In a season of firsts for Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, the Frenchman and his Gunners have not only fallen 15 points off pace with league leaders Manchester City, but they also managed to lose to perpetual nemesis Manchester United by a whopping six goals.
Nevertheless, as we prepare for the second edition of the 2011-2012 Arsenal vs. Manchester United derby, it seems that Arsenal actually enters the contest in the more favorable position.
Yes, Manchester United has accumulated 48 points to date and sits only three points behind league leaders Manchester City. However, after pummeling Arsenal on August 28th, Sir Alex Ferguson's men were eviscerated by City at Old Trafford, crashed spectacularly out of the Champions League and lost consecutive matches to Blackburn and Newcastle.
On the other hand, Wenger's Gunners recovered nicely by winning their Champions League group and advancing to fifth place in the table, only four points behind persistently vulnerable Chelsea.
Under normal circumstances, this series of events would not be taken well around the Emirates. Has Arsenal become irrelevant? Can they still compete with top tier EPL sides or has Wenger's frugality finally compromised his team's competitiveness?
However, as we've learned, Arsenal's circumstances are far from ordinary.
Following a perfect storm of events, Arsenal managed to lose its three most influential players, Cesc Fàbregas, Samir Nasri and Jack Wilshere, while every other title-challenging side beefed up their rosters.
City added Nasri and Kun Agüero, United picked up Ashley Young and Phil Jones, Tottenham took on Emmanuel Adebayor and Scott Parker, Chelsea acquired Juan Mata and introduced Daniel Sturridge into the first team, Liverpool brought in Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam, and even Newcastle landed a world-class striker in Demba Ba.
In Wengeresque defiance of their doomed fate, Arsenal managed to avoid a complete collapse and is now perfectly positioned to transition from the rebuilding power into legitimate title contender.
Buoyed by the return of Jack Wilshere from injury, the maturation of Emmanuel Frimpong and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and the inevitable addition of a talented attacker the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri, a refitted Arsenal side will become infinitely more dangerous in the immediate future.
Surely having realized this inevitable truth, Wenger need not worry incessantly.
Win or lose against United, he has already saved his team from inevitable doom and has thus injected the club with a fresh source of optimism.
And I suspect this contagious wave of positivity will make all the difference come kickoff on Sunday.
Chauncey Billups Carmelo Anthony Tayshon Prince Tracy McGrady Yao Ming Luis Scola
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