From 2nd to 4th, contenders to chasers, Champions league place to a qualifying spot. Hope that justifies the post Heading. I have been quite down lately. To see something you love go down and down the damn sewage ‘slowly’ is a pain to anyone, and well for us Gooners it’s something which we have been feeling for a few years now…..
In response to the Gooners comments to my previous post, I am writing this point to clarify something. I want Wenger out, why? Well because he is arrogant, has a fat ego and will not listen to the voice of reason. The only way I want Wenger to stay is if he changes his methods. But to be pragmatic there is a better chance of the sun not rising than AW changing. So since he won’t, I want him to leave.
BUT, irrespective of me or anyone else who blogs about Arsenal, the club doesn’t give a damn. It’s only when the supporters actually stand up then does the club realise that we are going wrong somewhere. Of course that does not mean they shall take action, it means they ‘may’ take action.
FACT : Wenger is not going anywhere.
Let’s just deal with the fact that the manager is not going to leave Arsenal FC. The board do not have a backbone. This is the man who has brought them so much profit, how can they sack him?
However across the City we have quite a case! Carlo Ancelotti was sacked within hours of Chelsea’s defeat to Everton. Why? Because the man, although having won the double last year and making club history DID NOT MEET THE clubs objectives.
Now, let’s track back. For the past 6 seasons, AW has gone trophyless. But at the same time the club have managed to stay in the top 4 of the Barclay Premier League. So is this the objective of Arsenal Football Club? To win the Emirates Cup and qualify for the champions league?
The world is not against Arsenal, and it’s not like if we perform we will not win. Personally, I just want the effort. I want the players to feel that hunger, that desperation to win a title. I felt something was fishy when we entered Wembley for our Cup final. That match should have never gone on so long. It should have been over by the 75th min. Infact, it should have never been difficult for us.
As Gooners we want Arsenal to perform, because we know that if we perform then we can win trophies. We did it against Chelsea, when we slaughtered them at the Emirates (all be it, they were in poor form).
The thing that is missing from this ‘once great club’ is the will to do well. The ability to push yourself harder and harder. Why can’t they do it? Why ? They have their wages duly paid, they have 60000+ fans rooting for them when they play in North London (baring Spuds). They have a manager who has put blind faith in them. So why can’t they do it?
I have pointed out some matches, in which we performed and won. And some matches which we shall not find easy to win, again! The problem with me is that I want my club to be the best. I want my club to come out all Guns blazing when the odds are stacked against them. For eg. The Reebok Stadium a few years ago when we were 2-0 down and had Diaby sent off. We came back in the second half and won. Everything was against us. We had a 2 goal deficit to make up and outscore, we had 10 men, and it was raining. Even I had my mouth shut that day out of respect for Arsenal. When the situation becomes bad I want the club to stand up. United did it on the 8th of May, so why can’t my team?
Today if the same thing happened i.e. if we were losing by 2 goals, and were away, I am quite confident that the current Arsenal team will not be able to come back and win. It’s not that they don’t have the quality it’s just that they don’t have the will, the need and the effort to be champions, to win. We say Arsenal are too young a side, well, at least when we were young we had that will to fight!
To be honest, Arsenal have been lack lustre this season, not like their themselves. We were once a club which was feared and respected. Even a manager like Mourinho said that teams which play against Arsenal don’t think that they can win. That was us, that was the old Arsenal. This new Arsenal is a bunch of kids, spoilt and sugar coated too much by their manager. They had “a baby’s day” out situation on the 1st May and that’s it.
But I guess expecting my team to perform is a crime. Honesty is expecting an improvement in the defence too much? Why should I not have reason to believe that the Arsenal defence can become like “Rock”, why?
When the manager did not look into the goalie situation I knew that this season may just be the same as the preceding few. Well, I was right. Our goalie cost us 3 crucial matches(9 points), off the top of my head, WBA both home and away and of course Newcastle at home.
Here are a few matches which I believe will not be easy again next season:
City vs Arsenal 0-3
We beat City 3-0 at Eastland’s. I know it is a wonderful score line. To trump our rivals 3-0 in front of their fans is a lovely sight, but, there were a few circumstances which we cannot forget. City was playing with 10 men for 87 mins, and that played a huge role on why we beat them. Yes, we beat them but instead of being like the crowd of stereo-type Gooners and saying we beat them, let’s be sensible and say that although we won yet the main reason was that our opponents were playing with 10 men, apart from goals Sami, Song and Nikko.
Arsenal vs Chelsea 3-1
A brilliant performance by us. Indeed it was the Arsenal of old. That was one performance which one can indeed brag about. Or was it ? We faced a Chelsea team which were out of form and probably playing like Sludge. Out of form, and against a team which are title contenders, probable outcome is a Loss.
Villa vs Arsenal 2-4
I remember I wrote this report from a hotel. A good performance by us Gunner but the fact that we were put into 2 difficult situation was quite alarming. It was disturbing to see us play that day and only Arshavin actually turned up. Champions should never put themselves into such situations, never.
Now here are a few matches which I would like to point out.
Arsenal vs Newcastle 0-1
A sad performance against a side which we should have brushed aside quite easily.
Arsenal vs Newcastle 4-4
This was a joke! Enough said..
Arsenal vs Birmingham 2-1
Downhill from here, because the team is too young and not mature enough. This was the reaction to a Carling Cup Final defeat !
Arsenal vs Scum 2-3
I had a very bad hangover the next day.
Scum vs Arsenal 3-3
Not as bad as the last one[above], but it was bad!
Arsenal vs Sunderland 0-0 & Arsenal vs Blackburn 0-0
2 matches we should have won, we ended up drawing.
Arsenal vs WBA 2-3
Almunia had another day out on this day where we stumbled to a sickening defeat at the hands of Albion.
WBA vs Arsenal 2-2
I love this quote. It made me laugh so loud, my stomach hurt. It defines that match:
An aimless hoof from the back towards Peter Odemwingie would likely have been dealt with by Squillaci – but what’s that in the distance? Is it a bird, is it a plane? No, it’s “sicko-goalie” Man-unwell Almunia, dashing 35 yards off his line for no discernible reason.
Arsenal Football Club have now become a joke in the real world. We play the best football and we don’t win. Well, it has never been stated in the Bible or the Gita or in any holy book that the one who performs best will win. If that is the case then lady luck would be unemployed, wouldn’t she?
The point is that we have to make our own luck. It’s possible for us to be unlucky in some situations, and I agree. For instance the Carling Cup Final. But if the scoreline read 3-0 and that wonderful piece of art between our Szczesny and Kosher happened would it make a difference?
As I end this post let’s just have a final look at what Arsenal have come down to this season. This should make the my point ‘crystal’…
Submitted by Armoury Square
