Gunners Relevant Again

By: Adam W. Van Dyk

Since the 2-1 loss to Spurs early in October, one can make a fairly decent argument that Arsenal is playing some of the best football in the EPL.  Since the start of the season, one can make a very convincing argument that Robin Van Persie has been the best striker in the EPL.  The Gunners are 4-0-0 in the EPL since the loss to Tottenham while scoring 13 goals in those four matches (eight of those by RVP), including five against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (hat trick by RVP) in what, in my opinion, was the best match of the season.  It should also be mentioned they lead Group D in the Champions League after four matches.

The Gunners could not have had a worse start to the EPL season.  They lost four of the first seven and found themselves looking up at most of the Premier League from near the bottom of the table.  But there is a reason Arsene Wenger is one of the best coaches in the world and he has managed to steady the ship, with a lot of help from his Dutch captain.  The Gunners still have work to do and currently sit seventh in the table, level on points with sixth place Liverpool and three points off fifth placed Chelsea and Tottenham, but the task is no longer insurmountable.

Given the exodus of Nasri and Fabregas, the injury to playmaker Aaron Ramsey (due to return around the new year) and Thomas Vermaelen, and the influx of new faces, all added at the 11th hour, the stumbling out of the gate makes sense.  Although it was shocking to see a team with the illustrious history of Arsenal struggle to beat mediocre teams and get stomped by upper-echelon teams early in the campaign, there were reasons for the early results.  I, for one, figured the struggles would continue into close to the New Year and although I predicted RVP would have a great season of goal scoring, I had no idea he would go on a run of form as he has of late.

The game against Chelsea was the turning point.  The Gunners had two wins in their two previous games against middle-tier teams, but the away tilt against the Blues figured to be a litmus test for the rest of the season.  I figured they would either lose by two or more goals and the best-case scenario was taking a point.  What I witnessed was the type of free flowing, attacking football that had become a hallmark of the great Arsenal teams.  Yes, the defense on both sides was porous, but it made for one of the best games I have watched in quite a while.  Santos was dangerous, Walcott scored a wonder goal, and RVP was his talismanic self.  Chelsea’s Juan Mata scored a cracker to tie the game at 3 in the 80th minute and it seemed as though Arsenal would have to settle for a point, but it would be a disappointment given the way they had played.  Instead, the football gods punished John Terry for being an all-round bad human being (I know, I know – innocent until proven guilty) and he inexplicably stumbled, leaving nothing between RVP and the goal but headgear-wearing Petr Cech.  I’m sure you saw the goal or saw the replay, but I’ll recap it anyway: oozing fundamentals and class, RVP waited for Cech to commit and then dribbled around him to tap in the winning goal (if only his countryman Arjen Robben could have done the same in the World Cup Final against Spain’s Iker Casillas, a play that still haunts my dreams).  RVP added another in the stoppage time to complete the hat trick for good measure and Arsenal had a season-changing 5-3 victory at one of the more difficult venues in the EPL against a quality opponent.

Wenger rested RVP in the midweek Champions League game at the Emirates against Marseille for the first 60 minutes, which was probably a mistake, but they still took points.  Any thought of further hangover from the Chelsea triumph was put to bed with an RVP goal in the 22nd minute and a 3-0 trouncing of West Brom last Saturday.

RVP is currently a man possessed.  It’s too bad the international break comes at a time when Arsenal are really starting to string some quality games together, but I believe they are still in good shape.  Arsene Wenger will not let the lads rest on their laurels, they are hungry for more at this point.  RVP does not appear to be a man who will be affected by a break from his teammates at Arsenal (it certainly helps he gets to play with his awesome Dutch teammates as they prep for a run at Euro 2012 glory with friendlies against Switzerland and Germany).  I look for Arsenal and RVP to continue their fine run of form on the 19th against Norwich.  Until then, Hup Holland, Hup!