“*Ow*! My aching head! So where do we begin? We started off with a season of doubts and hopes and ended up with the DOUBLE! I’m sure we all have various opinions on how it all went right (and wrong for a few matches at home) this season but it would be a safe bet that a lot of us would agree that a major turning point in the season had to be the Herculean affort turned in at Anfield when Arsenal went down to 10 men and beat thescousers 2-1. This set the momentum for a run-in like nothing seen this side of United’s march to treble success in the ‘99 season. The stars seemed to line upfor Arsenal as once Robert Pires went down to a season-ending injury in March against Newcastle, Freddie Ljungberg returns from injury and along with Parlour, Edu and Vieira Arsenal’s midfield started to boss around the league (unfortunately this didn’t occur inEurope too).
The first weekend in May saw Arsenal head back to Cardiff to atone for the dreadful 10 minute lack of concentration the previous May against the scousers by meeting Chelsea in an all-London affair. Priceless goals by Ray (the Pele of Romford) Parlour and Freddie Ljungberg claimed the FA Cup for the mighty Arsenal decisively and what a picture to see Tony Adams and Vieira lift the cup together. The following Wednesday saw Arsenal in need of only 1 point against defending title holders ManchesterUnited at Old Trafford to secure the league and cup double for the 2nd time in 4 seasons. Spurned on by a massive showing of Gooners at OT, Arsenal went there missing 5 starters and delivered a spirited and well fought effort as they displaced the champions off the throne to the tune of “”1-nil”" as Sylvain Wiltord scored the goal to bring the league home to Highbury.
31 years to the day that Arsenal first achieved the double they had done it again under the guidance of “”le Genius”" Arsene Wenger. Joy, bedlam, delirium, ecstasy and every other superlative of happiness could be used to describe the euphoric feeling amongst Gooners in every corner of the world. But there was even more to come on the follwing Saturday as the trophy would be presented after the final home match against Everton. After finishing off the Toffees 4-3, the party swung into full mode as Tony Adams collected his 4th league trophy and made history as the only captain to lift the league in 3 successive decades (’89,’91,’98 and’02). After all of the accolades and cheers the best was saved for last when Player of the Year Robert Pires lifted the trophy and Highbury exploded in a crescendo of admiration for the man who was as integral as anyone else to the season’s accomplishments. The entire team bowed down in a “”we’re not worthy”" gesture and you could tell the sincerity was meant. The follwing day a civic parade was held in Islington to honor the conquering heroes and the only picture that needs description would be of Sol Campbell sitting on the balcony of Islington Town Hall with both the Premiership trophy and the FA Cup in his hands (enough said….)
The follwing day had “”Mr. Arsenal”" Tony Adams recieving a 2nd testimonial against the champions of Scotland - Celtic. A full house at Highbury to pay homage to such a servant were lucky enough to see the famous back 4 of Adams, Bould, Winterburn and Dixon anchor the back and from the ‘88/’89 squad in goal John Lukic. Celtic were more than up for the task at hand and controlled the match to most extents as one would wonder if they were trying their best to show the Nationwide League what the Old Firm (if allowed to move to it) could do against English opposition. The score ended 1-1 and a wonderful end to the perfect season had been attained.
So where do we go from here you might wonder? The “”silly season’s rumour mills”" will no doubt be in full motion as we hear about United making moves for Thuram, Nesta, Cannivaro, Crespo, Sorenson, Rivaldo while Arsenal are linked to Van Bommel and Ze Roberto, the scousers chase Cisse, Anelka and some other young French lads while Leeds are forced to sell some of their players to re-coup the finances blown in thewind that has them in hock to banks while trying to make up for their short-sightedness in trying to emulate Manchester United (you can’t just spend 100 million quid and expect trophies , you have to have good players, experience and wisdom to go along withthe equation, something Mr. Ridsdale forgot to learn it would seem). The other teams don’t merit much remarks right now but we should acknowledge that United may have fallen down a rung but are STILL at least 5 rungs in front of the Arsenal with theirfinancial clout and stadium and apparel revenues to attract anyone they please in the off season to try and right what went wrong this season.
The task at hand for Arsenal in the next season will be to retain the league at all costs first and foremeost, a good cup run if possible and a longer run in Europe where “”maybe, just maybe”" come next May Arsenal again will be celebrating another championship at Old Trafford-The Champions League. But a long way away and all we can hope for is all Arsenal internationals involved in the World Cup return safely and injury free from Korea/Japan with the same intense desire to succeed and defend their crown as they will now become the hunted instead of the hunter…
1 life
1 love
1 club
1 nil! (to the CHAMPIONS!)
152″
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