Any Chance Of Telling Us The Truth Arsenal?

WTF has gone on in the last twenty four hours? Presumptuous and speculative ramblings from a Catalan Ne’er Do Well have taken on the shadow of truth. A Spanish journalist, seeking readers and hits to quench the rampant monetary desires of his advertorial and footballing paymasters is treated as the font of all knowledge.

Dismissal of Ballague as a source though is as trite as total condemnation. Whilst I doubt that he or any other journalist has been able to persuade the Arsenal captain to bare his soul in their presence, may be approval – tacit or otherwise – has been given to someone close to speak authoratatively on his behalf.

Obituaries have been written for the end of a great Arsenal career, agendas hidden so that the prophecies become self-fulfilling. Journeys well planned in advance have been twisted into meanings unintended and as of yet unproven.

The Spanish Inquisition has been reborn, a tea party that even Bostonians would shy away from. The Great and The Good tell us that their “well-sourced” stories are true; we can do nothing but sit on the sidelines as lie becomes fact, fiction reality, watching this mass hysteria. Perhaps the ghost of Phineas T Barnum will join us, quoting himself to give us a reminder that, “I am a showman by profession…and all the gilding shall make nothing else of me“

As the late, great Marvin Gaye crooned, What’s Going On?

Arsenal Football Club is not passing comment, or in the words of TV presenters, “refusing to comment“. By their inaction, they fuel the fire, not providing any knowledge, reassurance or words of action that make the whole thing more palatable. Possibly, they are not because a replacement in being lined up and they want that resolved before any announcement is made. Whichever way, it is another PR own goal by the club at a time when a grip seemed to have been taken over previous debacles.

Could Cesc be leaving? Perhaps. Could he be staying? Perhaps. Should we read anything into the resounding silence from Arsenal Football Club? Perhaps. Now substitute the word “Perhaps” for “No” or “Yes” and in any combination that you want to. They all fit. We know nothing and the reliance upon the words of those who have been trying to convince us that their unreliability is a virtue.

The presumption is that the lack of denials confirm he is leaving yet the logic is twisted. Until events occur which prove or disprove the notion of a transfer then inaction is not a signal of intent. No farewells yet either since he has not gone. Henry and Vieira have been in this position before, persuaded to stay by the manager. Perhaps the manager will or has succeeded once more.

But that is the key to this. The whole story is a big pile of ‘Perhaps’. Perhaps something will emerge to move this story off the back pages although I suspect as far as the English media is concerned, only the sale of Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney or Torres would be sufficiently high profile enough to warrant that happening. Perhaps negotiations are ongoing. Perhaps Arsenal will do something reactive in a pro-active sense and tell us what the true position is. I’m not holding my breath.

’til Tomorrow.

Triaud Chamakh’s His Toys Out, Cesc And Not So Safe Hands

The most protracted saga since the nation was put under the Aaron Spelling and tried to work out who shot JR is seemingly winding its way to a conclusion with Marouane Chamakh reportedly in London to finalise his transfer. The transfer is not bring the outbreak of unbridled joy that the club had perhaps hoped for which is partly their own fault as it has been too drawn out.

In the mists of time, Arsenal had hinted that they would conduct the transfer in the proper manner and would not announce it out of respect to Bordeaux. They need not have bothered caring. Jean-Louis Triaud observed:

I have had two difficult transfers since I arrived: Wiltord and Chamakh. These two departures relate to Arsenal.

Difficult? I’m not too sure he can complain about the first of the two, capitalising on the equaliser scored in the Euro2000 final. The latter? Well, let’s see. Chamakh gave very strong indications last summer that he was going to leave and Triaud became greedy, not just in that window but in January as well if reports are to be believed. So perhaps pride has been stung. I’m sure he will get over it, especially if Arsène comes knocking with a suitcase full of used €100 bills.

