Reasons for this?… Well, we can start with discussing the AGE of this young Arsenal side. With the removal of Thierry Henry in particular

By: Tyler Drake

After hearing all last week about how Arsenal are down to the “Bare Bone” we now sit 3 points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

It is a great position to be in, obviously, and I personally feel that we will go on to win the title.

There are numerous articles highlighting single players as key reasons for our much improved performances in the league and cup this season, and while that is of course valid (it IS the players who are out there doing the hard work once or twice a week), it must be said that this season, more so than any other i’ve had the pleasure of following, the Spirit in the camp has been our driving force.

Reasons for this?… Well, we can start with discussing the AGE of this young Arsenal side. With the removal of Thierry Henry in particular, we knew that the inspiration and firing power would have to come from the Young Guns this season:

well average age is about 21.34:

Sagna 24 Fab 20 Kolo 26 Rosick 27 Hleb 26 Gallas 30 Rosiky 24 Flam 23 Clichy 22 Almunia 30 Walcott 18 Ade 23 Eboue 23 Bedtner 19 Denilson 19 Senders 22 Song 20 Gilberto 31 Traore 17 Fabinski 22 Eduardo 24 Diaby 21

The main point being that dispite a few outliers, the core-team this season have all been very young, like-minded, equally-driven players. “The Family” that these players keep talking about, has been growing up, and are NOW more than ever fighting for each other.

It is interesting that our two most experienced players, Lehmann and Gilberto, the latter had the best season of his CAREER last season, can not even squeeze into this squad of young starlets. And when Lehmann HAS featured, he has not seemed as in sync with the team as he used to.

You need only look at the pre-season video of Arsenal’s “Cross-Bar Challenge” to see the genuine companionship this team has developed. Watching the post-blackburn match interview when Adebayor hands Hleb the champagne for winning the MOTM award, their joking squabble and banter highlights something you dont often see (particularly from teams that have a great diversity of races, as arsenal do) players as friends, not just colleagues.

I’m sure you are aware of the BET that is running between Flamini, Hleb, Cesc and Rosicky of who will score more goals this season… Things like that, while the players are level-headed enough not to become obsessed by it, are things that drive players on. Cesc’s scoring run at the beginning of the season could, for example, have been kick started by this extra hunger for goals.

The reason I think we can credit Team-Spirit is simply because we cannot single out any player for his contribution to the team. That is not to say that no one has done enough, quite the opposite… not one “core-team” player has let us down this season. I see people singling out Flamini, Sagna and Adebayor… and i get thinking… well if you’re including Sagna, then include Cliche too, and how can you not put in Fabregas… and Hleb is having a career high season… so eventually you end up with noticing that the whole team is flying high. And doing so AS a team. There is no CRISTIANO RONALDO pulling the reigns here. We are a team, play football like it is supposed to be played, remembering it is a team game, and flourishing because of it.

Facebook Arsenal Vision

As everyone now seems to have facebook, I thought I would create an Arsenal Vision facebook page where you can recieve updates on new articles and discussions and all that sort of thing, so click this FACEBOOK LINK and click on become a fan to add yourself.