I saw the end of Arsenal’s season today, and I don’t feel as bad about it as I thought I would.
In fact, I feel shockingly okay about what I saw today.
When this season began no one gave Arsenal a chance to even finish in the top four, expecting the Gunners to lose their spot to Tottenham Hotspur. But a top four finish is very nearly unassailable.
When this season began, everyone but Arsene Wenger and Sir Fergie thought the loss of Henry was a massive mistake, but his absence liberated an Arsenal squad who needed to play for each other rather than their superstar.
So put in context the 2007/2008 season is a triumph no matter what happens in the end, and it provides the groundwork for a serious run at trophies next season
But today I saw the end of Arsenal's season, and it wasn't pretty.
I saw four things today that make me believe the Gunners won’t finish first and they won’t win a trophy. Here they are:
1. Eduardo’s injury was ugly.
It came from a sloppy an unintentionally dangerous tackle. The red card was the right call, but Wenger’s call for Martin Taylor’s career to end with his sloppy tackle was more than a little over-the-top (although it is important to note that Wenger has withdrawn his comment after seeing the replays). All that aside, it was a massive blow to Arsenal’s title hopes.
Eduardo da Silva has become an intregal part of the Arsenal attack.
It doesn’t matter that he hasn’t scored as many goals as Adebayor in recent weeks. His presence makes space for Adebayor, he helps link the midfield to the goal, he is a constant worry for defenses, and most importantly, he has settled into the rhythm that Arsenal have developed over the season.
When he is replaced by Bendtner the rhythm breaks down, and when Robin van Persie comes back it is unlikely he will be able to step seamlessly into Eduardo’s role.
That’s not to say that van Persie couldn’t single handedly save Arsenal’s season -- he could -- but he could also struggle to get comfortable and throw Arsenal’s attack into disarray.
Eduardo will be missed, and I think missing him will be decisive.
2. Almunia’s hands are a little questionable.
McFadden’s free kick was a dinger (so was his penalty kick. Great game, McFadden). But Almunia got a hand to it, and I’ve always been taught by my coaches that if I get my hand on the ball there is no excuse for it hitting the twine.
I know that’s not always possible, and I’ve touched more than a few that I couldn’t save, but then I play for crappy teams with other overweight middle aged beer guzzlers -- and I pay for the right to be bad. I don’t make a ton of cash in North London playing for Arsenal like Almunia does. His standards have to be higher than mine.
I am not saying that Lehmann is the answer, nor am I saying that Almunia is terrible.
Lehmann was great once, but his prime has passed.
But there has to be a better keeper out there than Almunia. I love him as a back-up. But I want a keeper who can steal us games. Almunia is not that guy but for now Arsenal is stuck with him. That will cost us dear.
3. Adebayor’s ego is out of control.
I don’t know if Adebayor saw that Nicklas Bendtner was wide open when he decided to take that low shot in the second half or not. I don’t know if it was linked to their row of a couple weeks back. I don’t care.
Adebayor played it selfish. Adebayor made the wrong choice. Adebayor lost the points. Simple as that.
Sure we can point to Clichy giving away the penalty in extra time (which was a dodgy penalty at best. Clichy got the ball, then the man. That’s no penalty). But if Bendtner had scored, as he should have and would have, Arsenal would have won 3-2.
Adebayor’s ego got in the way. And it gets in the way too often.
4. Gallas gave up.
I felt for William Gallas today. But he was also the man who told me that the season was over.
His tears at the end of the game wrenched me.
I’ve been impressed with him all season, and he did better as captain than I ever expected. But today, when Arsenal lost, Gallas was devastated.
I will not be surprised to see him give up from now on. And I’ll be only slightly surprised to see him leave in the off season. Gallas body language said it all.
The season ended against Birmingham.
What a shame that Senderos third successive excellent performance and Theo Walcott’s best game in Arsenal red should have ended the way it did. But that’s football.
I hope my gut is wrong and that there is a trophy out there for Arsenal. If I’ve misread the things I saw today, and we do win a trophy...well, that will make an excellent season a complete success. If not there is always next season.
And in the end, I am proud of the Gunners no matter what happens.
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7 months ago
I was hoping this article wouldn't be written.
1. Eduardo isn't that vital to Arsenals attack.
His injury, however horiffic it was, will pave the way for the coming-to-form of one Theo Walcott and Nicholas Bentdner.
People underrate Bentdner because one commentator one day said 'he thinks too much of himself'. He is a proven finished and he has pace and height and is the perfect suplement to the Arsenal attack.
Arsenal have coped a whole season without Van Persie, you can't blame that now.
2. Almunia is only in the team because Lehmann reacted awfully to being dropped for one game.
Lehmann is a world-class keeper and Wenger's stubbornness is the only reason Almunia is keeping Lehmann out of the starting line up. Almunia is at time questionnable, but Arsenal haven't conceeded that many this season - and you can't always blame a keeper, even if you are a Spurs Fan.
3. Adebayor’s may have an ego, but he has an awesome record.
Bendtner was behind Adebayor when Adabayor burst through. He would have had to have looked behind to have seen him running through. No striker in that position would look around - a confident and natural finisher would take the keeper on - which he did. You shouldn't have any qualms with him not passing it. If he did look up the defender would have most likely taken it off him.
Arsenal had more than one chance to finish off this match they had over 15 shots away from home - that is a general statement that more than one Arsenal player should be blammed for not finishing off the game.
