DAYS IN EUROPA

The Europa League is a big trophy. There Iv'e said it. Not every club can win the Champions League, but being in it means a massive amount for a club, both in terms of perception and in financial terms. Being in the Champions League should also act as a hanging carrot come transfer window time. 

For two decades Arsenal Football Club took qualification to Europe's  top table for granted, often at the expense of other ambition. There is an argument for saying that for a number of years, in that two decade stretch, we had no chance of winning it, but, you have to be in it to win it. The reality is that trophies are few and far between and there are a finite number of opportunities to win one. Last season the Arsenal were one of only 3 English clubs to win anything and that should not be overlooked. This season our one chance of adding to the trophy cabinet is in the Europa League and the double incentive is the bonus of qualification to theChampions League (something we are unlikely to achieve via league position) which makes it a trophy worth striving for.

There is a snobbery about this trophy but like the Eufa Cup and Cup Winners Cup before it, it's a legitimate piece of silverware to be celebrated. The teams in this competition are like a box of chocolates, and, should we get past Benfica "you never know what your'e gonna get"

Again the perception of where we are and what we should be competing for may make some look down their noses at a potential cup final in Gdańsk but, where we are is in the Europa League. Let's look at winning it as a stepping stone if that helps. But first things first; bring on Benfica