Victoria Concordia Crescit!

So days on and the hurt and fall out from recent humiliation still hasn't gone away. Our last realistic opportunity to win a trophy and get this ridiculous monkey off our backs has been spurned once again in the most frustrating of circumstances. More worryingly the infighting between supporters has reached a point where the atmosphere and vibes around the club are almost exclusively negative.

 

Negativity hurting the club

This negativity and frustration was palpable on Saturday and the team roundly booed at full time. This was to be expected, I guess, and people were within their rights to boo what was an arrogant, lazy and, at times, half-hearted performance. However, what was disappointing was that the negativity around the ground was evident long before the full-time whistle. At times, it felt like their were certain sections of the crowd that were hoping players like Gervinho would fail so they could continue their ranting about the decline of the club.

Gervinho has hardly set the world alight at the club and he put in another disappointing display on Saturday but I can't see how jumping on his back every time he makes a mistake can possibly encourage him to play better. We don't do it with Giroud, in fact we do the opposite, despite the fact that he has also put in some pretty lethargic performances this season (Saturday included). Unsurprisingly, he has improved as a result, so why can't we do the same for Gervinho?

After all, we are supposed to be supporters, not critics, and should be supporting our team whilst they're on the pitch not chastising them.

Banish the boos

People will argue that they are within their right to boo, as they did with Eboue, I can't deny that that is their right, but I don't see how it benefits the team in any way. The team is under enough pressure as it is from the media who seem to relish regularly ridiculing Wenger and lambasting the team at every possible opportunity. Us as fans adding to this by slagging off Wenger and jumping on the players every time they make mistake will only add to that pressure.

Again, people will argue that the players and manager are big enough and paid handsomely enough not to let that pressure get to them but clearly the evidence of recent seasons suggests to the contrary. You only need to look at yesterday's press conference, where a usually cool Wenger lost it with some very disrespectful hacks, to see that the opposite is true.

In short, the side needs all the support we can give them between now and the end of the season. We were embarrassing against Blackburn, doing little (North Bank aside) to try and lift the team. We need to put the infighting and anger about the way the club is being run aside until the end of the season and get behind the boys.

I have no doubt that will be the case but it needs to be like that every week just as we expect the team to be up for it every time they take to the field.

Beating Bayern

The concern for me, though, is that even with a great performance - and it will have to be to beat this Bayern side - we will fall short over the two legs as we did against Barcelona a couple of seasons ago.

However, the next leg is two weeks away and what's important now is that we all unite as a club and show what Arsenal FC is really about not only now but for the rest of the season. After all, our motto is Victoria Concordia Crescit!

PTBAG

Nero Fiddled Whilst Rome Burned!

In 40 years of following the Arsenal, I have never known the fans to be so divided. I intend to examine and discuss this divide with you, but I’m going to save that for another time. I don’t want to do it in the emotional aftermath of losing at home in the Cup to a Championship side! Instead, I am going to talk about something that should concern every single Arsenal fan regardless of which side of the fence they reside in the “Has Arsene Lost It” debate…the role of the current Board and the club’s direction!

 

Arsene’s extremely angry reaction to the stories that he is to be offered a new contract, to me suggests a real nerve has been hit and could in fact mean there is an underlying truth to a theory I have had for a while. It is my belief that Arsene intends to walk away from the club when his contract runs out in 2014. We know he will always honour a contract and we know the board won’t sack him, so for a while now we’ve been drifting on an undefined course!

For all his faults (and AKBs there ARE many), Wenger has been steering a ship for several seasons where the paymasters are refusing to advise him of the destination port and have hidden is compass! Wenger’s somewhat extreme reaction to the suggestion that he is about to be offered a contract could be explained in that it is not good for the team or the club as a whole for his intentions to be made public (even if the Board are aware of them) this far ahead! Being forced to answer questions on his contract intentions may just let the cat escape out of the bag!

Being the kind of man he is, will he spend the alleged £70m war chest in the summer if he is likely to not be there a year later? I think not, so I guess my theory will be proven or disproven this summer one way or the other! If of course he does intend to stay and he doesn’t spend big, he is cutting his own throat anyway! You see where I’m coming from?

So to the real point of my concern. There are two main reasons why Arsene Wenger would never be sacked. 1) He is financially astute i.e. he keeps the club extremely profitable to the delight of the non-football fan who has the majority shareholding and the Board of Directors who merely act in Kroenke’s interests (see below for justification of this sweeping statement)! 2) The current Board are effectively steered by Mr Gazidis who is probably still unaware that there are two clubs in Vienna, let alone who their managers might be! In other words the Board would have absolutely no clue as to who to appoint (unless Arsene tells them)!

