Two nil and you fu*ked it up.

He Scores When He Wants

Arsenal were coming of the back of two horrible defeats. Out of the FA cup against Sunderland, and a disastrous night in Milan. So, we were looking at one of the most important games of the season. Tottenham at home, unfamiliarly above us, and many have concluded that they have been the superior team this season. Well, all that was about to change.
Every pundit and journalist said that Arsenal has not been strong enough, that they won't be able to beat Tottenham. Well, all that was about to change.
Everyone predicted another collapse that would see us lose out on champions league spot. All that was about to change.
I think Wenger shocked everyone when we saw Chamberlain and Gervinho on the bench, with Benayoun and Rosicky getting the starts. And the criticism started, people already concluded Wenger had gotten it wrong. Anyways, that was how it was, and we kicked off possibly the most important game of the season.
Arsenal had the worst possible start, and conceded a silly goal in the fourth minute. I must admit I thought it was going to be 'one of those days.' But the players didn't think so, they picked it up, raised the tempo and played their game. Not much later Arsenal were playing like they had the good start. Clever movement, quick passing, threatening corners and crosses. And, unbeatable, unquestionable energy. Rosicky seemed to have the time of his life, making everything happen. Arsenal came close to scoring, they were banging on the doors and Spurs tried to hit us on the break. And then Bale's dive won them a penalty. Adebayor out of all people converted the penalty. I thought this would take the steam out of Arsenal, they needed to regroup I thought. Again, I was wrong. Arsenal played with the same tempo and energy. Nothing was going Spur's way apart from the two goals. Arsenal were losing by two goals at home, but the player's body language did not show that. Rosicky and Benayoun did more that just justify Wenger's faith in them,  Van Persie was too hot to handle and Theo's movement was making ample space for Sagna to exploit. The energy just did not seem to fade! And in the 40th minute, Sagna scored a beautiful header. All the passion and energy seemed to have paid off, this showed how much Sagna wanted this. There was only one place where this ball could have gone, and that was the back of the net. This gave the players even more belief, and three minutes later Van Persie curled the ball into the net perfectly, forcing Gary Neville to call Van Persie's left foot a wand. It really is a wonder, it was a magnificent strike and it bought us back in the game. It was only half time, Arsenal went in the superior side.
Now, this is where I thought Arsenal won the game. After the break Spurs made two substitutions. This showed that Arsenal's passion, want, energy and class had clearly gotten into the heads on the Spurs players. Sandro and Van der vaart were not sent in to achieve something, they were sent on a rescue mission. It showed that mentally they had lost the game. Arsenal started the way they had left off, and soon the best player on the pitch, Rosicky got the goal from close range. This goal again showed how much these players wanted this, it reeked passion and commitment. The way Arsenal players charged at the goal was simply brilliant. Even after that, the attacks kept coming. Van Persie put the ball in for Walcott and he scored with the touch of an angel, chipping the ball into the net (Walcott haters, watch the finish again). 4-2. Arsenal still wanted more. The players were on fire. Nothing could stop them. Walcott again had the space and finished beautifully again. The determination, passion and grit that this player showed was unbelievable after being booed in the first half. 5-2. After this, the Spurs players looked lost, the didn't know why they were on the pitch. The game wasn't over, but they had been taught a footballing lesson. Arsenal players showed them what class is.
I've always maintained that these players have talent and technique. However,  they did not beat Spurs because of clever tactics or superior technique, they beat them through sheer passion and energy. The 'supposedly' weaker team came from behind to score 5 goals. The Arsenal players had walked out of the tunnel with their heads held high and there was no way in hell they were going back with their heads down. Yesterday, these players played with the belief that they deserved to win, with the belief that they are good enough, with the belief that they can beat any team. The game was won before it started, in the minds of the players this was the only way it could end, and they made it happen. Yesterday, you could put any team on the planet against Arsenal and they would have been brushed aside. Not because of superior skill, but because of unmatchable passion and belief. This is a brilliant team, they just need to play every game with such passion. Yesterday Arsenal beat Spurs in every area of the pitch. Modric, Adebayor and Bale were nowhere to be found. The Arsenal players played like they owned the pitch, and all the other players on it. 
This game will always be remembered. Let me underline what yesterday taught us, ARSENE KNOWS, his faith paid off yesterday, he knows what he's doing, let him do it. And, Theo Walcott is an amazing player, but the fans have ruined his confidence, let's get behind him, and he'll rip apart opponents. Even in the first half, his movement was brilliant, he let Sagna create an impact. Give him the due credit.
I've said this before and I'll say it again, this team is closer to success than it seems, the only thing lacking is belief, we saw yesterday what this team can do when they believe they can do it. Let's get behind this team and make them believe that they can. If they play the same way at Anfield, Arsenal will push aside Liverpool, if they play this way against Milan, they'll brush aside Milan, maybe by a 5 goal margin? Who knows.

Passion

The players gave us a match to remember yesterday, let's make sure that we give them the support they deserve and will remember. The players seem to believe now, it's the fans turn now. The played are going to be charged up for Anfield, thats the way it should be.
As always, keep the faith. Arsene knows.
To Anfield then.     

Arsenal have turned a corner. Now.

