Football, like so many things in life, is relative. On the same day Robin van Persie tucked home a hat-trick for Manchester United, two new stars were making names for themselves in Arsenal colours.
Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat of a dreadful Liverpool will give Gunners fans plenty of hope they can provide a genuine title challenge this season.
Lukas Podolski scored his first Arsenal goal with aplomb but it was the display of new Spanish playmaker Santi Cazorla which stole the show.
Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger pointed out after the match that Cazorla was never going to be the type of player who took six months to settle into English football.
At the rate he’s going, Cazorla will soon have the English game by the scruff of the neck after the Spanish international tormented the Liverpool defence, setting up Podolski’s goal before scoring himself past a woefully out of form Pepe Reina.
There is already talk of Cazorla having a Dennis Bergkamp-like influence on the team and with his cerebral approach to the game it’s not hard to understand the comparison.
But it’s silverware that Gunners fans crave – they haven’t won a major trophy since the 2005 FA Cup – and it will take ending that long drought for Cazorla to etch himself into Arsenal history alongside a player of Bergkamp’s stature.
Cazorla will be relieved to have got off the mark against Liverpool, as will Podolski, and now all that’s left is for French newcomer Oliver Giroud to open his account for the season.
A far more direct player than either Cazorla or Podolski, Giroud was brought in as the sort of target man Nicklas Bendnter failed to turn out to be – one who actually scores goals.
But the longer the Frenchman goes without getting on the scoresheet, the more pressure he’ll find himself under.
It was at the other end some pundits expected Arsenal to struggle most, not least after the Gunners sold defensive-minded midfielder Alex Song to Barcelona over the summer.
Yet three clean sheets in a row in Arsenal’s first three league fixtures suggests keeping teams out might not be such a problem, although it must be said the Gunners are yet to face a top side.
The promotion of Belgian centre-back Thomas Vermaelen to the captaincy role left vacant by van Persie has instilled more leadership at the back, while Vermaelen’s defensive partner Per Mertesacker and the quietly effective Abou Diaby in midfield have also chimed in with some solid defensive displays.
Indeed, Arsenal fans can feel quietly confident that after a pre-season of conjecture their team is coming together quite nicely.
The UEFA Champions League could throw a spanner in the works – Arsenal have been drawn against Schalke, Olympiacos and Giroud’s former team Montpellier, with the final set to take place at Wembley – but to date it’s been a case of so far, so good for the Gunners as they kick off their Premier League campaign.
The question now is whether Arsenal can transform a decent start into some genuine early-season momentum.
With crucial fixtures against Manchester City and Chelsea to come at the end of the month, they’re in prime position to do precisely that.
MV Dave
Guest
Yeh probably a bit generous with Liverpool...l reckon plenty of the season in the bottom half for them...and what a shame. LOL!
Banger
Guest
Also has a lot to do with the fact that the players that have been brought in are actually working their socks off in defence as well as attack. Arteta has had a great start to the season and on Sunday Diaby was absolutely superb
Fy
Guest
Are you on crack mate? Mid table scramble for the two? Then you predict everton and Swansea to finish above arsenal? My gosh. You really need a football lesson or two. There's no way everton or Swansea will finish above arsenal neither will n.united for that matter. None of them have depth. And Liverpool will also get its act together. Such delusional fans on these sites
Neyobanty
Guest
Really good start I think Arsenal are getting back their rhythms.....
Neyobanty
Guest
Really good start,I think Arsenal are getting back their rhyth
Siege of Perth
Guest
Hoping our tough start doesnt affect the players confidence, if it doesnt we could easily shoot up the table after the Man U game. Sure we droped 3 points agiasnt West Brom, but agiasnt arsenal, city and man u you couldnt really have expected more than to steal a couple of points. We stole one from city (looking at it from a preseason preview perspective), arsenal could have gone ethier way. If we win agiasnt sunderland next game then we have only really dropped 2 points maybe even 1 if we steal a draw agiasnt man u too. So really our current postion is a little bit deceptive. That said though confidence is now lower after the transfer window debacle :S hope that chinese team does release Drogba and we go get him, cause we need him.
