Arsenal Might Be the Team to Beat

Phil Cole/Getty Images

A textbook counter attack to make it 4-0: Eduardo's back-heel pass frees Arshavin's run. The Russian sees Diaby and releases the ball with perfect timing. The Frenchmen finishes the play with the innate talent of a forward: a pass to the net (he is a central midfielder!).

Arsenal can play beautiful football.

It didn't happen in a matter of days. Actually, "it" hasn't even happened yet. But the many seasons of conservative spending from Arsene Wenger and his meticulous process of building a team might have finally delivered the goods.

The manager's anachronistic absence of urgency and his incorruptible faith in young and skillful talent are starting to pay off. It's about time.

Enjoying a streak of 12 unbeaten games in all competitions, Arsenal is maturing into a fantastic football team. Their ruthless dismantling of Tottenham in last Saturday's North London derby and their emphatic dismissal of AZ Alkmaar during their Champions league fixture have delivered a loud and clear message to the football elite.

Arsenal is back. Although the team's competence for playing beautiful football was never in doubt, the gunners had been lacking the pedigree of continental contenders for a while.

That said, even the most orthodox subscriber to Wenger's book shouldn't find in the team's current fortunes a form of vindication for the manager's past woes.

Yes, his Arsenal is starting to deliver. Yes, they can beat any team any given day; but it shouldn't have taken so long. Four years without silverware takes away your "I told you so" privileges.

So why now and not before? We owe it to the conjunction of time, good purchases, and Wenger's obstinacy. Arsene strengthened the squad with two superb signings this year: Arshavin and Vermaelen.

The Russian seems to have been born a gunner. He fits into the team like a glove. The Belgian defender was a steal at £10 m and has made Toure's departure trauma-free.

Not everything is new. Adebayor's exit has helped to unwrap all of Van Persie's potential. The Dutchman's exhilarating form is another one of Arsene's merits: He convinced his most senior forward to play in a more up front role, bringing back Nicklas Bendtner to form together with Fabregas a devastating partnership.

The Spaniard is perhaps the most important pillar of this project. He plays better by the day. Cesc has added to his game physical power, confidence, and an exquisite killer instinct in front of the net. Arsenal goes at his tempo.

Will that be enough to launch a credible challenge on both Premiership and Champions League? I still believe that Wenger's squad might be a bit short. The minutes that Diaby and Cesc have played so far give you an idea of how devastating an injury to any of them would be.

But most importantly, the true measurement of Arsenal's potential will be when they play better opposition in more crucial stages. When facing adversity, their reaction to it will make or break their season.

As a team with a relatively young age average, people will expect them to break down like they did when Ronaldo's brace eliminated them from Europe last season or when they lost their focus in their many Premiership races after a few draws.

Wenger has created a fantastic team, but their undoubted technical ability will need to be accompanied by sheer determination and pragmatism to make it their season.

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