Elsewhere the usual pile of mierda is emerging from Catalunya with media reports of Laporta having met with Arsenal on Friday to discuss the possible transfer of Cesc. Presidential elections are the driving force for this with another brown-nosing director hoping to impress any potential new boss of his worth by stating that David Villa is almost arriving and Cesc is the same except that Arsenal has not named the price yet. So, there is no transfer then and no-one should believe that Laporta is seeking to gain popularity to further his political aspirations. Oh noooo.

Onto more pressing matters, namely goalkeepers. They say you have to be mad to be one but the bit missed off is that former custodians are extremely loyal to the current incumbents. Following the recent staunch defence of Almunia and Co by Bob Wilson, David Seaman has now joined the extremely short queue of their defenders:

They’re still learning, especially Fabianski – people forget how young he is. He’s a great talent but he still needs to develop his all round game…Then you look at Almunia who has all the experience. I think he’s going to have a problem in keeping Fabianski out. It’s great though to have competition for that one spot, Arsenal need it to be competitive as it will bring out the best in them.

I think he’ll stay with the first choice pair he has at the moment. If you include Vito [Mannone] he’s got three with first team experience. Then you look at Wojciech Szczesny coming through and you have to say he’s a fascinating prospect. I think he may be a little young to throw straight into the first team as being in goal for Arsenal is very different to being in goal at Brentford. He is a great, great talent though – so Arsene’s got four top players at his disposal.

Given (no, it’s Joe Hart that everyone wants – Ed.) that Seaman has some credibility as knowing what makes a good goalkeeper, dismissal of Almunia and Fabianski as no-hopers does seem harsh. He went onto observe that Almunia’s experience would help him push on whilst Fabianski could improve if he played regularly. Problematically, he noted:

I don’t know for sure what he’ll do but I accept it’s a tough situation when the fans are calling for change.

Arsène will not make a signing to keep the fans happy, we know that. However, change will be made if the defence does not have confidence in the goalkeeper and I wonder if that feeling has become apparent in training, overtly or otherwise.

For me, we have some decent reserve goalkeepers but not one that is outstanding enough. Almunia has improved considerably since he joined and I think that it is not a harsh judgement to put him at the same level as John Lukic when thinking of Arsenal goalkeepers over the past twenty five years. Could he make the leap to the same level as Seaman, Jennings or Lehmann? No, I don’t think so.

Plenty of ‘World Class’ goalkeepers provided evidence that mistakes are made and sometimes I get a feeling that it is easier to criticise one individual than accept that goals conceded are down to the team failing to defend properly. But then I think of Wigan, Porto and Birmingham. Not of those matches individually but there is a cumulative effect that leads me to hope that we get a new Number One who can walk straight into that trio of Seaman & Co I mentioned earlier. If that happened, I would have no issue with any of the current quartet remaining as understudies.

’til Tomorrow.

Nasri’s World Cup Omission Was Not That Surprising

No new transfer rumours this morning so far at least with all of the tittle tattle coming from Eastlands, Manchester City are preparing to spend the equivalent of Andorra’s GDP in another chance of coming fourth. Who says that isn’t a trophy?

The World Cup provisional squads went well overall for the Arsenal players with the possible exception of Samir Nasri. The French coach Raymond Domenech is a simple target to poke fun at but the decision to omit Nasri is not an immediately surprising one nor is it difficult to fathom if you believe it is a surprise.

No doubt Domenech will publicly state that Nasri has an international future but his recent comments about William Gallas will not have helped his cause. It is obvious that Gallas is rated highly by Les Bleus coach, the final squad announcement is being delayed until they know about the defenders fitness one way or another.

In itself a personal dispute will not be a reason to omit Nasri but it begs the question as to how are the interpersonal relationships within the team and if one of the two is less popular, then that can influence selection, particularly if the strength in depth in a certain position means that a player’s inclusion is almost certain. Perhaps Gallas has indicated that Domenech should put harmony ahead of ability? Doubtful but possible.

