Marc Overmars probably felt Arsenal's disappointment last season more deeply than most. It was not his failure to see the light and invest Stg£20,000 in Manchester United that galled him. Second place in the Premiership and an FA Cup semi-final left a bitter taste.
"It was perhaps the first year of my career when I did not win a trophy," the Dutchman said on Saturday, after a hat-trick that suggested he is intent on restocking his mantlepiece. If it were fear and loathing of failure that drove him to new heights against Middlesbrough he would not be alone in that.
For two weeks Arsenal have been brooding. Another early exit from the Champions League and defeat at Tottenham hurt. Whether at Highbury, Hampden or elsewhere the players have been trying to refocus; to rediscover their Double vision. A sense of underachievement has been gnawing away at them all.
"We knew if we didn't start performing soon the season would slip away," said Overmars. "We knew if we didn't get a good result against Middlesbrough it would become very difficult for us to keep in touch with the leaders."
Leaders, that is, who look vulnerable. Manchester United are not only in the Champions League but soon leave on a world tour. Leeds must yet play Arsenal twice and, with Chelsea faltering, Arsene Wenger can be confident. Derby, Leicester, Wimbledon and Coventry are next.
On Saturday, though, concentration was combined with inspiration from Overmars and Dennis Bergkamp. Arsenal might like to entitle the match video Red Hot Dutch. Middlesbrough's defending is definitely not suitable for younger viewers.
But for Mark Schwarzer, Arsenal might have had 10. By the end they were teasing opponents who, ravaged by injury, fielded Paul Gascoigne and Juninho, thinking attack was the best form of defence. Yet even allowing for Middlesbrough's poverty, Wenger rated the match Arsenal's best of the season. Crucially, Bergkamp made the runs behind defenders that have been lacking since Nicolas Anelka's departure. His first league goals since August followed.
Overmars, perhaps the Premiership's fastest player over five yards, ripped Middlesbrough to shreds with his pace. Alongside Overmars, Emmanuel Petit shone. By the time Hamilton Ricard scored for Middlesbrough, Arsenal were 4-0 up.
Bergkamp, having released Overmars for the first goal, curled in the second, stroked in the third and won the penalty from which Overmars scored after his initial effort was saved. Overmars completed his first Arsenal hat-trick with a neat finish.
Arsenal tend not to get going until November and Overmars said, "The movement gave us cause for good heart." He was, of course, referring to movement on the pitch, not the rumours linking him with Barcelona. "I'm in a good team, I'm enjoying myself here and that's the way I want it to stay."
ARSENAL: Seaman, Dixon (Vivas 71), Grimandi (Upson 50), Adams, Winterburn, Ljungberg, Parlour, Petit, Overmars, Bergkamp (Suker 75), Kanu. Subs Not Used: Manninger, Henry. Booked: Adams. Goals: Overmars 26, Bergkamp 40, 49, Overmars 61, 78.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Gavin, Vickers (Stockdale 13), Cooper, Festa, Juninho (Campbell 75), Ince, Gascoigne, Fleming, Deane, Ricard. Subs Not Used: Mustoe, Beresford, Armstrong. Booked: Ince, Festa, Deane, Gascoigne. Goals: Ricard 68.
Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).
