Arsenal: Player's Reaction Will Decide the Destination of the Title

At the match against Birmingham in 2008, Arsenal faced extreme adversity. The team's reaction epitomised their season that day and indeed, many felt that it determined their fate.

The horrific injury to Eduardo shook the young team to its core in a very visible way.

Shock

Upon conceding their late penalty, the team in shock, saw their leader walk to the middle of the pitch and sit down in protest.

That the penalty was wrongly given was only one of the issues that day. At a time when the team needed to be bound together and have their spirits lifted, the captain showed his deep frustration in a petulant and childish way.

Such behaviour led directly to the captaincy being removed from Gallas and handed to the younger and less experienced Fabregas.

The shock of events on that day seemed to ripple through subsequent matches, as Arsenal's title challenge faded away. Garnering only 16 points out of a possible 30 meant that they finished third that season.

Only four points behind title winners Manchester United, it seems clear that they could have easily won the title if they had not stuttered so badly.

Contrast

Compare the behaviour of the captain and his team on that day with their reaction after Aaron Ramsey's leg was shockingly broken one month ago at Stoke.

Fabregas, having taken over the captaincy from the deposed Gallas, lifted his team, showing them grit, spirit and determination.

The team responded, lifting each other and forging on to a well earned victory that day. The outcome has seemed to be a team ethos of determination.

Result

Arsenal beat Stoke that day a month ago and have won the four matches since. Clearly demonstrated is the effect the team's reaction had on their spirit and determination subsequently.

The lesson seems clear, but it will be interesting to see whether the fading of 2008 will be replaced with an equally strong, yet opposite result this time around.

The Arsenal team's reaction could well determine the destination of the title this season.