The week of Dortmund

After playing against a Dortmund alumnus coached team, we get ready to welcome the real Dortmund on Wednesday. There are glimpses of a European influence on Norwich this season. In fact, it is something that could be said about all the promoted sides. They look more like the promoted sides from Spain/ Germany rather than from the English Championship. From time immemorial, it seemed drilled into our heads that there was only one way lesser teams have to play- and it was not supposed to be football. The idolisation of people like Sam Allardyce and Tony Pulis by projecting him as a ‘David’ struggling with their humble brand of kicking about, against the ‘evil’ Goliath that play football with the ball at their feet. It had seemed drilled into the minds of the underdogs that there was only one way for them to play- and it has nothing to do with football. Yet, as if nature tried to stabilise the world, we have gotten three clubs promoted, which play good, attractive football and are being rewarded for it. I hope justice is done and these clubs stay up, for the sake of football. I hope they stay up and it reinforces that clubs can stay up by playing proper football. 

Back to Dortmund and I still can’t take the image of the havoc they caused when we played at their ground. And people are telling me that they have picked up form. But so have we, and especially in our defense with the return of the Verminator. Our attacking trio have found a greater degree of coordination. I sincerely believe that one of the most important things that has been missing in the last six years was an offensive partnership. The ones that we grew watching between Bergkamp, Henry, Pires et al (the BHP era). Not for a moment, do I suggest that GWP have such an offensive partnership, but I atleast see signs of this organism. Part of the reason, we never had one in the last six years has to be down to the lack of consistent appearances between the attackers. Van Persie was always injured. I do not remember Adebayor having anything resembling any partnership, in all the times I have seen him. The closest between the BHP era and the GWP era (I hope it would be an era) was that between Cesc and Henry, during the latter’s final years. People talk about defensive partnerships, but there are partnerships, crucial ones, all over the pitch. The partnership between the wing back and his winger, the partnership between the central midfielders, between the strikers and so on. For reasons which may be right or wrong, we play a very consistent playing 11 now. I think it is down to two reasons 

1. We only have 11 fit players who are worthy of starting for Arsenal, game after game.  
2.  Arsene knows point no. 1

This consistent 11 is gelling now, and I believe the results are showing. The soap opera in the beginning of the season has also given this team some steel, a feeling of “them against us”. It is strange, isn’t it? Our team seems more united now, when the chips were down big time, rather than last year, when things were going on rosily.

I have a good feeling about this game today. I hardly ever have anything else about a forthcoming game. So, no reason to believe that we would not win today (Hardly logical a reasoning! But Arsenal fans should be spared all logic this year.)

Lastly, I wanted to talk about our great literary genius from France, Arsene Wenger. He gives a pearler, now and then, making you wish, right at that moment, you were the journalist to whom he said those words

I was thinking about a 10 year old kid who might have come to watch Arsenal for the first time with his dad in 1996. I was thinking that he’d now be 25, and he will have known only one chap on the bench. That makes me think I’m the manager of an entire generation. I was thinking about a 10 year old kid who might have come to watch Arsenal for the first time with his dad in 1996. I was thinking that he’d now be 25, and he will have known only one chap on the bench. That makes me think I’m the manager of an entire generation.

You just summed up my life, Arsene! Other than the fact that I first watched Arsenal on TV, rather than at the great Highbury. I have never known any other Arsenal. Thank you again, Arsenal Legend!