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| Arsenal © Reuters |
There is no shortage of people willing to complicate football,
but Arsenal are providing emphatic proof of the rewards that can be
enjoyed when the game is kept refreshingly simple.
Arsene Wenger's side have constructed a 12-game unbeaten run
which has kept them in the slipstream of Chelsea and Manchester
United at the top of the English Premier League and the brink of
qualification for the knockout stage of the Champions League,
relying on nothing more than a frill-free, pass-and-move style
which has left their opponents gasping for breath.
The pressures and pitfalls of elite-level sport have been
forgotten, replaced by an old-fashioned desire to have fun.
"Most of it is about just that," admitted Robin van Persie, the
Dutch striker, who now has Wolves in his sights on Saturday.
"Football is a nice game to play and if you play together it can
be fantastic. Our game is all about one or two touches and playing
with enjoyment. We have played together, with the right spirit, and
it has been brilliant."
Van Persie has been the epitome of Arsenal's breezy style in
recent weeks, having plundered eight goals in his last 10 games,
the most prolific spell of his career.
But, as their tally of 32 league goals in 10 league games
suggests, the north Londoners are far from reliant on the
26-year-old: indeed, it is difficult to remember a time in Wenger's
13-year spell at the club when he has boasted such a awe-inspiring
array of attacking options.
The Frenchman has guile and skill in the scampering form of
Andrey Arshavin, Samir Nasriand and Tomas Rosicky; blistering pace
in Theo Walcott and Carlos Vela; the predatory instincts of Eduardo
da Silva and the brute strength and aerial prowess of Nicklas
Bendtner.
With Van Persie, who blends all these assets in one formidable
package, serving as the team's attacking talisman and Cesc Fabregas
also in prolific form, it is no wonder Wenger believes he has never
been better equipped to challenge for major honours.
Question marks still remain, of course.
Arsenal remain prone to the kind of lapses in concentration
which would embarrass an amateur team and there are justifiable
doubts over how they would cope with the prolonged absence of Alex
Song, who has developed into an impressive holding midfielder.
The answer to that conundrum will be provided in January, when
the Cameroon international travels to Angola for the African Cup of
Nations.
In the meantime, however, Arsenal's reputation as the most
fluent and aesthetically pleasing side in England appears safe and
they will be keen to underline the point at Molineux on Saturday.
Wolves are not the kind of side who will seek to bully Arsenal
into submission and the Gunners will feel confident of extending
their fine form and closing the gap on Chelsea and Manchester
United, one or both of whom will drop points in their summit
meeting on Sunday.
"We have to win this game," van Persie added. "With one game in
hand, we are two points off Chelsea so we can close in. One of them
will lose points on Sunday and if we want to challenge for the
title this is the kind of game we have to win."
Wolves, for their part, can take solace from the fact that the
pressure is off against such glitzy opponents.
The West Midlands club currently hover above the relegation
places but their performances have deserved better than their
rather measly points tally and their striker Michael Kightly
believes being underdogs will aid their cause.
"I don't think we need to fear anyone in this league," he said.
"If everyone thinks we're not going to get anything from the games,
that will suit us.
"When we're the underdogs, we're a dangerous animal and we can
cause teams problems so it suits us with the other team being the
favourites. I think we can surprise a few people."
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