In the coming weeks we can talk about what will be or what could have been, right now let?s focus on the present. By any possible definition, this is a terrific team and this is a fantastic season. The Arsenal clinched the league title WITHOUT LOSING A MATCH. Regardless of the league, regardless of the competition, that is a remarkable achievement. It speaks of incredible skill, mental toughness and an unquenchable spirit.
Winning the League isn?t easy. You don?t string a couple of wins together a find yourself lifting the trophy. It?s a long slog. 38 games stretching from August to May. International call-ups, injuries, suspensions, loss of form, hot opponents and blind luck all can cause difficulties.
For all save a handful of teams, this year would be enough to keep their fans happy to a dozen years. Yet this title victory comes on the heels of two League / Cup doubles and another FA Cup title. That?s six trophies in seven years and that borders on obscene. It?s excessive to the point of criminality.
Hail Arsenal not just for their accomplishments, but the style with which they have achieved them. Yes, the style has been magical, but for the most part they?ve done it with class as well. At times their discipline has been lacking, but the players haven?t used the papers to slam their opponents, their manager or each other. No one at the club has been indicted or been the source of tabloid scandal. Arsenal fans never have to been embarrassed for the off-field lives of their heroes. That might not count for much, but it should.
For the last couple of years I?ve felt that winning the Champions League was more important the winning the League title. The other day though I had a bit of a change of heart. Here?s my reasoning: It?s quite possible, likely in fact, that at some point the Champions League will change dramatically. It will become a closed League, or they?ll completely change the format in some way. Maybe it will cease to exist as we know it all together. But for more than 100 years, and for maybe 100 more, they will play football in England and someone will be crowned the best in the land. That?s not to say I don?t care about the Champions League, I?d very much like to see Arsenal win that competition. But winning the English championship is still very special.
So, well done lads, you?ve made us proud.
5 Responses to “Special Team - Special Season”
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April 26th, 2004 at 8:20 am
As a Gooner of some Forty four years (OMG!!), I have never been prouder of the AFC. The football being played by the team at present is “The Beautiful Game”.
The board of directors, the manager, the coaching and training staff and the players, are as one in their desire to make the Arsenal Football Club second to none on the planet. As a supporter I thank them heartily for their passion.
Thank you- Rick, Andrew, Basil, Kelvin and most importantly, Jill for a brilliant season, with the best part to come. (Undefeated!!)
Bob Hobbs
April 26th, 2004 at 8:56 am
This team is made out of friends. Simple the best of mates you can find in modern days. The true meaning for Arsenal and Tradition.
Adding anything else will spoil this great and good post. Nice one Rick.
April 26th, 2004 at 9:07 am
I hear you Rick on winning the Champions League, but next season I’d like it to be our HIGHEST priority. We?ve never done it before, so if for no other reason I?d like us to put that monkey to rest. Winning the Premiership is more difficult, no doubt, but in some ways it is easier because team form averages itself out throughout the season. No single game makes or breaks it, because even when pundits or supporters say it does, the fact is that points dropped earlier put you in those must win situations. Our game against Leeds last year would not have been so critical if we hadn?t been letting wins become draws all season. Like they say the table does not lie. The Champions league is trickier because one bad game can derail tons of effort that went before, especially with the new knock-out format and such high quality teams.
But what am I griping about? WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS AND LET?S ALL TOAST TO THAT!!.
Some music is in order; loading ?Queen? into my mental CD player:
We are the champions, my friend
And we’ll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions, We are the champions
No time for losers, ‘cos we are the champions
Congratulations to the Arsenal staff, the players, coaching staff, and backroom ? even the cleaners and cooks!.
And congratulations to you also Rick and the rest involved with ArsenalAmerica for giving us such a great place to rant and rave!
April 26th, 2004 at 9:19 am
As a kid during ww2 mj\y Dad would tell me over & over about the great Asenal of the 30s so it was inevitable I would aiways be a Gooner. In the 40s & 50s I had my idols. We won the league & cup. Now I am priviged to say this is the BEST ARSENAL ever KEEP it up boys Playing like GENTLEMEN & REAL SPORTSMEN. THANK YOU FOR MAKING AN OLD MAN PROUD. good luck to all GUNNERS & GOONERS & THIS SITE. DENIS
April 26th, 2004 at 9:22 am
Epic, singular, and just plain class. The Arsenal is the best team in English Premier League football! And we all know what that means to the world. Well posted, Rick. Not only have we done it unbeaten, we’ve done it with beautiful, exciting and fair football. For another hundred years, fans from every corner of this planet will be watching this season and using it as a barometer for what every team, and league, should strive to achieve.
And even though I would have really loved to see Viera trot about in his Banana hammock this Saturday, I’m simply ecstatic that its in “the bag”, so to speak.
Here’s to Rick and everyone logging on to Arsenal America. As a Statesider, it has been brilliant to share my thoughts and feelings with you all this year. It can get mighty lonely ’round these parts.
And here’s to finishing unbeaten, forever putting our stamp on a season that will require the caliber of a true giant to match. We may have crashed out of the CL, but all that matters very little right now.
We are simply in a league of our own.
Gunners, again!