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Young Gunners growing into world beaters
by: Nick Webster
Since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, only four teams have lifted the trophy — Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Blackburn.
Of those sides, how many were truly great?
Blackburn certainly weren't anything to write home about and you could say that their solitary title was bought and paid for.
Chelsea was brutally efficient but their twin titles came the same way as Blackburn's.
United could honestly say they had two great vintages, 1996 and 1999 while Arsenal will proudly point to the 2004 outfit.
If you know nothing about football, the history, players, great rivalries and just looked at records, you would probably say that the greatest team in Premier League history was that Gunners team.
The reasoning being is that they played 38, won the league by 11 points and went unbeaten in that season. The only other team to achieve this feat was Preston North End in 1889 when the league table consisted of 12 teams. They were nicknamed the 'Invincibles' — Arsenal inherited that name with ease.
A year later Arsenal won their last trophy of this decade, the FA Cup. Since that afternoon at the Millennium Stadium, Arsene Wenger, Arsenal's longest serving manager, has been telling us that his new Gunners would rule English football for years to come.
For five years that boast has seemed hollow, callow and deluded as one third and a bunch of fourth place finishes have marked the new Arsenal as also-rans. For sure they've always started the seasons strongly and been pleasing on the eye but eventually they've flattered to deceive.
Give Wenger credit though, because through all of this he has stayed on message. His mantra has been simple. His kids will eventually come good and to be fair, if you say something long, hard and often enough, it just may come true.
For sure this isn't the team of Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Sol Campbell and Robert Pires but would you argue against the following.
Robin van Persie has the sweetest left foot since Liam Brady. Abou Diaby has Vieira plus goals flowing through his veins. Thomas Vermaelen is a better footballer than Campbell. Cesc Fabregas is the best thing since sliced bread.
Okay, Fabregas may not match up to sliced bread but on current form is there anyone better than him in his position in world football? The answer is no.
Fabregas is just one of two holdovers from the 'Invincibles' season, the other being Gael Clichy. Other than those two players, the current team is built from scratch. If you look at the likes of United and Chelsea, their squads look almost ancient compared to the youth and vigor of the North Londoners.
Yes, those two teams have won the last five titles and yes they will be there in May. They have experience and they know how to win and that is the key — knowing how to win.
This Arsenal team is just starting to learn that hardest of lessons. Once they know it, feel it, understand it, Wenger and his young charges will embark on a run that will rival that of his greatest rival, Sir Alex Ferguson.
On Saturday against Tottenham, the Gunners were not playing well. They were not playing that eye-catching Wenger football. However, they were also not in any discomfort. What they did display though, and what you rarely see from youth, is patience.
They waited for the mistake. It came. They punished.
That is a sign of maturity and a sign that perhaps, Wenger's team has finally arrived.
Without any international interruptions and a smooth progression in the UEFA Champions League, with key players returning from injury, I think the next four months will see Arsenal move through the gears and become one of the most potent forces in English football.
The Professor has that hunger again and this could yet be his greatest experiment ever.
Until then, I'll see you at the far post.
Since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, only four teams have lifted the trophy — Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Blackburn.
Of those sides, how many were truly great?
Blackburn certainly weren't anything to write home about and you could say that their solitary title was bought and paid for.
Chelsea was brutally efficient but their twin titles came the same way as Blackburn's.
United could honestly say they had two great vintages, 1996 and 1999 while Arsenal will proudly point to the 2004 outfit.
If you know nothing about football, the history, players, great rivalries and just looked at records, you would probably say that the greatest team in Premier League history was that Gunners team.
The reasoning being is that they played 38, won the league by 11 points and went unbeaten in that season. The only other team to achieve this feat was Preston North End in 1889 when the league table consisted of 12 teams. They were nicknamed the 'Invincibles' — Arsenal inherited that name with ease.
A year later Arsenal won their last trophy of this decade, the FA Cup. Since that afternoon at the Millennium Stadium, Arsene Wenger, Arsenal's longest serving manager, has been telling us that his new Gunners would rule English football for years to come.
For five years that boast has seemed hollow, callow and deluded as one third and a bunch of fourth place finishes have marked the new Arsenal as also-rans. For sure they've always started the seasons strongly and been pleasing on the eye but eventually they've flattered to deceive.
Give Wenger credit though, because through all of this he has stayed on message. His mantra has been simple. His kids will eventually come good and to be fair, if you say something long, hard and often enough, it just may come true.
For sure this isn't the team of Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Sol Campbell and Robert Pires but would you argue against the following.
Robin van Persie has the sweetest left foot since Liam Brady. Abou Diaby has Vieira plus goals flowing through his veins. Thomas Vermaelen is a better footballer than Campbell. Cesc Fabregas is the best thing since sliced bread.
Okay, Fabregas may not match up to sliced bread but on current form is there anyone better than him in his position in world football? The answer is no.
Fabregas is just one of two holdovers from the 'Invincibles' season, the other being Gael Clichy. Other than those two players, the current team is built from scratch. If you look at the likes of United and Chelsea, their squads look almost ancient compared to the youth and vigor of the North Londoners.
Yes, those two teams have won the last five titles and yes they will be there in May. They have experience and they know how to win and that is the key — knowing how to win.
This Arsenal team is just starting to learn that hardest of lessons. Once they know it, feel it, understand it, Wenger and his young charges will embark on a run that will rival that of his greatest rival, Sir Alex Ferguson.
On Saturday against Tottenham, the Gunners were not playing well. They were not playing that eye-catching Wenger football. However, they were also not in any discomfort. What they did display though, and what you rarely see from youth, is patience.
They waited for the mistake. It came. They punished.
That is a sign of maturity and a sign that perhaps, Wenger's team has finally arrived.
Without any international interruptions and a smooth progression in the UEFA Champions League, with key players returning from injury, I think the next four months will see Arsenal move through the gears and become one of the most potent forces in English football.
The Professor has that hunger again and this could yet be his greatest experiment ever.
Until then, I'll see you at the far post.
)
no need to state the blatantly obvious...I don't think none a we dat stupid.
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