Arsenal America

To paraphrase Charlie Dickens, ?it was the best of seasons, it was the worst of seasons?. Back in September suggesting that Arsenal weren?t going to win the title was laughable. The team was on such a role, only the margin of our victories were in question. Now eight months later we?re left scratching our heads wondering, ?what happened??

In this era of science and technology that we live in rational, ?black & white? answers are expected. Why didn?t Arsenal perform as well in the second half of this season as they did in the first half; or last season; or as well as Manchester United did in the second half this season? Unfortunately this puzzle is a bit like the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. As soon as you try look to analyze one aspect of the team, and point to it as the problem, another area of the team, which looked certain before, now seems a question mark.

Take the Gunners attack for starters. Thierry Henry unquestionably had a terrific season and with the rest of our attack minded stars, Pires, Ljungberg, Wiltord and the rest, certainly offense would not be the problem. And yet, it seemed on several occasions that if we could just find a way to get one more goal, a game that ended in a draw could have been won. If we felt good about our play upfront, well then our midfield might be even better. Once Freddie and SuperBob got healthy, they would join Vieira and World Cup-winner Gilberto to form a powerful quartet. Add Gio, Ray, Edu and Kolo Toure and we were solid in the midfield. Yet, injuries and the long season seemed to sap the strength of our midfield, leaving us vulnerable down the homestretch.

In defense we featured two England nationals, the respectable if not spectacular Lauren and added Pascal Cygan, another Wenger find. Yet by the end of the season we felt the strain of injuries and that seemed to result in some uncertain play. In goal we featured another England international with David Seaman, who by the fact of his age, 39, was a question mark despite the general quality of his play.

If you can?t point to one area, perhaps it was a team-wide malady. That seems a reasonable diagnosis, but this is virtually the same team that won the Double last year, and still has some players from the ?98 Double. Surely this year?s team didn?t forget what it takes to be Champions. Injuries certainly played a role, but some of our best play came before the return of two influential players, Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg. Manchester United supporters will be quick to remind you they had their fare share of injuries earlier in the year as well. In the end much of it comes down to timing, as it often does. Just ask Wells & the Four Fays, the acrobats who followed the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show.

As frustrating as this sounds, maybe we just have to accept the fact that we didn?t win the League this year for no better reason than we just didn?t. That?s why they play the games isn?t it? Some years your trophy cabinet is full, other times it?s bare and that?s what makes playing and winning, and watching, worthwhile. The joy of winning lasts a short while compared to the unending strivings that go towards the victories. All the hard work, the years we miss out, make it harder, but all the more satisfying in the end. I?ve no doubt that Arsenal will again be challenging for several trophies next year. Will we win them all? Will we win any? I don?t know, but I?m sure whatever success the team achieves will be done with pride, class and a touch of style.