Solid, Determined, But Not So Sublime: FA Cup Report

And the title perfectly sums up the performance against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday night. A 3-1 win whose scoreline was perhaps a little harsh on the visitors, but overall reflective of the skill difference between the two teams: and that was all that won is this match.

Plymouth Argyle played their hearts out and I think I can honestly say that they weren't the only ones putting in a determined performance. The Arsenal team out there tonight really looked like they were focused and actually trying to win this match. If there's one thing that's changed over the last month or so it's just that: we are starting to take the small team a bit more seriously.

Nasri and Van Perise both had a good match and either could have claimed the MoM award, but as RVP scored the goals, he'll get the credit. But what worried me, even in the slightest, was what I've just barely mentioned: this was a real effort by Arsenal.

Whilst determination and willingness to win matches used to produce stunning football (like against Man Utd), if this match is anything to go by now it's just getting us wins. There was no fluidity, little lovely football on display last night, and we won through sheer hard work.

Don't get me wrong, I love to see that in the team, but I'm hoping we have a bit more than that in the tank this season. I'm really hoping that this is just a rough patch we're going through right now and that's why performances are not at their flowing best.

One could argue that the entire season has been one big rough patch, but I don't think that's the case. I think we were playing pretty football earlier this season, but we weren't putting our minds to the task, and that led to poor results. Now we have lost our flowing football but we're focusing a lot more and playing more determinedly, and that has led to us being undefeated since the Carling Cup exit.

It all seemed to start with the Liverpool game in hindsight. Before it we had two bad game against Wigan and Middlesbrough, but we were lucky to get four points from the two fixtures. But then against Liverpool we were playing well until Adebayor was sent off. Then we produced the biggest surprise that I have had this season: a determined, life-on-the-line defensive performance with ten men that kept Liverpool out.

After that we have been getting results in the same way: ugly but determined. We played really badly at Aston Villa but almost won and left with a point. We only just beat Portsmouth, but did so with real determination. And tonight we beat Plymouth due to sheer willingness and more classiness.

If this is the new Arsenal, I'm both hating it and loving it. I hate how we are no longer producing lovely, stunning football, but I love how we are getting result after result. This is how to win things: win ugly and often, and we seem, even if incidentally, to have figured this out. Maybe, just maybe, this will give us the silverware this season that we all so desperately want and feel we need. I'm hoping it is, and I'm hoping we have taken the first step toward another trophy tonight: we have learned once again how to win ugly.

Don't forget, you can get now all the Fab 4 Arsenal news and views sent direct to your mobile phone for free, please Click Here for details on how to try out this great service! Until next time,

Fab 4