But this season is different. Believe it or not, Tottenham is actually playing Champions league football and teams such as Sunderland are eyeing Europa League placement and the BPL has been so tight with teams you wouldn’t expect to see in positions at the table. No longer are managers of ‘smaller’ teams setting lower standards for themselves but are willing to compete with the best, given Sunderland’s 3-o spanking of big boys Chelsea. Arsene Wenger believes the competition has been open as ever.

“I don’t agree with people who say that the overall quality of the league is lower this season,” Wenger told the Official Matchday Programme. “In fact you can say exactly the reverse.

“Two quality teams – Aston Villa and Liverpool – met and both sides were in the bottom half. So that opinion is not really proven by concrete facts.”

Why have teams like Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea managed to set their reputation in stone and establish an amazing stronghold in the most popular soccer league in the world? It’s all down to complete consistency and quality of work ethic.

Manchester United have never finished lower than third in the table since the formation of Barclays Premier League (BPL) and overtook Liverpool to with record win of 18 cup trophies under the leadership of Sir Alex Ferguson, a manager who has achieved astonishing milestones with the club. He is a pure symbolism of victory and great achievements. To imagine his name without the club is as impossible to breathe without air. The same goes for Arsenal in North London a team who are the English epitome of quality football and style. A wonderful team I have had the total joy of being a fan ever since manager Arsene Wenger took over in 1997. Under his guidance Wenger has been the most succesful manager for Arsenal winning four FA cups, a league double in the 1997/98 season and the first team to go 49 games undeafeated to win the Premier League in 2003/2004. Liverpool have always been great contenders in BPL but despite the fact they have never won a domestic league title since its inception, They’re still a great championship team and have won many titles including the prestigious UEFA Champions League in 2005. Chelsea who have had legends such as George Weah and Gianfranco Zola, never won anything until the $300 million dollar takeover by Roman Abramovic. His buying of the club led to acquirement of bad boy Coach Jose Mourinho and epic signings such as Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Flourent Malouda. This devastating combination of star power became the new Real Madrid that won back to back Premiership titles in 2005 and 2006. Unfortunately, after a taste of what it means to Champions, this has also led to big-headedness of long-suffering Chelsea fans and a parasitic swarm of glory-hunters.

But apart from historic lesson aside, the main issue here is Arsenal, as always. Whenever you get into an argument about football and  which team is the best with your friends, all they have to do is take jibes at Arsenal for having a young and inexperienced side and not winning anything since 2005.

“Arsene Wenger is a pedophile and is ridiculous if he expects to win anything with children,”

“You guys haven’t won anything since 2005,”

“When was the last time you guys won anything?”

“They play great football but that’s all they do,”

“If you believe these small boys can win anything, you’ll believe anything”

Even professionals such as Real Madrid Coach Jose Mourinho and Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra have stooped to similar and disrespectful comments in the media.

Jose Mourinho flatly called Wenger a “loser” after Wenger made comments about Mourinho’s cheating antics in a Champions league match.

“We could lose to them but then what? There is nothing (for them), there will be no trophy, nothing,” said Evra.

“Arsenal is a training centre,” Evra told French television station Canal Plus. “I watch them play and enjoy it but will they win the title? That’s what people remember,” Evra said.

But as much as I hate to admit it, these cheap shots are painfully true. Arsenal have not won anything since 2005 and we lack some certain experience especially at defence. There’ve been too many games that we didn’t kill off and we are a very young squad with an average age of 23.5.

That doesn’t mean there’s no talent. Players such as Song, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere and Samir Nasri are stepping up to the plate and are having a great season. Despite all the media’s criticism and smack talk, Arsenal currently sit first on the table with 32 points, one point ahead of Manchester United.

And This coming Monday on Dec. 13, 2010 is the opportunity Arsenal have to make the biggest statement that they can indeed compete for the Premier League title this season with the “big boys”

And to all the jibes and mockery my only response is in Arsene we trust.

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A 3-2 win over Celtic FC at Emirates Stadium secured the trophy for the third time in four years with Carlos Vela, Bacary Sagna and Samir Nasri all on the scoresheet. However, Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere won man of the match.

The major pots are Arsenal’s priority of course and they would no doubt swap the Emirates Cup for the Premier League or Champions League next May.

But it’s nice to win any trophy and Arsenal enjoyed the moment after the final whistle blew.

