Date: 5th October 2016 at 10:15am
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Following a last-gasp winner at Burnley, Luke Kenton looks back at what could be a season-defining week for the Gunners.

For much of the last decade the script has always felt somewhat pre-written for Arsenal and last season acted as no exception: A disastrous opening day of season – sparking a cacophony of ‘Wenger Out’ cries from the usual suspects? *cough cough Piers Morgan* – check! Suffering heavy defeats at the hands of fellow Premier League contenders? – check! Finishing second in the Champions League group stage, to only then be knocked out in the last 16? – check! And finally an admirable yet ‘still not quite good enough’ run for the title? – double check!

It is precisely this consistent pattern of monotonous shortcomings that has rendered the last 10 years of Wenger’s now 20 year tenure, as rather underwhelmingly predictable. But now in what could be the final year of his reign, is this vicious circle about to be broken?

Considering the first two chapters of this Arsenal epilogue, the opening two games of this season would indicate towards a resounding no. Thumped 4-3 at home by Liverpool on the opening day of the season, followed by an underwhelming 0-0 draw away to champions Leicester, any early optimistic sentiments of ‘this could be our year’ seemed a far-cry from reality.

In the weeks that followed however, we really began to find our rhythm. Easing past the likes of Watford and Hull in spectacular fashion and managing to get the better of the often tricky Southampton – no matter how controversially, Arsenal had seemingly shaken off any inhibitions suffered from their early season stumbles. The epitome of which came in the uncharacteristically disciplined performance shown in the 1-1 draw away to PSG. However, with a Chelsea visit to the Emirates looming, Arsenal’s biggest test so far was still yet to come.

After only to managing muster up a measly five leagues wins against Chelsea since 2004 – failing to even score in the previous six, any clash with the West-London side is one unanimously dreaded by the Gooner faithful. However, last Saturday managed instead to provide another break in Arsenal’s seeming cycle of convention.

Contrary to usual status quo, Arsenal, from the first whistle were tenacious, irrepressible and bristling with confidence. This was a different side, who were virtually unrecognisable from the teams that have tried and faltered before at the hands of the Blues.

Ozil celebrates the third Gunners goal against Chelsea

Ozil celebrates the third Gunners goal against Chelsea

Much of the credit for such a ferocious display can be handed to the interchanging dynamic front three of Iwobi, Sanchez and Walcott, who’s sweeping movement at times was so fast and fluid that it twisted and contorted Chelsea’s back line into a chaotic mess.

In the end the eventual 3-0 scoreline somewhat flattered Chelsea, as with every-time we raced forward, a another goal seemed almost a certainty. Regardless, for a team who at the beginning of the season were written out of contention for the ‘lack a world-class striker’, this white-washing of Chelsea felt like a real statement of intent.

Following this euphoric destruction of Chelsea, Wednesday brought a new, potentially difficult challenge at home to Basel in the Champions League.

More often than not, despite the match being at home and against team of apparent inferior stature, such a game would often be described as a ‘banana-skin’ fixture for Arsenal.

We beat Basel AND Walcott scored?!

We beat Basel AND Walcott scored?!

Such a pessimistic view of Arsenal’s hopes of European glory stems from 6 consecutive seasons of being eliminated in the last 16, for which we are usually the architectures of our own downfall in securing. It is the so-called ‘easier’ games during the group stages, such as those against Basel that really loosen our foothold in this competition.

Wednesday night at the Emirates however, would not offer the same frustrations as last season. In a fixture that would’ve once left the Gunners embarrassed and maligned, Arsenal began the game with the same rampancy and intent as they did in their last; to go for the jugular. And surely enough, inside 7 minutes Basel had been carved open by a wonderful Arsenal attacking move.

The next 83-or-so minutes played out much like they did at the Emirates against Chelsea four days previous. Wave after wave of Arsenal attack was met by a unnerved defence who seemed incapable of combating the velocity of passing and movement around them.

On a different night against better opposition, it could be argued that we may have been punished for the endless opportunities we missed to extend our lead. On the night Alexis could and should’ve netted a hat-trick, with Walcott also missing a number of sure chances to take home the match ball. For now though, we should remain delighted that – however uncharacteristically, Arsenal have made an excellent start to life in the Champions League this season.

Back to the Premier League now and this weekends round of fixtures brought Arsenal to Turf Moor, to face a resilient Burnley side looking for their second win of the season. The game shaped up as expected; Arsenal with plenty of possession attempting to breakdown a defensively minded compact 11, with as many men behind the ball as possible at all times.

Arguably an Arsenal of old or at least one true to the conventions of the last few seasons would’ve crumbled in a fixture such as this. Allowing frustration to take hold, draining our creative flair and loosing our defensive discipline. Until recently Arsenal have long been a team criticised lacking the champion-like ability to graft against teams to ‘win ugly’ and if you think back our 2-1 title-ending defeat to a struggling Swansea side at the Emirates last season, the criticism seems wholly justified.

Phew! The boys celebrate a last minute winner at Turf Moor.

Phew! The boys celebrate a last minute winner at Turf Moor.

This time however, Arsenal’s efforts never ceased. No matter how many times the attack broke down, a pass was misplaced or a shot ended up wayward, the Gunners kept on prying. To which, in the very dying embers of the game, our persistence was rewarded with a rather unconventional – some would say handed, Laurent Kocsielny goal.

To paraphrase BBC commentator Guy Mowbray, it’s the victories of the real gritty games such as these that champions look back on as definitive moments of their success. And in a week where Arsenal have passed three tests that in previous seasons would’ve seen them written off, could this one be a pivotal moment in restoring major glory back to the Arsenal, for the first time since leaving Highbury?

Arsène Wenger quipped at the start of this season that this was the first time in a long time that he’s had such a deep, talented and mature squad of players. Though the season is still young, if Wenger and his men continue to break from the shackles of mediocrity and deviate from this decade long script that has confined them for so long, who knows? Maybe we could be in for a genuine title chance yet.

COYG!

 

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