And so it is that we come to the last day of the season and find ourselves hosting the club that most embodies all that went wrong with Arsenal this year.
It was a fiery match with Stoke, who will finish the season as the dirtiest team in the league, accused by Arsene Wenger of kicking Arsenal off the pitch. Which they certainly did, but it was set plays and not kicks that won that encounter. Rory Delap was in such fine form on that day and Arsenal so incapable of dealing with set plays that Delap nearly threw one straight into the net! So, yes, they kicked us, but that’s not what won.
It was also a game which saw baffling lineups from the boss, a petulant red card to Robin van Persie, a lazy game from Cesc and Adebayor, and injuries to Ade and Theo. In short, if was the type of disastrous outcome that at least one Gooner was quoted saying
Untill we aquire a world class goalkeeper two world class defenders and a world class midfielder we aint going anywhere. (sic)
It’s actually quite a spectacular rant and I know many people felt the same way after that match.
I think we’ve had some distance from that match and I think we’ve achieved quite a bit more than that one result might haved indicated. So, I’d be surprised if many Gooners still feel the same way. Even the boss sent Tony Pulis a note, not quite apologizing for calling Stoke cheats, but sort of forgiving them and by way of saying that he understands why they played the way they played. For most teams between 10th and 20th place, the name of the game is survival and they will do just about anything to ensure it.
Survival ensured. 4th place secured.
I doubt this will be a fiery match like the previous.
But it’s the last match of the season and maybe Stoke will want to do the double over us, who knows? Hell, who cares?
Evra is a loudmouthed pussy
I love that Evra is complaining to the press about Fabregas’ tackle on him. I think he should be happy that Flamini wasn’t still on the squad, he knew how to put in a tackle whenever a Man U player decided to publicly act like an ass.
Voting still ongoing
Remember, you only have until 11:45pm PST to vote for your Gooner of the Year! Get over there and DO IT.
P.S.
Yes I mailed this in, which is pretty much what I’m expecting from Arsenal today.
I’ve been so drunk today that i’ve been following the match but not really analysing. Still, it’s nice that robin got two and diaby done something. I still think that abu is capable of so much but does so little. I just hope that we get a few workers in for next season. I think our main problem this season has been our midfielders lack of willingness to put the dirty work in. poker kickback bonuses
Diaby is not consistent enough nor can he tackle. Sell him
Like I said earlier in the week, Song will be our “internal solution” at CB next year. Which means, that Gallas could go and another CB brought in to replace him. This will also depend on whether Milan takes up the option for Senderos. Silvestre still has a year remaining on his contract, so we may be saddled with the “geriatric” unless some under-performing French team wants a player/coach.
It also means we will get another DM to complement Diaby and Denilson, which also means that Denilson is being looked on as the final DM solution.
Good game, but still showed our lack of clinical finishers. RVP, who now seems like he will be our front man next year, should have scored at least 3 or 4, and Bendtner should definitely have had at least 1. Ade now seems certain to be a “goner” rather than being a “gooner”.
Believe it or not, we will have to endure another year of Wenger’s YOUTH PROGRAM and INTERNAL SOLUTIONS. Whether this will lead to success or not, will only unfold for certain, this time next year.
Currently in the boozer.not quite a carnival atmosphere but,hey ho,let the silly speculation season start!arsene’s programme notes are getting me looking forward to next season already.RED ARMY
Красавчег! Пиши исчё!
Tim, now season 08/09 is over. Before the 09/10 season starts, what story do you write? Im new at this, just started last March..