EPL: Gunners on fire

Promising starts are not alien to Arsenal, but in recent times, it has always been followed by a customary dip in form.

But there seems to be something different about the Gunners this season.

Since losing their opening match to Aston Villa, Arsene Wenger has guided the team to nine straight victories, including the penalty shoot-out win over West Bromwich Albion in the League Cup.

The away triumph over Swansea last Saturday summed up the improvement they have made.

With a combination of flair and steel, they took down Michael Laudrup's stylish passing side by the skin of their teeth, but it was exactly what made it all the more impressive.

A five-minute spell around the hour mark saw Arsenal suddenly spring to life, bag two goals, then close shop.

The Swans battled to the end, pulling one back with nine minutes remaining to set up a nervy ending for the visitors.

But Arsenal held on. They did it with every remaining ounce of determination and energy.

Their mental strength, or rather, the lack of it, has been the cause of their demise in the past few years, but this performance gives hope that they are no longer susceptible to wobbly knees.

There was a cutting edge to their attacking play that Swansea, despite their superior possession percentage, couldn't match.

Mesut Oezil's flair and creativity around the penalty box is a weapon they haven't had since the departure of Cesc Fabregas.

Olivier Giroud's confidence in front of goal gives them a belief that they can win any game.

Aaron Ramsey's rise in form shouldn't come as a surprise.

With hardman Mathieu Flamini operating by his side, the Welshman can now attack without inhibition.

The tally of eight goals in nine matches from midfield is his answer to the critics who questioned if he would ever come of age.

Flamini, on the other hand, provides the defence with the protection that every Premiership backline deserves to have.

Then, as if they really turned back the clock to when they were great, a young unknown Serge Gnabry popped up from nowhere to fire in the opening goal.

The rolling good times are back at the Emirates Stadium.

NUMBERS GAME:

8 The Gunners equalled their record of eight successive away league wins, which was set during their victorious 2001/02 Premiership campaign.

10 Of Arsenal's 10 attempts on goal against Swansea, seven came from inside the penalty area, and the remaining three from outside. 41.5 Percentage of Arsenal's possession. It showed a shift from a need to dominate play, to the know-how to make possession count.

TOP DEFENDER JOHN TERRY (CHELSEA)

Say what you will about John Terry the person, but there isn't much you can criticise about the player.

The 32-year-old centre half put in a superb display in the London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, contributing at both ends of the field to help the Blues to a point at White Hart Lane.

After heading home the equaliser, he marshalled a superb rearguard action to keep the Lilywhites at bay.

He even managed to step up his game by another notch after Chelsea were reduced to 10 men, following Fernando Torres' dismissal in the 81st minute.

NUMBERS GAME:

3 All three of his goal attempts came from his head. 4 His last four Premiership goals have come on away turf. 7 He was 100 per cent spot-on in his clearances during the game, all seven of them.

TOP FORWARD DANIEL STURRIDGE (LIVERPOOL)

He's banging them in from anywhere and with anything, even his hand.

Sturridge literally grabbed his fifth Premiership goal of the season, after his header hit his hand on its way into the Sunderland net last Sunday.

But there was no luck involved in his assists for teammate Luis Suarez in the 3-1 win.

Sturridge did the hard work in both instances, setting up the Uruguayan for an easy brace.

NUMBERS GAME:

1 One shot, one kill. The mark of a striker on fire.

2 He created two goalscoring chances in the entire game, both of which Luis Suarez converted.

25 In total, he completed 25 out of 33 passes.

garylim@sph.com.sg

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