Has Robin Van Persie fired Arsenal into title contention?

Two clinical strikes from Robin Van Persie put paid to Chelsea this afternoon, the second a magnificent shot on the turn from the Dutchman, even if he was noticeably offside for his first.

Having been written off as possible Premier League champions after the 3-0 mauling by Manchester City, this win takes Arsene Wenger's side to within seven points of Luiz Felipe Scolari's league leaders, who prior to today had yet to concede a second-half goal at Stamford Bridge this season.

But does this result reignite Arsenal's season as genuine title contenders? Have we been too hasty in consigning them to mere also-rans, more likely to lose their Champions League place to Aston Villa than challenge for silverware?

Or is this result a flash-in-the-pan, more likely to let in Liverpool and Manchester United than Wenger's youthful class of 2008.

Let us know your thoughts.

Comments

[WilyECoyote]

So, if the concensus is that the "1st" team playes well and against the top 3, but can't play the hackers, why not field the children against the bottom teams and save the 1st team for the big games? The kids seem to beat the duffers easily in the Cup after all.

[John Finlay]

It's got nothing to with experience. It has nothing to do with their obvious quality. The difference between this Arsenal side and the class of 1998 and 2004 is the patent lack of leaders on the field.

When I say 'leaders' I'm not talking about captains. I'm talking about players on the pitch who will take responsibility. Players who, when a game is not going Arsenal's way, will act as a catalyst for change. Players who will make things happen. Players who can lift the team, who others can look to for inspiration.

In the past players like Pires, Ljunberg, Viera, Henry, Overmars, Adams, Flamini, Keown, Petit amongst others could change a game. They could drive a team to victory. There were many in our teams, and even when some were having bad days others were around to take this role.

Players in our current crop have flirted with this role, but all too infrequently. Fabregas, Clichy and, give him his dues, Gallas have changed games for Arsenal. Adebayor sometimes seems to be able to do it from the bench. None have adopted it on a consistent basis and in my view this is directly linked to our inconsistency.

Perhaps this is a by-product of our 'beautiful football' and Wenger's philosophy of teamwork. More often than not we're looking for a pass rather than making a run or taking a shot and sometimes that gets in the way of a players taking the bit between the teeth and grabbing a game by the scruff of the neck. It works sometimes but at others this philosophy seems stultifying.

Theo Walcott is a fantastic example. I watched his first game for Southhampton when he came on from the bench. He was trying to do everything, he was desperate to impress and he was impressing. For his first two years at Arsenal, after his indoctrination, he did nothing but pass. He ALWAYS looked for a pass no matter what position he was in. Wenger, inadvertantly took away his mojo. Walcott is a special, special talent who can change games. He has the potential to be one of our 'leaders' on the field; a game changer. His hat-trick for England is a case in point. Wenger needs to teach his players to be more selfish sometimes.

And he really should have offered Flamini more money.

[mick the man]

If we can put a run of 10 unbeaten league games ala 1997, then we could be back in the race but it will take a long series of wins which this team is more than capable of.

[Amiel Walia]

This result is as significant, and as insignicant as our defeat in previous game. Those who think that we are now back in the title race would be correct in thinking so, in some respects; in truth were we ever out of it?!!? Teams have clawed back 12point deficits at Christmas, and yet people are writing us off in November 10points behind. Until it is mathematically impossible of course we are still in it. What we must not do is think that this one win (like the united one) somehow negates all over our defensive (and other) frailties; these must still be addressed. Hoever, this result may only prove vital if we start to perform consistantly from this point onwards....next week against Wigan, and at home to Liverpool after will give us a better indication of our probabilty in lifting the trophy come the end ofthe season.

[Charles]

It's too early to say Arsenal are out of it. As Tony Adams used to say, "if you are there or thereabouts at Easter, you are in with a shout".
It's December first and we may be ten points behind the leaders of Liverpool win.
It aint over till it's over.

[jamie]

I believe that the way Arsenal plays is a major factor for their 'inconsistent' results.

Their lovely passing on-the-ground football needs space, so when they play big teams like chelsea, who tries to win the game and go forward and have less players defending in their own half, Arsenal will have enough space to play the ball around and create chances and hit the other team with flowing attacks/counter-attacks.

When Arsenal is playing against teams that are going for draws or counter-attacks that put most of their players in their own half, makes on-the-ground football more difficult because by sliding and making more runs, there are a bigger chance of getting their bodies in the way of Arsenal's passes. So it will be more likely that Arsenal will fail to create enough chances to score.

