I know this will be music to some people’s ears but the truth is that this is not the best of time for Arsenal. The season is not over yet but it might be the worst in the history of modern Arsenal. Watching my beloved team play on Wednesday against Everton, I was pained and disappointed. I kept wondering what has gone wrong. It was just not the Arsenal style. The Arsenal I love and support is always fun to watch even when they are down. Their clinical passes, the finesse, the elegance and stylishness of their play are one of the best in the world. They have come to be known to play the most entertaining football in the premiership if not in the world. That’s why Arsenal haters never miss an Arsenal match. There were rumors then that Jose Mourinho’s problem with Abrahamovich was the billionaires desire to have his Chelsea play like Arsenal. It’s unconfirmed please oh! But on Wednesday, I wouldn’t have wished Arsenal’s performance on any team - not even the floundering Chelsea.
It was just not Arsenal’s day. Hold on! It’s not just a Wednesday matter. It’s been a huge problem this season. I will sum up their performance so far this season as INCONSISTENT. How can a team lose to Stoke City, beat Manchester United, lose to Hull City, beat Chelsea and draw with Liverpool, all in one season. If this is not inconsistency, I wonder what it is. Square up to the big teams and fall to minute teams! Wow! But my biggest disappointment so far is our trialing behind Aston Villa on the league table. After the Everton’s match, as we made our way home, a corper colleague of mine in Abeokuta argued that Arsenal will not participate in next seasons Champions League. He even wanted me to bet my Feb allowance on it but I just didn’t want to take his money. But seriously I couldn’t argue with him at that moment because there was no way I could afford to after that performance. The night was a disaster and I wanted to be left alone.
I have never been impressed by Adebayor and all the hype about him. I consider him a fluke. He is overrated. I still think he should have been sold to Barcelona at the turn of the season. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, try and watch him against Everton. His play is locally referred to as ‘anywhere belle face’. He returned every pass back to sender as if he was sacred to face the Everton post. He was a huge disappointment or do I say he was true to type. I have no word for Bendtner! Van Persie has got fire in his legs. His last minute equalizer was spectacular. He and Fabregas are still my best. Fabs absence is greatly missed.
It is my decision never to criticize Manager Arsene Wenger. I trust his judgement and he is good at what he does. Forget what the haters think and I know quite a few of them. But I seriously think the team needs to be beefed up. If this talk with Arshavin’s Zenit is not progressing, he should move on to other players. I trust him to spot the young Arsenal type of player. But more than that he should also bring in some experienced players too. It is at times like this that people that can’t even unbuckle his sandals will begin to question his style, insult and call him names. People like Blast, Cj, Kish and that Ebuka boy of BBN who I doubt watches any of Arsenal matches or watches football at all except to write trash on Thisday on Sunday and ask dumb questions afterwards. Make him no worry I go catch one day.
It is also at times like this that ‘they’ – una know una self – will begin to urge me to decamp – like say I be Nigerian politician – either for free or at a cost to ‘their’ club. When I consider their offers, my decision has always been to remain with the devil I know. Aside that some of my family will laugh their hearts out if I take their offer – Cj, Bro Emeka and Bro Steve, my friends will have my head for dinner if not shindig – Kish, Blast, Louis, Chinedu*2, etc. But trust me they don’t count on this. I will leave if I have found any reason at all but there is none. I have recently been reading Robert Schuller’s tough times never last, but tough people do – and this is the third time I’m reading it – and he calls what I have got staying power. It’s this staying power that has kept me with Arsenal despite the challenges of the past two years.
Above this staying power is the lack of alternative. If I leave arsenal, who would I then support? There is no alternative, absolutely none! There are just two teams in the premiership - Arsenal and others. They are all the same as far as I’m concerned –from Man U to West Brom. I have respect for Man U oh! But I really don’t understand their relationship with the F.A. If they are not appealing a red card or getting some very partial officiating, they are getting some questionable penalty or having their opponents given a bizarre red card. It’s just difficult to come to terms with but I will leave it to Liverpool’s Benitez to take care of. Chelsea’s own is just to win even if the whole 90minutes is just drab and dry. No moment of excitement. It got so bad that some fans in England had to protest that they want also to be entertained – not these loud mouths here in Nigeria. As long as Drogba flukes in a goal, they are happy. I watch them when I want to sleep. They induce sleep for me – very boring. And it’s been worst this season. As for Liverpool, they are better ignored – no vex Danikeys no disrespect intended – so that they will never walk alone. Arsenal will always lead them by the hand.
But seriously, I still think that the league will go to the wire, its still very open and any one of the big four can still win it. When the chips are down, Aston Villa will find their level and go where they belong. Tottenham has put up this kind of challenge before. Arsenal laughed last at the end.
An English man said three generations of his family have supported Arsenal and for him supporting Arsenal is like true Christian marriage with its good and bad times, without room for divorce. That’s how it is for me. I know some people would have left if they go through half of what arsenal fans have endured. You will find them plenty in Chelsea. Watch out, they will soon be heading to Manchester City. “Anywhere money face” supporters. I choose to remain with arsenal through thick and thin while acknowledging that some changes need to be made in the team. We shall overcome
Arsenal for life
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