Yesterday’s performance showed a perfect mix of youth and age - the youngsters and the more experienced players combining to produce a brilliant performance and a fantastic result.
Fast and feared
Three goals for RvP were mirrored by three assists for Walcott - none of which involved lucky bounces off opposition backs! While Oxlade Chamberlain got his just rewards: two excellent goals, showing his pace and skill for the first goal, and his speed of thought and quick feet for the second.
Van Persie, Walcott, and Oxlade-Chamberlain were described on Match of the Day as “probably the quickest front three” in the Premiership. And on yesterday’s performance, among the most feared.
Youth and experience
At last Arsenal appear to have found a combination of youth and experience, risk-taking and solidity which has been missing throughout the season. In all areas, Arsenal seemed to benefit from being able to mix up their play. As well as Oxlade-Chamberlain and RvP working for each other, there are notable partnerships on other areas: Arteta, for example, has provided a solidity in midfield all season, which has allowed Song to make his occasional forays up-field and, yesterday, enabled Rosicky to drive forward and support the front three.
And it’s not just the younger players who take the risks. How much are we missing Santos’s runs from left back - hist step overs and reverse-passes? It will be interesting to see if Oxlade Chamberlain keeps his place on the left when Santos is back.
Coquelin: the perfect combination?
One player who stood out for me against Blackburn was Coquelin. His pass for Walcott to set up the first goal was exquisite. And of course he got his own assist with RvP’s third goal. He is beginning to show that combination of youth and age in his own play. He provides a strength and solidity at right back, which wasn’t there with the more naturally defensive Djourou. And, going forward, he has much more of the swashbuckling style of Oxlade-Chamberlain.
His willingness to play anywhere risks turning him into a bit-part player - a sort-of ‘Jack of all trades’ - which could mean that he never holds down a position of his own. But equally, that willingness to play anywhere is giving him games at the moment, and enabling him to show his ability to take responsibility. While we have such a strong midfield unit, he may struggle to get first team games. But there’s no doubt that he has the ability - and I, for one, am looking forward to seeing him alongside Jack Wilshere in what would make an incredibly strong and creative central midfield partnership.
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