2020? Nobody Knows!

Its coming up to the end of the year at the Arsenal and, to paraphrase Jimmy Greaves; it’s been a funny old year. That’s putting it mildly, but let’s focus on events at The Emirates.

2020 saw the Arsenal win the FA Cup, again. A record-breaking 14th win in an empty stadium. A game in which we were viewed as underdogs, yet had overcome a very good Manchester City in the Semi Final. The significance of the FA cup seems to depend on who wins it, when we do it’s a case of “its only the FA Cup” but logic dictates that there are only a small number of trophies up for grabs each season. Liverpool, rightly won the League, the billionaires of Manchester City had to settle for the league Cup and we were the only other English club to win anything (giving us qualification to the Europa) not bad for a rookie manager.

We also took home the Charity Shield. Again, not a massive deal but two things; you have to win something to compete in it and Liverpool were far and away the best team in the country so in morale terms it was an enjoyable victory.

On the other hand we have seen some diabolical results this year to offset the good results that we have had. In the league this year we have beaten Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United, which for a team in our current state is pretty good going. We've had some heroes and Willians villains, some great debuts and bad veterans, some astute buys and some bye-byes, we've shrugged our shoulders at unfathomable decisions and obvious omissions, its been a year that proves the old adage; "nobody knows anything"

Realigning perceptions we are a team that is in need of a reboot and transitional periods can last a good few seasons. We have grown accustomed to Europa League football, we have become accustomed to our consistent inconsistency but there are some that still feel that the Arsenal are a top team who should be competing for League titles. We are a top club, yes, we have everything that constitutes a big club, but in terms of playing staff and senior staff we are dysfunctional. That’s not to say that we don’t have some very promising young players, that have emanated from an effective youth setup but we are a club in recovery.

Recovery takes time and, importantly, patience. This club of ours has been through plenty of ups and downs since it’s birth in 1886, yet few seem to remember the bad times. Few seem to look elsewhere for examples of how other clubs have been hoisted by their own petards and plummeted down the leagues. 

What is a valuable lesson is that no one in football has a divine right to anything, not success, not glory, not fairness or good luck. It’s a tough business and the Arsenal have been in the top flight for longer than anyone else so expecting the club to be at the top every year is unrealistic. What is realistic is realism; look at the facts, think about the competition, reflect on where we have been, focus on the positives of where we may be going.

Where we currently are is not where we want to be and having opinions about the reasons why and the path forward is fun, annoying, problematic, entertaining and above all what we have as supporters.

We all want the best for the club, I’m sure we do. The question is are there enough people employed by the Arsenal who genuinely want the same or even more vitally, have the tools to do so?