Arsenal in a different league

By Paul Saffer

If anything summed up why Arsenal FC have just beaten a 25-year-old English record, it was the way they beat Middlesbrough FC on Sunday.

Unbeaten run
That result was Arsenal's 42nd consecutive English top-flight game without defeat, matching a mark set by Nottingham Forest FC in December 1978. But they did not do it the easy way, as they trailed Middlesbrough 3-1 at Highbury after 53 minutes.

Goalscoring surge
Moments after Middlesbrough had scored their third, however, Dennis Bergkamp pulled one back. Eleven minutes later, substitute Robert Pires equalised and within seconds José Antonio Reyes had swept in a magnificent goal. Appropriately, the 5-3 victory was completed by the most glittering of all Arsenal's attacking stars, Thierry Henry.

Attacking verve
As if equalling the record was not enough, Arsenal went one better after beating Blackburn Rovers FC 3-0 last night, and once again showing the forward-running verve has become renowned at Highbury and allowed them to negotiate the whole of last season without losing.

Clough tribute
Brian Clough, who masterminded Forest's similar run in the late 1970s, is effusive in his praise of the club that has matched his remarkable feat. He told the Sun newspaper: "If I could have chosen a team to replace that Nottingham Forest side of mine in the history books then it would be the one Arsène Wenger has created at Highbury. They are as close to perfection as any side I have seen. I have no hesitation in saying Arsenal are a better side than Forest were in 1977."

European ambition
Of course, Arsenal are yet to emulate another achievement of Clough's Forest by winning the European Champion Clubs' Cup. But last season their 5-1 triumph at FC Internazionale and comfortable first knockout round dismissal of RC Celta de Vigo showed that they are now able to take their domestic dominance into continental competition. Indeed, it was only one off-week last season, when they fell to Manchester United FC in the FA Cup and Chelsea FC in the UEFA Champions League, that denied them a potentially spectacular treble, but both those teams were left trailing in Arsenal's wake in the Premiership.

Wenger's delight
Wenger for now is focusing on the present. "I am so proud of what we have achieved, even though to go unbeaten last season was more of an achievement," he said, also admitting that the pattern of Sunday's game summed his team up perfectly. "We have a team who are very offensive but when you are not sharp, you are exposed at the back a little bit."

Impressive feat
It is of course the attacking talent of Henry, Bergkamp, Pires and January signing Reyes that has led them through their run, which has produced 92 goals, 34 more than Forest scored in their undefeated sequence. Indeed, while Forest drew half those 42 games, Arsenal have won 30, although the Nottingham side conceded nine fewer goals than the Londoners' 31.

Vieira relief
There was nearly a huge pre-season blow when captain and midfield anchor Patrick Vieira looked to be on his way to Real Madrid CF, but the Frenchman changed his mind and ready to return from injury, can only see the team improving.

Team to avoid
He said: "One of the big reasons I decided to stay is the strength and potential of this Arsenal side. We are one of the strongest teams in the world and capable of beating anyone." Certainly, as Inter will testify, they are not a club anyone will want to draw in the Champions League group stage on Thursday.