Arsenal Win Is A Sign O’ The Times

Arsenal 2 – 1 Sunderland

1 – 0 van Persie (21 seconds)
1 – 1 Larsson (31 minutes)
2 – 1 van Persie (83)

Arsenal moved into tenth, their highest Premier League position since the opening day draw with Newcastle. On a day when he had used his programme notes to quash speculation – or at attempt to – about his future, Robin van Persie was lauded as the matchwinner, his talents being recognised. The Dutchman believes his fitness levels are the best they have been for years; yesterday he proved his value to the team.

From the kick-off, Arsenal sought to impose themselves on the match and erase the demons from their psyche. They did so with startling directness. Rosicky dipped the ball into Gervinho’s path, the Ivorian strode toward the area, passed inside to van Persie as the Sunderland defence parted like the Red Sea and drilled the ball unerringly past Mignolet.

One-Nil To The Arsenal inside the opening minute and a team that thrives on controlling possession, maintaining pressure on their opponents, was given the perfect platform from which to build. That they never quite took it was down to a mixture of good and bad fortune allied to outstanding football.

Within fifteen minutes, van Persie could – perhaps should - have completed a hat-trick. An audacious chip over the stranded Sunderland ‘keeper has brought comparisons with Dennis Bergkamp, no doubt pleasing to the Dutch ear. Deafness might be better with a drive that missed the far post with the accuracy we came to expect of John Jensen.

Gervinho proved to be a livewire in this hazy spell for Arsenal as their rampaging start threatened to overwhelm the visitors. Having played a part in van Persie’s opener, Arsenal’s summer signing drilled a shot wide before the frailties which have blighted the season thus far.

van Persie’s clumsy challenge gave away a freekick in the Arsenal half. From that, the defence scrambled the ball away, Arteta leading with his arm to clatter Cattermole succeeded only in handling in a dangerous position. Larsson returned to haunt Arsenal with a superb and unstoppable freekick which arced into the far corner with such pace that Szczesny’s dive was in vain.

Within minutes, the wobbles had returned to the Arsenal defence, the Pole almost gifted Sunderland an unexpected lead when he charged unnecessarily out of his area, missed his challenge and was mightily grateful to Alex Song’s dilligence in carrying out his defensive duties.

Redemption would come minutes before the break. Arsenal’s defence was stretched once more, Cattermole three yards from goal aimed his header toward an unguarded net only to see the arms of Szczesny reach and make a fabulous save to deny the Wearsiders.

On such moments are reputations built. The watching Lukasz Fabianski must be wondering where it all went wrong for him. Had those moments been his, the wanderings of a madman would have been remembered not the blinding save.

The second half began much as the first with Arsenal in the ascendancy. Kieran Gibbs withdrew with less than ten minutes played and Andre Santos replaced him. How serious the youngsters stomach injury is remains to be seen but if it is a long-term absence, he could be forgiven for feeling cursed.

But it was a familiar story. Aside from Mignolet scrambling van Persie’s effort away on the hour mark, I cannot remember a clear cut opening being forged despite the monopoly of possession Arsenal enjoyed.

Wenger though has options. This time Andrey Arshavin was introduced to the fray and he brought a shining light to the proceedings, his scurrying run and mazy dribble through the visitors defence deserved more than the effort which screwed wide.

But on cue, van Persie came up with a captain’s performance. For a team that relies upon the technical proficiency of its players, Arsenal are hopeless at set-pieces. van Persie, Arteta, even Walcott were clueless at the concept of getting the ball over the wall and then dipping under the bar. A difficult technique to master, let alone deliver on a consistent basis, granted but…

When it mattered, when the team needed it, van Persie got it right. His finish seven minutes from time was every bit as excellent as Larsson’s had been nearly an hour earlier. Mignolet was stranded as ball lifted, dipped and curled into the net, a sense of relief tangible as the net rippled.

The victory was much needed. It is not the dawning of a new era just yet, defeating a team in as poor form as Sunderland does not mean global domination is just around the corner. But as Arsène pointed out, this is the fifth consecutive home win; by the time we visit Stamford Bridge in a fortnight’s time, that could be eight in all competitions. That is the beginning of a run. Throw in an away result or two and by the end of November, a head of steam can be built.

But that is to get too far ahead. This season, if nothing else, has shown how transient form is, how unpredictable Arsenal are. It is a sign o’ the times that the talk is of how Szczesny saved the win not how van Persie could have settled the outcome before fifteen minutes was on the clock. That outlook may change over time and perhaps we’ll look back at the Pole’s moment of glory as the moment a season kickstarted into action. Until then, enjoying a win will suffice.

’til Tomorrow.

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