Things are looking up for Arsenal

Arsenal’s 3-0 drubbing of Stoke was even easier than the score suggested. And this is perhaps one of the strongest signs yet this season that things are finally beginning to gel.

Of course, this is too little too late for most fans who have their eyes firmly set on a future league title – a prize which has been denied to Arsenal fans now for 11 years; the longest period since the 1971-89 dearth.

But looking on the plus side, third place now looks distinctly possible, and we have a great chance of progressing through to the quarter-final stage of the Champions League if we can get past Monaco – and this looks distinctly possible.

Of course, no fan will be counting their chickens quite yet, but the signs are there that Arsenal are finally beginning to find the steel they need to compete at the very highest level.

Are things looking up for Arsene Wenger?

Most notably of all, Alexis Sanchez is really beginning to look like he could become one of the all-time greats. More than any other aspect of his game, he shows immense strength, tenacity and sheer determination – and this is exactly what Arsenal need throughout the team.

We have silky skills in abundance (as does Sanchez, by the way) but what we need is a little more grit. This is much documented and may sound like a bit of a cliché, but the truth is that without a Tony Adams leading from the back or a Patrick Vieira in midfield, the only major trophy Arsenal have managed was last year’s FA Cup win.

And, welcome though this undoubtedly was for silverware-strapped Gooners, what we’re really after is the Premier League or maybe even another final appearance in the Champions League – and we’re still quite a way away from achieving either of those things.

Each season seems patchy. There are always periods when fans are optimistic or despairing and this has been the way for the best part of a decade now. In contrast, Chelsea are in the clear in the league, favourites in the League Cup betting and, it has to be said, in with a more realistic chance than the Gunners of going all the way in the Champions League.

So why can’t we manage some of that kind of consistency? This is the key question for all Gooners for the last few years and it’s one Arsene Wenger just still hasn’t managed to answer fully somehow. Perhaps Sanchez will answer it for him – or perhaps we still need another defensive stalwart who is, or who becomes, Arsenal to the core?

Nevertheless, let’s look on the bright side, things are certainly looking up and the way we’re playing, we can beat anyone on the day as long as Sanchez stays fit. In particular, the Chelsea at home game in April will surely be a telling one in helping decide how far we’ve really come.

Image  Ronnie Macdonald This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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