New Year, Same old?

 

Happy New Year Gooners! Yes, judging by the surge in likes on our Facebook page, our unique and honest take on Arsenal news is missed, so we’re back!

 

Happy New Year Gooners!

.The New Year normally comes with new resolutions (I don’t know who still does that because I’ve given up), I’m not sure we can say the same for Arsenal, can we? I fear over the last five or so years, I’ve reluctantly come to accept that we are quintessentially, a top 4 team. Irrespective of the stars that wear this famous red shirt (Fabregas, Hleb, Arshavin, van Persie, Ozil, Sanchez..), we always seem to end up at the same place, somewhere between 2nd and 4th. My acceptance comes as a way to cope with the constant stress that comes with a relentless expectation and hope we can win the Holy Grails of football, Champions League and Premier League. It’s not happening, so I accept my reality.

I should say, up until the Champions League Draw, I was quietly confident we could easily sneak into the final. I wasn’t put off by drawing Bayern, not at all. “Bring them on!”, I thought, we can easily wipe that self-assured snug smile on their faces and wallop them into the next round. The thing that brought me back to earth was that loss to Everton. How could we? Surely, this was starting to look like our year. It is not the loss that annoyed me, but, like all-so-often, HOW we lost. We played an amazing first half, only to surrender everything in the 2nd half. We then went on to do some thing similar but even more spectacular at Manchester  City. I came to a firm conclusion, the problem with Arsenal is not ability but more mentality. I’m no psychologist but I can tell Arsenal are a team who will relax whenever they reach the top. We can blame players manager or even say the Emirates is cursed (I’m happy to look into that), but, that is the best way to sum us up, A MENTALLY WEAK TEAM!

No, no, no… I’m not going to ruin your New Years day by slagging off our team which actually won their last game. I just thought I would share my over bearing feeling from the last few seasons, especially this last one and offer some perspective into 2017. We actually won our last game, we have ONLY lost 3 games, which is quite commendable. If Chelsea were not breaking records and winning every game, we could easily be in the mix for the title. So all is not lost and there is a lot to be optimistic about. In my opinion, for the first time, we have a squad where we have a team where Im actually fussed if we buy anyone in January. I like our options in every position. Right-back does raise an eye brow as we don’t seem to have a good option for Bellerin. Otherwise, let us keep the faith and maybe 2017 could serve us with a pleasant surprise. We could still do one to Bayern if we get our sh** in order, there’s the FA Cup and the Premeirship is far from decided.

As supporters, especially those who turn up at matches, it is important to be behind the team, at least until the final whistle

We need to give those players as much support as we can, after all, we are the 12th man. I look forward to 2017 with hope and not expectation, I think hope does well for my bruised and battered heart compared to expectation.

 

Happy New Year

 

 

 

 

“We will help our friends Arsenal”

Long time no post, sorry! I will try my best to be more consistent with my Posts because I am fully aware that a lot of people like reading this blog. So after we beat Montpellier HSC at the Emirates by 2-0, their manager and good friend of Arsene Wenger has promised to do Arsenal a big favour by beating Schalke in matchday six.

One would expect Montpellier to be upset at Arsenal for stealing their prized asset and title winner, Olivier Giroud but it seems all is well between the clubs. In a post match interview, the Montpellier manager Rene Girard said,

“This game [Arsenal] was perhaps beyond our possibilities due to the injuries and the absence of important players.” 
 “But I’m very proud of my players. We play Schalke next and if we can help our friends of Arsenal, we will.”

However, Arsenal will find it hard to win in Greece as the Greek supporters are very hostile unlike what we see in the Premier League. Arsenal have also failed to win at Olympiakos for quite a while now and the jittery performance of Wednesday will not be sufficient to beat them in their own back yard. The question is, “will Arsenal send a full squad being fully aware that they have already qualified?”. Last season we lost key players in that last game of the groups and I fear Wenger will send a second string to Greece instead. Whichever way, I hope we do a great job in Greece and with key players like Rosicky coming back, we will have strength in depth. Thank you Mr Girard! erm.. maybe not yet….