Arsene - give us a jig!

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Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
15 Apr	7:45 PM	CL	Villareal (H)	3	0	Win

As a manager, Arsène Wenger is known to be the immaculate perfectionist, the man with a vision to win. As a man in the dugout, a punch-fisting, half-smiling figure when his vision is realised on the pitch with a well-worked goal. But as we went 2-0 up against Villareal on Wednesday night, again with one of those well-worked goals, the man often known for his conveyance of so little emotion on the touchline (or negative emotions in the recent past), Wenger broke into the most uncharacteristic of jigs that would've put any dancefloor smoother to shame!

It was a dance of victory, a dance of conviction almost. The conviction that Le Boss has been craving for nigh on five years, that we can well and truly be one of England and Europes big boys.

Now I am sure you are all aware of my well-noted criticism levelled at the manager at times this season. Indeed, this fantastic victory against Villarreal the other night is the sort of success that we want and deserve, in fact crave, especially considering our heritage and status and above all in present terms, the amount of talent that we have in the side (despite the presence of some suspect passengers in the team). This talent that Wenger has preached about long and hard, and which has so often come to disappoint.

However, and as I said, despite the manner of the convincing victory against La Liga's runners-up, a fact forgotten on most rival fans this morning when they reminded me that its only Villarreal, Wenger and his team have still achieved nothing; they have yet to prove doubters like me (and there's many) wrong.

The measure of exactly how far they've come will firmly be put to the test on Saturday evening mind, when we come up against a team whose fans well and truly believe have taken over as THE team in London. And, the way things have gone in the past few seasons; one cannot help but begrudgingly agree. Whilst many argue that Chelsea FC's rise and our fall has been based on solely one thing, cash, and again, that is a well-reasoned argument, our most successful manager and talented players have failed to deliver all too frequently when they had been in a great position to do so, and that, cannot be anything to do with money!

Squandering Final leads, and going on a terrible run of six points out of a possible 24 during the most crucial period of a Premier League run-in does not smack of shortage of money, but instead of carelessness, tactical naïvety and the inability, or rather the stubbornness, to address obvious frailties in a side looking to be reborn.

The FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea, our first FA Cup semi-final since we last won the old trophy in 2005 (gosh that feels like an age ago doesn't it) is a near-perfect opportunity for Wenger to prove the doubters wrong, and how overjoyed would the doubters, including myself, be, if we can pull it off! On the same token, should we be defeated by our dearest of neighbours (I say dearest, as they are the one team in London that have truly threatened to usurp our supremacy in town - sorry Tottenham but a Carling Cup every decade doesn't quite count), it will expose our agonisingly unfulfilled potential. And the doubts will carry on rankling in the minds. The minds of the supporters, the minds of the players, the minds of the media, and, whether he chooses to admit it or not, the mind of the manager.

My fear going ahead of the Chelsea match is at the core of why Wenger has had to take so much flak this season, and will carry on taking it until he can break the failure hoodoo. Quality in depth has left a lot to desire, where the thought of Denilson or Song lining up against Essien, Lampard and Ballack a case in point. With the fearful shudder that goes through my spine every time I visualise such a match-up, comes a realisation that we cannot possibly outmuscle and tactically outsmart such a powerful outfit in Chelsea on such a big occasion on a big stage.

Granted, our impressive unbeaten run had all begun on 30th November 2008, when, at Stamford Bridge, the indomitable fortress in which Chelsea lost three times in 130-odd matches, we came back from 1-0 down to claim an historic 2-1 victory. But it will only be historic if we follow up that potential turning point by delivering in the crucial knockout matches coming up against our fiercest of rivals, great opportunities to do so thanks to our aforementioned return to form.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell you that Saturday will be heart-pounding, nail-biting, energy-sapping affair, so much so in fact that I do not even know if I'll be able to watch it (soppy I know, but the fact that I have two major exams coming up at the end of the week do play a parthonest!)

I can only hope that, whatever the outcome, we play in a way that represents the true values and strengths of Arsenal Football Club, the true visionary ambition that Arsène Wenger has highlighted all along, and that he's been knocked for, and rightly, when things have not gone to plan. It is now time to prove that we can go on to the next level, the level that Wenger, the players and we, believe are the heights we should be at.

Who knows, forty-thousand plus Gooners packed at Wembley might just be chanting our triumphant Give us a wave mantra to their footballing God as he looks on come half-past 7 on Saturday evening. Or make that, Arsène give us a jig!

User Comments

jaf

Posted on 20 Apr, 2009 at 03:01 AM - Reply

honestley im not even sure you support arsenal it looks like you have some sort of score to settle with wenger,dude hes the one whos made arsenal so big today that thugs like you actually expect to win,hes a genius at his job,you on the other hand need to think it through,do you support arsenal or do you just root for the trophies?

