I said at the beginning of the season that the form of Cesc Fabregas would make or break Arsenal. It was an admittedly obvious thing to say, but if ever a team was built around one man it was Matt Le Tissier's Southampton...and Cesc Fabregas' Arsenal of 08/09. Last season Flamini, Rosicky and Hleb carried their fair share of responsibility for the Gunners; this season two of those three became ex-Gooners and one of them has effectively become an ex-player. Nasri was brought in (still only 21 years old) and Walcott was given his chance to start regularly (still sporting the facial hair akin to a boy just hitting puberty. Lose the 'tasche Theo. It looks ridiculous). As such the Arsenal midfield had an average age of about 7, and so all depended on whether Cesc could make this group of youngsters tick, and grow them into men.
He couldn't, and it was Wenger's mistake to think anyone could, not to mention a knackered 21 year old.
Fabregas was still feeling the effects of a full season plus a European Championships, and he looked like a guy who needed a break. His performances were below what we have come to expect, and Arsenal suffered to the point of no return. Their five league defeats all came while Fabregas was in the team, and yet when he got injured it was hard to imagine Arsenal doing anything but descending into mediocrity. They were bad with Cesc; surely they would be worse without him.
Not so. Since Fabregas hobbled off at half time against Liverpool, Arsenal have not lost in the league. They lost their most experienced midfielder, and regularly featured a midfield quartet consisting of Denilson, Song, Diaby/Eboue and Nasri. Not a vintage Arsenal midfield it's safe to say. And yet, and yet, these boys (almost literally) have maintained the undefeated streak which started all the way back in November against City. Just look at that list of names again and you surely won't be able to help but wonder just how Arsenal have done it. Remarkably, it seems that it was Cesc's absense, not his presence, that grew these players up. It was sink or swim, and for the most part they have swam, and Arsenal are reaping the benefits as I write this.
Fabregas is now back after almost four months of rest, and in three games he has five assists, - more than he managed in the league in the first three months. Wenger slotted him in behind the srtiker and it has worked quite well. He then moved him back to his usual position in midfield against Wigan in the second half and it changed the game. The closing stages of this season see Arsenal in with a decent chance of winning two trophies, and as funny as it seems, the four month absense of Cesc Fabregas is a major reason for this. He needed time off, and other players needed to take more responsibility.
With Arshavin now in the mix, Arsenal possess in my opinion the best midfield and forward combination in the Premier League. Their defense remains slightly suspect -- especially given recent in jury problems -- but if Arsenal can get across the finish line against Villarreal then confidence will ooze and by Sunday they could find themselves with a chance of winning their first trophy in four years, be it the F.A Cup, the Champions League, or both.
He couldn't, and it was Wenger's mistake to think anyone could, not to mention a knackered 21 year old.
Fabregas was still feeling the effects of a full season plus a European Championships, and he looked like a guy who needed a break. His performances were below what we have come to expect, and Arsenal suffered to the point of no return. Their five league defeats all came while Fabregas was in the team, and yet when he got injured it was hard to imagine Arsenal doing anything but descending into mediocrity. They were bad with Cesc; surely they would be worse without him.
Not so. Since Fabregas hobbled off at half time against Liverpool, Arsenal have not lost in the league. They lost their most experienced midfielder, and regularly featured a midfield quartet consisting of Denilson, Song, Diaby/Eboue and Nasri. Not a vintage Arsenal midfield it's safe to say. And yet, and yet, these boys (almost literally) have maintained the undefeated streak which started all the way back in November against City. Just look at that list of names again and you surely won't be able to help but wonder just how Arsenal have done it. Remarkably, it seems that it was Cesc's absense, not his presence, that grew these players up. It was sink or swim, and for the most part they have swam, and Arsenal are reaping the benefits as I write this.
Fabregas is now back after almost four months of rest, and in three games he has five assists, - more than he managed in the league in the first three months. Wenger slotted him in behind the srtiker and it has worked quite well. He then moved him back to his usual position in midfield against Wigan in the second half and it changed the game. The closing stages of this season see Arsenal in with a decent chance of winning two trophies, and as funny as it seems, the four month absense of Cesc Fabregas is a major reason for this. He needed time off, and other players needed to take more responsibility.
With Arshavin now in the mix, Arsenal possess in my opinion the best midfield and forward combination in the Premier League. Their defense remains slightly suspect -- especially given recent in jury problems -- but if Arsenal can get across the finish line against Villarreal then confidence will ooze and by Sunday they could find themselves with a chance of winning their first trophy in four years, be it the F.A Cup, the Champions League, or both.
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