Eduardo’s back heel onto Arshavin, who runs and takes the ball and finds the pass to Diaby, who sets himself up and scores.
That my friends was the goal of the night and the fourth for Arsenal against AZ Alkmaar. The football recently played by Arsenal is nothing short of phenomenal, offensively of course. This has prompted me to compare The Arsenal with the best of the rest in Europe.
The question is, Are Arsenal playing the most tantalising football in Europe? They are top scorers in the Premier League, as well as playing the flowing football that has football fans everywhere applauding.
Across Europe, Ajax are scoring goals for fun, with Suarez really becoming a deadly finisher. Steve McClaren’s FC Twente are top of the Eredivisie winning smoothly but with powerful strikes. Real Madrid, Manchester United Liverpool and Barcelona have talented players, but they are not spellbinding crowds, with their potential swagger and grace.
Arsenal have scored six times in a match twice, against Blackburn and Everton. Stylish strikes from seventeen different Arsenal players have managed to rain in doubters who are actually backing the Gunners to win the Premier League. Schalke 04 have fight in them, never giving up, particularly against Hamburg. Chelsea are looking easy on the eye, but technique-wise, not quite as fluid.
However I’m talking about flowing football. Players’ intertwining passes capturing the imagination of supporters. It really is fantastic to watch. The array of attacking talent assembled by Arsene Wenger is finally beginning to pay fruition, and potential slip-ups are easily overcome (like Spurs). They are showing they can score the perfect goal and are reminding me of the uber-gifted Barca team of last season, scoring for fun. Could they repeat Barcelona’s mean feat and win everything going?
Bordeaux are unstoppable at set-pieces and are lightening quick on the counter attack. They are the closest in challenging Arsenal for the best football. They have Gourcuff and Chamakh, but Arsenal have Fabregas and Van Persie. What a match this would be if they met in the Champions League? I digress, but this Arsenal team has the potential to walk every competition. I stress; the potential. I’ve seen too many false dawns but it feels a bit special. Young English talent coming through the ranks, learning and excelling in playing “the Arsenal way”, and the first team is not doing too bad either.
Right now, I believe no team is playing quite as stylishly as Arsenal. The technical skill is there for all to see, but if this Arsenal team wins something this season, the team will definitely dominate world football. A joy to watch, silky moves to match, let’s hope we see plenty more good football in remainder of the season.
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