Journey’s End
before the Fulham game now, and consequently the end of another season. 2009/10 has been a strange one and even now I don’t really know what to think about it. There will be plenty of time in the
Arsenal-less weeks and months ahead to analyse and dissect what’s gone right and wrong for us this season so I won’t go too far down that track today, however I will say that provided the team
finish the job in terms of third place today, I think we can be proud of our team, if disappointed that some of the promise wasn’t lived up to (the two aren’t mutually exclusive).
When you consider that the team has qualified comfortably for the Champions League in a season where the challengers for a place, Man City, Aston Villa and Spurs have really improved and the team
has done this despite being hampered by massive injury problems, it’s a good effort. When you consider it was within our hands to go on and win the league at times, it becomes very disappointing.
As I say, I’m not too sure what to think about this season, and I want to go more in depth with my thoughts on it as we head into the summer so I’ll leave my musings there.
So, Fulham today. I can’t be the only one who thinks everything’s been said about today’s game. We know the consequences of losing, and the need for a professional job from our players to avoid
that outcome. Let’s hope come about six o’clock we’ll be celebrating St Totteringham’s Day, and not mourning one final capitulation in this season that’s seen so many of them.
No new team news this morning, in fact very little of anything. I would assume then that we’re going to see a similar squad to the one that travelled to Blackburn. The manager will have been far
from happy with that performance, and I’m sure will have been keen to impress on the squad this week the need for an uplifting end to the season. I know that some fans, leaving aside the fact
that its Spurs that we’re in the mix with, don’t draw much of a distinction between finishing third and fourth but I think there is a difference to be made, if everyone goes away from the summer
on a high, it’s more likely that they’ll come back on one as well. A depressing end is hardly going to have everyone raring to get back in July.
Of course, there is a World Cup this summer that could have a very big bearing on the way our players come back for pre-season. Arsene Wenger has experienced problems from summer tournaments before, Thierry Henry I remember particularly struggling for fitness after the 2006 World Cup. With a squad
that seems to be made from glass anyway, it’s little wonder the boss is nervous about this summer’s competition. He says:
‘The World Cup will dominate the summer but I believe the big problem is that the gap between the end of the tournament and the start of the new season is too short,’
And when you consider that there’s no major tournament in the summer of 2011, you have to think he has a point. Italy and Spain don’t start their season till later, why shouldn’t we? Especially
if, as I say, there’s no tournament to be finished in time for. Obviously it’s too late for this new season, but perhaps it’s something that should be considered in the future.
Now then, baseless transfer speculation? I think so. Today sees that bastion of journalist integrity, the News of the World, link us with West Ham goalkeeper Robert
Green. That’s an original one lads. You’ll note that there are absolutely no quotes in that article that relate to Robert Green in any way. Would I have Green at Arsenal? Yes, he’s solid
enough I think, and a definite improvement on what we have. However, that doesn’t change the fact that today’s transfer story, much like most transfer stories, is a load of old bollocks.
Incidentally that article closes with an observation that it is Arsene’s actions in the transfer market that determine whether we challenge for trophies next season. I don’t agree at all. If we
can get the injury situation under control I don’t see why the current squad can’t challenge for and win trophies. What the News of the World are trying to plant in Arsenal fans heads there is
that unless they read their poxy newspaper, they won’t find out if Arsenal have a chance next season. There’s going to be plenty of that during the summer, I hope the majority of Arsenal fans
will be astute enough to recognise it as bollocks.
Anyway, I’m going to have to cut this one a little short as I must hop along to the train station if I harbour any ambitions of getting to London when I’m supposed to. Whatever you’re doing for
today’s game, try to enjoy it, and hopefully I’ll see you tomorrow for a St. Totteringham’s Day blog.
