NO MORE EXCUSES, IT'S TIME TO WIN
Well, there it is… the haters said there’s no way Southampton could be toppled away from home at the end of the season… but the haters were wrong. Arsenal ended the season second place, for the third season running.
A symbolic moment that shows our deep consistency, but about as satisfying as betting on three horses that finish second at Cheltenham.
I don’t really care too much for talking about the game,it was bland on toast. We did the job. It was fairly easy. There was no drama to talk about. The main hope from yesterday is that the players feel hurt by this season. Liverpool are not a better team than Arsenal, but they had a blessed season, and though luck played a factor… you have to give it to them. They picked a coach to maximise a world-class squad and that’s exactly what he did.
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No drama. No injuries. No PGMOL issues. Just a very lovely season for all involved.
If they were out on deck on a beautiful ocean liner soaking in the rays all season, Arsenal were in the engine room of the Titanic after an iceberg had been hit.
Anything that could go wrong, did go wrong.
We had no luck.
If there was a chance of a self-inflicted injury, we’d absolutely make sure it happened.
All our gambles failed.
We were poor with fitness.
Key players lost form.
Not one player made double digits for Premier League goals.
But, if you’re looking for a silver lining, then you have to say… for us to be that shit, and still finish second with a semi in the UCL… well, you can’t knock it. Even at our worst, we’re still top four in Europe and top two in the hardest league on the planet.
It’s cold comfort, but I’ll take a small blanket at the top of Everest today.
The mission is fucking clear out here… fix the problems where they started last season: the summer window.
Go into next season with too many players.
Sign two 9s.
Don’t double count players. Kai is either a 9 or an 8, but he’s not two players.
Sit down with Arteta and tell him: if you are given a very expensive squad, youmust rotate your players.
If we start the season with all the players we need to succeed, I’m gonna be bold here and say I think wecan succeed next year.
Credit in the bank is now in the red. We need to bang the table for something delicious next year. Because I’m sick and tired of dining out on cardboard and having to pretend it’s caviar to get over the dryness.
Next year has to be our raw power era. I want to see brutality in the squad building. There needs to be killers stomping low performers into the ground. I want Arsenal to be an ugly outfit next season—like the peak-Chelsea sides. Bullying weaklings, committing GBH on big teams, and cutting the heads off our prey early with no mercy.
It’s time, people. This season has been one of my least favourite. Just a lot of unrealised promise. I appreciate what Arteta has done for Arsenal—I don’t think there are many managers in the world at his level that would have done the same—but the time is now.
Let’s get it done.
Ok, short one today. See you in the comments. xxx
Blog## SOUTHAMPTON (A) | ON THE WHISTLE | THE GRAND FINALE
Pedro
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May 25
SOUTHAMPTON (A) | ON THE WHISTLE | THE GRAND FINALE
The last OTW of the season. It’s JC, Matt, and Pedro. It’ll be a fun one.
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