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Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
05 May	7:45 PM	CL	Manchester United (H)	1	3	Lost

I don't know where to start today. On the one hand gloating about Chelsea's last minute exit at the hands of Barcelona last night, and their rather ridiculous reaction to it, seems kind of small minded given that it came 24 hours after we were humiliated on our home turf by Manchester United. But, you know ... John Terry, Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba, especially Didier Drogba, if you can't laugh at them after last night, when can you?

This is true: Last night, at 9.19 PM, I sent Randall the Spurs fan a text saying "What is Drogba like?". Obviously that was before Iniesta's cracking strike and the scenes that followed as Chelsea tried to recreate Arsenal at Old Trafford, 2003. Chelsea might have got the shit end of the stick with a few decisions last night, but look at Drogba's reaction to being tackled by Touré the Younger. Look at the sending off of Abidal and look back to last week when Barca were complaining about a referee and Chelsea, in a rather high and mighty fashion, responded that they didn't worry about referees. Oh, really boys?

Long story short, I reckon the best two teams are in the final and that is probably as it should be.

Leaving that aside, the blog today, I suppose, is a tale of two strikers. Neither of them particularly covering themselves in glory. I heard this morning on the BBC - or was it last night on Sky Sports News? - that Nicklas Bendtner had apologised after being photographed coming out of a nightclub. I thought to myself, "Why does he need to apologise?"

And then I saw the photos. Oh. My. Word. Nick, Nick, Nick, what were you thinking? As it goes, I don't have a problem with him doing what he did, he isn't the first youngster to go out and have a few after a game, and he certainly won't be the last. But I can see that others might. I don't think there's any real need to go on about this one, as I'm sure le gaffeur will have had a word or two. And that should be enough to put an end to the matter. Put it this way, nobody will be complaining if he launches himself off the bench and grabs a goal on Sunday.

Ok, that's a bit laissez faire maybe, but at the end of the day, I'm not the moral compass for our football club and at the end of the day, Bendtner is one of the most improved footballers at the club- the current joke going round the Online Gooner, runs along the lines of, "Did he tell Ade when he came on on Tuesday, 'I'm only on because you're shit?'" Unthinkable a year ago.

Speaking of Adebayor. Rather worryingly, and no doubt he'll be contradicting himself in a few days anyway, he has pledged his future to the club. I can't think of a player whose stock has peaked and troughed in such speedy fashion. Eighteen months ago, we wondered how Thierry would be replaced, a year ago it looked like we had a pretty good answer but Ade has turned out to be fools gold. And whilst I can't think of a player's stock rising and falling so quickly, neither can I think of a footballler who has united so many Arsenal fans: Not one wants to see him in an Arsenal shirt come August. In fact, it's about the only thing we can all agree on at the moment.

One of the enduring images of the second leg of the semi-final was the look on Kieran Gibbs face as Park put Manchester United in control of the match. Well, aside from the rows of emptying seats in the second half, that is. Kolo Touré has come out in support of the youngster and his performances thus far. Rightly so. I'm sure that if- when- he takes the field against Chelsea, the guy who has been one of our brightest stars in the last month, will be afforded the reception he deserves.

User Comments

justin

Posted on 9 May, 2009 at 06:26 AM - Reply

i agree with the argument re. Ade and after the trouble last summer, i can't help but pray he leaves. He had a really good return to football but has been extremely poor since. Time and time again he has single-handedly destroyed counter attacks, can't stay on side, and missed more opportunities than rvp and nik together. I don't agree with the sentiment of the forums that rvp has to go, but if he does, hope that ade goes with him. Nik will be a far more accomplished striker anyway - watch him with vela and eduardo.

dafish

Posted on 8 May, 2009 at 03:55 PM - Reply

in response to the comment about ade's stock dropping, I would say its a little unfair. The reason for that is the ENTIRE team's crashed and gone downhill since last season. With only a few exceptions such as fab, toure and walcott, most other players simply has not stepped up into the shoes of the departed players.

unfortunately for us that is gilberto, flamini and senderos. All three central defensive/protective roles. When we are too busy trying to keep the opponents carving us up the middle, we simply cannot create chances to score, and therefore forcing the whole team further back including the strikers.

Ade's downfall is certainly partially his fault, but it is also the fault of wenger's lack of reinforcement and also certain players simply not developing as intended (diaby and denilson who are more technical players than menacing enforcers)

Holla7

Posted on 8 May, 2009 at 03:12 PM - Reply

Gr8 article mate!! I just hope that AC are still deluded enough to see something in Ade!! As for the rest of the team, I just don't know whats the problem really is! I wasn't so upset or distraught about us losing to United coz they SERIOUSLY OUTPLAYED US and deserved to win but, all I felt was saddness for yung Gibbs!! No player, let alone a 19 year old stand-in whose given his all for the team, deserves what happened to him especially in a game of such magnitude!! That sort of thing could have a serious impact on the young boys career!!! I just hope he comes out of it stronger!! Also a shout out to RVP for going to console the boy after it happened, speaks loads about his charecter

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