Another final and another defeat. I didn't want to start this way but we are all thinking it. That's three in a row now. Of course it means nothing but it does add to the fire about The Arsenal bottling it when it matters. The defeats in Cardiff and Paris were depressing. Chavs 'cheated' by playing a stronger first team against our kids while Barcelona just squeaked past our 10 men. I remember leaving Paris with a glow of pride. Not today.
I left the game thinking we were crap. Before I'd reached the car, a spud texted me to say, 'Rubbish! You battered them and lost! Ha ha!' He was right. We didn't batter them but were the better team and had ample opportunities to win it. The second half saw chance after chance converted into goal kicks. It was frustrating.
As I trudged out into the cold, damp Wembley evening it struck me that the goals summed the season up. The set piece - They have a 9 foot monster up front so who should we pay special attention to at corners? Oh too late, he's scored. Our goal (from memory) was a slick build up, a decent shot off the wood (so close but not quite) followed by a neat cross and a smart finish. Goal of the day. The winner - a defensive cock up of enormous proportions. A nothing ball in the box, a fresh air kick, a keeper fumble, a soft open goal. The good and the bad of The Arsenal in a neat little cut out and chuck pullout.
I'm gutted we didn't win today. To all the supporters around me shouting abuse at Brum about it being a Mickey Mouse cup and not worth winning, why were you there? Why all the abuse, anger, c words and £70 for your ticket if you don't care. I don't care about X Factor so I don't watch it let alone pay to see it. I cared today. My £200 for 3 tickets cared. I think I cared more than the team. What they gave me wasn't enough.
I don't really want to pick on individuals as it's obvious who did or didn't do what but I will pick on Jack Wilshire. If only everyone put in a shift like him we might actually get over that hurdle. That boy is incredible and a future captain to be sure. www.twitter.com/evadztif tweeted that the only man we had on the pitch was a 19 year old boy. He gave his all and was gutted like a fan at the end. Tell Jack it's not worth winning.
So another cup thrown away. Birmingham are beatable. We normally beat them yet today our best fit 11 couldn't beat Birmingham who aren't even the best team in Birmingham. When the underdog is hungry and all that ...I know, but I felt let down a bit. We played well without being special and you'd expect more in a final. There was just something missing. Cesc maybe? Vermaelen? Are we that shallow in reserve?
A missed opportunity for sure and one we needed to rid ourselves of the monkey clinging to the back wall. No cups for the new ground yet and a right old struggle to get one. Only Man U, Barcelona and The Orient (I'm taking nothing for granted) stand in our way.
Much like the team today, I've run out of ideas.
This really is hard to swallow. Nearly every player on that field has been at Arsenal long enough to know just how much bringing silverware back to The Emirates means. Someone like Clichy should have been out to destroy them. Sagna should have been ready to pull out the cross of the century. Rosicky - he's waited long enough hasn't he? Where was his moment of match-winning magic?
ReplyDeleteNo, right now isn't for naming and shaming but these players needed to embrace their moment. They should have emerged on this day and made themselves legends at Arsenal. Do they even aspire to this or is the shadow of The Invicibles still hiding their light?
Collectively these guys were not arrogant or complacent like some are saying. No, they were just plain scared. It can't be easy being a Premier League footballer at a "Big Four" club. While there's all the money, the special treatment and the fame, there's also all the history, the expectation, the desire from the fans to not just win, but to annihilate the opposition. That pressure should be turned into self belief. Instead our players seem to detach themselves, shying away from the possibility of greatness and passionately embracing mediocrity.
It's a shame because they we close to coming of age today. And it woulda been so nice to feel that trophy joy again.