When Arsenal come to choose the inscription on the statue commemorating Arsene Wenger’s time as manager, one suggestion might be: “We were always contenders.”
It’s true. Even through the relatively lean second decade of Wenger’s reign, which, with 10 months to go, has brought two FA Cups — compared with four of those and three Premier League titles — his teams have at least notionally challenged for the main prize.
The critics have often scoffed, citing too pure a style or the utter balderdash that his sides lack mental resilience — it’s probably been their greatest strength — but you just need to look at Manchester United’s travails since Sir Alex Ferguson made his tactical withdrawal to take the point.
Add in the money diverted from the transfer budget to pay for the Emirates Stadium, and Uefa’s betrayal over Financial Fair Play — if I were Arsenal, I’d be as upset about that as Manchester City are jubilant — and it’s remarkable consistency.
Not that it felt that way when Arsenal were beaten 6-0 at Chelsea, or having four goals swept past them inside 20 minutes at Liverpool, or losing 6-3 at City a couple of years ago.
While no Arsenal fan will thank me for tempting fate a week ahead of City’s visit, it has seemed different in these top-four clashes since — towards the end of last season, they won 2-0 at the Etihad, then drew at home to Chelsea and away to United.
In each case Wenger took a more tactical approach, so let’s see what he does now such splendid form has been discovered.
At Villa Park, as in Greece against Olympiakos, his team hardly seemed to miss Alexis Sanchez and I can only see one serious flaw: no back-up for Mathieu Flamini in holding midfield.
Aston Villa vs Arsenal - player ratings
In the absence of Francis Coquelin, a decision should be made either to try Calum Chambers or buy.
With the title so apparently winnable, it would verge on recklessness to do nothing.