For Nasri there is a more immediate issue that he can deal with. In a Guardian interview he recently acknowledged the fundamental problem:

By his own candid admission, the ingredient he lacks is consistency. Nasri divides opinion back home in France. For some he is forever le petit prince de Marseille, a maestro with delightful touch and energy who should be a starter for Les Bleus. For others he is nothing to get overexcited about.

Is this fair comment? “Yeah,” says Nasri. “Some games I can be fantastic and the next a little bit …” He waves his hand in a gesture of ambivalence. “Consistency is what I miss.” He is still only 22 years old, so he hopes that will come. The question of how close he is to the maximum provokes a blushing laugh. “I think I am far away,” he confesses. “Sometimes I do things in training and think: Ah! I need to do that in a game. If I do I will be close to my full potential.”

As with all skilful players, Nasri can be infuriating and delightful to watch in equal measure. For every sublime performance such as the one against Porto, there are those in which he becomes anonymous. In that respect, his start at Arsenal has mirrored that of Robert Pires, who struggled in his first season but came to life as the season’s progressed to such an extent that it would be impossible to complie a ‘Best Arsenal players XI‘ and omit him.

Nasri’s campaign started late following his pre-season injury yet he struggled to find consistency in his play. In the absence of Cesc, he was expected to become the dominant figure in midfield but he failed to do so. For someone who believes he should play centrally, it was an inauspicious spell.

He was not helped by the injuries that befell the squad as the season drew to a close and he would have been equally desolated as the title challenge fell away so quickly after European dreams crumbled in Barcelona. However, with Cesc missing, I just expected more from him as he has the vision and the talent to provide the spark in his captain’s absence.

Nasri was not individually to blame for the woes by any means but he was part of the collective problem. The World Cup requires the players to show mental strength and even though the French qualifying campaign was blighted by inconsistency, they have a realistic expectation of progressing to the knockout phase. Once there, the players need to show mental strength and consistency which Domenech may feel was missing in April and May from Nasri’s game.

Every player has disappointments in their career. For Nasri they have come thick and fast in recent months. How he reacts will be key next year. I hope he uses this as the spur to produce the matchwinning performances of which he is capable on a consistent basis.

’til Tomorrow.

Cesc: The Final Ultimatum and Transfer Rumour Round-Up

A quiet Sunday morning transfer wise as those who wield the pen look to blight the England 2018 World Cup bid by carrying on about the state of the Wembley pitch and Hapless Triesmann’s comments about Spanish and Russian attempts to bribe their way to success whilst having an inability to keep his trousers on outside of the marital bedroom. And people complained that he was not a real footballing man.

The usual suspects are emerging from the shadows as domestic seasons around the continent draw to their conclusion, not least of which is the first ultimatum from Barcelona to Cesc Fàbregas that he must join this Summer or else. Presumably that is in no way related to the ultimatums that have been issued by the Catalans in previous transfer windows.

A surprisingly astute observation from Andy Dunn in this morning’s News of the World is that Fàbregas’ future is already resolved; it’s called four years remaining on his contract. It’s almost as naïve as the view that Cesc will request a transfer from Arsenal, foregoing all “loyalty” bonuses in the process which is the angle taken by the story in this morning’s Mail on Sunday.

Elsewhere, the English grit so desired in a centre back is apparently going to arrive in the shape of Phil Jagielka, touted at around the £15m-£16m mark. Presumably the rationale is that Arsène will have noted how well John Terry fared with the referee yesterday having put the boot in and not even been told. Mind you, with Terry’s previous he would no doubt have enjoyed the slap on the wrist…

So far we have seen Sebastian Frey and Yaya Toure re-emerge from the shadows and Summer just wouldn’t be Summer if Philippe Mexès was not rumoured to be signing. We’ll have to wait for that though won’t we? Nope, the Italian season is over this evening and with AS Roma still involved in the Serie A title bunfight, the rumour once more surfaces. Reports that the source was a Portuguese man speaking to a journalist at Linate on the way to Madrid remain unconfirmed.

