ARSENALISM©

So this is the last missive from me as the season has now packed it's bags and had it away on its toes. It's all about the future for the Arsenal. A summer with feet well and truly up awaits as there is the debacle in Qatar mid season, so good opportunities for players to get some rest, and several of our young players had to play far too often last season. What the future holds, only Elsie Partridge might be able to tell us, but a lot will be dependent on comings and goings over the summer. The Manager isn't going anywhere but there are a number of loanees and current squad members whose destiny is unclear. the same can be said about our potential targets as our club has a habit of being quite long winded when it comes to player purchases. I would hope that we can start the new campaign with the right changes and a bit of luck with injuries. The injuries to Tomiyasu, Tierney, White and Partey along with ESR's fitness issues had a significant negative effect last time a...

Another one bites the dust. Another season that is, and I spent a very pleasant sunny afternoon at the Emirates watching the Arsenal breeze through a 5-1 destruction of a very poor Everton team. I also spent a a very pleasant time in the pub with friends having an end of season rendezvous where analysis was mixed in with general catching up and friendly conversation. That the atmosphere in and around the ground was upbeat was telling and would indicate that there is a general consensus. What that consensus is, is hard to quantify, but here goes. I think most fans feel that, while it was disappointing to not finish higher in the league, getting back into europe was this season's challenge and that has been achieved. I think most fans feel more connected to this set of players, who are part of the youngest squad in the league. I think that the atmosphere within the ground is markedly upbeat and the moan and groan brigade are less vociferus. I think that while not everyone thinks that...

  Newcastle United put in an excellent performance at St James' Park last night. They were thoroughly deserving of the win and should have received all the plaudits in the aftermath of Arsenal's defeat, however, the focus was on Arsenal staying in 5th place in the league. So eager are the great and the good to criticise the Arsenal that scant respect has been shown to Eddie Howe and his team. The autopsies into Arsenal's performance are far more important for listening and viewing figures, and of course social media clicks. While we are on the subject of respect, the glorification of Tottenham Hotspur is being thoroughly relished by pundits and the disrespect being shown toward Norwich City is not only vulgar but, frankly, a bit of a liberty. There's a difference in predicting a Tottenham victory on the final day at Norwich and the arrogant assumption that a win for the visitors is a foregone conclusion. Bringing things back to the Arsenal, I would have thought that the...

  Earlier in the season at the Emirates Arsenal secured a 3-1 victory against 11 men Sp*rs, last night was Tottenham's turn to take the spoils from the game at The Armitage Shanks Arena against 10 man Arsenal. A questionable penalty decision and a red card had an impact on the result and I suppose it's convenient to highlight the Referee, Paul Glen Gary Jimmy Jurgen Gareth Jermaine Tierney's performance, or the fact that the 'not fit for impartiality ' Mike Riley maned the VAR desk, but the end result means that Arsenal retain 4th spot in the league with two games to go. I saw a lot of talk about anxiety ahead of the game and lots of outrage after. This is good though isn't it? Having something to play for this deep into the season is where we want to be I would have thought. I am hoping that the sense of injustice has a positive effect on the team ahead of the trip to St James' and that the experience of having to play against an inveterate cheat like Son H...

The Arsenal are back on the european stage; that's now guaranteed for the 2022/23 season. Which competition we will be in is the question and the next few games will decide that. The minimum expectation must have been Europa League qualification as we sat down to watch Brentford v Arsenal back on 13th August. That fixture and the following two were, quite frankly, disastrous and at that time I think the focus was on actually scoring a goal and getting some points on the table. As the season has progressed we've seen a slow ascent into the upper echelons of the league that were exemplified by a great start to 2022 and now following a topsy turvy set of fixtures the Arsenal are now nestled in fourth place daring to dream of a return to Europe's elite contest. How the club would fare in that elite tournament is hard to assess, particularly as a summer spend is required, but you have to be in it to win it. If we "only" qualify for the Europa League it will be our faul...