How incredible is this team?
Almost every single game, we have a different player running the show. A different player stepping up and delivering. We’ve had Ramsey, Wilshere, Ozil, Giroud, Santi, Rosicky, Chamberlain, Podolski, Walcott, Gnabry and even Bendtner show that they’ve got what it takes.
I was pretty disappointed when Arsene didn’t pick up a striker this January, but there’s nothing we can do about it now. Why jeer Bendtner? How does that benefit us in any way? Yes, he may have said some silly stuff in the past (and probably will in the future), but he’s an Arsenal player. There will be times when we will need him. He’s honestly not as bad as people make him out to be. We would not be at the top of the table if it wasn’t for his winner vs Cardiff.
This is our best chance at silverware in recent years. Let’s stand together, as a unit, and back the players and managers. Questions can be asked in the summer.
After the Villa game at home on the opening day of the season, I was left very disappointed and I have no shame in mentioning that I pointed fingers at Arsene and the board. He then signed Mesut Ozil, which proved to be a masterstroke, and the tides turned in our favour.
Football is a funny old game. Fans are frustrated and angry at the management, but when we go on to win 2-3 games on a trot, it suddenly seems like everything is suddenly forgotten.
People thought he was an unnecessary signing (some bizarrely still do), stating that we needed a striker like Suarez more. I’m not going to go on and on about how important a player Mesut is, but we have got to appreciate that a player of his quality belongs to us. He is of a different class.
With a gem like Mesut in midfield, we have shown so much more character and belief. There have been many games in recent years like the one yesterday at home to Palace, where we dominate possession and chances but get caught out on the break or on a set piece and concede a silly goal.
Not anymore. This is a different Arsenal.
One that is a lot more patient and mature. We’ve had quite a few lacklustre first halves this season, but we come back out of the blocks with all guns blazing (pardon the pun) and score that decisive first goal. We have scored 32 second half goals, as opposed to 15 in the first this season. I’m sure that’s a combination of having some experience and having a winning mentality.
United under Fergie were experts at that. They would be chasing a winner with just a few minutes to go, but you wouldn’t see them rush anything. The defenders would be calm on the ball, pass it forward to the midfield, where a slight opening would be taken advantage of.
We haven’t played the best football this season, but who cares? If winning a trophy meant grinding out 1-0 victories that Georgie Graham would be proud of, so be it.
Apart from the league, I think we should set our sights on winning the FA Cup. Beat Liverpool and one of City and Chelsea will be out, giving us a good chance to really get to Wembley. We should field a strong side at home to the Scousers and give it all we’ve got.
The Bayern tie is an interesting one. There’s no doubt that they’re the favourites to win the competition. I look at this way; If we knock them, we would have just knocked out the holders and the best side, which would definitely give us a good chance. If we get knocked out ourselves, there’s absolutely no shame in it. We then go back to playing once a week, like Liverpool, who have benefitted from it so far.
I’m no way saying we are definitely going to win something, because in all honesty, City look very, very good. But, Arsene has done it before.
People continue to write us off, and I don’t mind that. Let’s go into these last few months as underdogs with the pressure on ‘favourites’ City and Chelsea.
I know our next 10 games look incredibly difficult, but this is what it’s all about! We have got to beat the best to be the best.
Let’s believe and get behind every single one of our boys. Up The Arsenal.
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Photo by wonker