With the goalkeeping situation apparently up for grabs, Arsène’s favourite colour is Green according to persistent rumours. The manager recently conducted a quickfire question and answer session over the phone, his favourite clothing being a bandana and album, The Faces “Ooh La La” were misheard by eavesdropping journalists which is how Mandanda and Toulalan got themselves onto the back pages.

’til Tomorrow.

Is Arsenal’s Love Affair With The FA Cup Over?

The media attention turns towards Wembley this afternoon where Portsmouth chaotic season climaxes in their attempt to stop Chelsea’s double becoming reality. In the past, Wimbledon may have pooped on Liverpool’s party in similar cirmcumstances but a better indicator would be Newcastle’s failure to stop Arsenal and Manchester United completing the domestic double as the last century drew to a close.

For some, it highlights the significance of Arsène’s decision to field sides which were not the best XI available in the competition. The status of the FA Cup in the English game is unmatched in football outside of these shores, league status far more important than the cup for the bigger sides. Arsène’s comments recently about qualification being a trophy highlight that belief.

Wenger is well aware of the allure that a trip to Wembley holds yet it is not a priority, his insistence that winning the Champions and Premier League’s is more important cannot be argued with but with money so crucial to clubs, qualifying for the top competition in the following season is now his third priority in a season, indicative of the financial dominance of the two.

The FA Cup has a great history, a key pillar of English football’s rich heritage but the allure of the competition is fading. Perhaps the influence of the previous paragraph has worn down my love of the competition. Childhood days of being able to reel off the scores and scorers of finals in days gone by, knowing that Worcester City’s elimination of Liverpool in the 1950s was not as big a shock as that suffered by Arsenal in the 1930s due to the lesser status of the Merseysiders, have become edged with their own sepia tones. I used to love leaving the ground with safe passage through to the next round assured, waiting to hear Sports Report on the way home, hoping misfortune and humiliation would have befallen someone, allowing for gloating on Monday morning.

That is not to say that success in the competition is without joy. As a one-off occasion, the wins in the finals have been no less enjoyable in the last decade as watching Charlie George or Alan Sunderland find the back of the net. Simply that the FA Cup itself is becoming relatively predictable. There are still genuine shocks such as Leeds at Old Trafford this season but the impact is lessened through media excuses and overuse of the word ‘upset’. To give it some context, Stoke beating Arsenal at home on a ground where not even a league point had been garnered was considered an ‘upset’, despite the visitors being barely able to find eleven fit players.

The FA Cup’s allure stems from the time pre-European club competitions, when there were but two trophies to win. It continued through to the 1990s but with each season, its importance reduced. For fans of non-big four clubs, it represented a genuine chance to put silverware in the trophy cabinet. Even so, since 1980 only seven winners have not been from the ‘Big Four’. If that description is movable, only four sides would be considered winners outside of that description. There is a monotony about the winners that ill-serves the FA Cup.

The Football Association are aware of the diminished status; a committee is reviewing the format to keep it ‘fresh’ (their choice of word) and is considering doing away with replays and playing the rounds in midweek until the semi-finals. That the organisers are worried about the state of their premier club product indicates the diminished esteem.

Wenger has divided opinion amongst Arsenal fans over fielding a team of fringe players in the FA Cup. The question for the current squad is Wenger doing them a disservice? They want to win and since 2007 have been tantalising close to honours on a number of occasions The first competition they win is believed to be the one that will open the floodgates. Possibly but there is no guarantee.

In his first full season Wenger presided over a double, leading onto a decade or more’s service in the Champions League. From a selfish point of view, a European victory is the only thing missing from his CV and there can be no doubt that whilst he wants to win one, the opportunity to win with this squad would be more satisfying since it is his own creation.