Siege of Perth
Guest
City, United, Chelsea and Arsenal. City and United are obvious, Chelsea will get in on the back of Hazard and Torres coming good agian. Arsenal I think is more of a case of best of the rest. The consitancy they get from Wenger will keep em in over the unpredictablitity of Liverpool, Spurs and Newcastle.
Siege of Perth
Guest
Im agiasnt it, but not for the traditional reasons such as hating players who played for the mancs and abonded Liverpool, dont really care about that sort of stuff. Im agiasnt it because he will be expensive, hes old, injury plagued and hasnt played almost any games for 3 years. Probably perform just as good as a rookie out of the academy with the rookie costing considerably less and has more value in future terms
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
I'd be happy with fifth or sixth for Liverpool this season and im optimistic that will be the case.The performance against City was the best i've seen the Reds play in years,unfortunatley Skrtels brain fade cost us three points.The lack of a class back up strike will cost us though at least till the window opens again.
Ballymore
Guest
Bold call, I hope WBA/Swansea can maintain their run but I fear the resource gulf will become evident eventually.
Bondy.
Guest
Its hard to make a prediction when you know where your going to end up, fourth or third for the past seven seasons. I cant split the Manchesters less that 4 points in it in the end ,I feel there could possibly be 5-6 clubs going for fourth position and thats the crucial one the others no there place can you imagine Fullham playing european cup football next season !. Fussball , No Chelsea in there why !.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Nope - don't rate Chelsea at all. As far as I'm concerned, they're one of the worst teams to win a UEFA Champions League/Euro Cup in my memory. And, thankfully, Athletico Madrid fully exposed all Chelsea's frailties & smashed them in the UEFA Super Cup last Saturday morning. For sure, Chelsea will smash the lower teams, bu, when ManUtd, ManCity, Arsenal & Swansea play Chelsea, I expect them to rip Chesea apart just as did Athletico.
Disco
Roar Guru
Very bold calls re: Liverpool and Swansea, neither of which I expect to make the top six. And you don't think Chelsea will have a say?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
This is the answer I gave Tony Tannous before the season started and, after 3 matches, I see nothing to make me alter my forecast. 1. Man United 2. Man City 3. Swansea 4. Arsenal 5. Liverpool Why? 1. Terrific coach & a much more potent attack than last year with Kagawa & Van Persie. Defense is a real issue with 5 goals conceded after 3 matches 2. Terrific coach & squad of superstars 3. Terrific coach, well-organised squad that scores at will & defence based on depriving the opposition of the ball 4. Terrific coach & defence, which has been The Arsenal's weakness in recent years, looks stronger than before and stronger than the other 3 teams
MV Dave
Guest
Man Utd Man City Chelski Then either Everton, WBA, Swansea or New Utd.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
I asked MV Dave but will now put the question out to all: what are your top four predictions for the end of the season (and why?).
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
Perhaps dreadful was a touch harsh but I thought Arsenal looked the better side. What do you Liverpool fans think of the club being linked to Michael Owen?
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
Big call. What's your prediction for the top four this season?
Disco
Roar Guru
For 'outplayed' see: Arsenal got behind the ball and (especially after 1-0 up) ceded possession to the home side, confident that their new-found stability could hold out Liverpool's limited attacking force and catch them on the counter. Arsenal certainly don't have the squad strength to rival the Manc sides or Chelsea.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
So glad I stayed up to watch this match. I thought Arsenal was superb. They stroked the ball with a confidence and arrogance I don't normally see in the EPL . In particular, I thought the Arsenal midfield trio - Diaby, Cazorla & Arteta were outstanding. The were looking to create with every ball, worked deep in defense and executed the art of tackling perfectly. Liverpool, too, had some nice periods, but I'm perplexed by those who suggest Liverpool dominated this match.