A Class Apart

Anyone who witnessed Arsenal’s demolition of Blackburn Rovers at the Emirates Stadium knows that the Gunners scored six, but they could easily have made it into double figures. It was, quite simply, football from another world. Fast, imaginative, inventive, silky, sophisticated and utterly irresistible. In a word, sublime.

As such, it was both a vindication of the faith Arsene Wenger has so often expressed in the precocious talents of his predominantly young team and a fitting rebuke to those sporting journalists who continue to bang on tediously about the loss of certain experienced world class players and a tendency towards defensive frailty.

So what exactly do they want from Arsenal? The mind numbing relentless efficiency of the expensive Chelsea machine, relieved only by moments of pure Drogba? Or a return to the halcyon days of George Graham, when sheets were invariably clean and loyal fans relieved the tedium with a rousing chorus or two of “1-0 to the Arsenal”?

Trophies won that way are little more than trinkets, bought at the price of entertainment and, too often, self-respect. By contrast, real success demands style and panache and after more than 10 years of Arsene Wenger’s inspired stewardship, Arsenal fans are unlikely to settle for anything less.