Arsenal America

Arsenal?s fortunes in March were as schizophrenic as a BBC documentary on Lord Byron starring Eddie Izzard, directed by Guy Ritchie and written by Irvine Welsh. When the month began the club were still on target for a treble and a piece of footballing history. Our subsequent exit from the Champions League was a bit of a ?buzz kill? but the stirring victories over Everton and Chelsea in the FA Cup replay ended the month on a high note.

All this action brought out American Arsenal fans in full voice. One moment the tactics of Arsene Wenger were being criticized, then the familiar refrain, ?Arsene knows?, came forth after we saw off Chelsea with Dennis, Thierry and Freddie starting on the bench.

One thing I?ve noticed is the difference between American-born members of Arsenal America, and UK expats living here in the States who are part of our club. While both types are Arsenal through and through, those born in England tend to have a wider swing of emotions. Whether in print on the website or at the tavern, they seem to be more vocal and spirited, both positively and negatively. Every loss is gutting, followed by an emotional plea to support the lads. And when we?re winning? Well then they need a ladder to climb back down to earth.

I?m never one to judge another fan?s level of partisanship, but the English-born do seem to have a bit more passion. Those of us from the States can be just as pessimistic, or ready to heap praise, but I don?t know if we feel it in our bones in the same way.

Since the EPL and FA Cup are still all to play for I?ll reserve my comments on those fronts for another month or two, but I do have some thoughts regarding the end of our Champions League campaign. It?s a tough call, but this might be the trophy I want to see us win the most, probably because it?s the one we don?t have. I really thought we had a chance this year, but in the end we got no closer this year than last. I can?t explain why we didn?t go further, and I think if I did know Le Boss would love to receive a call from me. It?s certainly not the talent, which we have in deeper supply than almost any other team in Europe. I don?t think it?s the European experience as we?ve been in the tournament several years in a row now; and I don?t think it?s a lack of ?grit? or ?heart?, as last year?s run to the Double proved we have that in spades.

One of our members wrote in an editorial that the format of the Champions League, with the groups rather than a straight, two-legged head-to-head match-up can lull teams to sleep, letting them believe they can always turn it up in the next couple of games. I?d hate to think Arsenal fell into that trap. In the end, our failure is a mystery equaled only by the popularity of Lenny Henry and Ben Elton.

So the gold ring of European validation remains as elusive as color footage of Chelsea FC winning the league. Perhaps it?s a perfect time to put things in perspective. It?s seems you lot are always having some sort of Holiday over there, and several members mentioned one I wasn?t familiar with. It?s called St. Totteringham?s Day and it fell on 24 March this year. Also, we beat Chelsea in the FA Cup, for the 10th consecutive match, a run stretching back to 1947. And perhaps most importantly, the ?Double Double? is still alive. That phrase will now have meaning beyond the standard order at In-N-Out Burger restaurants in Southern California, as this never has been done in English football history.

So on the whole, this is still on course to be another magical year for Arsenal. Hopefully when you read this column in the May issue the club will be clearing additional space in the trophy cabinet at Highbury.