The balloon remains full today after the "famous victory" over the reigning champions at their place. Just a few thoughts about 4 players who were so important on Sunday.
1. Ospina
So I have a theory about Ospina and his purchase and arrival at the Arsenal. And it's that Wenger bought him knowing that Szcz is immature.
I don't think Ospina was bought to "just be cover." He was a solid, established no. 1 for club and country and I just can't see his agent and him agreeing to a move to Arsenal so that he could sit and play cup matches. I think that Wenger knew that Szcz was always going to do something immature and foolish and he wanted a reliable no. 1 to step in.
Smoking in the boys room, really?
Having watched Ospina play for his country quite a bit, being the lynchpin of a Colombian side that really tore through CONMEBOL prior to last year's World Cup Finals, I knew of him. I thought he was an excellent shot stopper but not that great at claiming crosses. At "only" 6 foot tall he has always had a perceived liability in the air and different to most of Wenger's preferred keepers. But he is quite athletic and also quite different to Szcz in that his confidence is much more quiet and calm.
My theory, conspiratorial obviously, is that Ospina was always going to be the new Arsenal no. 1. Wenger didn't want to just demote Szcz but I think he always knew that a moment would--would, not could--come when he would have to deal with the player's immaturity.
Is Szcz done at Arsenal? I don't know. Ospina is only 26. It's not like he's an old man. And keepers, as you well know, are an odd lot. No "first team" keeper is happy being a backup. Being a reserve keeper is a profession just like being a plumber or a carpenter. You have to dedicate yourself to it and accept that it's not ever going to be any different. I can't see Ospina playing that role.
2. Hector Bellerin
In my nitrous-fueled postmatch delirium Sunday, I compared the little Spaniard to Nigel Winterburn. Ok, ok, calm down now.
But I don't think that comparison is that far off in terms of what I've seen from Bellerin. The best thing I can say about him? He's obviously a professional fullback. He doesn't offer the thrust going forward that others might and do we even know if he's a good crosser of the ball? Not sure.
But my Buddha, did he not put in a heroic shift against Citeh? He was everywhere. His nullification of the Blues' left flank was absolutely stunning. He plays so much bigger than his frame suggests. I actually used to worry about him being bullied but the way he ran the rule over James Milner was as great as any I've ever seen a player turn in wearing the cannon crest.
The reason I compare him to Winterburn--who is my favourite Arsenal player ever--is that his industry (to me anyway) outstrips what you think he might do, and his toughness and willingness to get stuck in and run his hole off just bring our old number 3 to mind. Unfair comparison? I don't think so. I know he's young and he'll have his ups and downs but I would make him right back and leave him there.
3. Santi Cazorla
"Pulling the strings" is the phrase I keep reading about what Santi did on Sunday. All I want to say is that it was so much more than that. It's...his joy.
He loves playing football. He just seems to love it so much that it infects the other players. He's the perfect marriage of desire and ability that you want in a footballer. He does every single thing with an abandon and happiness that you so rarely see from millionaire jerkoff knobhead footballers anymore.
I love when he walks over to one of the other players and says "Ok ok" in that way that he has, that way that seems to both calm everyone and reassure them. I never worry about anything when Santi has the ball at his feet. Remember in his first season when he did the famous "1-2" with himself? He's magical.
I hate to say that because I know it's not fair to him, but I really, really believe that the team is so much better with him in it, again not just because of his talent but because the other players feed off his positive attitude. And if there's one thing that Arsenal currently always need, it's positivity.
4. Le Coq
Much has been written in the past 2 days about the amazing display that Le Coq put in versus MCFC, and much of it has been said in a tone of astonishment. And I don't understand that.
Before that fucking stupid smelly maggot-infested cunt Ramires stamped on him, Le Coq was starting to establish himself as a tough, mobile, necessary defensive mid. That moment made me so angry.
Coquelin had 2 seasons of football stolen from him in that moment. Every Gooner I know was very excited about him before then.
I think the lad is the answer. I'm sorry, I do. I don't think you need to run out and splash 30 million quid on someone (Schneiderlin?) in transfer fees and massive wages when you have someone who has the positional awareness and toughness that Le Coq has. He disrupted Citeh's intentions time and time again on Sunday and actually he's been doing that and actually he did that before he was injured against Chelsea.
The thing I always say about players is "Do you have the capacity for what is needed?" Not that you'll always be 100%, but can you do the job when required.
I think Arsenal have accidentally stumbled into these four players who have that capacity. I really like all four of them. They're not flash. They're much more graft than glamour. And I like that. I really really want that in my Arsenal teams.
Think about it--were it not for injuries or happenstance, Arsenal might not have Ospina in goal, Le Coq in front of the defence, Bellerin on the right, and Santi as the ostensible number 10. I almost feel like Sunday was the happiest accident that ever happened to Arsenal.
For all his massive talent, PV4 was known as a hard worker. Dixon, Winterburn, Adams, Keown, Bouldy, Petit, Parlour, DB10, TH14, Lauren, Gilberto Silva--every one of them had a reputation as a tough-minded and hard working player.
Arsenal have been through some tough times in recent years with players who didn't always put in the required shift. But these four seem to bring exactly that.
I think of all the wonderful things about Sunday that I enjoyed, it was that effort and hard work that I loved the most. It reminded me of when I first started following the club. More, please.
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