Of course there will be times when Arsenal can tear up the defences of weaker teams, but when the weaker teams can get their defence well organised and work their socks off, they will stand a bigger chance of getting a result from Arsenal rather than the other 'big four' teams that play less on-the ground football (as defenders cannot possibly put their bodies in the way when the ball is in the air until the the high balls and crosses reaches the receiving end).

Hopefully, I have given part of the answer to Arsenal's victory against chelsea and man u, and defeat against villa and stoke this season.

[Ben_in_Bath]

A great win for Arsenal and at half time, few would have expected it.

It doesnt mean we will win the title but it does mean that we have a chance if results go our way.

We do need to develop a gritty midfield and the Gabriele Marcotti article (http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/11/the-enforcers-w.html) highlights exactly the type of players we need to add to the squad, I think Song has done a good job and Denilson will contiue to try hard, being played out of posittion again last night and you ddint see him complaining.

What has stood out for me since Wenger stripped Gallas of the captaincy is how the team as a whole seems to have taken on the 'captaincy' mantle, Clichy, especially, has really impressed me over recent weeks, he has been bossing the midfield and I saw him 2 or 3 times during the game yesterday telling Cesc where he wanted him.

The team is full of exciting talent, and this years season has already been really interesting and open. The teams at the lower end of the league are better than ever before and their are slip-ups to come from all of the 'top-four' sides. Only 15 games in and we have a long way to go yet, the Christmas period will be vital and with United away at the Club championship their game against Chelsea on the 11th of Jan could be season defining stuff.

Happy Arsenal fan, keeping the faith.

[Brian]

Arsenal have already proven they can beat teams were in the Champions League final last season. The question is whether they can beat sides that were in the Championship last season. So far, they only have guts for the big teams and that's not good enough to win the title.

[James]

Oh deary me seems Arsenal can't be pigeonholed. Very difficult when you are trying to make sweeping generalisations .

We are not going to be overtaken by Villa based on one bad game against them. Yet neither are we back in the title race, well not for now anyway.

This team has so much potential it is scary. So rather than constantly tell us how it is going to go so wrong how about examine the real possibility we are a sleeping giant of European football. I would put a lot of money on Arsenal winning the Champions League in the very near future.

[Hugo Dawson]

The word I'd use to describe the manner in which the boys walked out onto the pitch against Hull, Fulham, Stoke, is 'arrogant'. Save for the usual fighters of Clichy et al, every player had an air of arrogance that they've no right to espouse. And it was just as evident in the more 'experienced' players as it was in those 'kids' everyone likes to talk about.

Against Bolton that leaflet encouraging the players to be 'humble' was leaked and, as ever, everyone thought this was some sort of breaking news. I remember in the first years of Wenger's reign, Tony Adams talking about how Arsene was insistent that they appreciate their jobs, their roles, everyone around them and (as could always be seen when they walked onto the pitch) every fan, including the away ones. Being humble is not a new part to Wenger's team ethic. He must, though, be gutted that his current crop, so talented as they are, seem to be so damn up themselves.

Any suggestion that it's Wenger who doesn't like playing the "smaller" teams is ridiculous. Or that we lack the necessary experience to beat such teams. We have every bit of capability. Just a poor mentality - a problem not resigned solely to the teenagers in our squad.

[John W]

I honestly don't know why this question keeps coming up. Are we in it, or are we not, back and forth, over and over again. We ceased to be in the title race after our fifth loss, and from now on we will be in a battle for fourth with Aston Villa. It is utterly naive to imagine that United, Chelsea and Liverpool will all drop more points than Arsenal from now until May. Let's stop asking this pointless question, focus on the real title challengers, and let Arsenal get on with developing their young team (while salvaging some pride this season).

[MonikaV]

Arsenal looked their usual self yeasterday, no chances, then big portion of luck with an offside goal followed by big surge in selfconfidence of the lucky RvP and here we go, Arsenal title contender! Unfortunately the same kids mentality of Arsenal- I want to play only the big stars Mr. Professor Wenger, not the unknowns, they are below me!
The situation isn´t changed by one match at SB, just it is obvious Chelsea has only one game plan and cant win the EPL like that. Agree it looks like Pool vs. ManU for EPL, as long Chelsea doesnt develop some fightback coming January

[Rash]

I think with Fabregas as captain now we have some consistency in our team to regain some form. Whether we can win the Premier League based on one match is another matter. If we think of Man Utd as the benchmark for the season ahead, then it is do-able. They are only two points ahead, all be it with a game in hand and their remaining "big four" matches are at home so they will have a substantial say on where the title goes. I agree, we should wait until after Christmas to make a more informed decision about Arsenals title credentials.

Some have talked about lack depth in the squad which is unfair. In terms of injuries we have out: Diaby, Eboue, Da Silva, Rosicky and Walcott.