Clichy lost the points by loosing his concentration and making a rash challenge on a player who hasn't scored in four seasons. And even if it wasn't a penalty, it was, and football can never be judged on the 'what ifs' however hardcore a fan you are.
4. Gallas got angry
1) Eduardo has broken his leg
2) Clichy gave away a cheap penalty
He was out of order, but Gallas didn't lose the game, it was the last kick of the game he stood in the oppositions half while they dispatched the penalty. He was angry only after the decision was given.
from 7 months ago
Thanks for the well thought out comments, David.
I rate Bentdner very highly, but his confidence has taken a beating because of Adebayor, so I think he's not going to be influential in the rest of our season. As for Walcott...when he's consistent I will believe in his worth.
I don't blame Almunia for today's draw. It's not his fault. But the free kick goal highlights what you yourself say, David, "Almunia is at time questionnable," and when it comes to winning trophies you can't have that.
You may have a case on Adebayor's shot, but I want to point out that I have no sour grapes about the call on Clichy. It wasn't a penalty, but it was. You are right. But if it wasn't a penalty, how can Clichy be blamed for the challenge just because the penalty was given? If the penalty hadn't been given, everyone would be talking about what a brave and excellent challenge it was to stop a potential shot. I don't blame Clichy, but I'm not bitching either.
As for Gallas...of course those were the reasons he was mad. But it sure looked like he checked out due to his anger, and I hope I am wrong about him for the rest of the season and for next season.
Also, I just want to clarify that I do not blame any single player for Arsenal's only getting a point today, not from Birmingham nor from Arsenal. This article was about things I saw and how they bode for the rest of the season. How we dropped today's points was merely the framework to explain things that frighten me.
7 months ago
i agree with dave...you doom merchant
7 months ago
To hasty man. The loss of a talent will affect us yes, but not our entire season. Eduardo hadn't scored in a long time and Adebayor is doing fine. Plus Nicky Bendter needs to step up and Van Persie is not far from full fitness. The morale of the team may have dropped, but its up to them to pick themselves up and finish the job.
Almunia had a bad day, not a really common thing these days anyway, so give him a break. He's proved himself to be a worthy number one and Lehman is a reliable back-up. We saw flashes of things to come from Walcott to, so its not like we're in any trouble.
If you had said to me at the beginning thay Arsenal would be three points clear come February, I would've laughed. But here we are
Arsenal EPL Champions 07/08
7 months ago
It's simply to early to be making excuses...you are 3 points clear!!!
Just get on with it!
from 7 months ago
There is a line between excuse and explanation, and what I have done is offer explanation for a possible loss of form that I see coming. If I was making excuses, Andrew, I would have blamed all of my reasons on a third party and not on Arsenal's players. Even my discussion about Eduardo was about how it would effect the team dynamic rather than a diatribe about the tackle.
7 months ago
Hi - Don’t give up hope, What about Theo Walcott, He scored his first 2 goals in the premiership.
7 months ago
Hi - Don’t give up hope, What about Theo Walcott, He scored his first 2 goals in the premiership.
from 7 months ago
I'm not giving up at all. Just making observations.
7 months ago
I love Arsenal and I love watching them play, which I do a lot, but chosing Almunia who is nothing more than a mediocre goalkeeper over Lehmann is laughable. Wenger is clearly acting on personal motives here, such as his pride and to underline his authority and not on the question of who is the better 'keeper.
Does anyone know the Castrol Performance Index?
http://www.castrolindex.com/
It is the Uefa's performance stats for international football and Lehmann is second best goalkeeper after Coupet out of all goalies of the Euro teams. Ironically, Wenger is the 'face' of Castrol Index. What a farce.
from 7 months ago
Exactly.
7 months ago
we are still 3 points clear, this is exactly how everyone wrote us off at the beginning of the season, and you see how we played after those comments, now they write us off while we are still top of the table.
how can the team not perform when they have the perfect motivation of EDU-EDU's injury, a week off will be perfect timing to give everyone time to be sad, but when sat comes there will be no stopping this extremely talented motivated team
7 months ago
Cheer up Brad, if anything the Arsenal boys will be getting together and saying lets do this for Eduardo.
Gael Clichy will be a better player in future, I dont blame Gallas for reacting the way he did, i was exactly the same.
And please lets not forget the truly horrific performance of Referee Mike Dean, who having sent of Martin Taylor for his disgusting assault on Edu, decided to give the rest of the decisions in favour of the home side, such as the non existant 'foul' for the free kick and the 'foul' for the penalty.
A side note though - Alex McLeish claims Taylor didnt make much contact with Eduardo's leg - presumably its difficult to maintain contact with a leg you have just snapped in half.
7 months ago
Excellent article Brad and in addition I will also say excellent counter view from Dave. Two very well written points of view.
Cant really speculate on what may or may not happen! But I think next week should be quite a reasonable indicator.
7 months ago
I do see where you're coming from Brad, but I dont think our challenge for the title is over. I'm not overly convinced that this is our season. Like you though I am still keeping the faith, while being a maybe whole lot more optimistic, then again you're piece has a more realistic tone to it. Im holding on, come on you Gunners!!
7 months ago
BRAZILIAN PLAYERS SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM THESE WEAKER LEAGUES.
The players in these leagues tend to make up for their lack of talent with violence.
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