Going into the January break, it was difficult to see where the goals were coming from in this Arsenal side.
A run of pretty lamentable results, punctuated by our form in front of goal sliding into comedic territory, felt like the end of our season before it had even truly begun.
Fast forward a month, however, and we find ourselves scoring the sorts of goals we could only dream during that miserable run. All of sudden we are hitting the back of the net…and doing so ruthlessly.
It’s still overwhelmingly likely that Manchester City will win the Premier League once again this season but, if nothing else, we’ll give a good account of ourselves, scoring the sorts of goals our play deserves.
Saturday’s demolition of Burnley was indicative of a team brimming with the confidence that was in disastrously scarce supply over the winter. Suddenly we are being decisive, taking our chances, finding the passes, and making better decisions. We’re making things look easy.
It’s not unfair to say our opposition in recent weeks have been appallingly bad but, in large part, that has been because of how good we have been. West Ham and Burnley have been blown out of the water before they’ve had a chance to get wet.
It’s always difficult to single anyone out for praise when the whole team is firing but, for me, Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard stood out. The former for the way he has taken so seamlessly to the false nine role and the later for his under-appreciated brilliance.
The Norwegian international is sensational and his numbers this season (eight goals and seven assists) barely tell the story. His movement, his touch, his passing and his pressing are absolutely central to how we play football and this side simply couldn’t function at the same level without him. When he plays well, Arsenal win.
The Belgian, meanwhile, has an uncanny knack in front of goal that few can match. Ten goals and two assists across all competitions is an excellent return for a player who starts games, let alone one who often features fleetingly. Trossard has an almost unteachable ability to be in the right place at the right time, much like Aaron Ramsey, and he couples that with a staggering conversion rate in front of goal.
To think we acquired the pair of them for barely £60million is perhaps the biggest triumph of all. Excellent business.
In the context of the race for the title, or at least the race to keep City honest, this was a moral-boosting win. There is, sadly, little room for error at the top of the table now and wins like those we have seen in the last few weeks are exactly what’s needed to keep the momentum building.
If we can keep everybody healthy, and heal a few of those lingering on the sidelines, we put ourselves in a strong position to push all the this season.
For now, though, we turn our attention back to Europe and a trip to Portugal in the Champions League. Now is where things get interesting!
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