Morning all.
I love the above picture, it’s a poke in the eye for all the critics out there who at some stage have passed comment about how we won the league. Meanwhile, I suspect many Arsenal fans couldn’t give a toss how we won it because we won it. Don’t get me wrong, going forwards I hope we see a more exciting style of football but as has become quite obvious at this World Cup, even the best sides struggle to breakdown a lower than low block. I’m not talking about teams who are defensively organised, I mean teams who literally camp out in and around their own box.
I don’t recall anyone moaning back in 2016 about how Leicester City won the league which if my memory serves me right, was by hitting opponents on the break. Getting the ball to Jamie Vardy and hoping he’d score. Good for them I thought at the time because they did exactly what they thought would give them a chance and it worked. Not against us of course as we beat them both home away but I’m pretty sure we were the only club who managed to so.
Isn’t that what Arsenal have just done, find a way to win the league and make it work? The “it’s been 22 years since….” line is over, finito, gone! Oh how the media must hate that.
I wonder how England will fair against what’s expected to be a defensive DR Congo this evening and how long it will be before the pundits are begging for a Declan Rice or Bukayo Saka corner to land on Kanes head if England can’t get a goal? We’ll see…
Would I like to see Arsenal play in a way France played last night? Of course I would but most Premier League teams don’t play the way Sweden did. I’m not trying to make excuses but sport is about winning. Playing entertaining football and coming second doesn’t bring silverware, or money for that matter. After all, had Arsene Wenger been able to get his teams to play more pragmatic football during his second ten year tenure, he might have left the club with at least two more Premier League trophies to his name.
We cannot rewrite history though but I’m convinced that last seasons football was only about winning the league. Now, I think the Arteta handbrake will come off because the pressure is off. Off of him and off of his players and I think the latter is the most important. Pressure, nerves, stress – all can lead to tentative football being played. Perhaps that’s why safe football seems to come before progressive football. Playing yet another pass instead of shooting when the goal is gaping.
Maybe I’m being overly optimistic but it’s what I believe and only time will prove me right or wrong.
To end, Sky Sports report that Kepa is open to a new challenge at a different club where he’d be the first choice keeper. Ex Leeds 6’ 7” Illan Meslier could be his replacement should Kepa move. Meslier is a free agent.
The Bruno Guimaraes rumours rumble on.
Catch up in the comments.
