By Boris Mellor
September 23 2006

This time last week this would have been billed as a bottom of the table scrap. But the win at the Theatre of Nightmares catapulted the Gunners to mid table safety. So what was the secret of that historic victory?

Only a genius like Wenger could put his finger on the cause immediately – the pitch at OT is larger than the Emirates.

So whilst some pundits were claiming that the reason for Arsenal’s failure to win at the Emirates was due to the size of the pitch, our boys were actually feeling restricted and longing for the wide open spaces of Old Trafford. Once let loose in those wide-open spaces they played the best football of any team so far in the Premiership.

I knew it wasn’t the pitch being too large that was the problem, after all Boro and Villa packed their halves just as efficiently as Bolton used to bung up the Highbury penalty area (no witch hunt intended). Meanwhile our players passed the ball as if there was another five yards of space available, or that Freddy is 7 ft 3".

Of course they played elaborate football which was terrible (as any reporter can tell you), unlike the ugly football at OT, hoofing the balls down the wing, or lobbing it over the back for a headless chicken, my mistake that was Man U.

But actually Arsenal only made 13 chances at OT, low by Arsenal standards, but 2 more than Manchester, and seven more than Chelsea had against Liverpool. However I say only because Arsenal created far more chances against Boro, Villa, and City. But it is only the ones that go in that count. And because one, out of less chances than usual, went in the press suddenly discovered that Arsenal are an amazing footballing team, but we knew that didn’t we?

So will the chances go in today against Sheffield Utd? Who knows – they should do – but Utd have always been a difficult team for the Gunners with lots of controversy and history. The infamous Kanu goal, the brilliant Seaman save, the Ljungberg goal, and so on. The last few games were close; they nearly took us to extra time in the FA Cup Semi Final.

Nonetheless there is no point in beating Manchester United away and not defeating Sheffield at home, no disrespect but these are games that must be won. Wenger is well aware of that and is demanding that the team put Utd away with utter ruthlessness.

He will also have the largest squad available in a long-time. The only new injury is Walcott, but RvP and Henry return. Arsenal has had a problem scoring this season, but at last the goals could be about to arrive. Adebayor’s confidence should be sky high, Henry knows he needs to get going, Rosicky is on target, and the Beast looks ready.

Only one sour note, Mark Lawrenson has predicted an Arsenal victory. Now he predicted that Arsenal would beat City, Villa, and Boro and would lose at Man U. Four out of four predictions wrong, what’s the odds on that happening? It could be worth visiting the bookies to back him making it five out of five. But even Lawrenson has to be right one day, just like Arsenal’s bad run ended at OT maybe Mark’s should end at the Emirates. We are right behind you Mark.