Transformation from revolt to renaissance heightens Arsenal’s achievement

The combination of a recent lack of trophies and the long-held suspicions they are more fragile than most means another slip-up is always anticipated. But 2014 could be different for Arsenal.

Arsenal players like Theo Walcott, second from left, and Mesut Oezil, left, could change the fortunes for their club in 2014 and finally hoist a trophy. Ian Walton/Getty Images
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The last few days of the year can double up as an unofficial awards season. While football’s packed calendar provides rather less time for reflection on the events of the past 12 months, it is fitting Arsenal enter 2014 top of the Premier League.

Because they are the team of 2013. Admittedly, it was the eighth successive year when they did not lift a trophy, whereas Manchester United, Wigan Athletic, Swansea City and Chelsea all did.

It included an embarrassing FA Cup exit at the hands of Blackburn Rovers. It was pockmarked by a shocking display of dissent from the stands towards their greatest manager after August’s opening-day defeat to Aston Villa when a regime change seemed increasingly popular.

Yet the transformation from revolt to renaissance heightens Arsenal’s achievement.

This was the year when the notion Arsene Wenger is a spent force lost credence. Over the past few months, theories he is in terminal decline or his philosophy is fatally flawed have been aired rather less frequently. They do not stand up to scrutiny.

Not given landmark results such as away wins against both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

And not, more significantly given the league’s status as a barometer for pragmatic judges, when Arsenal claimed more points than anyone else in the calendar year: an impressive 82.

It was appropriate that Arsenal brought 2013 to a close with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Newcastle United. A first, in May, clinched the prize of a place in the Uefa Champions League qualifiers, maintaining Wenger’s impeccable record of always finishing in the top four.

A second, sealed by Olivier Giroud on Sunday, restored them to the summit of the Premier League. They began the calendar year in fifth, 16 points adrift of the leaders, and close it at the top. Therein lies a tale.

This has been a year when individuals have improved. Aaron Ramsey’s development has been the most spectacular but Giroud has shouldered a huge burden in a way many thought impossible, Kieran Gibbs has quietly become one of the best left-backs in the Premier League and Wojciech Szczesny, despite the occasional problem caused by cockiness, has ended the speculation about Wenger signing a goalkeeper.

From a collective perspective, the most significant upgrade came when Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny were united in the centre of defence in March.

The decision to demote Thomas Vermaelen, the captain and the most stylish centre-back, to ally the German and the Frenchman seemed uncharacteristic for Wenger.

Besides setting the tone for other bold choices – most notably, obliterating the club transfer record to spend £42.5 million (Dh257.3m) on Mesut Ozil – it provided the solid platform his greatest teams have always possessed.

While there are few suggestions Arsenal own the best defender in England, Mertesacker’s understanding with Koscielny means they may now have the finest centre-back partnership. It is a reason they have been able to demonstrate their mettle time and again.

Despite shipping six goals at Manchester City, they reach the mid-way point in the season with the division’s joint most frugal defence. Given Newcastle’s outstanding recent record, the significance of Sunday’s clean sheet and victory at St James’ Park should not be overlooked.

It was another instance of Arsenal confounding their doubters, a theme of 2013. There is a greater burden of proof on them than on many a title rival.

The combination of a recent lack of trophies and the long-held suspicions they are more fragile than most means another slip-up is always anticipated. And yet after their worst run in a year, four games without a win – albeit against Everton, Napoli, City and Chelsea – they responded with back-to-back triumphs on their travels at West Ham and Newcastle.

In keeping with their year, they have done so despite the absence of key personnel. An uncomplaining attitude has underpinned their rise, enabling them to cope with a series of injuries and the toughest of Champions League groups. The tasks for the next 12 months are to build on the foundations they have laid, to sign a striker to allow the overworked Giroud a break, to get Ozil at his most incisive more often and to end their long wait for tangible success.

If 2013 was the year when Arsenal’s ambitions grew, 2014 has to be the year when they are realised.

sports@thenational.ae