Now the dust has finally settled on last season we can look back, through specs of a varying hue and consider what we saw and what, if any, conclusions we might draw.
Overall it was painful, excruciatingly so, yet not without its highlights along the way. We began shakily unprepared as if nobody actually realised that the season had started, somehow struggled along – gaining points while looking generally unconvincing. Then we went downhill alarmingly, before coming back well with a dozen games or so to go, looking something like the team that I thought we might have been all along. The culmination of the convincing FA Cup victory over a strangely ineffectual Chelsea highlighted two things. Firstly, how did Chelsea run away with the title so easily? And, secondly, what went wrong during that shocking period when we were so abject and negative that we suffered defeats at the hands of supposedly inferior teams that showed more industry and desire than we could muster?
If you’re looking for answers, then take your pick of the many that have been put forward. I can summon up little substantive evidence and am mainly left with feelings that I can recall while sitting in the stands awaiting those tell-tale signs of negativity that seemed so entirely predictable and of course during the tedious drives home from games that became more like post-mortems.
Strangely and boringly, the ball seems to spend most of its time travelling either squarely across the pitch or backwards. Cech would roll the ball out to a full back who would promptly knock it to a CB, who would push it back to him. Eventually and after the customary pall of irritated boredom had descended over the crowd, the ball would find its way back to the goalkeeper only for him to start the whole insipid process again. The magic ball that bisects defences and incurs panic in the opposition ranks was notable by its absence. The recognition of what was to come was not.
Virtually zero movement from the midfield, nobody in an advanced position moving to create space etc, the ball was like the legendary hot potato in that no Arsenal player wanted to have much to do with it. Game after game, the crowd had grown pregnant with the dread anticipation that this was what Wenger’s Arsenal had become. It was only natural that, as human nature decrees, blame would need to be apportioned. The results absolutely demanded that someone be held accountable. Step forward Arsene Wenger, rather ancient looking by now, grey and emaciated, the colour drained from his face and a million new wrinkles furrowing his brow.
The press sensed blood and all sorts of ex-players with an axe to grind found their way to a microphone to let us all know what Wenger was doing wrong. Lead by Stewart Robson, like a portly, unpleasant vampire sensing a chance of fresh blood. He is a somewhat hysterical, never-was type of player who, judging by his spiel, one might have thought had himself had a long and amazingly successful managerial career. The hate dripped from his lips as he spelt out the comically simple details of his accusations. Yes, Robson could see what was wrong. It was Arsene Wenger, the man with whom he has apparently had previous run-ins. Robson, who has a degree in the Unimaginably Crass, was enjoying his revenge served ice-cold. Fortunately his insipid spite was taken for what it was and he slowly sank back into the sea of resentment from which he came, screaming “I coulda been a contender”. He might have added “If it wasn’t for Wenger” but, unfortunately (for him) very few were listening. The foul creature doth protest too much and too predictably to warrant the merest of consideration.
It was obvious that something was very, very wrong as the team hobbled from humiliation to humiliation. The 10-2 average defeat against Bayern Munich seemed to encapsulate everything that had become so glaringly apparent and there was surely only one man to blame. Arsene was batting on what had become an exceedingly sticky wicket and his mega earners, like Mesut and Alexis came under fire from the urine-soaked members of our ghastly footballing press. Even Henry Winter, the posh public schoolboy who unfortunately likes football, could barely contain the effluent that spewed onto the page. The other usual suspects must have thought that Christmas had come early as they too laid into Arsene with a vengeance that quickly became epic and extremely unpleasant. Wenger’s time was up and they wanted to extract every single drop of vengeance that they believed was theirs by right.
It was about this time that I found myself curiously admiring the way that Wenger took the responsibility of the entire debacle on his own shoulders. He looked defeated and a man out of place and out of time with it all. Yet, he stood up to it. Although I believed he should go, I feared for his health, physical and mental and yet, somehow he raised his and the team’s game to put in a sprint through the final furlong to finish the season very well. Not well enough to squeeze into a Champions League spot of course but, hey, we’ve done that dance for the past 20 years and apart from bringing millions into the club, it has never really been as good as it really should have been.
