Special Feature: English Premier League’s weekend conclusions - Part 1
Premier League’s ninth round of matches came to a half with several teams taking a hit in both reputational as well as numerical terms. As there were some losers on the weekend, there were also some outfits which did themselves considerable justice by performing
to the best of their abilities. English Premier League once again gave its fans a reason to call it the best in the world as most of the matches were filled with controversy and drama along with some delightful football.
Arsenal were one of the teams on the weekend who added three more points to their total tally as they comprehensively defeated a ten man Manchester City. After the match, Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal’s captain come out and said that his team would have dispatched
the men in blue even if they were at a lower numerical strength on the field than their opponents. Indeed, it was a bold remark by the Spanish national team midfielder but if Arsenal’s performance was anything to go by, Wenger’s team was absolutely sensational.
One has to take into account the fact that Manchester City had their defender Boyata sent off in the early stages of the match but many a times, it has been seen that a sending off has galvanised a team into defending more effectively and responsibly.
One cannot fault Manchester City for their effort but the fact is that Arsenal were just too good. Even if it was eleven against eleven for both the sides, Arsenal are a side which pride themselves on retaining possession of the football, they pick and pass
their way through the toughest of defences. However, an important aspect to Arsenal’s three goal win over Manchester City was that in gaining the three points, they propelled themselves to the second place spot in the Premier League rankings, above the likes
of Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham.
Last season, Arsenal had failed to win even a single game against the top four of English football. Last season, their record against the likes of City, United and Chelsea was just abysmal, therefore a win against the cash cows of the league would have done
Wenger’s boys a whole lot of good in morale boosting terms. As Theo Walcott said after the game that Arsenal’s games against other “big” clubs in the League are the matches that they will be judged upon come May, 2011. True, the Englishman for once was right
as Arsenal also exorcised themselves of a demon which had plagued their progress since 2008 as that was the year when Arsenal last gained a victory over a “big four” club.
Another bright spot for the Gunners in their win over City at the Eastlands was their goalkeeper, Lukasz Fabianski. There was a time when Fabianski was seen as a below par goalkeeper. There still might be some doubters in club football who see some flaws
in his technique but the goalkeeper did his chances of cementing a first team starting place at the Emirates Stadium no harm through his display against Manchester City.
Fabianski might even be Arsenal’s eternal problem- a problem that has become their nightmare ever since David Seaman parted ways with the club. Fabianski is prone to errors as he has himself shown in the past but goalkeeping is a confidence based job and
the appreciation he has earned after Arsenal’s triumph over City might be just what the doctor ordered for the Polish international goalie.
Samir Nasri was Arsenal’s best player against Manchester City. It is not a coincidence that he didn’t travel to the world Cup with France as the French midfielder has bagged seven goals in seven matches for Arsenal thus far. A goal in every start, Nasri
has finally turned a corner this season as his composure and skill on the ball has eventually come good. Upon his arrival at the Emirates Stadium in 2007, Samir was compared to Zinedine Zidane, a title he may well achieve if he keeps up his current form and
progress.
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