Stoke me a Clipper

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.