Arsenal: no Henry no probs

When Arsenal sold Thierry Henry during the summer, the media coverage raged over the believed certainty of Arsenal's demise. Thierry was the best ever player in the history of the club, grabbing 226 goals in 369 games. How could Arsenal maintain their top 4 finish without their talismanic skipper? 5 games in to the new season, Arsenal are perched at the top of the league; the club still playing the free-flowing fast football of old - minus Thierry - and it looks as if that could be a blessing in disguise.

Arsenal are the emerging title candidates this season that nobody thought they would be. The club are burying the ghost of Thierry, and to the forefront has come two young strikers, with both an understanding and incredible ability. van Persie and Adebayor feel greater responsibility without Thierry Henry at the club, and are filling in for the Frenchman very well.

Led by the mercurial Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal look as if they are coming of age. The side no longer need to worry about giving the ball to Thierry, they have responsibility of their own. Perhaps having Thierry around in the dressing room filled several of their young players with awe. But Fabregas has already beaten his goalscoring tally from last year. He feels more responsibility pulling the strings from midfield. An undoubted candidate for the Arsenal captaincy in a few years time.

Arsene Wenger has hatched his master plan. The only way Arsenal were ever going to compete with the billionaire takeovers at Chelsea and Man Utd was in the youth department. Wenger has scoured the globe to bring in mercurial talents that just continue to impress week in, week out. None of these youngsters are overwhelmed with Premiership football.

Many will remember when Arsenal played poorly, often Thierry Henry was nowhere to be seen. In recent seasons, Arsenal struggled to grind out results at "the little sides", and many put this down to Thierry Henry - perhaps somewhat arrogant (all the best players are) - Thierry never really put on his best performance against the smaller sides.

The question really is, can Arsenal continue their impressive start to the season? Arsenal have added carefully, and selectively to their squad. This could be a positive for the young side as Arsenal have learnt horribly in the past, panic-buying players too quickly does not always work (e.g. Richard Wright, Francis Jeffers).

It's not that the players don't miss Thierry as Adebayor said after the game, "If Thierry was here we would have won 4-1 or 5-1.

"He's not here and we have to do the job for him. He will see our games and be very pleased for us."

Thierry was a great player, with a huge rapport with the fans. But it is no coincidence that for the first time since October 2004, Arsenal sit at the top of the league.

Now that Arsene Wenger has stayed, the club can move forward very swiftly. There is no doubt in my mind that had Wenger left, Fabregas would be a Real Madrid player now. The key to Arsenal's success could be Fabregas - and what a lucky team Arsenal are that they have the unselfish mercurial Spaniard.