Comfortable and Confident

Well that was a great win at Wigan over the weekend, wasn't it? The team looked comfortable and confident in a dominating 4-0 victory that just felt amazing. It's been a little while since we looked that comfortable on our way to a win. Surely it'll give the lads some confidence at this really crucial part of the season.

Wigan didn't make it easy to begin with. They bossed the early stages of the game and to be honest I was a bit worried. But that all changed just before the half-hour mark.

Arteta's long-range shot was excellent really, and he got the bit of luck he needed thanks to some poor goalkeeping. But it's just refreshing to see the Arsenal players shooting from long range again. I remember just a few seasons ago when Cesc Fabregas was firing in rockets left right and centre and we were all just thrilled to be able to score in a new, rather breathtaking way. I sure hope the rest of the team latches on to this idea of not being scared to pull the trigger from 20+ yards out: you never know what can happen.

Almost immediately afterwards we were 2-0 up through - after a run of 179 Premier League tries - a goal from a corner kick. It was definitely one from the training ground, which Arsene Wenger recently admitted the team's been working on. And it was none other than our fantastic centre-half Vermaelen who scored the goal. That's two in two weeks for our solid defensive rock. Honestly, when the man's playing we look so much more calm and assured at the back, and I could see him being very much a Martin Keown-type figure for us in the years to come.

The third goal followed an excellent string of passes, and it was about time that Gervinho scored again. Quite honestly I haven't been a fan of Gervinho as a striker. He makes a great attacking winger, stretching the opposing defence and toying with them well, but his finishing has been lacklustre. Hopefully the goal will give him a bit of confidence, and we'll start to see some end product from our summer signing.

Van Persie needed his customary goal, and sure enough it came to make it four. But all credit goes to Theo Walcott, who did excellently to pick his captain out. In previous seasons he likely would've just shot or his pass would've been off-target, but he's grown as a player and one can see it from instances like this when his decision-making and technical skills were sublime.

A word has to be said for Van Persie as well. The way he immediately pointed to Theo, giving all credit to him, the way he ran over and picked him up, and the way he's been complimenting and building up the guy has been world-class. It reminded me of something Thierry Henry would've done, and something that any great leader does: makes those he leads feel good about themselves and builds solid relationships with them. Van Persie is surely the best captain since Thierry, and perhaps since Viera or Adams.

So with that win behind us, the team go to Greece tomorrow to face the local champions Olympiacos. They're definitely a good side, and one that we only narrowly defeated last time. Arsene Wenger has unsurprisingly named a young squad for tomorrow evening, but one that should be able to get the job done, especially considering how valiantly they played against a much more...expensive Manchester City side. I'm expecting a narrow victory tomorrow night, but if not that then certainly a draw. We're good enough to get a result, and as long as the young guns are firing at full strength then we'll have a great chance in Piraeus tomorrow night. 

Till then, here's hoping for another comfortable and confident performance, this time from the Arsenal youngsters,

Fab 4