Will the Wigan lesson teach us a thing or two about the Arsenal test?

Now the instant over-excitement created by a 5-0 win has composed itself back to reality, we should take our first truly positive result of the season and build on the positives while understanding and not undermining the ease at which it was achieved. Birmingham, Burnley (although Manchester United didn’t actually turn up to that one) and Wigan are all ridiculously average, bottom-half sides who we, being the Champions, should comfortably see off rather than achieve 1 good result out of the 3. Of course the overly confident folk will still point out the success that emerges from a slow starting United season, but I fear now the dynamics of the team has regressed (in terms of attacking prowess and flair) due to our Summer loss, we may see some similar patterns to what we are finding now, and that this ‘start’ could in fact drag till May. 5 goals is good any way you look at it, but Wigan – representing the minority of shit teams in our League – were, well, shit. In 5 days time we play a team who have comfortable seen off Everton at Goodison, as well as Portsmouth (scoring 10 goals in those 2 games), and have even gone to Hampden Park to do a job on Celtic in between. Arsenal are looking seriously threatening at the minute, and as much as they’re in the same situation as us in that they can't really elucidate their strengths quite so solidly as the haven’t played a team of true pedigree yet, their attacking displays, speed at which they come forward and ultimately, therefore, their results thus far, seem so much more impressive than the 1-0, 0-1 and 5-0 that we’ve achieved this season.

But, as much as we should be realistic after the apparently brilliant result on Saturday, we can definitely draw out the positives which can hopefully develop and become consistent; to bring a joyous May day for the fourth season running.

Conceding only 1 goal in these 3 games – without any the same level of consistency that was provided by our epic defence last season – is promising, even though (I’m afraid I need to say it again) the teams we've haven’t been that ruthless and dangerous when coming forward. It’s good to see Foster settling in to dampen the blow that VDS’s injury brought, and with Rio being injured we are able to bring in the recovered, and always immense, Vidic to partner the improving Evans.

In midfield as well we have reasons to rejoice, even if we are evidently missing that sparkling genius on the wing. Fletcher, as is now firmly the case in the centre, was commanding on Saturday and provided great fluidity to our attack when coming forward (could the 4 year wait to replace our former legendary leader finally be over?). He can’t shoot for shit mind, but in that deeper defensive/holding role he flourishes and has truly found his best position (remember when he used to be cover for Beckham on the right??). Valencia as well has the potential of causing decent defences a problem with his pace and, after a perfect assist for Rooney on Saturday, his deliveries from a wide position. I think it’s fair to still be cynical about this one seeing as his largely straight-forward role on the right is so much more old-fashioned and unsophisticated to what we have been used to for the past 5 seasons, but we know that his role is not going to be the same as Ron’s; and that is why Rooney and ideally Berbatov will improve as an attacking force this season.

And that leads us to our final position, and one that has already shown potential of becoming explosive. Rooney going through the middle and Berbatov pulling slightly wider allows not only a greater attacking menace from the 2 - attacking from different angles - but also it enables the attacking players behind the front 2 to push forward; thus increasing the attack and, more importantly, improve the spatial options for the strikers (NB: Scholes setting up Berba on Saturday). It really is the classic attacking 4-4-2, especially with the winger’s abiding to their role nicely, and although nothing special, it is definitely something Fergie knows about; especially as a means of getting the best out of his players to eventually get the best out of his team.

It will be interesting how it pans out, and if it falls short (with Saturday's test being key), then what? Valencia as an attacking mid? 4-3-3 with Nani or Anderson alongside Berbatov and Rooney? Then again, there’s always 7 days till the transfer window closes…?