SOCCER: Patrick Vieira's admission yesterday that he needs a break seemed an apt comment on Arsenal's bristling start. Having begun this season as emphatically as they finished the last, Arsene Wenger's team look as if they never stopped playing over the summer.
Already rivals might be tempted to raise the white flag. While Manchester United stutter and Liverpool lose leads like a careless dog owner, Arsenal are gliding. It is 26 games since they lost a league match, 44 since they failed to score in one, and the frightening news for the rest of the English Premiership is Freddie Ljungberg and Robert Pires should soon return. Vieira had an unwanted breather at Chelsea and the team still came from behind with 10 men to take a point.
The fact Arsenal are 10 to 11 with William Hill to win the title reflects the "power shift" Wenger referred to after clinching last season's crown. The double has not dampened but sharpened hunger at Highbury. "We want to prove we are the true champions by winning the league again," the manager has said.
Wenger's eagerness to maintain the club's momentum may be behind his decision not to rest Vieira, who told L'Equipe yesterday: "I'm not just tired, I'm cooked. I can hardly stand up at times. My back aches, my legs hurt, it hurts all over. This time I really need a breather, I need it .. . I know very well that I am not good at the moment."
It is a tribute to Wenger's eye for players that they have slipped straight into their rhythm, incorporating Gilberto Silva as if he has been there for years. The goal threat from wide areas that makes them so dangerous with Pires and Ljungberg has been taken on by Sylvain Wiltord and, briefly, Kolo Toure. No defence has the measure of Thierry Henry and underpinning everything is a self-belief second to none.
And all the while Manchester United continue to be reminded of their own vulnerability. Without Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville, the leadership and confidence has been hit in Alex Ferguson's team. A home defeat by Bolton was the latest example.
"We have to get to our best and quickly," David Beckham said. "We're in seventh or eighth in the league and we're not happy about that. You can only afford to lose four or five games in a season and this is our first loss."
As long as Arsenal continue in this manner, seeds of doubt will be sown in opponents' minds.
Clinching last season's title at Old Trafford may have provided a spur for United but it dealt a psychological blow at the same time. Throw in the victory at Anfield with 10 men and a win at Newcastle and the message was clear.
At the moment the greatest danger to Arsenal appears to be themselves. At home to West Bromwich Albion they might have tossed away a three-goal lead as they relaxed. At Upton Park Wenger noted that his players weren't "sharp enough mentally" until stirred into their comeback.
Despite Sol Campbell's excellence they have only one clean sheet and David Seaman has looked vulnerable. A lengthy absence for Vieira, Henry or Campbell would surely be damaging but, while most clubs have fallen to an upset, they have not succumbed. Leeds and Newcastle have lost twice, Chelsea draw too many and Liverpool's resilience has deserted them; twice in a row, both at Anfield, they have lost two-goal advantages. Stephane Henchoz's importance was plain when he went off against Birmingham and the new goal threat from midfield appears to have come to the detriment of defensive duties.
In the meantime Arsenal push on. And, if the opening few weeks are anything to go by, they will take some stopping.
Kevin Kilbane has been assured by Sunderland manager Peter Reid he still has a future at the Stadium of Light. The Republic of Ireland international has been left out in the cold since the opening-day Premiership fixture at Blackburn following the winger's two-fingered gesture to the Sunderland fans in a pre-season friendly in Belgium.
But Reid insists Kilbane will not be frozen out, claiming he only has the best interests at heart of his £3 million signing from West Brom.
"Kevin Kilbane will certainly be used by me," said Reid. "We have to utilise whatever ways we can for the benefit of the club. I need to protect him and I need to use him. He is such an honest player as well as an honest lad."
Ronaldo paid more than £3 million of his own money to smooth the deal that took him to Real Madrid, according to Internazionale's president Massimo Moratti. Despite accepting a £30 million valuation after initially demanding about £65 million for the striker, Moratti said yesterday: "In economic terms Inter came out of the whole deal very well because Ronaldo had to pay $5 million (£3.22 million) out of his own pocket in order to compensate us for lost sponsorship money."
Guardian Service
