The astonishing nature of recent clashes between our top clubs has been entertaining, heart-breaking and mesmerising in equal measure.
As an Arsenal fan I have suffered my fair share of abuse. If I could have been given a pound for every time some smirking United fan has remarked “I’d 8-2 be an Arsenal fan right now” I would probably have had enough money to replace Arsenal’s entire defence and still have enough left over to repay my student loan.
Further defeats against Spurs and Blackburn resulted in more heckles: “I’d never go 2-1 of their games even if it was 4-3.”
Yet United fans smugness proved harmful “Six of one and half a dozen of the other” I can remind them now, enjoying the emphasis on the 6 and the 1 after that farcical Sunday at Old Trafford.
After their marauding of CH3L5EA last week, Arsenal have also joined the scoring party and are led by seemingly the most prolific striker of the lot.
Beyond the obvious joke-writing opportunities, the results have illustrated a significant change in the way manages have approached big games this season.
The ‘safety first’ strategies renowned by the likes of Jose Mourinho and a younger Ferguson have been abandoned as attacking mentalities have become the order of the day. Injuries to the likes of Thomas Vermaelen (against United) and Nemanja Vidic (against City) have played their part, but there does seem to have been a new philosophy emerging.
Earlier this year the BBC hosted a program lamenting the absence of a true “number ten” in the English national game. Yet in the likes of Rooney, Suarez and Van Persie, and Aguero, Dzecko and Ballotelli, the Premier League hosts some of the world’s most exciting offensive talent.
What of the defenders? This is the country where a solid, old fashioned centre half has always been higher regarded than the tenacious, perennial attacker. Bobby Moore is the sports greatest icon.
However when even Bolton v Stoke ends in a 5-0 score line, you do have to wonder if we are witnessing a more fundamental change in the English psyche.
“However many you score, we will score more” is a dangerous idea, but given the frailties of Arsenal, Chelsea and even United’s defenses so far, it may be an accurate reflection.
Whether this will help or hinder the national game is yet unknown, but if it continues to produce games like those so far this season, I would 8-2 see it stop.
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