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On sale from Thursday 29thJuly, the 70s style shirt is made up of a block red body with a white round neck collar, and white sleeves. Inside the shirt on the back of the club crest is inscribed Arsenal’s motto: “Victoria, Concordia, Crescit”. The shorts and socks are white.

While the design is traditional, the technology is cutting edge. Every shirt is made entirely from recycled polyester, crafted from up to eight plastic water bottles as part of Nike’s ‘Considered Design’ programme, which sees discarded plastic bottles diverted from landfills  to be used in the manufacturing process.**

The improved Nike Dri-Fit fabric, now 13% lighter than previous kits, helps to quickly evaporate moisture by drawing it through the fabric to the surface, to keep players dry. Ventilation zones on the sides of the jersey and back of shorts enhance breathability by up to 7%. And the double knit structure of the jersey gives it 10% more stretch.

The classic design and ethical makeup of the kit has already proved a big hit with the Arsenal players.

Alex Song said: “The shirt is traditional, it’s red and white which the fans love, and it shows the history of the Club.

“I watched Arsenal on TV lots when I was young and just saw red and white. If someone told me six or seven years ago I’d be able to wear these colours it would have been unbelievable, so today I’m so happy to wear this shirt and to do my best for this shirt.”

Thomas Vermaelen agreed, saying: “I really like this new kit. It’s the typical colours for Arsenal, white and red, and it’s really nice. Every club has their own traditional colours. For Arsenal it’s red and white and that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

Theo Walcott summed the new kit up: “The colours are very traditional, it feels nice and it’s made from recycled plastic bottles so what more can you ask for?! It fits and feels nice, and that’s the most important thing. I think it’s important that you feel comfortable in it.”

Those who pre-order the new home shirt at arsenal.com or an official Arsenal store, will receive a redcurrant Arsenal polo neck t-shirt in the same size, worth £20***, absolutely free while stocks last!

The new Arsenal home shirt is priced £45 for adults (£50 long sleeved) with children’s shirts at £35 (£40 long sleeved). The Armoury, All Arsenal, Finsbury Park and Enfield stores will be open 9am – 5.30pm on Thursday 29th July. Further information for activities taking place on kit launch day will be posted on www.arsenal.com in due course.

New 2010/11 Home kit

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So back to the game against Everton; the referee had blown the whistle and the kick-off was a reminder that Arsenal’s make-or-break season was well on its way. Both clubs looked strong in the opening minutes of the game. Suddenly, Arsenal was in the lead with a stunning 25-yard curler from Brazilian midfielder Denilson 26 minutes into the game. Then new signing Thomas Vermaelen scored his debutant goal by sneaking in an uncontested header from a freekick in the 37th minute. Arsenal would then be up by three with a goal from defender William Gallas in the similar pattern four minutes later. I thought that was enough to silence the critics and naysayers about Arsenal, but the trashing did not stop there.

In the second half, Arsenal were just cruising through with the fourth goal. An attack by Everton was cut short and led to a counter attack by Arsenal with a string of passes that found captain Cesc Fabregas breaking through the middle of Everton’s defence to slot it through goalkeeper Tim Howard’s legs. A typical Arsenal goal but I was ecstatic as I did the robot and shouted my head off with joy. Fabregas would later score again in the 70th minute as he casually dribbled the ball just outside Everton’s 18-yard box to blaze it into the back of the net. Five goals to nil. Then it later became six goals by Arsenal as Eduardo tapped in Arshavin‘s unlucky rebound off the goal post. Six goals! Six goals by the team that  supposedly did not have a chance of contending for the championship.

The game ended with an emphatic 6-1 win by Arsenal. The scoreline is nothing short of poetic justice and a big “Fuck You!” to all the critics and all the two-faced Arsenal supporters. The scoreline is an emphatic “Shut up!” to the doubters who opened their mouths with rubbish spewing all over the place before they assesed the what a team like Arsenal is capable of.  

Even though it’s only the first game of the season, it’s a massive confidence boost for the Arsenal squad. It shows that this young team has matured and the team chemistry is coming together. So to the media and the arrogant sports critics that seem to think senseless expenditure of money and big-name signings is the only way to become a championship team should think again. Arsenal is a team that’s being built from the ground up and it’s only a matter of time before we win a trophy or cup title. Which we will. Gunners for life!

Arsenal Demolish Everton

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