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Arsenal End of Term Report: Mind The Gap Spurs
Despite the disastrous start we improved on last season's position and rubbed our neighbours noses in the dirt. Not a bad campaign considering.
The ‘I f*cking love this game’ highlight of the season?
Four moments spring to mind. Going to Chelsea and scoring five, with John Terry face down in the grass. Putting another five past Spurs to end their ‘title challenge’(eh!) and kick start their annual wobble. Milan at home was almost magical.
The one moment which was beyond fairytale was Thierry Henry scoring the winning goal against Leeds upon his return. It was more than football. The returning King writing and performing his own script. Looking back now it seems more like a dream. There aren’t many goals which still get me standing on my seat. I climbed to the advantage point to see the legend wheeling away in uncontrolled delight, as his public exploded with joy. How often do goose bumps shiver through your body as something happens, rather than when you look back on them?
The season ticket shredding moment?
Blackburn away just eclipses conceding eight at United. It was the time I questioned Arsene more than I ever have before, as the remote control flew across the room and dented the wall. A now permanent reminder of our lows. Such collapses have been too frequent against poor sides, none poorer than Steve Kean’s Blackburn. It felt stupidly pointless celebrating an Arsenal goal as one at the other end would follow more times than not.
Moment that just about summed it all up?
Drawing 3-3 at home to Norwich when a win seemed vital to guarantee Champions League football. Again, celebrating an Arsenal goal was followed by commiserating one gifted to an opponent. One nil up, two one down, three two up with minutes left. Only Arsenal could concede again.
Got the right manager?
Yes. Still. A horrific summer in terms of transfers in and out of the club carried through to the start of the season and out onto the pitch. Disconcerting voices grew amongst the Arsenal faithful during our worse start to a season in 56 years. Yet the high points outweighed the lows sufficiently enough to see us secure third place and Champions League football again, and despite loosing Cesc and Nasri we actually improved our final league position in comparison to last season.
Player of the season?
Robin Van Persie. It’s all been said. Koscielny comes in at second and secures the most improved player of the season.
What would you change next term if you were the gaffer?
Strengthen in the summer and shift those who are not good enough for Arsenal Football Club, even if that means taking a loss financially.
Podolski should help share the goal scoring load with Van Perise, as long as the German was brought in to compliment, rather than replace. This should also allow us to switch to 4-4-2 in order to adjust to a games needs, rather than stagnate at 4-3-3 going nowhere.
We also need to add defensive discipline through coaching, as individually we are strong at the back, but often the collective is weak.
A defensive midfielder is needed to offer Alex Song completion, and perhaps allow him to drift forward on occasions without affecting the balance of the side.
Which player would you like to sign?
Robin Van Persie.
Best goal?
Robin Van Persie against Everton.
Biggest tosser?
Joe Jordan and Harry Redknapp are runners up, not least for their behaviour in the away dug out at the Emirates, as they attempted to get people thrown out and/or start a fight, just because a select few were barking impersonations of the much missed Rosie 47. She was more than a dog.
The winner of tosser of the year has to be John Terry. His alleged charge now followed by the most repulsive show of me, me, me since he rearranged the order of penalties in the Moscow final in the hope of scoring the winning pen himself. I actually called his public display of self affection a week before it happened. What kind of self obsessed idiot dresses in full kit under his tracksuit in order to strip off once his team mates had secured the holy grail of Champions League football? His team mates did the job in Munich, as they had in the Camp Nou when their captain lead by example and got himself sent off.
In years to come when ghastly pictures of Chelsea lifting the Champions League trophy show Terry in his kit, he’d hope you were fooled enough to think he played. Forget not that he did f**k all when it really mattered.
For balance, well done Frank Lampard.
Best chant?
Various visiting fans of lower teams at the Emirates singing “how s**t must you be, we’re winning away”. By Wigan, amongst others.
Player’s tweet of the season?
Santos “thank you gays”.
Best laugh you had all season?
The turnaround against Spurs. Watching them collapse and seeing the fans who managed to stay to the end departing whilst displaying seven fingers to reflect the gap that still existed. Ignorant and blissfully unaware that ’5′ shown on one hand and ’2′ on the other they were also confirming how much they’d just been pummelled by. Mind the gap.
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COMMENTS
Well at least seeing the turnaround eased your pain of getting beat by us. Its a measure of just how far you have fallen when you worry about what we are doing
Spurs supporter here, and I must say I am glad that Arsenal have lowered their standards where they are happy to end up 1 pt ahead of Spurs - and 20 or so points behind the champions. A sad decline from the invincibles, and your 3rd place owes more to Spurs mucking up, rather than any brilliance on your side. We might have a tough summer, but on the other hand we realise we have some work to do.
