Experience builds confidence by Chris
Over the last 7 seasons, the problem with Arsenal not winning silverware, has, in my opinion been a ‘mental’ issue, a question of belief.
We have been SO close to Trophy success at times since 2005, it is hard to take, that we missed out each time.
In 2007 – 2008, Arsenal, with an unbelieveably young team, but with an experienced spine led the Premiership from September 2007 until the infamous Birmingham Eduardo Leg Break Match in 23rd February. Despite the tragedy of Eduardo’s injury, we were winning the game 2-1 until the final minutes – indecision in the box by Clichy, althogh he DID cleanly get the BALL and not the Man – Poor Referee Decision – Penalty – 2-2 Two Minutes to go – Game Over – 2-2 Draw, 1 point gained – 2 Points Dropped. After that game we were still 5 points ahead of Man Utd, who were in 2nd place at the time.
After the Game Captain Gallas – sits in the Centre Circle for 5 Minutes after the wistle, farting in the grass, and has to be virtually dragged of the Pitch by Arsene Wenger. Gallas was a reasonably good comitted player, but he was NOT a LEADER, or a suitable Captain.
The NEXT 5 GAMES after Birmingham, 5 Draws, 5 points gained 10 points lost. Man Utd smelt blood, and got 5 WINS in the same period, and were 10 points ahead of us going into April 2008. Man Utd won the Premiership that year Chelsea Caught us, and passed us, Chelsea finished 2nd – 3 Points behind Man Utd – Arsenal finished 3rd FOUR POINTS – FOUR POINTS behind the ‘Champions’.
That was OUR title to WIN. – Birminghham at St Andrews was a HORRIBLE Game. BUT that Arsenal team completely crumbled and folded after that game – the EXPERIENCED PLAYERS should have prevented that from happening and ‘lifted’ the younger players to focus on the final season ‘run in’.
But then, there were a few contracts running down, so many of the experienced players had their minds on lucrative transfers.
THE same thing happened after we lost the CARLING CUP Final last year – 2010 – 2011 Season. 1 – 1 with 3 minutes to go – confusion in the box – mis-understanding 2 – 1 Birmingham.
Arsenal should NEVER have lost that match – it should NEVER have been 1 – 1 with three minuted to go. Birmingham got RELEGATED at the end of that season. we should have secured the win long before the closinbg 3 Minutes.
Again, we were lacking Focus and the ‘killer’ instinct – again, a MENTAL Issue, nothing much to do with talent skill or technique.
The Point I’m ultimately making is – BOTH RVP and SONG, especially RVP had good seasons in 2011-2012 but NEITHER are comitted to Arsenal going forward – RVP will probably be gone before the new season starts, and SONG wants to explore his options with ‘Other Clubs’ (Barca) instead of focusing on agreeing a Contract Extension.
If they go, they go, – they can, and, with the mood AW seems to be in these days, almost certainly WILL be replaced.
We are finally building FULLY COMMITTED EXPERIENCED TEAM for the LONG TERM, including talented, quality Young Players, with a commitment to offload inactive, unproductive Fringe Players – and ALL being managed within the Clubs Financial Structure.
This NEW Team, is a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ANIMAL from any team we’ve had since the INVINCIBLES in 2004, it’s got Experienced Players with Proven winning mentality, creativity, technique, talent and youth – and Arsene Wenger to lead and manage it.
Whatever transfer business our rivals have done, or will do, between now and midnight on 31st August – Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, and the Best Teams in Europe are NOW looking over their shoulders at the Emirates – and they DON’T know what to expect.
That’s the way it should be.
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