This season he had little choice, the squad so injury riven that he struggled to get a squad together for the tie at Stoke. The policy served him well in reacing the semi-final’s last season but previous campaigns have not fared so well, defeats in the North West in consecutive seasons including the capitulation at Old Trafford.

Failure to win any trophies has polarised views as to whether or not Wenger should continue this policy. My suspicion is that had, for example, a Premier League title or two been thrown into the mix since 2005, the importance of winning the FA Cup would not be so great. Such is the desperation for silverware that it is now an issue.

For today? A Portsmouth win would defy belief and be the modern day equivalent of Sunderland’s 1973 triumph. Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it.

’til Tomorrow.

Cesc, Campbell And Experience

You knew it was coming, simply a case of when not if. Cesc to Barcelona, wow, what a shock, I never thought I’d hear that story. Still, there is an interesting side to this in that there must be an element of truth, and follow the (skewed) logic here. For reasons best known to themselves, probably related to copious quantities of alcohol, the official site has started to (half-heartedly) report on transfer rumours. Now, Arsenal has a policy not to comment on deals until they are completed, albeit usually a week after everyone else has confirmed that it has happened.

So, anything that is on there would be the club officially commenting and therefore cannot be happening because that would be a breach of their policy. Which means that Buffon, Arteta, Wright-Phillips and Yaya Toure will not be donning the new Arsenal home kit next season. However, as the club has not mentioned Sagna and RvP to Juventus, Gallas to PSG or Cesc to Barcelona, there must be an element of truth in them. Unless of course that logic, like the transfer gossip page itself, is a load of old b*llocks.

Onto surer ground, Sol Campbell is feeling the luuurve of the club and his team-mates. Robin van Persie kicked it all off:

I think his character is great, he is a winner, he is honest – the Dutch way almost. In Holland, we are used to people who are direct, who say what they think and he is like that, very much.

He is one of those characters you need in a squad – when someone is easing off he just tells you, ‘listen, this is not the way to do it. Sharpen up because otherwise this isn’t going to work.’ We need that and that is why I am very pleased that he is here. When you look at when he came and the way he ended the last couple of months – fantastic.

Campbell himself is happy to be talking to the club and with Gallas increasingly likely to lead, there is a key role for Sol to play in the squad, passing on the vast experience he has to players such as Djourou who can only benefit from the former England international’s knowledge. However, to go into next season with Campbell and Vermaelen as the two senior centre backs is a huge risk, one that Wenger does not appear to want to take.

The manager has imposed a deadline on the Frenchman but how flexible that is remains to be seen. Certainly the Chairman’s recent comments about the financial requirements of Gallas indicate that the club and player remain some distance apart in negotiations. Whilst Gallas is viewed with distrust in some quarters following the events at St Andrews and his comments over the squad, there is no doubt that defensively Arsenal were more secure with he and Vermaelen at the central pairing.

If Gallas and Silvestre both move on to pastures new, then Lee Dixon’s argument that there will be four new players needed this summer holds some sway. Chamakh’s protracted move will surely be over soon  which would leave three more. Nigel Winterburn suggests that Wenger will not be focussing on young players this summer, changing his rationale by looking for more experience. Possibly that is the case, the balance may not be right in the squad but it becomes a matter then of defining experience. Is it the number of games played? If so, what is the threshold because a lot of the current squad have played well in excess of 100 games for their clubs in all competitions.

A player who has spent his career with relegation-threatened clubs has plenty of experience but is it the right kind? Upson and Green are frequently linked with the club and fall into that category. Melo is another who has plenty of experience in various leagues but has not won anything at club level since 2003 at his multitude of clubs since leaving his native Brazil. If we define experience as having won trophies, then the limited talent pool into Arsene can dip is reduced further and becomes ever more costly.

I do not argue against signings this summer, the squad needs them every summer to keep fresh, as well as replacing those who are leaving. However, we should not be blind to the talent that already is at the club and perhaps the wholesale changes desired should be no more than a tweak to make things click over the whole of the season.

’til Tomorrow.

