Focused Vieira's Double vision

Sylvester Stallone called it the "eye of the tiger", that split second when his boxing creation, Rocky Balboa, would sharpen his focus and move in for the kill. Freddie Ljungberg has a more mechanical analogy, describing his Arsenal team-mates as finely-tuned racing cars that are poised to burst down the final straight. "We are in our 'end-of-season winning mode'," the Swedish midfielder claims.

Whichever way you choose to describe their humbling of Chelsea in that FA Cup replay at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening, the simple fact is that Arsenal are back. And so, too, is the possibility of an historic double Double. Considering the Gunners had just suffered their worst week of the season, during which they were beaten in the Premiership for the first time in 12 games and then went out of the Champions' League before the knock-out stages for the second year running, this was the strongest possible statement of intent. Right from the off, one sensed that Arsène Wenger's men had put their troubles behind them and were hungry for success again.

Arsenal, it would seem, are gearing up for that big Rocky finale. "I think that now we can feel we're close," Ljungberg says, "the concentration has gone up a little bit higher, we've tightened the bolts and topped ourselves up with juice, so there won't be any more upsets between now and the end of the season. If you look at the players before games, you'll see that all of us are really, really focused on the job."

That task is retaining the two most important domestic competitions, a feat that has never been achieved. "We want to win the Double one more time to show that it wasn't just a fluke when we won it last year," Ljungberg says. It will not be easy, but recent history suggests that this team are perfectly equipped to secure successive Doubles.

Arsenal players are masters at putting their heads down and making a flawless dash for the finish line. They did so in 1998, and they did it again last year. Significantly, there is always one individual who steps out from the collective shadow to lead the final charge. Five years ago it was Marc Overmars, while in 2002 it was Ljungberg. This time, the run-in looks set to belong to Patrick Vieira.

The Arsenal captain scored the winner against Everton last Sunday and, 48 hours later, was majestic against Chelsea, covering every blade of grass, as he defended, tackled, passed, attacked, and at times single-handedly inspired his team to a morale-boosting win. Never was his awesome performance better illustrated than when he took possession late in the second half, evaded three Chelsea lunges, brushed Graeme Le Saux aside with a solid shoulder barge, and then completed his circular journey before winning a throw-in.

Even Thierry Henry, a man who has mesmerised many a football supporter over the last few seasons and looks certain to be voted Player of the Year next month, feels compelled to sing his friend's praises. "Patrick has been leading us by example," the striker says. "Some people have doubted whether he is the right person to be Arsenal skipper, but not the players. If you ask anyone at Arsenal what they think of him they all agree that he's a giant, a legend, and the best defensive midfielder in the world. I am just proud to be playing alongside him."

Vieira is like a panther. He is determined in his one-on-one battles, agile when having to evade danger, powerful in his running, and, most tellingly of all, quick to pounce when he senses any weakness in the opposition.

The latter point was evident on Tuesday when he gathered possession deep inside his own half before setting off on a devastating gallop straight up the pitch. Chelsea had no idea how to stop him and so backed off, thus allowing Vieira to tee up Sylvain Wiltord for the all-important second away goal.

Vieira's jubilant yet intense expression mirrored the one he showed against Everton. "There was quite a bit of emotion on his face," Ljungberg says, "but that is typical of the guy."

Not that Vieira is a lone crusader. "As a team," Ljungberg says, "even when we had our lulls earlier in the season, we all showed character. The last two wins prove that. We weren't happy about our performances in the previous week and we felt we had to respond.

"Now we're back on track, and that shows that the players don't crumble when it's important. We've put a lot of hard work down, and now that it's the end of the season, the fun and games start. No one has done the Double two years in a row, so for us it would be lovely, history in the making."

Were the players feeling extra pressure because of the record attempt? "No, no," Ljungberg insists. "In fact, when you come to the spring, that's when you really go for it. You feel everybody's up for the challenge. At the beginning of the season, if you lose a point it doesn't really matter so much, but now if you drop two points you can be out of it. We know this, and that's why we're concentrating so much harder."

The consensus among the Arsenal players is that the title race will go down to the wire. One game, though, stands out among all others in the run-in. Manchester United visit Highbury on Wednesday 16 April, for what is widely acknowledged to be the decider.

"It's a massive game," Ljungberg agrees, before adding that Newcastle United must also be included in the shake-up. "If we draw against Man United, then Newcastle gain points on us, you can see it can still go either way. That said, we know the visit of Man U will be vital and, having already won at Old Trafford in the Cup, we feel we can win again."

No matter what happens in the United match, Arsenal are not going to give up the Double without a fight. "No, we won't," Ljungberg confirms, "I can say that. We are close now – we are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and there are only seven League games to go.

"We can almost touch the trophies again, so there's no way we're letting go now." The look in Ljungberg's eyes tells you he means it.