Arsenal honoured their past on Wednesday night, safe in the knowledge that the present, and by extension, the future, is sufficiently enticing that they won't be distracted by nostalgia. As the final whistle blew in their 3-0 win, confirming Villarreal's elimination from the Champions League, it was fitting that the ball was at the feet of Robert Pires. His six years of service had already been acknowledged in the generous applause before kick-off and in the choruses of his name as the game entered stoppage time.
At 35, it was probably a valedictory appearance against Arsenal for the Frenchman. Substituted 18 minutes into his final game for the Gunners, the 2006 Champions League final, it belatedly amounted to a proper farewell. Yet in the process, suggestions that Arsene Wenger should have retained his compatriot were emphatically rebuffed. Pires was thoroughly upstaged by Theo Walcott, a decade and a half his junior and a player whose emergence was aided by the elder man's exit. There were hints of Pires in Walcott's 10th-minute goal, nonchalantly clipped over the Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez. Wenger commented: "We know that he can finish but he transfers that into games now. That means his confidence has gone up now."
The 20-year-old winger may have come of age at the equivalent stage of last season's Champions League, when an 80-metre run preceded Emmanuel Adebayor's goal at Anfield, but this represented another advance. Walcott was the catalyst, his scorching speed epitomising a younger, quicker side who were too quick for their more aged opponents. He set the tone, tormenting one of Europe's most accomplished left-backs, the Spain international Joan Capdevila, and his acceleration was instrumental.
Wenger added: "We were up against a very good technical team. When we won the ball our pace and speed made a big impact. That was the difference between the two teams." It represented a vindication for Wenger, whose faith in youth has been unquestioning. Yet although Alexandre Song, who has recently turned 22, was the oldest of the midfield quartet, inexperience was not an issue. Freshness was, however, and Walcott, Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas are all benefiting from the unwanted mid-season breaks enforced by injuries.
The Togolese has four goals in as many games since his return and Wenger has options. "Offensively, we can rotate," he said. "Defensively, we are short." That is true, with Kolo Toure the sole member of the first-choice back five available and a new-look rearguard's clean sheet among the achievements of the night. Arsenal's pairing with Manchester United in the semi-finals has not deflated them, with Toure remaining fearless. He said: "I think we are not favourites as United are the champions. However, they know we can beat them, so we are looking forward to it. Bring them on."
rjolly@thenational.ae