Indian Gooner

Posted on 19 Apr, 2009 at 01:14 PM - Reply

Well Asser was clearly right for all you bashers out there. Lost out, with a terrible goalkeeper and a weak midfield. Some things never change, we have no chance with Wenger's stubborn belief in substandard players

Disillusioned Gooner

Posted on 19 Apr, 2009 at 01:30 AM - Reply

Well Saturday came & they failed the test,hope you don't at the end of the week.

mr T

Posted on 18 Apr, 2009 at 01:36 PM - Reply

This is the first time I comment on your website. I really like your articles but I think your recent criticism made towards AW made you look like a new fan who only wants the club win and knows nothing about Arsenal. And now you are trying to say, arsenal must win tonight to prove me wrong? I wanna ask you a question. Do you support arsenal because you want arsenal to prove you wrong? I support arsenal coz I love arsenal regardless of the outcome of the game tonight. My friend you ll look really bad if the club wins tonight and that is not good for a blog like yours because you will lose your analysis credibility

bedy

Posted on 18 Apr, 2009 at 02:51 AM - Reply

It is always painful when you are expecting to meet wisdom and unfortunately you meet foolishness,just like this your writing.Funny enough it is not surprising coming from you.
Wake up from your slumber win or loose this team is going with the plan of the manager.

Matt

Posted on 18 Apr, 2009 at 02:08 AM - Reply

Although this is a well written article, i think it only shows how easily your support for the team is influenced by every single month of football we go through as Arsenal fans. Why don't you stay positive, get behind the team, and most importantly get behind Le Prof. God knows he's earned our respect and admiration, now give it to him before he walks out an Arsenal legend and you realise you spent his tenure whining.

Sege Bee

Posted on 17 Apr, 2009 at 09:42 PM - Reply

Truth is that all we have showed is potential...translating this to victory is not only key but VERY NECESSARY. We need to win a TROPHY...thats it...We need to be climb podiums on big stages.Only this will give confidence to the boys.
let us go out there tomorrow and win Chelsea

billp79

Posted on 17 Apr, 2009 at 09:41 PM - Reply

it was a flattering result...the submariners never showed up....we need to be careful....no first goals allowed.

marang

Posted on 17 Apr, 2009 at 08:22 PM - Reply

we are arsenal..we dont scare any big names.because they are on that level..be cool fans!!

hoboface

Posted on 17 Apr, 2009 at 07:23 PM - Reply

We could easily win, and just as easily lose it. But at this stage there's no time for a doubting Thomas - lets be positive for tomorrow, if our defence holds up we can do it. COYR!

Olo

Posted on 17 Apr, 2009 at 04:46 PM - Reply

Don't listen to them knockers Asser G, great publication, describes your true feelings and passion for your team that you have been disappointed in after so many years of promise. I know how you feel, and so do all true Gunners

Tobi

Posted on 17 Apr, 2009 at 04:17 PM - Reply

Niranjan,
Asser is right. Wenger did deserve criticism and unfortunately in the results business it's all about winning, so he'll only be proven right if we win something, which is what I believe he has been promising us ever since he sold Henry and Vieira and Cole and Pires etc

Mr Bear

Posted on 17 Apr, 2009 at 04:12 PM - Reply

Ok on paper Song, Denilson and Diaby vs the Chelsea names looks a no brainer but have you lot all forgot what Diaby did to them in the piss pot cup final a few years ago??? And before some clever clog says but we lost that was not down to any one of Chelsea even though Drogba might argue with that but infact our old pal Senderos who thankfully won't be there this weekend!

Darius Stone

Posted on 17 Apr, 2009 at 03:52 PM - Reply

Asser.

I'm a keen follower of this site and articles written by you and others...but I think you're just too negative.

Remove the pole up your back site and lighten up. Fans should get behind this team instead of always looking for negatives.

Saturday is a great occasion for the team and a chance for them to show what they're made off.

Stair

Posted on 17 Apr, 2009 at 03:18 PM - Reply

You just sound like a repeat of Hansen or Lawro, you havent actually said anything of meaning in this article and surely the point of our good run is that if we lose to Chelsea on Saturdy at least we are still in the hunt for what is now the bigger trophy, the Champs league. Sure Drogba and lampard are going to need to be held off by an excellent performance from Song and Toure, but does anyone think he cant handle it after the last month he has had?! More over Chelsea's defence has become a joke wheras we have conceded 6 in the last 10 with a threadbare defence so we are learning from our mistakes. Instead of constantly intimating what a doubter you are howabout looking at where we were last season and the progress we have made this year. We havent won anything I agree but we look better by the season and this year will prove that. Sort your life out and get supporting!

Fusion Gooner

Posted on 17 Apr, 2009 at 01:41 PM - Reply

Very good analysis of how we have improved yet might still find it difficult to prove that we are back amongst the top teams unless we can beat them. And Saturday's semi against Chelsea is one such occasion where the extent of our improvement (or not) will be truly put to the test. I see your point about the squad depth and how it is a no goer comparing Denilson oe Diaby or Song to the Chelsea lads in midfield, but then again, this is how they will gain the experience surely, and all of them have improved a lot since the turn of the year, particularly Song. So should be a good game, 2-1 to the Gunners!

Gooner

Posted on 17 Apr, 2009 at 09:06 AM - Reply

We don't deserve success you muppet
What about the thousands of football fans who can only dream of being in the semi's of the CL and the FA cup.

You really know little about football

Go support Chelsea

Niranjan

Posted on 17 Apr, 2009 at 08:42 AM - Reply

Levelled criticism? ha ha ha.

You have criticised Wenger badly than the stupid espnstar football pundit and now slowly trying to jump from one end to another.

I think your jump will be complete, after FA cup semi-final win :)

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