Wheel of Fortune

My, how quickly the tables can turn.

One minute, you and your side can only watch on as its nearest rivals comfortably beat inferior opposition and make strides in the transfer market while you slip to defeat at home at the hands of supposedly said calibre of opponent and are asked by security to move away and stop steaming up the shop window.

The next, it is your team who waltzes to victory and is suddenly the subject of all manner of rumours, placing you at the front of the sales queue, while your adversaries struggle to overcome the side that was the cause of your strife but four days ago.

Following last Saturday’s debacle, Arsenal’s trip to Fenerbahce became more vital than ever for an increasingly mutinous following. That the Gunners came away from a hostile environment with a highly satisfactory 3-0 win will be pleasing, yes, but also relieving in the extreme.

Having seen Chelsea play majestically during the first half-hour of their opener against Hull City at the weekend, then stood by as Tottenham Hotspur were linked with all manner of spending in the days since, all involved at the Emirates would have felt deeply vindicated by the performance and result in Turkey that leaves a 16^th consecutive Champions League campaign all but assured.

To then return to news that their club was in the hunt for personnel of the quality of Real Madrid pair, Karim Benzema and Angel di Maria, would have perhaps even given them a renewed sense of optimism regarding the season ahead.

And once they had witnessed Chelsea’s difficulty in negotiating the obstacle at which their boys were recently outdone, they would have relaxed a little, reassured in the knowledge that this was a decent outfit that they had encountered and one which, on another, un-injury-encumbered afternoon, might have been vanquished, as the establishing of an early lead had suggested.

The only difference being, of course, that the Blues managed to find a way to win the game and stretch their lead over the Gunners to six points, albeit having played a game more. What will worry those in N5 is whether their exceptional European form can translate into domestic dominance, as they look to shake off a stuttering start and a spate of ailments with the closing of the transfer window drawing ever closer.

One should also mention that the difference between the stories linking the Gunners with high-profile acquisitions and those of a similar ilk emanating from their North London neighbours is that Tottenham’s deals tend to get done. So far, Spurs look to have spent upwards of £80m while, until now, Arsenal have parted with nothing and got out what they have put in.

With Arsene Wenger insisting that he and his staff are working round the clock to get new faces in the team photo, one does begin to wonder if he has left it a little late to conduct his big business, even though his assurances on Tuesday that “12 days is a long time” do ring true to some extent when glancing through windows gone by.

What seems certain, though, is that: 1) Chelsea will not have it all their own way in London this season, let alone up against the two Manchester outfits; 2) All Spurs’ wheeling and dealing will not guarantee them a seat at the top table; and 3) Arsenal will be playing top-level continental football for another year.

Whether or not Wenger’s men extend that run may yet come down to the next fortnight’s activity in the boardroom and its ability to alleviate the elevating anxiety being experienced on the Emirates Stadium terraces as Gunners fans everywhere sit tight and cross their fingers.