Jon Mcleod
Andrew MacdougallAre Arsenal really back in the title race?
The football story of the weekend is that Arsenal have answered their critics, dispelled the doubts and revived their ailing title challenge with victory over Manchester United.
Just 24 hours after stirring up suggestions that the Arsene Wenger era may come to a premature end, the media have been remorseless in vindicating Wenger and hailing his master plan. ‘How could they doubt Wenger?’ ‘Crisis, what crisis?’
But the only problem is that the Gunners will not win the title and victory over Man U will not change that. A single victory can have a huge impact on a team’s season, but this was not such a win.
It does not make up for the losses to Stoke and Fulham that revealed fragility and flakiness, which will be targeted by all in the Premiership and will not be easily rectified. Gone is there aura of invincibility that often guarantees safe passage and straightforward points. Arsenal will have to battle in every game from now on in - Chelsea are the only side to retain the image of an irresistible force that make teams quiver.
With a squad light on numbers and experience they needed a flying start, as they got last season, to build the belief in the camp that could prevail over the deep reserves, physical and mental, of Chelsea and Manchester United.
Arsenal have been beating the top teams and losing to some of the bottom ones for years. Victory was no emancipation or meaningful turning point, it does not set them on the path to the title just as victories over the top four in previous seasons have not led to silverware.
Rather it is another example of vast potential in an infuriatingly erratic narrative.
Just 24 hours after stirring up suggestions that the Arsene Wenger era may come to a premature end, the media have been remorseless in vindicating Wenger and hailing his master plan. ‘How could they doubt Wenger?’ ‘Crisis, what crisis?’
But the only problem is that the Gunners will not win the title and victory over Man U will not change that. A single victory can have a huge impact on a team’s season, but this was not such a win.
It does not make up for the losses to Stoke and Fulham that revealed fragility and flakiness, which will be targeted by all in the Premiership and will not be easily rectified. Gone is there aura of invincibility that often guarantees safe passage and straightforward points. Arsenal will have to battle in every game from now on in - Chelsea are the only side to retain the image of an irresistible force that make teams quiver.
With a squad light on numbers and experience they needed a flying start, as they got last season, to build the belief in the camp that could prevail over the deep reserves, physical and mental, of Chelsea and Manchester United.
Arsenal have been beating the top teams and losing to some of the bottom ones for years. Victory was no emancipation or meaningful turning point, it does not set them on the path to the title just as victories over the top four in previous seasons have not led to silverware.
Rather it is another example of vast potential in an infuriatingly erratic narrative.