Guest Post: A Massive Season

NJGooner has taken a break from his ‘Midnight Ride’ to share his thoughts in the last of this week’s guest posts. Don’t tell anyone but he’s one of them…

A massive season for Arsenal, both in terms of expectations and predictions from outside the club, good and bad, and of the manager’s / player’s own aspirations for their continued and ultimate successes has drawn to a close. Neither the most apocalyptic, nor the most grandiose of predictions for Arsenal has been fulfilled.

While I expressed little belief, there were some with own our ranks who were fearful for our champions league spot, and if they are able to admit that they held such lowly, non shiny metal based aspirations for the club, then they’re relieved. I shared the sentiments voiced by many on this blog during last off season and throughout the early season action of the team’s potential for that elusive shiny metal based success (Mr. “Country Mile” we’re looking at you).

Ultimately, this team did fulfil a lot of my expectations for the season. A lot of my excitement over the 09/10 season for Arsenal was based on the departures of Toure and Adebayor, two who I viewed as part of the lack of cohesion or solidarity within the squad. It was obvious that Toure and Gallas didn’t get on, and AW made the right choice in terms of who had to go. Gallas was great all year and remained relatively healthy until the untimely absence that hurt us in the run in and is now threatening his World Cup.

When it comes to our Togolese friend, enough has been said about his disruptive mannerisms within the locker room and selfish, lazy play on the pitch. These departures had me believing that we would now be capable of those tough, late wins that are required to win the league.

These wins come from the part of the team that cannot be accounted for when comparing teams “on paper”. It comes from a group individuals playing for each other and for the shirt. I had hoped that there would be a legitimate belief within the team of accomplishing those wins that were missing from previous campaigns; the wins Sky hails Man Utd for as the “stuff of champions”.

I can think to numerous times this season, and to my delight, the match I attended (H Wolves) is a prime example, when the team was able to grab a goal in the last quarter of the game to seal maximum points, after struggling to break through, often while dominating possession.

That is why I feel so satisfied with this season. We turned a page. We are not only a different team, but one that is better equipped to challenge and win the title next year. They know what is expected. They tasted it: down 2-0 early to Standard Liege; at Fulham, 1- Nil to the Arsenal secured thanks to the efforts of the 3rd string keeper; at Anfield, with one of the best wins of the season

And boy did they taste it at Stoke City, the injury to Ramsey the bitterness that motivated the sweetness of the comeback. Watching the players huddle together after the win was one of my personal favourite moments of the season.

They tasted it against the best team in the world, coming back in the 1st leg against Barca, after the constantly maligned Almunia gave them a life line in the first half. Thanks to Super Nicklas Bendtner’s late winner against Wolves, I was able to enjoy the special and unique flavours of those kinds of wins.

Our title hopes rescued at literally the last possible moment.

The rest, unfortunately, is history. But this is my point. We demonstrated the qualities of a team CAPABLE of winning the EPL, something I’m not sure was completely the case in 08/09. Something was missing, and it was obvious. That something, the proverbial IT if you will, we had it this year. Unfortunately, our injury situation sucked the absolute last of the IT out of us at the Camp Nou and White Hart Lane. But we had it. And we’ll have it next year.

I shouldn’t get too ahead of myself though. Who am I to be speaking of Arsenal FC so definitively? Do I even have the right to refer to the team using “our”, “we”, “us”? You may say whatever you please. Thanks to the globalization of football, I, as an American, can follow, consume, and absorb Arsenal in almost every way someone in London can.

There are the small details of attending matches, the pub culture surrounding club support, and being berated by all your friends instead of just some of them, but after having a brief glimpse of what you in England and London, in particular, are exposed to on match days, I feel that I have the basis to form a rational opinion of the club.

Furthermore, the genuinely emotive response I have to Arsenal’s successes and failures is not entirely comparable to my other sporting pursuits. I can’t explain it, but I feel it gives me a certain right to have my say. So pardon me if I do. Also, If I sound defensive, forgive, I just know Americans can carry a bad rap… soccer — enough said.

