To say that a lot has happened in the two or so months of my online absence would be an understatement of the highest magnitude. My last blog entry concerned itself with the first leg of our Champion’s League fixture versus Italian giant, AC Milan, a game which we went on to win in spectacular fashion at the San Siro. It was all going rather well. The main disappointment of our season up to that point had been bowing out of the FA Cup but that, being our third priority where trophies were concerned, was something I didn’t lose any sleep over.
We were five points ahead in the league, a very strong position and it was not as if we were showing any signs of giving it up, that was at least until that peculiar game against Birmingham City where we lost Eduardo to horrific injury and started a poor run of form that saw us lose the title (not yet mathematically speaking of course but something along the lines of a miracle would be required for us to win it now.) The game was going well enough until Taylor challenged Eduardo in a tackle I feel it would be unfair to throw too much blame at Taylor for making. It hurt us, hurt us deep in fact and I predicted we would be lucky to get to half time level. I also predicted that once we reached the half way mark, Wenger would be able to remotivate the players and we would come out guns blazing in the second half. We did just that, scoring two goals and victory looking assured. Then a rare lapse of concentration from Gael Clichy gave Birmingham the chance to make it two. Clichy recovered and rectified his mistake only for the referee to award a harsh penalty, which Birmingham of course converted. From then on, excluding the Milan game which came after, it was all downhill.
Draws against Villa, Wigan and Middlesbrough followed. We could have recovered with getting something over title rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge but despite taking the lead, a Drogba double saw our hopes dashed. Down to ten men and two nil down at half time against relegation battlers Bolton and all seemed lost. An excellent fightback however, ensuring 3-2 victory kept our title hopes alive. We needed a result against United at Old Trafford, a feat we managed last season. We ended up however losing the game by another 2-1 scoreline, after again taking the lead. It was a game in which we showed much fight and character but it just didn’t go our way.
The other heartache came against Liverpool in the Champion’s League. For all I’ve seen about how the Champion’s League fires up the Liverpool players, I would say the case is the same with us and we have shown that in recent years. This current generation will win the Champion’s League one day soon, of that I am convinced. We matched if not bested Liverpool over the two games, a cruel decision going against us in leg one as we should have been awarded a penalty. The 4-2 scoreline in leg two fails to reflect how close we came to going through. 2-1 to Liverpool and I was delighted with our chances of going through. Another goal would have seen us through on the away goals rule and knowing our ability to score late goals and also our ability to fail to keep a lead, I wanted a very late goal. Adebayor missed and while Arsenal fans found themselves frustrated, I have to admit I was a little relieved. Too early I thought. Score now and we would mess it up. Just as I was beginning to think maybe I would have taken a goal beforehand, Theo Walcott , beginning to show some real signs of progress at this late stage of the season, made a magnificent run before assisting Adebayor who scored in the 84th minute of the game. That will do I thought, surely that will do. It wasn’t to be and seconds later Kolo Toure conceded a controversial penalty at the other end. Gerrard slotted home the winner and we were never going to bounce back again, so demoralized were we. Throwing players forward then resulted in a fourth Liverpool goal, as good as confirming their place in the Semi Final and a trophyless season for the Arsenal.
Where did it all go wrong? Well, bad luck, the quality of the competition and lack of quality in squad depth all played its part. While it all sounds so disappointing I urge you to take the positives from this season and they are many. This season we were in the title race once more and find ourselves back in the title challenging ranks alongside Chelsea and Manchester United. Our improvement from last season has been quite remarkable and let us not forget, many thought we would fail to achieve even Champion’s League qualification this season following the departure of Thierry Henry. I am happy to say this season we made a huge amount of progress and yes, progress is enough considering the amount of progress we have made. Trophies are coming and I eagerly await next season with confidence.
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