Seven points out of seven games; 10 goals scored – 16 goals conceded; and the worst ‘point per game ratio’ since the middle ages. The mere data is not very promising, let’s have a look at how we actually perform…oh.
Yes, Arsenal Football Club is going through a rough patch currently. But who hasn’t in recent years? It would be oh so simple to write an article about how bad the team is playing, how bad the club is run and first and foremost how bad Marouane Chamakh’s haircut is. But I won’t. Newspapers are doing enough of that.
To be honest with you – yes, I am disappointed how things are at the moment – but no, I am not concerned about the club’s future. Realistically, we haven’t been title contenders for the last years and why should that change when you sell your best player. (I deliberately used the singular – take that, Samir )
In a nutshell, it’s always been about qualifying for the Champions League. Sure doing well in other competitions is nice and if Manchester United once more go on a horrendous run away from home, we might even have a sniff at the title. But at the end of the day, qualification for the Champions League is the primary target and Wenger has said so for years.
What is that you are saying? 15th and Champions League don’t go along? Well I guess I should be concerned then. But I’m not. First of all, it’s very early in the season. The team is still relatively new and in a ‘get to know each other phase’. Results will come. And when they come, only a couple of wins will be enough to move up the table.
Secondly, look at our run-in last season. 6 points out of the last 7 games. A worse record than this season’s and we still managed to come 4th. It is all about getting a winning habit going. And we will do just that. Sooner or later. And finally, even if we were to miss out on Champions League…so what? Of course we can no longer say that we have been in the competition for 14 – then 15 consecutive years. Bummer. Concerning the state the club would be in, it should have no bearing.
Yes, the club would lose out on £25-35m, but if Arsenal’s business plan is not able to deal with that for one year, then I’d be concerned. After all, we are constantly told that the club is in a very healthy financial position. Champions League is always closely connected to the top players in the business. I can’t recall how often I’ve heard that without Champions League – a club will lose all the appeal and consequently its best players.
I believe that it’s a myth. As long as the club has the capabilities to get back on track, something Arsenal certainly has, the club will always appeal to players. ‘Gerrard to leave Liverpool if they don’t qualify for the Champions League’ … and yet he is still there. Liverpool also signed Suarez and many other players of stature without CL football.
In a year of Europa League, then it was still the UEFA Cup, Bayern Munich signed Ribery and Luca Toni, spending a total of £77m. In your face – crazy myth. All in all, I just wanted to show you that although the club is going through a difficult period, not everything is bad. We could be Spurs. Kidding.
This club soon will be 125 years old and had much more difficult phases to overcome than this. All we can do is to stand by the club, support the players and manager the best we can and the rest will be taken care of.
Come on Arsenal.