Back to the subject at hand, next year.

Fabregas solidified himself as one of the 5 best players in the world this season. 19 goals and 17 assists in 36 appearances are spectacular. Next year we will see more of the same, especially with a healthy RvP and Chamakh to play his scrumptious football with. The stat line hardly gives credit to everything Fabregas offers to the team, as evidence by Nasri’s valiant, but ultimately inadequate effort in the run in.

That in no way rests firmly on the Frenchman’s soldiers, but the injury problem once again rears its ugly head. That would’ve been Ramsey’s spot had not been for a good old English hard man, but that’s another story.

I think to Fabregas’ interview after Barcelona 1st leg, some mug reporter asked him “Cesc, how did it feel to score against your old club?” The Captain snapped back “I score for Arsenal” in this tone of voice that I’ve never heard him take. I still get goose bumps when I think about it. We will see more of this next season. We need to do our part and show him constant reminders of our love and appreciation for his unbelievable skill and dedication.

Frequent renditions of “We’ve got Cesc Fabregas” would be a good start. Red Action’s numerous banners are exactly what is needed. He’s our best player, our talisman, the key, the engine, whatever you want to call it. He will be the Invincibles Henry, the Double team’s George. And he will deliver; the 10/11 season will see Fabregas receive the proper attention he deserves. The 4-3-3 will continue to get the best of him.

That’s where the explosive growth demonstrated by Song this season comes in. During 2010/11, he will emerge as one of the premier defensive midfielders in the world. His skill in escaping from small spaces while clearing the ball from the back was impressive and integral to the health of our 4-3-3 formation.

It’s clear he’s been working on his touch and his passing. His consistency has increased, often acting as a “home base” for Fabregas to keep the ball safe as he craftily rotated around the midfield. Song quickly providing the calm return the Spaniard needs to deliver his best work. Not to mention his skills at disrupting and intercepting and sticking a good foot in when necessary.

A full season for RvP will produce results similar to the effectiveness the formation has had with Fabregas, demonstrated by the Dutchman’s early season returns and form, not just in scoring but distribution as well. Chamakh will be there to relieve his troubles from time to time.

Vermaelen will once more be one of the best defenders in the Premier League and a leader at the club. Up until Spurs in April, he missed 1 league game due to suspension. Connecting our poor form at the business end to the Belgian’s absence is far from a leap in logic.

I mention these players specifically because I feel they will be the most indispensable to our quest for the elusive TROPHY that will put the final stamp of authority on the greatness of Arsene Wenger and the greatness of AFC under his tutelage.

Chelsea will lose some of their geriatrics and Manchester Utd will continue their fall from “grace” next year, as they were unable to re-sign their second leading goal scorer this year. Giggs and Scholes will continue to fade, and Rio’s legs will continue to wear down. They can only pray for another ridiculous performance from Rooney in 10/11.

Speaking of these 2 teams, our two main rivals can be so hap-hazardous though. There is no set plan. There are too many variables. Unstable club finances. Ostracized owners. Egotistical sugar daddies. Who knows what will happen? Not to mention next season, what about 3 seasons from now? What can Chelsea, Manchester Utd or any Premier League team realistically aspire to in the 2015 season?

The answers to these questions reflect the sheer glory of supporting Arsenal in the days of Arsene Wenger. We have the luxury of being comfortable about the stable, healthy, and productive nature of the club both on and off the pitch in 2015. Perhaps dominant.

2010/11 will be the time of reckoning. A season of biblical proportion for the squad, manager, and supporters in countless ways. Pressure coming from all angles, fresh expectations and predictions.

Time will tell, but take my word for it, history will tell of the greatness of Arsenal Football Club under Arsene Wenger… and their ’10/11 Premier League / Champions League double… Oops I’ve gotten ahead of myself again…

’til Tomorrow.