“Ar-Se-Nal, Ar-Se-Nal, Ar-Se-Nal” ringing out is like music to the ears – oh, so beautiful! Just that glorious name brings a massive smile across my face every time. It conjures up memories of the glory days to the bitter disappointments, but the love we share will never be broken. It’s my team, and its for life. So as a lifelong Gooner for over 30 years I thought it was time to put my thoughts out there. Consider this article the start of my regular musings called “Up the Gunners“.
I was brought up on the George Graham era players like Anders Limpar, Ian Wright, Tony Adams, Steve Bould, Michael Thomas that still resonate in my old brain. The 88-89 title win is still the most dramatic finish to a season ever, from the immortal words “It’s up for grabs now” to the millions of Gunners dancing in the streets – love it!! I actually went to Southport Liverpool for a kids football tournament next day, and even wore the famous yellow and blue shirt proudly around Anfield on a daytrip there. Oh what a bloody good day.
When Arsene Wenger walked into Highbury with many saying “who the F*&# are you,” it didn’t take long for pundits to ease up as he injected the players who made up the nucleus of the dominant run – Sir Thierry Henry and Patrick Viera to the already mainstays Tony Adams, Martin Keown, David Seaman and of course Sir Dennis Bergkamp. I know Bergkamp and Henry haven’t been knighted, but to Arsenal’s supporters, they sure as hell have been. Wenger added a few more pieces to an already excellent side, which resulted in the Invincibles – Jens Lehmann, Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, Kolo Toure, Lauren Mayer, Robert Pires, Gilberto, Freddie Ljungberg, Patrick Vieira, Gilberto, Bergkamp, Henry – what a side. Think about how great that team was. They could outplay you with classy attacking football,would fight you if needed.
I really could talk about the past glories all night, pint in hand, but let me set-up my thoughts on the current team. So NO trophies in 8 years says it all to the fans. Yes, I know we had to pay for the Emirates, but is this the summer Wenger unleashes the millions?? I bloody hope so! Even the staunchest supporters are tired of “4th place trophies” with the aim of merely playing Champions League football being enough. Well, it’s bloody well not!
Some of our signings have been poor – Bendtner, Chamakh, Arshavin, Denilson, Squillacci, Santos….the list goes on. With some of these lads already moved on and Bendtner (world’s greatest) seemingly on his wayout too, that’s plenty of deadwood sent downstream. Naturally, Twitter has been a-buzz with transfer rumours, anything from Rooney, Fellaini, Bender, Higuian, Jovetic, Capoune, Belhanda, Greiner to name just a few. I personally think we need an experienced Keeper (Julio Caesar – yes please!), a back-up centre back (unless we can get the real Vermaelen again, but are you holding your breath), and a holding nasty centre midfielder is a must (Fellaini would be perfect – great in tackling, defends well and can score from set-ups). We need a proper striker (Higuian is a quality finisher who is good with both feet and is lethal in front of goal – personally I can’t see him coming) who has more of a final touch than who have now (Jovetic is a classy footballer, but not a poacher – not sure if he’s the type we need). We create so much, and a proper goalscorer is an absolutely MUST!
So as football takes a break, I hope that Wenger and the money-men are working triple time to get the right players in to end this 8 barren years of trophy-less hell for the masses of Gooners worldwide.
Until next time, stay safe.
UP THE GUNNERS!!!
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