Baptism of Flair

For a newcomer it takes time to adjust to Premiership football. And that applies even to players who are world class. If you don’t believe it, take a trip to Stamford Bridge and ask Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack, because after wowing crowds in Italy and Germany, they haven’t cracked it in England yet.

But the good news for Arsenal fans is that Julio Baptista is beginning to. They know this because at a packed Anfield in the quarter final of the Carling Cup, he produced a terrific performance which provided the first real indication of what he can do.

Four goals guaranteed him the headlines, and it would have been five if Jerzy Dudek hadn’t saved his penalty. The first was magical – a wonderful curling Brazilian free kick into the corner of the net that left the Liverpool goalkeeper helplessly rooted to the spot. He ran in his second from close range in first half injury time. The third and fourth were set up by Jeremie Aliadiere, a sharp low drive from the edge of the box and a triumphant tap in from a cross.

Four goals would have been more than enough, but there was far more to Baptista’s display – energy, commitment, vision, power, confidence and above all an instant dream partnership with the equally outstanding Jeremie Aliadiere which was deeply significant because both are very talented and both have had their detractors.

Now, happily, it seems that both are well on the way to fulfilling their considerable potential.