One day, in the next three seasons, Arsenal will put four past Chelsea. The five-foot European orchestra, conducted by Cesc Fagregas, will play the perfect symphony.
John Terry will look old, and Frank Lampard will think Serie A’s not so bad, after all. Arsene Wenger’s great vision - for 90 minutes at least - will come into gleaming, gold-framed focus.
That day might be Sunday. Wenger believes it, and, in his dreamy moments, pictures the headlines. They might – might – arrive on Monday. But, to have any chance, the captain must perform.
Fabregas, who can find a square mile of space in a square metre, must remember what he told Arsenal.com in October. While talking about his new position, he said: “I don't touch the ball as often as I used to. I have to be patient.”
And if he doesn’t touch the ball often against Wolves, or Wigan, he certainly won’t against Chelsea. If, in desperation, he drops deep to find it, Arsenal won’t win.
Firstly, he’ll get suck in Michael Essien’s non-stop, solid-oak shadow. Secondly, if Fabregas does search for the ball, he’ll be eighty yards from goal when he finds it.
The reason Arsenal have scored 36 goals this season is that Fabregas, in his new position, has played eight-yard passes, rather than eighty-yeard passes. They slide, rather than soar. He has ten assists.
When he hits long balls, there’s a huge margin for error: their centre-half might read it; his centre-forward might not. Too much can go wrong.
When Fabregas is near goal, the variables, like in a science experiment, are removed. There’s less chance of the centre-half nicking it; less chance that the centre-forward’s dozing.
Near goal, he’s teeing off on par-threes. In the centre-circle, he’s driving on gusty, gaping par-fives.
On Sunday, Fabregas can create five chances with five ten-yard passes. He can give Arshavin and Samir Nasri melt-in-the mouth, too-good-to-miss chances. But only if he’s prepared to touch the ball 15 times, or less, all game. The ball must find him, not vice-versa.
John Terry - like Nemanja Vidic, and Tony Adams, and every other six-foot-two centre-half - worries about little ‘uns buzzing round his ankles. He worries about Arsenal, in his half, playing four passes in four seconds; he worries about red shirts criss-crossing behind him.
He doesn’t worry about long balls. Those passes give him a day off; an afternoon to head the ball, and look tough, and stay clean.
Whatever happens, Sunday’s game will define Arsenal’s season. Lose, and they’ll lose another four this season. Win, and they’ll lose another two. And that, in this year’s Premier League, might be enough.
Will the Emirates hear the perfect symphony? Doubtful. Chelsea will start sliding soon, but not yet.
But, if Fabregas concentrates on his job – and not Denilson’s, or Abou Diaby’s – Arsenal can win by one goal. Less than 48 hours to go.
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