“With a slow mid-week schedule I’ve taken a moment to put down my thoughts on a couple of issues…
Nothing to prove
When the season began we all had high hopes. Sure there were some questions marks: Would Sol fit in? Was PV4 committed? But we were excited. Then by mid-season expectations grew. We had a chance to win three trophies. Soon we felt that if we didn?t win anything that something was wrong. The expectation has turned to anxiety as the season is now down to the last few games, but for me the season has reached a transcendent level. At this point whatever happens, happens. Do I desperately hope we win the double? Absolutely. Am I disappointed by the way our European campaign ended? You bet. But after all that has happened there is no way I?m going to call this team a bunch of chokers or underachievers. They don?t have anything left to prove to me.
When Spurs tied the game on Saturday with less than 10 minutes left Arsenal didn?t fold up shop and settle for the point. When they were awarded the penalty Lauren (Lauren!?) made good. Chokers? No chance, it?s too late for that. Leeds are chokers. Newcastle United are chokers. Chelsea are chokers. When it was time for these teams to strap on a pair, when it really mattered they folded like origami. Chokers say things like, ?Well, if we hadn?t had injuries to Pires, GVB, Adams, Ljungberg, Cole, Dixon, Keown, Seaman, Wright and Upson we would have won.? Not once have I heard Wenger use this as a crutch. He just keeps plugging in more players to get the job done. I don?t EXPECT to win titles. I EXPECT to compete for titles. We have done so and with an extremely entertaining brand of football to boot.
The difference between Bigger and Better
There?s been talk this year of Arsenal striving to be a big club, or even the biggest club. It occurs to me that this is a bogus goal. Don?t try to become the biggest, try to become the best. Now it surely follows that the biggest clubs, Man United, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich are also very often the best, but the order in which you set these goals does matter and the term ?the best? doesn?t just refer to on pitch accomplishments. Being the best means having the best facilities, the best management, the best merchandise, goods and services.
Yeah, ManU has a great team, but have you seen their publication ?United?? Pure class. The design, layout, photos, paper stock, everything is of the absolute best quality. I know I?ve said a lot of complementary things about United in recent weeks (don?t worry, my two favorite teams are Arsenal and whoever?s playing the Red Devils) but you have to give credit where it is due. I hope Arsenal understands the difference between striving to be big and striving to be the best. I strongly believe that they have every chance of being the best on and off the pitch. If that leads to becoming the biggest club as well, fine. But if somebody else sells more crappy merchandise than we do, or jams more people in to a second-rate stadium that?s fine by me.
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