Young Gunners shine as title race blows open

The recent royal wedding, and then the announced killing of Osama Bin Laden, possibly made the last few days the weekend of all weekends. Yet, there is also the small matter of a title race being well and truly alive in England’s top division, thanks to Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat of Manchester United on Sunday.

It was a superlative performance from the Gunners that in many ways was in stark contrast to what we have seen since their season seemingly unravelled against Birmingham in the Carling Cup final.

Arsenal have also been winless in the league and are likely to end the season without silverware again, but just when the pundits and fans were ready to load up their rifles, a refreshing triumph orchestrated by youth and enthusiasm has once again enticed supporters into believing that the future at the Emirates is very bright.

With slim title aspirations still lingering, there was a relaxed nature to the way the home side played, while the energy levels required to perform in such a high octane clash were in viewing for the first time since the home leg of the Champions League tie with Barcelona.

A balance of composure and work-rate synonymous with the greatest sides of years gone by.

This, though, wasn’t just about playing slick football and a passing game. It was about the industry, the drive and the determination of Alex Song, Jack Wilshere and the match-winner Aaron Ramsey.

There was less of the customary ‘walking the ball into the net’ football that we are used to seeing and more emphasis placed on winning personal battles – as opposed to winning the battle of possessing the ball.

This was something the eagerness of the midfield trio had no problem in doing and even the sometimes lazy substitute Andrei Arshavin followed suit in tracking back when the game was on a knife-edge.

In truth, they were allowed to do this from the off with Sir Alex happy to persist with the reliable front pairing of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez, which has often served him well.

Usually in the big fixtures, though, United employ a fifth midfielder to ensure they aren’t allowed to be dominated by opposition midfields, particularly Arsenal’s.

With Paul Scholes suspended and Ryan Giggs rested, central duties were left to the conservative Michael Carrick and Anderson, which allowed Arsenal’s three to press quite hard and hence earn a game dominating possession count, making Man U’s front pair uninvolved.

This was, ultimately, where the game was won and lost.

The area where Manchester United are often so strong is in their wide areas, but it was Arsenal who looked the more impressive out there – in particular, with the goal by Robin Van Persie, so often the man you want on the end of things, who gave his team almost the extra outlet in the wider areas.

His positioning allowed three players to arrive in the box, a pack of support rarely seen, with the arriving player in Ramsey able to sweep the ball home from the cut-back.

This was a goal not just for Arsenal, but a goal for Chelsea, as the title race looks set to be decided with this week’s clash between the Red Devils and the West Londoner’s next Sunday evening.

The result in itself will bring a range of mixed emotions, with both delight and disappointment, as inconsistencies and carelessness at critical stages of the season has deprived an opportunity for success. While watching last night, I was sat there wondering ‘what if’ had this sort of effort arrived before they went on a run of only eight points from a possible 21.

Sadly, it looks like being too little too late for Arsenal in the context of this season, but it’s days like this where they continue to offer fans, frustrated as they may be, a sense of promise and optimism that backs the often maligned philosophy of Arsene Wenger.

This performance, though, should present the management further ammunition for them to tweak an approach, already so widely adored, into something even bigger and better.