THE ARSENAL: 2015 REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

Reflecting on 2015 for the Arsenal it is always worth looking at context. The second half of the 14/15 season saw a procession to the title from Abramovitch's minions and smug condescension from the self anointed 'Special one'. Chelsea had deservedly won the title and the rest of us so called big clubs had our own issues to deal with: having said that the Arsenal put in a top drawer performance to retain the FA Cup, a highlight being that Alexis Sanchez goal: a true Wembley Cup Final classic. This proved that we have a group of players who can win things and that the FA Cup 2014 wasn't just a one off.

That winning habit continued with the return to Wembley and a 1-0 victory over the champions in the Community Shield. This was a sweet victory not only because we had their ex goalkeeper between the sticks but it was the first sign that things were awry at Stamford Bridge. Mourinho's attention seeking display at the end of the game was a sign of things to come. Talking of Petr Cech he has certainly shown himself to be a very smart purchase. The fact that we made no other summer signings was certainly a talking point for the first couple of months of the season and our injury hit squad have risen to the challenge to end the year at the top of the table.

Belerin's ascendancy and Monreal's consistency have added a stability along with an attacking threat and Mesut Ozil is producing displays of real authority. Walcott apears rejuvenated and Giroud, despite the critics, is scoring on a regular basis. This set of players appear to have character and tenacity and a good deal of bouncebackability.

Some would rightly say that this current season is possibly proving to be the most unpredictable season in memory: the troubles at Old Trafford, Chelsea's demise, Liverpool's ongoing transition, Man City's inconsistency, Tottenham's defensive stability, Leicester's merited success and the newcomers taking points from all sort of unexpected fixtures. If this is a strange season then lets take advantage of that. I for one don't care about potential perceptions of a league triumph in May, being champions is being champions and we have as good a chance as anyone.

So we leave 2015 behind on top of the table, looking forward to the third round of the FA Cup and a huge task against Barcelona in the Champions League, Sanchez, Wellbeck, Carzola, Coquelin, Wilshire, Rosicky and Areta to come back and bolster the squad (not to mention any additions in the transfer window) and a team that have shown in the calender year that they have what it takes.

We've seen victories over Manchester United and Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich and in recent years we have come up short against these type of opponents so we should take positives from these statistics. And what of Arsene Wenger? I retain my reservations. I think that the Champions League is best attempted by another manager but the Premier League title is within sight and if we can't win that what about a third FA Cup in a row? either would be a great swan song for him.

Looking forward to 2016? absolutely.

HATE

Then Now Earlier today Captain Kirk sent me the following video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG1f-v88-kU&sns=em To say it is both disturbing and upsetting is an understatement. We see the beautiful game as something of a mirror to society and try to look on the community of supporters as a positive force. A set of human beings with some values borne out of an understanding of what this great sport of ours can give us. However, it takes a certain amount of myopia from the Football Authorities to proclaim that all is well. The issues that were amplified over the weekend at Old Trafford cannot be trivialised when we see the full extent of hatred; in any form. The violence is shocking as we see people attacked on a basis that is a result of flawed thinking, and the powers that be proclaim all is well; all is not well. So when I look at those images, I have to ask myself this… http://youtu.be/6RVDQgVxprE

"IF WE BEHAVE LIKE THEM, THEN WHAT IS THE POINT IN WINNING? "- John Connor

"The future has not been written. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves. I wish I could believe that."-John Connor To overcome Skynet was not easy, it involved time, belief and an indomitable human spirit. To beat a machine equipped with superior weaponry and a ruthless access to resources to increase its arsenal took ingenuity and a "never say die" attitude. Abu Dhabi is the ground zero of Skynet and Manchester CXV are the Terminators. The thing about Skynet is that there are no qualms about what their aim is, there are no notions of fairness. "Listen, and understand! Manchester CX are out there! They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And they absolutely will not stop... ever, until someone stops them flagrantly breaking rules"-Kyle Reese In a landscape where one team dominates it is up to a resistance to topple them, this is made hard when using resources that were ga...

LEAGUE OF ORDINARY GENTLEMEN

Sunderland V Sp*rs ended goalless meaning that Sp*rs currently sit third. It was a game that had 0-0 written all over it after about 30 minutes. The baton now passes to us in today’s fixture against Man City. A win gives us a two point advantage and a draw puts us back in third. One side that we need to be mindful of in the shake up for 3 rd & 4 th is Newcastle who have hung on all season and present a threat to ECL qualification. What the SAFC v THFC game showed is the poverty of this current Premier League; it was awful. A cursory comparison between teams in the Premier era makes grim reading for the current state of the game. The Man Utd of 99 would definitely beat the current side, The Newcastle of Keegan, The Chelsea of Mourinho, the Villa of Atkinson, the Blackburn of Dalgleish, The Liverpool of Fowler, McManaman, Owen etc would batter the Liverpool of 2012. Certainly the Invincibles would put the current Arsenal team to the sword. Even teams like Midd...

ARSENALISM©

Search This Blog