The Red Tide

Watch out, the Arsenal tide is racing in. Rosicky is back, and so is sublime, poetry-like football that Arsenal are known for. A 6-2 thrashing of Blackburn is enough to prove that, undoubtedly, Arsenal are the best and the most fluent attacking side in the premiership and probably the world, when they are in gear. They can entertain like no one else can, they can create football like no one else can, they can tap talent like no one else can and thank you Mr. Wenger for all that.

Adebayor was bought for 3 million pounds, and so was Van Persie. Apart from Rosicky, Arsenal’s first 11 is lesser in value than Chelsea’s struggling Shevchenko. And to still play such exquisite football is one hell of an achievement. Fine, the Red Tide did have some obstructions in the form of a doubtful defensive display, but hell, they should have scored 10 goals today.

3 minutes into today Arsenal-V-Blackburn game, Arsenal went behind thanks to a Nondo penalty. The Arsenal-brewed talent Bentley looked dangerous for Blackburn, but Gilberto scored an unlikely corner header to put us level. Hleb then added a brilliant second after going past a couple of players, after being put through by Adebayor. Adebayor then got a deserved goal, even though it was through a penalty to make it 3-1 to the Gunners. The Arsenal midfield was purring, and the Red Tide was pushing forward as if Osiris was commanding it to. A brilliant one touch move which ended with Rosicky putting Hleb through would have been finished only if the Belarusian had been a little selfish. The irony of it all!

2^nd half – Arsenal were as dominating and when Rosicky hit the bar, you felt as if the poor Czech’s first goal would never come. He deserved one for his excellent display, but Fate continued its curse on him. Emirates stadium has to go through a panic-stage. It went through one when Nondo scored his second, and then Blackburn suddenly took the leash for 10 minutes. But then, enter Van Persie. Thankfully Wenger put him on the right, where I think he plays much better. He proved my point with the goal of the game. Some typical Van Persie fakes (as all Van Persie lovers would know), and a sublime left foot finish, which seemed guaranteed as soon as the Dutch-men switched to his left foot, helped the Arsenal-faithful to breathe a sigh of relief. Then what followed was another brilliant team goal, finished once again by the left foot of Van Persie. It was then Fabregas’ turn to get into the mix. He went past Savage making him look like an idiot, and then indirectly set up the lucky Flamini for Arsenal’s 6^th. Wow.

It has been a long time since I have thoroughly enjoyed an Arsenal match, and to get such enjoyment without Henry, says a lot. Footballism’s God prophesizes that Arsenal is going to go on a rampage and this Red Tide is going to sweep the living daylights out of the Premiership. Beware.

P.S. Over-excitement often leads to predictions that are over-enthusiastic in nature, but they are prophesies none the less.