English Premier League: Winners of the fourth weekend – Part 4
Arsenal gave a fine performance against a team which usually troubles them whether it is home or away. Their four goals to one win over Bolton Wanderers following a victory over Blackburn Rovers has perhaps told a new story to every Arsenal fan. A story that is based around the moral that, Arsenal can give it out as good as they can take it.
In the previous five seasons, Wenger’s team has seen a barren run as far as silverware is concerned. Many players have come and gone from the Emirates during this time. It should be remembered that Arsenal’s success under Wenger has come due to his clever buys. For example, Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Marc Overmars, Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira, all of these players were brought in by Arsene from outside the club’s own youth academy. Credit to him that yes, he developed these players but that does not change the fact that they were indeed world class players who were bought by Arsenal F.C from different clubs.
In the summer transfer window of 2009, Wenger parted ways with Emmanuel Adebayor; the Togo national was sold to Manchester City for a hefty amount of money. Arsene told Arsenal’s club website that he sold his star striker due to some reasons. According the long standing Gunner’s manager, one of the main factors which instigated the decision to sell Adebayor was concerned with Wenger’s purchase of the Mexican striker Carlos Vela.
Vela was bought by Arsenal in an attempt to provide Adebayor and Robin Van Persie with sufficient amount of cover, in case they got injured. As it turned out the pair of them had their injury problems while Van Persie still continues to struggle with them. Vela started for Arsenal on the weekend against Bolton, a game for which they were without their renowned players such as Van Persie (no surprise there), Samir Nasri, and Thomas Vermaellen. This meant that young members of the squad had to step up to the mark to battle for the three points against Bolton Wanderers.
Vela’s performance has steadily been improving over the years. These injuries have provided a fantastic opportunity to the Mexican speedster who has been compared in the past to the Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler by his manager, Arsene Wenger, to shine. That might be a highly rated remark on its but Vela’s performance against Bolton has certainly given some credibility to Wenger’s decision to sell Adebayor and trust his young striker.
In the coming weeks, Arsenal’s season enters into its full rigor as they compete in the Champions League in midweek and then play in the English Premier League the following weekend. Vela is now one of the two recognizably fit strikers that Arsenal possess as Theo Walcott is also facing an extended absence through ankle injury. Vela will get more chances from here on; it is up to the Mexican marksman now to make his impact on Arsenal’s starting line up. If he continues playing like the way he did against Bolton, then surely he will be one of the next big things at the Emirates stadium.
Two goals, three English Premier League games, Moussa Dembele was an unknown quantity before he came to Fulham under Mark Hughes. Signed from Dutch football club side, AZ Alkmaar, few Fulham fans were aware of the talent that this young Belgian striker possesses. Against Wolves at the weekend, he got both of Fulham’s goals and announced his arrival on the big Premier League stage. He showcased why Hughes was so eager to sign him up as his quick feet and dazzling pace left the Wolves defence in a trance of shock and awe.
With Bobby Zamora injured, this weekend’s winner Dembele will have to perform consistently for Fulham if they are to improve on their 12th placed finish from the 2009-2010 English Premier League.
Tags: