Had it gone on much longer, the pins and needles that Arsenal fans were precariously perched on might have broken. It might have taken an extra long shift for Wenger's disciples at the back end of a game that was always teetering on the edge of chaos, but the victory bells rang out in all their splendor as the heavens made certain that sanity was to be restored to North London. At least, for another half year or so.
Much as I do love whacking the Walcott pinata with an oversized mace, the flashy winger was the most deadly player on the pitch today. Stealing a march on a sleepy Danny Rose in the 23rd minute, he feathered a near post ball along the ground for Olivier Giroud, who proved equal to the job and finished with gorgeous precision. Had it not been for the heroics of Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris, Walcott could've had two goals to his own name and really turned the screw on the boys from down the lane.
Men against boys, it was, from that point on. Arsenal came a Lloris bootlace away from adding a few more to their tally, and then proceeded to weather the storm to the finish with some heroic team defending against the youthful exuberance of Hotspur. Tottenham's new signings failed to make any real impressions. Roberto Soldado was in Koscielny's pocket all day, Nacer Chadli doesn't look much like a winger at all, and only the dynamic play of right winger Andros Townsend had me fearing for the result at all.
This win over Arsenal's most demonic of enemies was a victory everywhere for the old boys, the outdated models, and the discarded 'it' products of yesteryear. On the one end, Tottenham, the blue buffoons destined to remain always in the shadow of the Emirates' splendor, came into this fixture touting the 100 million euro expenditure in this summer's transfer window. Arsenal, meanwhile, have spent mere pennies, and not just by comparison, they've yet to spend a single pound, euro, or dollar thus far in a window that closes in roughly 28 hours.
And at the center of all of this joyous hullabaloo, is Arsene Wenger. Under constant fire from fans, experts, and occasionally his own players, Le Professuer has stuck to his guns and not given in to the new wave mantra of 'pounds equals points.' As a stadium of supporters watched the players they know and love heroically hold the line against a Tottenham side that were desperate for some vindication of their own, you couldn't help but be proud as an Arsenal fan. The Alamo-esque display of a six-man back line in front of a commanding goalkeeper in Szczesny, who suddenly looks like he doesn't need to be replaced at all, is enough to make anyone understand the importance of team chemistry.
Some people I know -who know who they are- have been lamenting (or lauding) the fact that Tottenham have brought in players who Arsenal could well use in Paulinho and Etienne Capoue. Exactly where were they today. could someone please remind me? I recall the sight of Capoue (achieving nothing more all day than bumbling about and losing posession every once in a while) leaving the field on a stretcher after being felled by the mighty mass of minuscule Santi Cazorla. Paulinho and Capoue alike were baffled time and again by the less imposing, but infinitely more combative Aaron Ramsey, the latter running midfield all day long with few roadblocks to contend with. These are the players we wanted? In Wenger we should still trust, it seems.
When you add to the equation that this was an Arsenal team missing some serious firepower in the forms of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mikel Arteta, Lukas Podolski, and the departed Captain Jack, one can only feel optimistic about the fact that a Tottenham team with all its cannons in play proved to be insufficient to fell even a wounded ship.
Arsenal even got a chance to bring on their shiny new gun, Mathieu Flamini, who involved himself straight away in hair-raising fashion by flying studs up through Danny Rose, narrowly avoiding a red card in the process. Flamini was invisible in the attacking part of the field but proved his worth by making no-nonsense challenges and providing the shield for the back four that has been so lacking in the past. A good addition, with no frills about it.
Remember too that the window isn't closed just yet, and rumors fly about a big-money mega move being on the cards for the usually frugal Mr. Wenger. (Possibly even the 2007 Ballon D'Or winner, Kaka.) While I would advise caution in getting too wrapped up in this, I will remind you all that Wenger is known for making eleventh-hour moves for more 'unknown' players, having done so with Monreal and Mertesacker in the past.
This Arsenal squad would do well with a stronger bench, as we were all treated to a sighting of 16 year old future superstar Gedion Zelalem. Who is, even at his age, scary good, but could do with a few more years at the weight bench. Wilshere's first half troubles emphasize this, as we really would struggle to fill the team out if one or two more players were to unluckily hit the deck.
Overall though, this is a day that has reminded us that even the most expensive frigates cannot trouble the grisly old Man-of-War, and should have us all relishing a hopefully more healthy visit to Three Point Lane when March rolls around.
3 points for the Arsenal.
Break a knee Van Persie,
Thomas
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