The week's gone, and finally I seem to have forgotten about the Sunderland game. However, much has been happening since then, which has said a lot about Arsenal. Over the past few years I have read a lot of posts talking about how Arsenal have turned a corner since the epic Invincible's team. And since then we've turned quite a few corners!
After the Milan game, Wenger was unusually critical about the players, not that he had a choice, but I haven't seen our manager react that way often. It just got me thinking if Arsene Wenger had finally come to the conclusion that the players had let him and his faith in them down. After the Sunderland game, much was said about how Arsenal runs and everyone right from Wenger to the board was criticized for it. 
I said it earlier this week and I'm saying it again, I want Wenger to stay. But the board should start suggesting changes and ensure that they happen. The board should not be stagnant, they need to push for change. Be more ambitious.
The people who lead Arsenal have achieved great things with the club and are hence justified in having confidence in how they think. However, it does not seem to be working. Now, the average age of the Arsenal board members is 73, with all due respect, at that age bringing about a change of ways and being ambitious can be difficult. Maybe the change is not needed in the players and the manager, but more at the top, forcing change all the way down?
Maybe Stan Kroenke needs to have a look at the team at the top.
AST has been all over the place talking about the financial situation at the club. They estimate that we should have £55 million at the end, however this will reduce substantially if we do not qualify for the champions league. This makes it even more important for us to qualify for the Champions League. 
A day later, there has been news that Stan Kroenke is in London and that Arsenal and we might have £100 million to rebuild. Now that is why I say Arsenal have turned a corner. Never before have I heard an amount like that being associated with Arsenal. The Sunderland defeat seems to have woken up a few people at the club, things seem to be moving, albeit it's too early to say in which direction. But things seem to be changing. In the summer Wenger made a few 'Un-Wenger' like signings and now there is talk of him losing patience with Theo Walcott. Theo is a good player, but what seems to go against him is that he hasn't grown in past few years. For me, he's still an impact substitute. Reading in various blogs and articles it looks like Wenger has finally learnt that a few players have consistently let him down. And I agree with him. If it's true that we have money to rebuild and we're after players like Podolski and Gotzé, then Arsenl have turned a corner. Maybe Wenger finally is going to bend his rules. Maybe the night is darkest before the dawn.
Talking go money, apparently we didn't spend in January to save the money for a 'rainy day' - No Champions League. Again, what bothers me here is the thought process, we seem to be preparing for no champions league next year and I just do not like the thought of that. Well, hopefully we won't have to watch Arsenal play on thursday nights! Oh, and if we do, Ivan Gazidis has agreed that the ticket prices should be discounted and has frozen the ticket prices for the time being. That is definitely positive news for Gooners. 
That seems to be it. At the end of the day, I'm glad that there seems to be some changes taking place than defend the way we are, and keep going down. All we can do now is fight whatever goes against us, and we seem to be doing that. Just a little late.
Let's believe things are moving in the right direction. Things change quickly in football.
North London Derby coming up next then, never wanted Arsenal to win one so badly. But that's what I say before every derby. 
Till then, watch this. Love the way the players start the game.

Arsenal Forever.

We're out of the FA Cup and staring at our seventh consecutive year without a trophy. It's difficult to overturn the damage that was done in Milan. Things seem pretty gloomy. 

Honestly, I expected Arsenal to come out all guns blazing against Sunderland, eager to prove the critics wrong. Eager to show people that the Milan game was a one-off. Eager to prove their class. 

I'm sure that the players gave it their best, but it just did not seem to happen. Sunderland wanted it more, they played a closed, congested game. We kept plenty of possession, but it looked like the midfield just ran out of ideas eventually and gave the ball away. Yesterday, there was a lack of sharpness, the lack of that final killer pass, that unlocks the defense and let's us walk the ball into the net. The kind of pass that Arsenal are known for. Balls over the top and quick counter attacks hurt us when we were pushing ahead.  The team in blue yesterday did not look like the Arsenal most fans know or are used to seeing. 

So, basically we had a poor game, and theres hardly anything to play for in this season except Champions League qualification. The fans are already talking about changes during the summer, but that is some way off. Most fans seem to take every defeat as an opportunity to lash out at Arsene Wenger, Djourou, Arshavin, Squillaci and many more. Arsene was not at fault yesterday, the players need to repay the faith that he has in them. They need to realize that they need to step up, and get results. Fans seemed to have forgotten what Arsene Wenger has done for this club. Celebrity fans and otherwise.

The title of this post seems to be the title that should have been after a huge victory, well, like I said before, this Arsenal team needs support now. Yes, things don't seem to be going our way, but crying out for Wenger to resign does not help. Instead let's get behind this team. We should let the players know that they will always have our support, and that they need to show commitment on the field in return. But not through abuse, but through continuous support.

This is not how any of us would want the season to be, but fans are not only there to celebrate the good times, but to stick with the team during the bad times. A large number of fans yesterday claimed that they've 'had enough' of Arsenal. Well, don't come back to the team after Arsenal is at the top again. And believe me, we will be at the top again. Every team goes through difficult times, but when the difficult times are through, two things remain - A champion team and the most loyal fans. 

Barcelona had a number of trophy less years before they started their domination of Europe. The good time fans can leave, but be sure of this, Arsenal will bounce back.

The last two games have exposed all of Arsenal's weaknesses, it's difficult to explain why we always seem to suffer the same sort of defeat. But, let's leave all the explaining to the team and the manager, and let's do our bit of supporting the team. The away fans yesterday were brilliant, thats what this team needs, we win together and we lose together. 

I don't know how long will it take for Arsenal to win the title again, but I do know, that I will support this team till then and beyond. As should everyone who call themselves Arsenal fans.

I supported them when they won the title at White Hart Lane, when they went 49 games unbeaten and I support them now, when they haven't won a trophy for the last seven years.

At the end of the day, I'm proud to call myself an Arsenal fan, and I always will be.

And that's why, I have said and I will say. Arsenal Forever. Arsene Knows. Keep the Faith. 

     

Arsenal Forever. Forward.