Arsenal Analysis: Arsene Wenger Back In Jovial Mood

Professor Vesuvius was smiling again and even joking about his targets in the January transfer window after steering Arsenal back into the thick of the Premier League title race following Sunday's 3-0 victory over Aston Villa.

After a few torrid weeks during which he has been witnessed swearing at a news briefing, losing his patience, showing anger towards his players during a half-time team talk and questioning almost every decision taken by FIFA, UEFA and the English FA, not to mention Wolverhampton Wanderers, Arsene Wenger was back in benign mood and full of Christmas cheer.

He and his young squad have cleared a difficult hurdle and survived a very intense period of pressure since being beaten comprehensively by a physically superior Chelsea team at the Emirates Stadium on November 29.

But does a run of four wins and one draw in five games through December mean Arsenal are really back as title contenders? And does the Alsatian manager need to dip into the transfer market as of next week to bolster his squad?

Time will tell, of course, but in this unpredictable and open championship race this season, it does appear that none of the leading clubs have yet found the durability and consistency to make a valid claim to be in pole position. And, just as Arsenal have proved their youngsters can rise to the occasion and deliver when called upon, Chelsea and Manchester United now need their stars of the future and youthful fringe players to do the same.

As Wenger said both back in November and after Sunday's slightly flattering mauling of in-form Aston Villa, consistency is now the key. Chelsea, for example, have proved they are vulnerable by winning only once in five games since winning at Ashburton Grove and, like their rivals, now face a month in which many of their best African players will be involved in the African Cup of Nations.

The title race therefore is entering a microcosm - a kind of new season within a season that encapsulates the busy festive fixture period followed by a January in which the top clubs' resources are likely to be stretched by the African tournament.

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No wonder then that Wenger is happy again. From being 11 points behind Chelsea, and looking like forlorn and distant also-rans, they are back within reach of the leaders - much to the Frenchman's surprise.

"Yes I am surprised," he admitted. "And that is because I could say we would win the games, but you couldn't predict that our opponents would drop so many points. After the Chelsea game, I said openly that Chelsea would drop points on the basis of what I had seen. And they did. But how many they would drop, I didn't know.

"It makes the title race interesting now. We are in a strong position. We can have belief but there is a long way to go and we have to keep our feet on the ground and continue to improve together."

He added: "You go anywhere now and it's not that you go there, turn up and take three points. That has gone. It has gone - until March. After that some teams will be safe, or will not go for Europe, and you take some easier points, but from now until March, in this championship, the consistent team will be rewarded."

As to new signings, he was coy. "I have not one name," he teased, after explaining the loss of Sunday's hero, captain Cesc Fabregas, who came on as a substitute and scored twice in a 28-minute appearance in the second half before being withdrawn with an aggravation of his sore hamstring. "If it is three weeks again, we could be a bit short in midfield," he admitted.

A striker remains the priority with Robin van Persie out for the rest of the season and Andrey Arshavin struggling as a makeshift target man. But on Sunday's form, with his team enjoying an efficient display from back to front, he can continue to muddle through by rotating his talented squad and relying on the in-form Abou Diaby to inspire his team-mates.

But for how much longer? A fit Nicklas Bendtner would bring welcome options in attack, but the safest decision for Wenger and Arsenal would surely be to invest in a target striker with the phsyique and experience to make an impact in the Premier League immediately. Over to you then, chuckling magician of the dugout... one good splash of the cash could bring the title back to N5 for the first time in six years.

Tim Collings, Goal.com

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