So now we are in reset mode and the press are delighting in winding us Arsenal supporters up once again over who might come and go with stories that defy credibility and are bereft of anything that seems like journalistic integrity. Where is the literary genius of John Cross when you need him?
But one thing is sure, this is going to be a mega season for the club and for Wenger. He simply has to deliver success this time round although the way that the contracts of important players have been allowed to drift really hasn’t helped.
We all have our ideas of what happened last season and what is likely to happen in the future. Football has changed into a rather avaricious sport that is very likely rotten to its monied core. It will be interesting to see how much of their own integrity Arsenal can maintain in trying to win a really meaningful trophy like the PL this coming season.
It’s gonna be bumpy.
By Adam.
Thanks Adam.
I guess next season depends on whether we start as we finished the last one, or we start as we have done so many times before of late.
The right signings, tactics, focus and approach by all could see us have a very good season, but anything other than that and yes, it’s going to be bumpy, very bumpy.
Especially if the season kicks off with Alexis at Man City!
Thanks Adam for a very enjoyable read.
I take any journalist…..analyst……and the bottom of the barrel Robson with a pinch of salt……………….only Ornstein is worth reading, he doesn`t make up any old tripe just to make a story !
Last season was a weird one and there are a few on here who actually thought we have a decent squad, so were bemused by some shockers !……….but football is a funny old game where you can start the season very light in first choice players for the opener against Liverpool and lose ground straight away and then play a cup final with a very light in first choice defenders and play the champions off the park to become the greatest FA Cup team ever !
Good morning all..
Best way Lc. Most have an agenda against us. I do enjoy listening to a few of our ex players though, Charlie Nic is certainly one..
Same here Rico, love listening to the ex-players ala Charlie Nic, Romford Pele etc`, but Robson has definately got a chip on his shoulder big enough to feed a third world country !………………………….Tony Adams needs locking up though ! hahaha
Very good post by the way Adam. I’ve only just read it… 🙂
Very well said Adam… I believe our performance last season is the result culminating from the last 6 to 8 seasons… Not planning early enough and not being decisive in the transfer market has left us always short at the beginning of the season.Its appalling to see that our best player might be leaving this season and there’s no definite statement from anyone. Our first statement of intent this season will be to keep sanchez. We seem to always wait for things to go wrong before we react. We practically always give the good for nothing journos something to always talk about.
He’s meant to be a tactical gem though Lc, just a shame he so anti Arsenal, or Arsene Wenger.
Good thing to read Adam`s ( the sane one, not Tone ! ) take on the way we playing as it`s always been my opinion that you get a better feel or look at a game when you are at the ground watching live, you do not get the sense of space or view of the game watching on TV, being there you can see wher it`s all going wrong and what should be done….another reason as I`ve always advocated for the manager to be up in the stands to see the “whole picture” !…….Adam (and other fans) has a better view and take on the game higher up than Wenger does being down at pitch level !.
Brilliant post, Adam.
Robson-my most detested “pundit”:
It does seem that every season is a massive one for Arsene, but it’s true, as each season does become increasingly important.
Rico,
On the previous post-I agree, and I’d prefer Alexis sold cheaply to a non PL club, if he’s to be sold at all.
I do like Aguero, but bugger City, let’s just make an offer for the guy 🙂
Morning Rico and all.
Thanks guys. It was written out of a sense of all too familiar frustration. As usual. 🙂
Agree there too Lc re seeing what goes on at a game, certainly from a higher position too…
Morning Adam, I thought it was quite calm really… 🙂
The one ex player we barely hear from is the man I tip to be our next manager. Paddy, who is quietly going about learning his managerial trade says very little, perhaps because he knows where he wants to be in two years time…
Him and Henry… 🙂
Hi All:
Very good post….that about sum up one frustrating season for most Arsenal fans.
Interestingly, most of us know that this will be a HUGE season for AW and if things goes wrong from the start of the season it could be chaotic …. but to add to Bondex post, let’s just say that AW dithers around as usual and starts the season with no marquee signing (s), most fans will not even wait for the shoe to d bedlam will start from game one.