As I have said a number of times, gloating about ending above Tottenham just highlights the decline of Arsenal. Other teams have left Arsenal standing so let's gloat about the team we claimed were not a threat. Denial is very very dangerous and the fact that Arsenal are on a par with Tottenham (or miles ahead because we are still a massive club based on no evidence at all according to some) shows their true position in the pecking order. RVP is leaving and he has agreed that it will be announced at a time when the damage is deemed to be at it least (after a signing is made and the season ticket renewals are over) so there are tough times ahead.
Mind the Gap that's getting smaller! 2008-9 season was 21 points diff. Last 3 seasons have been 6points , 5 points and now 1 point. Now Arsenal fans will be the last to say that Spurs are better so must be a declining Arsenal then. Let's see how next year goes without Modric and his 3 goals at Spurs and RVP minus his 30 at the gunners.
...Joe you really dont help peoples opinion of Arsenal fans with that blog...you plum...
I'm a united supporter and I can say Spurs have been much better than Arsenal. Arsenal have been very lucky because they should be playing europa cup football next season. I'd agree with spurs supporters and the Arsenal supporters pre-January. They are a one man team and when he's injured/sold everything will collapse again.
Finishing above Spurs is always worth shouting from the rooftops...it's caled rivalry. And to you spud fans, yep, we had a markedly poor season, but consider this before you get on your high horses - Worst Arsenal team in decades STILL finishes above the best Spurs team in 50 years! If that's decline, I'll always take it. We can learn a lot from this season, yet you spuds can only scratch your heads having peaked. Enjoy the Europa league and the £5m it brings lol!
Mind the gap? Is one solitary point what you call a gap?? Lol. Or is that supposed to be mind the gap arsenal in that there's one 1 point in it now?
Mind the gap? 1 point?? yes, quaking in our boots!
HOW MANY MORE TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY THIS.VENGER KEEPS SAYING EACH SEASON THAT THEY ARE ON COURSE TO WIN THE QUADRUPLE..CRAP HE WHO LAUGHS LAST LAUGHS THE LONGEST.COYS.YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
"Mind the gap" is a reference to the typically premature Spuds banter in January. Blimey, if you lot had a brain cell it'd be very lonely.
Paul has made my point entirely and emphasises the decline of Arsenal and the idiocy of some supporters. What can Arsenal learn from this season? They are a one man team and he is leaving; they are light years behind the Manchester clubs and a lot of teams in Europe; there is no money for re-inforcements; the debt is still a problem; Wenger does not have a plan B. So having learnt that (which everyone has known for 5 years) what precisely is going to happen Paul. We continue this 7 year trophyless decline. Next time I hear Wenger say we have a side filled with excellent youngsters I will throttle him. A lot of them aren't young and most of them are not very good. He is desperately hoping that the Ox will be a saviour, but doesn't trust him to start. He has also replaced one yes man in Rice with another in Bould. Who will challenge his authority; who will show him how to win ugly occasionally. So yes, Paul let's all laugh at the 1 point gap over Tottenham and remain in denial. If Tottenham end above Arsenal next year you can start taking the micky out of West Ham. So Paul you are taking the decline because Arsenal end above of Tottenham. Sad and pathetic
1 point. What did you win?
This article is so embarrassing on so many levels. We beat them and let's not forget they beat us at WHL. We use to take the mickey out of Spurs fans for celebrating a victory over us like a cup final and we're doing that now, even though they beat us in October. Yes we finished one point ahead - wow, from a team that we used to finish 30 points above, that's a big fall. They were in the title race in January, we were never it. They are still heading in the right direction holding onto Modric and Bale - are we? Their inevitable capitulation has made our season look better than it was, but at the same time they have a chairman who will keep their best players (they are on long term contracts) while we will probably lose RVP (why didn't we get to him to extend his deal two years ago?) - and then where we will be? I am really worried about next season. Wenger will not strengthen in midfield where we need it most. Plus, next season Harry will not have any off the field distractions (England job) to help knock them, as it clearly did this season. If they sign the players they seem to be after and RVP does leave, articles like the one above are going to rightfully rammed down our throats next season. Yeah we have CL qualification - but what does that give us when we get knocked out in February every year? Chelsea and Spurs now have three European trophies, what have we got? Stop the gloating, we have nothing to gloat about.
First of all, I want to say how great it was to see City finish above Utd and watch as that gap grow. Secondly, considering Arsenal have had Wilshere out all season, lost Fab and Naz, Gibbs out too, it was a bit of a transition so we were quite fortunate to finish above Spurs. That said, Spurs have been signing good players and Harry has been quite shrewd. Fair do's on them and look forward to a strong north London rivalry. I actually felt it harsh (not unfair) on them to be playing Europa footie next season. I say 'harsh' not 'unfair' as they were aware of the 4th going to CL Champions finishing outside top 4. So come on Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea, Liverpool & City... we all hate Man Utd!!! ;o)
If you think it is a cause for celebration that you finish above Spurs by virtue of a Spurs-reject goalkeeper THROWING the ball into his net three times, then you REALLY have let standards slip. But for that pathetic display you would be gracing the Europa Cup in September ........
