform, as they have for months under Sam Allardyce, and I can see them in the Champions League next season.
Verdict: Spurs 0 Bolton 2
Man United vs Arsenal
It’s a cracker. I think most neutrals would be quite happy to see Ruud van Nistelrooy shoved about a bit
after the game again; it only adds to the drama and excitement. Premiership wages mean the fines will mean nothing. I saw Arsenal clinch the championship there a couple of years ago. This one should go the same way.
Verdict: United 2 Arsenal 3
Boro vs Portsmouth
Great to see Harry Redknapp’s Pompey edge out Spurs last Monday night. Warms the heart. But look at their statistics on the road: Just two away wins in 12 months and Redknapp’s side have picked up a paltry 12 away points out of 66 since their eagerly anticipated promotion. Middlesbrough, with the great Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink leading the way, will be too much for them.
Verdict: Boro 13 Pompey 0. Sorry, Boro 3 Pompey 0
Newcastle vs Man City
What a great week it’s been at Newcastle. That subdued Welshman Craig Bellamy was caught mouthing ‘what, me? You fucking prick†at that subdued Scotsman Graeme Souness when he was substituted against Charlton last week. Souey grabbed him by the throat during training and offered to have it out in the gym. He used a similar management style to see off Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole at Blackburn. Kevin Keegan appears to have lost his management style completely at City, who could do with a bit of neck-wringing.
Verdict: Newcastle 1 Man City 0
Saints vs Birmingham
David Dunn’s long-awaited return to fitness from a hamstring injury could play a key role in reviving Birmingham’s so-far unimpressive season. The loss of Mikael Forssell hasn’t helped but if Dunn can supply Yorke, Emile Heskey and Clinton Morrison the goals will come. Dunn, impressive against Newcastle and Manchester United, should be too much for ailing Southampton, now second-bottom. Surely they could do worse than appointing Terry Paine, such an astute reader of the game for South African television, instead of the clueless Steve Wigley?
Verdict: Saints 0 Birmingham 2