You and Bondex are right Obi, add to that Alexis being sold, the poop really will hit the fan…
The ideal story would be to keep Sanchez sign Lacazet sign a strong defensive mf plus letting all the dead wood go and most importantly changing tactics at the right time. We’ve become too one dimensional.Three at the back looks good now till other clubs find a way to play us.
Spot on Bondex. Add the Shalke guy we are linked to also, and even the Russian…. 🙂
I thought the TW was already open, but I`m hearing it doesn`t open `till 1st July !………………….maybe that`s when we will see our three new signings ! 🙂
As for the Aguero/Alexis wife swap………..Aguero`s missus is used to spending £200K per week !…………………Alexis is not married as far as I know !……..so his dogs are on a lot less Bonio`s than Mrs Aguero`s wonga !………………….no way will Mrs Aguero will swap big bucks for Bonio`s……………………..woof !
July 1st is just the day contracts run to and from Lc, clubs can agree before then as City and Utd have…
Leon Goretzka – wonder if the links to us have much truth to them….
Also rumour has it that Lyon want Giroud !………………….now Giroud is on £100K per week and Lacazette is on £70k per week !……………..Giroud is 30……Lacazette is 26……………………….Giroud is in front of Lacazette in the France team !………………so what way does the cash go in a part ex ?………………………………..should there be any ?……………………………..why dont we buy Lacazette and swap both him and Giroud and Welbeck and Walcott and Akpom and Sanogo and Bendtner and Jeffers and Blockley and £100M for Mmmmmmmmmmmmbappe ?
Ox probably sounds like Scott……..infact, he probably sounds more Aussie than Gnarley as Gnarley is from Tasmania, which is somewhere in Fiji ! hahaha
It’s a quiet old day again today…
Certainly is. Must be the soporific effect of the post. 🙂
🙂 Adam. Somehow I doubt it. I don’t think anyone is really interested in football right now and unless there’s transfer news in the heading, nothing…
I guess as the new season approaches, things might change..
Aguero is very injury…
Had we ,should we,did we or why didn’t we ?
Last season was a turning point for so many. We started badly played catch up and then when the annnual malaise overtook us we had to much to make up. The disenchantment followed on from the Leicester league win and as the pattern started to repeat tempers became frayed. Frankly it had been coming for some time as the club maintained their mushroom growing policy and rightly or not pressure was bought to bear on the manager.
However towards the end the worm turned slightly and the board especially the owner felt the wrath of sections of the crowd. Interestinly whilst there was a divide on Wenger the disliike of Stan was almost universal and that’s where we are today. The cup win gave the powers the reason to believe that all is well but if we start this time as we did last ,the atmosphere is bound to turn toxic.
He is Jm..
Great summary Adam of before, during and after the season we’ve just had.
Wenger at 67? Can he re invent himself, change his tactics, actually have an influence on a game when we seem to be losing and turn things round? Will he give all our child prodigies who have played through the summer an extra three months off to recover and repair themselves for the gruelling season they will have sitting on the bench? Will their be any top, top players at the club in two months time, or will we have to resign Sanogo as the new leader of the line?
It’s making me dizzy all the things that the master coach has on his plate for which he needs answers as well as new players! Still he has forty years of experience to draw upon so I guess he’ll be okay.
All will be revealed after or perhaps even during the Leicester game. If it goes tits up (sorry Rico) he will get a view of what Hell is really like from the fans, more so if he hasn’t adequately armed the squad with a few first rate ‘soccer’ players!
I’m none too optimistic myself. Still, a week is a long time in football. When the transfer window opens ALL will be revealed!
Nice day here, warmish sunny intervals and no hint of rain. A gardening day.
Spot on Potter.
Evening All.
Evening Rico, it was nice having a day off after working all over the weekend, just pottering about in the garden, in the sunshine was fabulous.
And now Mr Adam, your post and the almost sensitive way you approached Wenger’s season of horribilus. Whatever has got into you? ?
It was, as I have come to expect, a literary triumph, not least the description of that uber scumbag Stewart Robson. A failed footballer and failed manager who managed to get the majority of the West Ham dressing room to despise him during his sojourn at Upton Park.
