The Arsenalisation Has Finally Started

By: Felipe Hassin Pinto

Maddy’s Note: Today was one of those days. A day when all Arsenal fans reached for the jersey that they all own and lovingly kissed the crest. A day when fans of every other team in Europe wished the Magician who is Francesc Fabregas Soler was a part of their squad sheet. A day when every gooner minus 60,000 odd wished they have that one piece of paper that has the words ‘Season Ticket’ written on it. Well we can give you the next best thing. Felipe is here with a Cesc-esque write up of his own. Magic Words – The deeper the foundations, the stronger the fortress

What a magic post Boxing Day evening at the Emirates.

I spent the recent weeks doubting our capacity to win big games. I spent the recent weeks waiting for a proof of our capacity to win big games, to shoulder off the pressure and turn ourselves into title contenders. And there could not be a better game to do that, could not it?

Aston Villa were the best team in England at the moment they stepped onto our turf. They were unbeaten for 7 games, having kept 4 consecutive clean sheets. They defeated Manchester United at Old Trafford. They defeated Liverpool and Chelsea, too. In other words, this game was a difference maker. Beating the Villans would mean we collected points out of somewhere the other big four did not.

My father is probably disappointed with me in my hometown in Brazil. He urged me to return to my country so I could see them for the holidays but I told him I would not leave until we had defeated Aston Villa. He then asked me: ‘Aston who?’. And, you know, my father was right. Aston who?

I woke up early as I usually do before big games. The nights before are a nightmare as I simply can not sleep. I decided I would have something at north London instead  eating at home. As I stepped inside the lowest row and walked toward my seat, I realised our season could be changed in the next 90 minutes. And, in fact, that really happened. The first half started in a very intense mood. We created two unmissable chances in the initial 15 minutes, which could have won us the game a lot earlier. After changing some passes, Eduardo twisted around Dunne before spoiling a very good chance. Following that, Aston Villa decided to wake up and to play their football. Though we were better, we lacked a target man not only up front, but in the middle aswell. Diaby was too high, leaving us without a linkage between the defence and the attack. And that was pretty much what happened. A very tense atmosphere as neither of the two teams were willing to make a mistake, which would be cruel. I had my hands on my head during the entire half and I prayed for a better second period.

Luckily somebody in the skies listened to me. We never looked so sharp and determined as we did then. We had composure and were completely focused on winning the match. And as we were still lacking something in the middle, nothing better than gambling on our Captain. Injured Cesc stepped up and replaced Denilson. Would it be worth it? The answer came in 27 minutes. After a few moments on the pitch, Fabregas was awarded with a free kick on the edge of their box. The Captain stepped backwards, took a deep breathe before firing a rocket back to the nets, making it 1-0. What was lovely, however, was the way he celebrated this goal. It is always touching to see how Cescy is emotional, runs with his arms wide opened while screaming his heart out: just the emotions we want to see from our Captain. What pleased me the most, however, was the way we played following the goal. Instead of sitting back and defending deep, we kept the pressure over them, we were always up front changing passes and harming them. That was amazing as they did not even have time to recompose. That is the ruthless spirit from a victorious team. As things could not get any better, we collected the ball in our half. Super sub Theo ran with it on his feet, raised his head, found an on fire Fabregas who slipped before shooting the ball past Friedel. 2-0. Done. That was his 27th minute on the pitch, enough to show the whole world he is indeed one of the best players, a diference maker, a game winner and, most importantly, someone who loves his team. Barcelona will never have him, mark my words. As Fab left the pitch under a very beautiful atmosphere, Diaby had time to score our third, take away the best-defence-award from the Villans and put ourselves into the race.

What a game. I was missing that intensity. I was missing having tears in my eyes while singing my heart out. I was missing feeling that passion emanating from the fans. That is the Arsenalisation. That is the kind of attitude we fans want from the players. The board must realise the Arsenalisation must come from inside, from the pitch and then spread through the world. That kind of commitment is touching. The way Almunia fought against Agbonlahor for the balls touched me as I wanted to jump the advertisement announces to help him. The way Vermaelen fought for the balls, too. The way Cesc celebrated with the fans, too. The way we starved for the victory, even more. A fan want his team to show passion. Commitment. Pride.

Almunia was simply fabulous. He was indeed a leader with the armband around his arm. The way he punched away the crosses over our box was amazing. Sagna had a very solid game, what impressed me a lot, especially defensively. Gallas, Vermaelen and Song are monsters. We never looked that solid this season. It is a pity Alex will leave us now, but fingers crossed someone can step up and impress us the same way the Cameroon international did. Nasri, Eduardo and Arshavin, however, had a very quiet game. Aston Villa are a very, very solid side and that made things very difficult to us up front. Andrey is way too small to muscle the likes of Dunne and Cuellar away and Eduardo must play in the centre. Walcott had a fabulous game, managed to win us some balls, make impressive runs and assist Fabregas for his second. And Diaby, what can I say about him? I am completely stunned. He started as the second striker, and for someone who was tipped to be the next Vieira he did very, very well. His goal proved his class.

But it was Fabregas who stole the show. He looked like he was Michael Jordan coming from the bench. He came on as a sub, won us the game and then said: ‘Okay, it is done done, now I am off’. 27 minutes that can have changed our season. That perfomance was inspirational and a morale booster. Now there is no team we can not defeat should we carry on playing like that. The quality is there. Everything we need is to play with the same commitment.

The momentum is created. The Arsenalisation lays strong inside our hearts as I never seen the crowd so involved to the game as today. Sign a classy centre foward, play the rest of the season with the same passion and there is a huge chance of seeing the Barclays Premier League trophy sitting comfortable inside the Emirates Stadium.

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