In the words of Borat, that was fun. NAAAT. A 4-1 home defeat to the blue scum to put paid to our season’s purpose, and to ask some serious questions about the team over the summer break. I don’t want to talk too much about the match itself; it was frankly all pretty bleak. Though we started brightly, and made far more chances at least than against United, you always felt (as you tend to with this side), that the opposition could score. In this case the opposition did score.
I know we’ve got a couple of matches left, but to my mind the season is over, humorous as it would be to delay United at Old Trafford it’s hard to see it happening, and we can take a little stock.
People will argue that the season has been a total disaster, and others will argue that we came within touching distance of finals in the Champions League and the FA Cup, and that 4th place in the league is not so shabby. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. We haven’t won anything, ergo failure, and as an Arsenal fan I won’t dispute that. At times we’ve played some scintillating football, as good as it’s ever been, but you do feel we lack a certain something.
Arsene’s been banging on all year about the ‘spirit’ this group of players has, but to be honest I think that ‘spirit’ is exactly what they’re lacking. Undoubtedly the current lot are talented and young, but what was so obviously missing against Chelsea and Utd was the toughness that says ‘Fuck you, we’re going to win this match’, and then goes about achieving it. Some players gain this by experience, some innately have it, but at the moment I don’t feel that anyone at Arsenal really has it. Someone who will grab the rest of them by the balls and not let go till we’ve won some stuff. That would be great.
May 14th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Couldn’t agree more.
I don’t watch many games other than ones which involve us, so I could be forgiven for thinking that our most energetic matches make our players look like they are up for a fight…until you see united in action. Wanna see grit? Watch rooney, fletcher and Tevez, not diaby, adebayor and denilson.
Fucksticks..just have to wait and hope for next year!
May 14th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Sourebel, we are stuck in mud in a reverse gear mate. That is how things have shaped up. Wenger is convinced that he has so much pull that the board simply says yes to whatever he says. Unlike earlier times when he had to justify things to David Dein the current board is a bunch of yes men. They say so in the safe knowledge that he is putting profit in their pockets while we supporters are leaking money through merchandise purchases
and the most expensive season ticket in the world.
Yes, Wenger is a remarkable man by many accounts but he is losing touch with reality and sentiments by Cesc and Van Persie tells a different story. The crappy defence, the confused midfield and strikers who cant hit a cow’s back with a banjo. I can go on but suffice to say Wenger has resorted to some of the most bizzare signing over the years: What sense does getting rid of Sol campbel and recruitment of Silvestre make to anyone?
Our joy is football but also our team should be winning things that is our only enjoyment and as far as I am concerned we have not had a joy for the last 4 years. But to get thrashed at home by our rivals still rankles and hearing Wenger’s attempts to paper over the crack in the team just gives me gyp.
May 14th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
I know mate. the two things you said that I agree with most are the Sol/Sylvestre mess and how are team can’t hit the target for sh*t. We always lose to the ‘other’ big three after going ahead…we never go 2-0 up…ever!
May 14th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Campbell left of his own accord in … what 2006? He was replaced by one of the most highly regarded centre backs in the game in William Gallas, with one of the most highly regarded young centre backs in the game (yes, Big Phil Senderos) waiting in the wings.
Silvestre was brought in (in 2008) to replace Senderos – whose development and confidence had clearly faltered – and bring some much-needed experience to a young team.
July 4th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
and which was hailed as the beginning of a new cold war. The text we publish