Saturday 12th April, 5:30pm
Arsenal @ 8/13
Brentford @ 9/2
Draw @ 3/1
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At the beginning of the week the footballing discussion vortex was swirling around the subject of whether the Premier League had become boring. Opinions were being yelped into microphones, spat out onto social media, and parped into print. One talking head flecked apoplectic spittle towards another in the now familiar fashion of contemporary discourse.
And, to be fair, Gameweek 31 was not a round of fixtures that will live long in the memory. It all began with an undercooked 1-1 draw at The Emirates between Arsenal and Everton. Ipswich lost at home to Wolves to extinguish faint hopes of shift in the fixed relegation strata. And, on Sunday, the champions-elect were becalmed by the Thames at Craven Cottage.
Obviously, this was a far from boring result for Fulham – and the game itself was entertaining and goal-peppered – but it served to underline the suggestion that Liverpool will come to be regarded as weak champions in an underpowered and dull division.
“Arsenal, a team who have failed to turn up for the big occasions on numerous occasions in the past, made amends with an extraordinary demolition of Real Madrid. ”
The counter argument to this is that Liverpool should be viewed as strong champions because the Premier League is the most competitive league in the world; and, though Fulham were 10th going into Sunday’s game, they were still really good. And this is why it is the most watched league in the world, because there are so few easy games.
Clarence Darrow would struggle to formulate any arguments to defend Sunday’s final game, however – the much-hyped Manchester Derby – now that really was boring. A detailed study in mediocrity; a protracted, slow-motion series of mis-placed passes and bungled runs – a match so dull it could be projected onto walls by police forces to help diffuse prison riots.
And this was the feeling that lingered into the early week chatter. The weekend had begun poorly, and it was downhill from then on. Have we all been wasting our time consuming this product?
After watching this week’s Champions League output, the answer was a resounding ‘yes’. This was the stuff. Significant hype well and truly justified. Big teams, great goals, quality play – the ‘Tesco Finest’ range of football.
Wednesday night watchers were wowed by PSG. Aston Villa were spirited and resolute but left the pitch thoroughly beaten and bamboozled by the French champions; who, on current form, are the most entertaining side in Europe.
Tuesday night delivered something special too. Arsenal, a team who have failed to turn up for the big occasions on numerous occasions in the past, made amends with an extraordinary demolition of Real Madrid. Declan Rice striking his name into club history with two unprecedented and devastating free-kicks.
In the mid-1990s, under the late tenure of George Graham, opposition fans used to chant ‘boring boring Arsenal’ at the successful but stolid and staid Highbury side. This was a performance to highlight just how distant a memory that was.
But, as if often the case with Arsenal, a sense of frustration endures. Why, if they are able to play like they did against the Galácticos in midweek, are they 11 points behind a supposedly ‘weak’ Liverpool in the league?
Will they revert back to their ‘boring’ old Premier League selves in Saturday’s 5:30pm home kick-off against Brentford? Or was Tuesday the beginning of a new approach, a new level of confidence and power?
Because although a 3-0 triumph over Real Madrid may feel like winning a final, it does not come with a trophy. In fact, there is still the possibility – albeit faint – that they will contrive to somehow lose the tie overall and exit the competition. It was just one match.
And the Premier League consists of 38. So, can Arsenal – and the rest of the division’s supposed big-hitters – prove that what happened last week was just a blip? Prove that this is where the best footballing entertainment truly resides?
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