Arsenal Ladies Show Men the Way

Some Arsenal fans may not have noticed, but on Monday there were two big games taking place. Very badly scheduled by the TV networks and the FA, the Ladies FA Cup Final was taking place at the same time as Premier League matches were being played.

The FA, by careless scheduling, and playing the event in Nottingham instead of giving it the respect of playing at Wembley, have perhaps shown their true colours.

Their attitude (on the surface, one of support to the ladies game) is demonstrated by their failure to give it the prominence it deserved. Sky TV on the other hand, frequently cast as the bad guys for their scheduling, at least gave it a live showing.

In particular, the extra time played in that final overran the start of the Arsenal men's game against Blackburn, giving Arsenal fans a conundrum; whom to watch?

In the end, despite the ladies losing by a late goal at the end of extra time, fans who watched the men's game may have wished they hadn't.

Arsenal's men put in a performance that could generously be called lacklustre, and left fans disappointed, disillusioned and begging for the season to end.

Arsenal's ladies didn't win their final, but not only did they make it all the way to a final, they are also still firm favourites to win their league title, for a seventh year running: a position very much to be envied by fans of the men's team.

Winning

It is often said that winning isn't everything. The corollary (that losing isn't anything) whilst cynical, may perhaps reflect the feeling of many fans who feel let down this season.

Taking part with heart, vigour, and desire, however, are very much a feature that fans of all teams require. Putting in a high level of effort is not optional when one "wears the shirt;" that phrase often used to represent the honour of playing for a loved club.

Players who play with little (apparent) effort or desire have recovered their position with the fans in the past, Eboue being a great example. Many felt however that of the team that played against Blackburn, very few exhibited any desire to win.

Doubly surprising perhaps given that most were not first-team regulars and should have had a strong interest in showing the manager what they were capable of doing.

Whilst true that Blackburn bullied Arsenal off the ball and out of the game at times, it is also true that Blackburn's tactics are well known and to be expected.

Perhaps not acceptable to football purists, they are used often enough against Arsenal to merit counter tactics.

Arsenal allowed themselves to be bullied, though: they allowed themselves to not fight, and that lack of heart is something many fans find hard to forgive. Sadly, such a display has been provided on more than one occasion this season.

Success

It's not (only) the success of the Arsenal ladies that the Arsenal men should eye with envy and want to emulate: it's the effort; the desire; the heart. The ladies team have shown the men that they refuse to lie down and accept defeat.

The men's team now have one game to rescue some pride from their season. One game in which they need to win to secure third place in the table.

One game in which to demonstrate to the fans, at home, that they are proud to wear the shirt of Arsenal.

The question is: will they respond to this need for a performance to be proud of, with such a performance? Or will they accept an extremely disappointing end to what has overall been a good season? Are their eyes on the World Cup already? Are they considering their transfer options already?

The biggest question is to be asked of the team on Sunday: will they respond?