Goodness me...how many spuds are on here? It is bad enough having negative comments from a manure fan (Too bad for you, City are here to stay whether you like it or not and I was in a pub with complacent manure fans who ran for their life when Aguero scored!) Since Arsenal began the Emirates stadium project we have suffered financially, which is true. No one foresaw that billionaires would arrive and change the game but this is life. As a club we live within our means and have done well considering. Look at Liverpool, spuds, Everton etc who talk about a stadium move but the facts are, where is it? Talking is one thing, we will see what happens when you begin.... Only then will you realise how hard it has been to juggle your finances, every year have your best players taken from you because we simply cannot pay them! Arsene built the Invincibles and can do wonders again with money but the truth is, there is nothing we can do to compete with City and Chelsea to a lesser extent. The same goes for manure, liverpool, spuds etc. I am proud of my team, immensely so. To come third after a terrible start and long term injuries is quite creditable. We do not need Usmanov either, we are not a sell-out team. I look forward to seeing what happens when the spuds start building their stadium and see what happens on the pitch then?
If Spurs could realise that a season doesn't end in Feb we'd be playing in the Europey Cup. If my aunt had bollocks, she'd be my uncle. You ARE playing in the Europey cup. Get used to it.
But for the worst goal keeping display of the season by Martin(must be on a bung)Fullop. Spurs would have been third and should have been.
Enfield Gooner Spurs are one of the best run clubs and live well within their means. There have been many many times we have missed out on a player because with refuse to break our wage cap. Yet we still manage to sign top players and manage with the limited crowd we can fit into WHL. Steve we are well used to it however it is you who can not seem to get the fact you are in major decline as every year passes
To all the Spurs fans, yes. Please do mind the 1 point gap. We celebrate finishing above you this year because it just emphasises how hilarious you lot are. Even when we sell two of our best players, spend the season without arguably our best midfielder and give you a 10 point head start, we still finish above you. Just comical
Enfield gooner. The article appears on newsnow and it is slagging Spurs off. I think you would expect them to wouldn't you. At last a few gooners with IQs in double figures (i.e.not Steve) are making sensible comments. In any business someone who wasn't a rival but is now virtually on an even par and 3 other businesses that cannot be competed with is a crisis. For some on here it's 'at least we are still above Tottenham'. And as I have said this ONLY demonstrates how far Arsenal have fallen. I want to see some action, but so far the only thing that is happening is the sale of RVP and it looks like we will not know our budget until his fee has been agreed (and we know what happened last summer).
Brains of Tottenham, the 'mind the gap' reference originates from the Spurs fans who turned up to the Emirates wearing t-shirts bearing that slogan in gloriously Spurs premature fashion. In our worse start to a season for 56 years we still finished above you after your best start to 50 years. You'll note that I didnt say it was cause for celebration, simply that it was my funniest moment of the season. It was. The annual Spurs wobble is always a laugh. 'A Gooner' - should we have offered RVP a new contract 2 years ago when he was permanently injured? That would have made sense. For further, more detailed, Spurs bashing, have a look at my other piece on that 'mind the gap bollocks'. http://www.sabotagetimes.com/football-sport/arsenal-face-it-spurs-you-were-never-kings-of-north-london/
Joe Mardon - stop it now. You are embarrassing all intelligent gooners, which judging by the comments on here is not many.
Joe Mardon Yes it was your worst start to a season and our best start and then the seasons flipped so in my view we both suffered half a bad season. You say our "annual wobble" is funny yet you seem to forget you are now having those "annual wobble". Fact is Fact you won the same as us and managed just 1 more than us despite our annual wobble
Joe Mardon you're writing more deluded bollocks. You're shitting yourself because Spurs are are on the up, and you Gooners are on the decline. Soon to be a mid table team when your only world class player leaves, abandoning ship just like Fabregas did. Your time is over, make peace with it.