[Timothy Tanner]

We are seven points behind Chelsea, could be ten behind Liverpool tonight while Man U are ahead with two games in hand. No we are not back in it due to one win, if we had a good run through December and clawed ourselves to six or points or so only behind the league leaders, or one point if Man U are leaders, then we may consider it a title challenge again. Right now? Great one off win, need to find consistency in the good way and build up a gap between the teams below us.

[ManuRed]

I think Arsenal are too inconsistent this season to win the title, but when they play well they are the most stylish and skilful team in the premiership. Van Persie's goals yesterday were outstanding.

[Jay]

This will be a frustrating season for Arsenal with the kids delivering in 'big' games but cannot be bothered to turn up to play the so called smaller teams.

As for can Arsenal win league, I think NO

[Sam]

Arsenal will finish fourth but they cannot win the title. They lift themselves against the big boys but then lose against the stokes of this world. Not championship winning form

[Red Barron]

The team cannot be judged on this performance, we always do well against the other 3 top teams in the league.

It's the mid-table and teams embroiled in the relegation fights which we struggle to take points from.

The answer to your question will become clear during the Christmas period.

[Mark Sibthorp]

Arsenal are an enigma. Beating some of the best teams in Europe and then losing whenever their team bus hits the M1. Arsenal must learn to win ugly and start becoming more physical which will mean strengthening the squad. Many of the players are too diminutive, they look as though a stiff breeze would blow them over. Apart from Adebayor when do Arsenal ever win an aerial challenge. Wenger must buy in January. If he doesn’t Arsenal are unlikely to pick up any silverware again this season. At the moment the premiership is a pipe dream.

[Emad El-Hajjami]

Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal

Where have we seen this before! Man Utd, we won and all the media hype about Arsenal winning the league got to the kids and what happened... we lose two games on the trot.

Beating Chelsea means nothing if we cant beat teams like Stoke and Man City.

I would prefer to see Arsenal beating all the other teams then beat the top 3.

We need consistency and as a Arsenal fan i was worried yesterday and the first half we barely got a touch of the ball, which is so unlike the Arsenal we all know.

We need a proper holding midfielder and our squad was near completion other then having Toure out, Chelsea on the other hand had Drogba, Essien (possibly there best player), Carvelho (who usually makes Terry look average)...

I dont want to take anything from Arsenal or Mr Wenger, but if are to compete with the big boys let's invest a little, lets have a mixture of young blood and experience...

I wish Arsenal all the best for the rest of the season...

[Jerome Howard]

I think Arsenal still have a mountain to climb and do not believe they will be title contenders. I would love to be proved wrong, but believe Wenger needs to find an Adams like defender before Arsenal will be Champions again.

[Tony Amadi]

This is certainly not a flash in the pan. Arsenal only went through a bad patch which is normal in any organization, not least a football team.

Fleet Street was wrong to write them off and with this shot in the arm at fortress Stamford Bridge, Arsenal will go on and on, but may not be able to catch up with Liverpool which will open up a three point gap on Chelsea and go on to win the league this year.

The Arsenal class of 2008 will end up in the top four as usual and will make an even stronger impression in the Champions League where they may well win it.

If I were Arsene Wenger though, I should be thinking of quitting the Emirates when the ovasion was loudest in the next season or so. Alex Ferguson, I hope should stick to his new departure date if he is not going to falter and dent his great record at Man United.

Tony Amadi
Abuja
Nigeria

[Evan]

Could it be that Arsenal are simply better at playing stylish football against the top teams, rather than the nitty-gritty at the middle and bottom of the table? Their title challenge will depend on how they play against the lower teams. They also seem to rely on their top players only against better teams - they don't have enough depth to win the title (?)

[hunus]

besides being an arsenal fan,arsenal could still in the title race even they couldn't win against chelsea at stamford bridge. Now if we have a look at last season in december when chelsea lost to thier rivals arsenal,we thought this was alomost the end of chelsea.
but it was an unbelievable comeback from the blues when to beat both arsenal and man utd at thier home found themselves having same points as man utd on top of the epl. so this is why i believe that even if one the big four team are down to 15 pionts at this moment,they may be a threat to the epl title.....

good win to arsenal anyways!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhha,go arsenal go!!!

[HUGH LONDON]

Cannot see it on the basis of today. Alright 3 points at Stamford Bridge helps but until the "offside" goal on the hour Adebayor/Van Persie had not touched the ball. Arsenal cannot win a title playing on the break. Defensively there is not enough strength to do that. Chelsea were poor in the last third and forgot their shooting boots. Arsenal need to buy about six quality players to match the depth of squad at Man Utd and Chelsea. Four years no silverware! Make that five if you don't spend wisely or at all Arsene.