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Arsenal loom in the race for the title

Christmas is my favourite time of the year and I hope everyone had a good one. Personally, all I asked was for a seemingly impossible win against Aston Villa. The West Midland giants have smashed Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool and are threatening to break into the top four.

The Arsenal apparently, the poorest out of these teams were expected to roll over and let the speed-demons take over at The Emirates. The immensely talented Aston Villa team looked well organised but in all fairness even before Fabregas came on, Arsenal looked better. I have always wondered if players really, truly understood what a must win game means to fans and to the football club.

Like the Liverpool game, with Chelsea looking shambolic, even with all their stars not missing for the ACN’s, Arsenal had to capitalise. They did and should they win their game in hand, they shoot into second, above Manchester United and a mere one point behind the West London club.

I cannot stress enough that after Chelsea hammed Arsenal, I didn’t come across one person that thought Arsenal would win the title. And yet, less than a month later, they look to punish Chelsea in the best possible way, by keeping close and in the running via winning as many games as possible.

For the first time in about six years, Arsenal looked determined. They made Villa’s talent look average and kept going after many missed chances. I have always been a massive fan of Vassiriki Diaby, probably because of the impact he had when he first came to the club only for a classless “footballer” make a tackle to rule him out for eighteen months. Yesterday, Diaby lit up the Emirates, whilst Dan Smith, then of Sunderland was probably watching it on the telly, who is currently without a club.  

Patrick Veira has been eulogised into being the ultimate Captain Fantastic and Cesc Fabregas did his best to write his own legend. Instead of words, he used his feet and breathtaking skills to earn a win. A brief cameo that lasted a mere twenty-eight minutes reminded me of a celebrity gracing an opening of a club or bar to rear more custom. Every time he plays like that, I get a bit more addicted. I buy more merchandise and the love strengthens!

It was clear that Arsene Wenger had his tactics right, probably learning from the other big four’s mistakes. It is also clear that Thomas Vermealen has made most fans forget about Kolo Toure and adore the centre-back partnership with Gallas.

However, the most crystallised development this season is the fact that the best player in the world plays for Arsenal Football Club. His heroic’s against Tottenham and Villa has made him the most in-form player in the world right now. I hope he keeps it up. We’ve got Cesc Fabregas.

Topics: African Cup of Nations, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Aston Villa, Cesc Fabregas, English Premier League, Match Reports