Awful lot of 'next year' bollocks coming from Spurs. Always at your best pre season, where talk replaces actual games. Enjoy your Thursday nights. X
Funny Joe how you never response to points put to you ! I have not mention next year once and you skip over what i say. So again FACT is FACT you won the same as us and only earned 1 point more than us therefore you at this moment in time are on equal footing as us no better or no worst. We always enjoy any night win or lose unlike so other supporters i know
'Worst Arsenal team in decades' er, you're deluded - thats just you attempting to imply that everyone has benefitted from your decline, rather than credit teams for their undeniable upward trajectory. Spurs at our best v Arse at their best? Very little in it and you know it. Your 5-2 win was you capitalising on the massive distraction - which arse fans contributed to - of everybody clamouring for Harry Redknap to take the England job. Watch the corresponding game from the season before when you still had Nasri and were supposedly stronger, you were lucky to draw with us - no, lucky to have us grace your pitch. All your relative failure illustrates is how much better the PL is all round. Which means fewer scaredy cats teams content to play long-ball or hang on to a respectable 1-0 loss. The so called 'invincibles' wouldn't find the CL so accommodating today.
.... Enfield Gooner? says it all really - you have to pass our ground to get to the emirates. Does their exist one Arsenal fan with a genuine link to their club? Virtually every gooner I know has absolutely no connection with London, let alone N1. Tossers.
All you deluded spurs fans who are saying Arsenal are in decline are talking absolute rubbish. Last year, we finished 4th with 68 points, this year, we finished 3rd with 70 points. How is that a decline in any way? It's unbelievable how spurs fans think we are equal now, but they haven't even finished above us for years! Hope you enjoy the europa league you yid cunts! THURSDAY NIGHTS CHANNEL 5
No RVP. Arsenal title RIP.
you can say what ever you want... Arsenal are in decline, only one point in it, all this rubbish... Guess what... yet again, we have finished above you. How you deluded spud fans can claim to be the best team in north london, and say how the power has swayed, only to be thrashed 5-2 after going up 2-0 and lose the so called 'gap' is absolutely hilarious... and hats off to you for this article, i could not agree any more. FOYS
Gloating dose not necessarily highliht the deline of Arsenal more like the uprise of Spurs
OK. Calm down everyone. Naturally as a Spurs fan I'm feeling bitter and deflated. But let's all take one step back: This was the best PL season yet. Just wish I was a neutral. Let the banter continue - it's part of the reason we all love football. Shalom (Arsenal have a big Jewish following too) Andy, lapsed Catholic x
Come on Gooners, why on earth some of you have proven to be so precious about a few mind the gap t shirts I'll never know. To the point that some celebrated Chelsea winning the CL just to crow about it with Spurs fans who are already fully accustomed to it with the "forever in our shadow" t shirts and St Totteringhams day shenanigans. 1 point, no trophies in 7 years, now utterly lagging behind Chelsea as the most successful club in London over the last decade. Spurs will enjoy Thursday nights im sure playing in a competition they may win. Arsenal can enjoy another run in a competition where they are yet again just there to make up the numbers.
@NORTHSPUR - blame harry as he took his team down dreaming England day n night...
Really good to see some two way banter here (shame that the odd twat who probably sits in an arm chair spoils it)Our worse season. Lets reflect. Apart from not making the league cup final (beaten by relegated Birmingham) we have had the same season as the last eight. Winning at home to AC Milan (losing 4-3) a victory. If RVP goes we are in trouble make no mistake, any new signings will have to settle, its going to be tough.If next season the yids are in our shadow great but who's shadow are we in?
some of the comments on here are complete jokes, Spurs fans yes the gap is 1 point but at one point you had a 13 point gap and all we heard was MIND THE GAP so i'm afraid what goes around comes around, as for saying we only come 3rd because of Fullop is a bit stupid we only come 3rd because you lost so many points, can you also add how many injuries we had this season in respect of how many you had - wilshere, sanga, gibbs, jenkinson, santos, mertsacker, no full backs for 2 months lost nasri lost Fabregas (so lost 3 starters from our midfield) had our worst start for 56 years but yet still managed to get 3rd, yes we want higher and yes we want to challenge but from where we were and where we finished we will take it this season. remember Tottenham you are the 4 highest spending team in the premiership since 2003 (http://www.transferleague.co.uk/league-tables/2003-2011.html)and we are 19th plus and fair play to you for this you kept your best players last season maybe something our board could learn but at the end of the day is does not matter if you come 1 point above or you win it on goal difference just ask the city fans
Joe,what a running scared,pathetic fuck wit you are,Even your fellow gooners with a few brain cells are embarrassed by you.
Terry10 Sorry i forgot no other team had lots of injuries and key players out i forgot we lost dawson,huddlestone and lennon for large parts of the season. The whole point is there is no longer a gap as this season proves we are on level ground with each other, and we could argue all day if its because you are in decline or because we are on the up but the fact remains as of this season you are no better than us
@Ryan Jones you are right i would not consider myself equal with someone like you and thank fook for that. If you feel the need to insult others to make yourself look big and clever please carry on. Fact is FACT you won the same as us this year ....... come to think of it you have won the same as us for many years now and the record book will show that and you must be happy to tell your kids we won nothing for the last 7 years but we did finish above spurs
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