Darius from Stone Cold Arsenal issues his own personal State of the Union on 2009/10…

International breaks are notorious for inducing chronic cases of Arsenalitis, so it is timely to reflect on how the season is progressing. This time last year, we had already received shock therapy from newcomers Stoke and Hull with Villa and Fulham turning us over for good measure. Even so, we were just a couple of weeks shy from the turning point of the season when Gallas was relieved off his captaincy, his ass nailed onto the naughty step at London Colney just before Manchester City spanked us.

No one would blame ardent Arsenalists for having cold sweats during what is traditionally a ‘nightmarish’ month. The least we would expect is that our team has learnt the lessons of previous seasons.

Since that defeat at Eastlands in November 2008, we have played 46 matches in all competitions and lost 6. This would suggest that progress has been made and when Wenger proclaimed 2 weeks ago that Arsenal will win a title this season, it would not be unreasonable to assume that he knows something we don’t.

After all, this is the man who was laughed out of TV and radio studios, ridiculed in newspapers for proclaiming in 2002 that Arsenal could win the title unbeaten. Granted, it took him one more year but it was a monumental achievement when his revelation came true after a nerve-racking encounter against Leicester City.

The images of Wenger walking around an empty Highbury after the season finale soaking up the achievement of the ‘Invincibles’ team was a sight to behold, a sight better than sticking two fingers up to the doubters to remind them that Arsenal is the greatest club on earth.

Is Wenger onto something when he says that we will win a trophy this season? The evidence so far is stacked in his favour. After a summer of indifferent opinions from fans, pundits and hacks; calls from all quarters for Wenger to strengthen the squad with Galacticos by breaking the bank and an unsavoury game of power chess in the Arsenal boardroom, the team has surpassed the expectations of many, showing their maturity and determination in proving that Wenger isn’t off his trolley.

Very few from the footballing establishment, let alone a significant section of Arsenal fans, gave this team a chance in hell at the start of the season. The team, so far, has resoundingly defied the odds, making collective doubters stand up and take notice.

It is a colossal understatement to suggest that a team that has bagged 55 goals in all competitions from 17 different outfield players isn’t serious about winning a title. If ever there was a statement of intent, it’s hard to see what else this team can do to show that they’re on the way to bringing a trophy home. In addition to the goal feast, two other attributes of this side are worth highlighting.

Firstly, it is a pleasure to witness the maturity of both individual players and the team as they move from strength to strength. To explain this aspect of our game, you could cite a change in system to a more attacking and fluid 4-3-3, the personal development of individual players who have improved over the last couple of years or the recent addition of quality players to the squad. What is not in doubt is that the team ethic has improved and that players are showing maturity and mental strength in how they approach the game.

Secondly, it’s hard to ignore the audacity of this team in their determination to play Wengerball. This is a team that is refusing to accept the old maxim that the Premiership is the toughest league in the world and teams have to play a brand of ugly, hard-crunching, agricultural football to win the title.

For too long, characteristics like grit, determination, commitment, passion and ‘headless chicken syndrome’ (the art of clocking mileage on a pitch without adding value) have been used as an excuse and substitute for not being able to play entertaining football. This team are hell bent on defying critics by suggesting that the beautiful game is not a privilege, but a right for the hard working football fan who spends their hard earned money to watch the game that they love.

Despite this positive state of affairs, many will still point out the shortcomings of the team this far. It is naive to ignore the deficiencies, particularly our perceived propensity to gift soft goals to opponents. I don’t think our generosity is intentional. We have the personnel and maturity to resolve any defensive issues as the season continues.

Perhaps we need to manage our own expectations about our ability to keep clean sheets. It is unreasonable to expect that if we play Wengerball, opposing teams won’t attack our goal; the law of averages suggests that some of them will score.

Defensive responsibilities are shared by the whole team and there is certainly room for improvement. The team knows this and based on performances so far, they have earned the right to be given space to resolve the issues. The more games we play, the better the team will get.

What is more of an issue for me this far, is the indifferent attitude and actions of a section of Arsenal fans both in the stadium and on the blogosphere? It’s the job of pundits and hacks to slate the team, constantly reminding us of the plethora of misguided reasons why they think we won’t win anything this season.

However, it is unacceptable for Arsenal fans to constantly slate individual players or the team. It’s hard to see what more this team or certain players can do to get some breathing space. Being a supporter is not just about enjoying bragging rights when we beat the Tiny Tots or when we win titles. It’s our responsibility to take the good with the bad. Each of us has our own views about our favourite players; debates will go on in pubs, offices and the blogosphere about the performances of the players. Once any player puts on an Arsenal shirt and steps onto the pitch, they have earned the right to be supported absolutely. Anything short of this is criminal.

There will be many times this season that the team will have to dig in and fight for a draw or a win. It’s during those times that the fans, especially those in the stadium, need to stand up and be counted. So far, the team has shown their mental fortitude and impeccably illustrated that they are in it for the long haul. The season is a long stretch. They need all of us to get behind them during the difficult moments to come, instead of a section of our own fans beating the team with a big stick. Arsenal bashing should be the preserve of misguided pundits and hacks.