Arsene Wenger is, imo, drinking in the Last Chance Saloon this coming season.
Merci beaucoup Monsieur Allezkev.
Evening Kev, and to think it was meant to rain today….
Giroud to West Ham now… Perhaps heand Walcott will depart together…
LC RE: your comment at 1:47pm I’d keep wellbeck he doesn’t score much but gives the opposition a lot to think about. I love his aggression.
Rico, maybe a £50 million double deal to West Ham for both Walcott and Giroud..?
After all they do work quite well together as a pair and the income could finance a bid for Anthony Martial…
“Gnarley is from Tasmania, which is somewhere in Fiji”
I wish Le Cornwall, minus 1 here this morning 🙁
Sounds like a plan Kev but I can’t see Mourinho selling Martial to us. And I wouldn’t sell Ox to Liverpool regardless of how much they offer, not after the Suarez fiasco…
Moaning about the weather eh Gg? lol
Morning all.
I’d tell Liverpool to fuck right off and never do business with them….
Sanchez out Lacazette in is really uninspiring, surely Ozil has to fuck off?!? Actually Welbeck, Walcott, Debuchy, Ospina,Gibbs and Wilshere can all be sold and the funds used to strengthen but that’s s pipe dream!
I like the look of Lemar but in all honesty it doesn’t matter who we get in with Wenger at the helm!
Leopards don’t change their spots, all this fingers crossed that Wenger will do what’s required…. is that what it’s come to???
Embarrassing stuff from a once big club!
Never when the sun shines rico ?
Have The Arse signed Mbappe yet???? Oops that might come across as me complaining about Sloth Wenger?
TW hasn’t seen opened yet, GG.
Typical bloody Tasmanian, slow as a wet week 🙂 🙂
Morning all.
Have we signed anyone yet?????
Scott
Angies boys played chile off the park, should have won!
TW?
-9.5C in the Central Highlands this morning. Wet weeks come in July followed by snow in August. But I’m not complaining rico, really I’m not.
I check Newsnow Arsenal now & then & its the same old same old. I like the sound of Lemar. I wish Alexis would sign on again, & Mahrez sounds promising, but nothing concrete.
GG,
Yep, and Ange is one hell of a manager.
He really gets players playing for him.
I’m heading to Canberra for a few days next week so that’ll be cold enough!!!
Evening all.
How cool is it to be in Australia !………even Roo`s have their own pet dogs !.
🙂
https://twitter.com/SincerelyTumblr/status/879323765695553537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Farsenalarsenal.net%2F2017%2F06%2F24%2Fseason-assessment-centre-backs%2F
It might be minus 1 in “Big” Lainceston, but at least you have McDonalds and KFC`s there !……………………..Little Launceston only has Pubs, Hairdressers and Estate Agents !………………………….Oh !……just been told we`ve got a Costa !………….thought I see him working in the Kebab shop ! hahaha
Germany one up
We want to sell Giroud? Why?
It`s as quiet as being in N17 after we won the FA Cup !…………………………………..
Morning all……………if no reply I shall hold a Seance !………………………………………….is there anyone there?…………………………………..nope !……………………………….I shall now use a Ouija Board, but using french letters instead and see if I can get in contact with Arsene`s wallet !…………………………
😆
I thought we had been hacked or caught a virus. Try looking for a happy medium if you can find one.
It’s deadly quiet.
As is our transfer action 🙂
GG9 of Launceston is here Le Cornwall/potter. Not so cold 2day, Its normally when the wind comes up from the South Pole, via Hobart when you wish you were elsewhere, like in sunny Cornwall or North London. Won’t be long now 🙂
All this talk of Laxette has given me the tom tits. The word is out that ol’Froggy is cashed up & it would appear that prices have increased for players. Personally, I’d rather keep Alexis & ozil, get Mahraz, Lemar & ofcourse M’bappe. Chambers might be interesting to see how he has progressed.
Anyway, Imagine Newsnow Arsenal during WW2!!! Talk about propaganda. Proper bullshit TBH 🙂
Morning guys.
New post up now.
Lol….it really does sound like that gnarled. .