Arsenal: Re-Revolution or Wind-Down?

The Man City Sheikh-up and the pure madness of the on-going pantomime in the North East have given sports hacks more than enough to write about over the past five days. However, the many lines of analysis are superfluous to anyone who witnessed the legions of irate fans gathered on the steps around St. James' Park or a shell-shocked and suited Robinho standing next to Mark Hughes with a Man City #10 shirt.

He hoped in vain his ridiculous backwards cap would detract attention from his eyes that, he could not disguise, were screaming for someone to rescue him. Great coup for City and best wishes for them but the manner in which it all happened may make the super-talented superstar feel more like a high-class hooker and that feeling could be hard to shrug off.

With these stories breaking there wasn't enough time to read the journo's view of the wider consequences; we were too busy taking it all in. What all this sensationalism has led to is some respite from the critical glare that Arsenal are subjected to.

The Fulham game was the catalyst for most critics to start discussing how well we compare to our prospective Intertoto Cup rivals for next season and discussing "Who's more English? Arsenal FC or Ethnikos Achna?" Let's just take stock and look at what we are dealing with here.

It was a bad loss, an embarrassing display but it was assumed that the team would be so taken aback by it that they were doomed. One commentator even likened it to the epoch defining loss to Manchester United in the infamous "50th game.” Two games, seven goals and a place in the Champions' League Group Stages (albeit with a difficult draw) and the subject has been set-aside.

What annoys people is that Arsenal are a team that spends wisely, plays attractive football and value pragmatism and stability over major gambles. Apologies, I meant they are a miserly, spineless team of mercenaries who can't get down and dirty when they need to.

People want Arsenal to fail more than say Chelsea because Chelsea have a right to be arrogant, his name is Abramovich. However, this perception of arrogance comes merely from Arsene Wenger's unwavering ambition to follow his vision of modern football.

Ignore those who tell you to spend big and want your players to put in some tastier challenges to let the opposition know you're there and you just do not know when you were born. To clarify it was October 22nd, 1949; he's been around the block.

"In Arsene We Trust" is a popular fans' slogan and he deserves it. You'll struggle to find any players that can rival the talents of Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna, arguably the most competent full-back pairing in Europe at the moment; of Cesc Fabregas, the darling of Spain; and of Robin Van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor, two highly explosive, technically brilliant forwards.

The lesson to be learnt is knocking the status quo so early in the season is useless. Arsenal have tolerated such jibes for three seasons now and the doommongerers have been humbled. Sit back and watch the season pan-out. Usain Bolt didn't make the quickest start in the 100m now, did he?