MZ @ 2013 :: A Owa Endz

Arsenal hard to beat

ZJSnyper said
12:19 02/13 2008

The battle for the Barclays Premier League title in England is one of the most intriguing in recent years. Arsenal, the champions in 2004, swept to a five-point lead two days ago following some very favourable results at the weekend. First Chelsea and Liverpool drew 0-0 on Saturday then the following day, defending champions Manchester United were shocked 2-1 by neighbours Manchester City. On Monday, Arsenal rubbed salt into the wounds of their nearest rivals by blanking Blackburn Rovers 2-0 top open up what might prove to be a decisive gap. As Sir Alex Ferguson reminded everyone yesterday, however, the league is just in the second week of February and there is still a very long way to go. Arsenal have to visit the two clubs in second and third spots. On March 22 they will travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. Then two weeks later, on April 5, they will host Liverpool. The following weekend, it's the big one, Manchester United versus Arsenal at Old Trafford. By then it could be all over. If not, then this could be the decider. Outstanding football I cannot see Chelsea, from eight points off the pace in third, getting past both Arsenal and Chelsea. It is now, as far as I am concerned, a two-horse race between leaders Arsenal on 63 points and Manchester United on 58. Chelsea can pip United for second but eight points with just 12 matches to go is just too much of a gap as far as winning the title is concerned. In addition Arsenal are playing too well. Emmanuel Adebayor, Cesc Fabregas, Matthieu Flamini, Alexander Hleb, Eduardo da Silva, backed by defenders, the cool captain William Galls, Kolo Toure and Bacary Sagna have been playing outstanding football for the entire season and it is difficult to see them caving-in this late in the season. Coming into the new year, many expected Arsenal to falter. Two of their top players, Toure, the dependable defender and the versatile Emmanuel Eboue would be away playing in the Africa Cup of Nations. Dutch star Robin Van Persie who had looked so good in early season was out for an extended period with an injury. Instead of faltering, however, Arsenal have looked even stronger, and the five-point lead now has the opposition in disarray. Rebuilding mode Manager Arsene Wenger is being hailed as a genius by Arsenal supporters. When he allowed his leading star and captain, Thierry Henry, to leave for Barcelona last season it was generally felt that Arsenal would remain in a rebuilding mode and would fail to challenge for the title. In fact, many predicted that they would fall out of the top four and be replaced by arch rivals Tottenham. Now while Arsenal are sitting pretty at the top of the league, Tottenham are floundering at eleventh spot with 32 points. Their other main top four rival, Liverpool, are 19 points off the pace in fifth and in a battle with Everton for fourth place. Arsenal owe their good position to the great depth in the young talent assembled by Wenger. Eduardo is one of the best in front of goal in the entire league and others like Abou Diaby in midfield and young Danish forward Nicklas Bendtner have all been excellent back-up men. My Arsenal player of the season so far is Hleb. The Belarus star is, for me, the leading attacking midfielder in the Barclays Premier League. He has provided an enormous amount of assists for the Arsenal forwards, and is the main man behind Adebayor's 19-goal tally. Whenever he is off the field the Arsenal team struggles to break down defences. Unlike others, I do not think the championships will go down to the wire. With the level of confidence sky high Arsenal could be celebrating their first title in four years by early April.