Focus

The Arsenal find themselves in a familiar position tomorrow. Big wins, plenty of goals, progress up the league table as our closest competitors show weakness, and returning home to face a team battling at the bottom to avoid the relegation zone. This is a test which may provide us with the most accurate assessment of the evolution underway.

The criticism directed at Wenger and his youth-centric squad has often centered around our supposed inability to deal with the "physical"side of English football. The result against Man City provided proof that the Gunners are not intimidated by size or force. Teams who hope to bully Arsenal find they are up against a tenacious and determined opponent more than willing to mix it up, and critics are left searching.

For those of us who follow Arsenal, perhaps our biggest disappointments have come with poor efforts against inferior teams just as hopes have risen. Often described as "let downs" or "over-confidence", the beautiful football we expect doesn't materialize. The focus required is missing and critics are quick to proclaim the young Gunners lacking "maturity and/or mental toughness". A victory over West Ham will be seen as expected and probably not warrant more than a scoreline by the press, but to those who know this club it will signal an inspiring change of attitude. An emergence of the Champions within.

Victoria Concordia Crescit