A Game of Not That Much Consequence, Abschiedsspiel Jens!

It was a game of little consequence to us, atleast that's what the performance proved in the game against Everton at Ashburton Grove yesterday. Quite a dull outing, Everton would hardly ever come out to play and we did just enough in the end to get the three points. A super Traore cross and a nice towering header by Bendtner late on in the piece sealed the win for us. There was not too much rhythm yesterday but our rhythm deserted us.I was expecting a bit more from the lads, but you have to keep in mind that the team was missing seven of the usual starters, and " it was and end of season game".

Speaking after the game, Wenger commented about the performance-
"The fluency was a bit difficult sometimes. You could see that it was a little bit an end of season game, especially with the fact that they didn't open up at all. They played with Johnson up front, but we were sound at the back. We didn't create as many chances as usual but we scored a great goal and, in the end, I think we just deserved a win today. They didn't create a lot and overall we deserved to win this game."

I'm not sure if we really deserved to win the game, but like Isaid maybe we just edged it.Arsene also confirmed Jens Lehmann departure-
"It was a farewell, yes. I wanted him to say goodbye to the fans and to show him that we respect him for what he has done for us. He was a 100 per-cent professional, not always an easy character but you take that if the guys is committed every day."
We are really going to miss Mad Jens between the sticks, he was a good servant, and we had a few succesful years with him as the last line of defence. He was a volatile figure on the pitch, often given to altercation with the opposition, and causing more than a few ruffles in the opposition camp. He was a steely character, and was dependable. The fact that he was not getting any younger and the two mistakes at the start of the season cost him his starting place. That was met with some deragatory remarks by the big German and added to the humour he provided , not to mention his finger wagging at opponents and referrees. Here's wishing him all the best! Thank you Jens! More of what Arsene said about Mad Jens lower down in this piece.

Arsene's complete post match comments are here, including him talking about Bendtner's progress and the Flamini issue. Wenger also said he will sit with Gilberto and discuss his future, also saying he hoped the Brazilian stayed a Gunner. Arsene said-
"I would like Gilberto to stay. But I have to sit down with him to see what he wants to do. Gilberto is like Jens Lehmann, you can rely on them, they are fantastic professionals. Gilberto is a fantastic guy. We won trophies with Gilberto and Jens because they are special human beings, you know? You do not win with average people."

Arsene makes a good point abolut winning things and the kind of people we need to win stuff, thats whywe need to add a few to the team, and retain some of the ones who plan on leaving. While we are on the subject, this report in the Telegraph speaks about Flamini travelling to Milan on Sunday evening to sign a contract. Well what's to say now? Huh? Mathieu did not play yesterday, and this pic in the report shows Flamini waving goodbye to the fans, but I caught nothing of this on TV. Flamini's departure or impending departure or whatever it is now has not been confirmed on .con.

Arsene sums up the situation rather well here-
"At some stage you have to make a decision and if he goes we have to look at our options.
We can't wait until July. You could lose players if they come on the market."
"My ideal solution is that he stays so I am not happy if he goes - but we have done everything we can."

Today's the day I think where we will finally find out how this story ends.
That was the last home game of the season, and we remain undefeated all this season at home. Maybe we could have had a more swashbuckling display, but anyhoo...
Oh well, see ya and G'day!