Worth Another Look

I had to watch that first half again today.  It was even more impressive on the second viewing.  The one touch passes, the hustle tackles, the lightning attacks...United was simply blown away.  In his postmatch interview, Wenger confirmed that the strategy was to come out flying, pressing high and committing to attack.  He admitted that that level of effort can't be kept up for a whole game, so the idea was to get on top early.  You'd have to say that for once, his tactics were spot on.

Van Gaal seems to have thought that United could play Arsenal's style too, and he definitely got that wrong.  He played into our hands by trying to be open.  Their passing was off and when they did maintain possession it was often labored and unimaginative.  They did have a few opportunities, but far fewer than Arsenal, and they were not taken.  Some had noted that United's schedule was a bit light to date, and maybe they aren't as good as they thought they were.  United will play City in three weeks and that will be a real test, and Everton and Palace are the two games either side of that fixture.  Not exactly like playing Bayern Munich twice, but still.

Lots of people criticize Wenger for putting too much faith in his players, but look around the field and you'll see men doing a job no one but Wenger thought them capable of before they got the chance.  Walcott is actually turning into a real central striker, much to my surprise.  He still isn't going to win balls in the air, but his link-up play is enormously improved, and his runs are excellent.  Coquelin has blossomed into one of the league's best holding mids; who saw that coming?  And lest we forget, Aaron Ramsey was written off years ago by most Arsenal supporters.  Monreal and Koscielny were very smart buys, and Bellerin has become so good that Debuchy can't get on the team.  (That must have shocked even Wenger.)  I have no doubt that he'll find Callum Chambers' best position too.

Alexis has been a hero from Day 1--what a player!--but Ozil came in for a lot of criticism, much of it unfair, since his arrival.  Wenger does not blame players individually; the most he will say is something like "we lost concentration."  I used to think he coddled his players too much, but he chooses a squad based on technical ability more than mental toughness and he's handling them appropriately.  Manuel Almunia, Szczesny, and now Ospina are never to blame for a loss as Wenger tells it.  It's always a team failure.  Maybe that approach allows a Squillaci or Santos to kid himself that he's not a liability, but I think team cohesion is improved, and Arsenal will not melt down like Chelsea is now because of managerial tantrums.

Arsene is going through a difficult personal time, which has to make job pressures even harder.  I'm happy for him that he's going into the international break on a high note.