You think I’m being harsh on this board? OK here are a few facts:

• All the current Board Members sold their shares to the same individual, yet kept their PAID places on the Board. So clearly no deal made there! (a Sandy Shaw song springs to mind….”Like a puppet on a string…”)!
• Representation on the Board is continually refused to the second largest shareholder [whether we like Usmanov or not] which most odd! Why? Because we wouldn’t want any difficult questions being asked at a Board meeting now would we?
• The Chairman of the Board said at the last shareholders AGM “Thank you for taking an interest in OUR affairs” when in fact every shareholder in the room had more “interest” (in share terms) then him! This suggests an ‘out of touch’ Chairman to me!

• Each of the Board Members (Gazidis aside) is at least 742 years old (OK this is patently untrue but the use of sarcasm to illustrate the point saves me Googling the age of each individual Board member – but you got the point right?)!
• The perennially absent Kroenke aside, Piers Morgan owns more share than the Arsenal Board of Directors!
• Mr Kroenke’s “sports franchises” all have one thing in common…they are all very profitably run and they all never win anything!

So, although Wenger walking next year is only a theory at this point, should a pro-active Board with a clear direction not already be making plans to line up Arsene’s successor? Formulating his achievement targets and providing the resources to achieve them? Rome is burning and the Board I fear are Nero! “Crisis? What crisis? Look at our financial results!”.

The Arsenal ship is drifting albeit slowly towards the rocks. We need to plot a new course and quickly. Arsene is the Captain and does share some of the blame…but far from all of it! We need direction and Arsene badly needs his right hand man back to lead a new, younger and more dynamic board. He needs, we need, the return of David Dein! Now if Mr Kroenke was to make that bold move, he would regain the faith of the faithful, give Arsene his mojo back and defeat his rival from Uzbekistan for the foreseeable future in one fell swoop! Arsenal would have direction and Wenger would have the little push he needs to rediscover his magic (I’m sure of it)!

But what do I know…I’ve invested my entire life in this club as have 2 generations of my family before me (and one after). By comparison, Mr Kroenke has invested his U.S. dollars, so clearly he understands the passion of the supporters and the game as a whole and he really knows what club stands for and has stood for (since Mr Chapman redefined us) more than me right? I want to see the Arsenal play and win in Rome and not burn like it, whilst those with the power to steer us to safety are fiddling and stare blankly at the computer screen trying to work out how they open that email that has just arrived in from a ranch in Colorado!

@lonewolf153

If it's hurting Arsene, it's killing me!

Boos at the stadium, banners wanting the manager out, a big defeat! Well that is enough about the Chelski crisis let us talk Arsenal!

So Arsene is hurting and even hinted in the Sunday Mail that he may look at the end of the season and assess his position. Steve Bould blasting the team this morning, "You've been letting us down all season". A team which looked like it would poo it's pants if they had the ball longer than 30 seconds then the chairman has a heart attack (Get well soon by the way PHW). Sound like a problem or a crisis?

It is now our worst start under Wenger and why is this happening? Listening to the "Press Pass on radio last night Matt Law stated that there is £200 million in the bank, that is surprising? Not really. We have a board which now lacks a football man's influence. With David Dean at least we had someone who knew football, now we just have business men and Wenger is looked on, not just as the team manager but also as the chief executive when it comes to football matters. These guys may know the business and banking world but are clueless when it comes to knowing what a football player is, let alone what position they play or if they are good for the club. Keeping the club in the black and viable is an admirable trait but not at the expense of the team competing on the pitch. A football team is there to compete, win things, sadly at our club that is no longer the case!

With Kroenke drooling over possible dividends, Gazidis and Wenger on top whack wages, tickets prices freezing out the genuine fans it's no wonder we are not the first port of call for top class players. In fact looking at the Van Pursie situation it looks like he was right to head for the exit. A player plays to win, both for his team and himself. I would not be surprised to see further stars leave but Gazidis will be happy as we will have another season of profit!

The AGM fiasco was the tip of the iceberg and unless someone grabs the club by the scruff of the neck and shakes some reality into it Arsenal are heading back to mid table mediocrity of the 70's and eighties. I do not have the answers, if I did I would be running the club. I do fear the future and hope that someone is listening to the fans at Arsenal. 1k plus at the BSM march says something!

Cheers

Arsenal Darkman

Arsenal v Southampton preview and Stuff!

Thank god the Inter lull is over, this is my first post for GFS so let me tell you dear readers now that I have no patience or interest in Internationals or anything that puts money into Sepp Blatters ever growing wallet or panders to FIFA's ever growing ego. However it is gone for while now so we can get back to proper football. After all that is why you come here? To read about Arsenal? Thought so.

This weekend sees Arsenal actually playing at home on a Saturday at 3pm. I did at one point think we were a Sunday team so it is good to see normality return. That is of course unless you cannot get to a game and long for televised Arsenal match at your local bar. Tough living in the UK so I do envy our fans abroad who get to watch games live. However I will be at the game, rubbing salt in the wound? Ah well!

So Southampton are currently bottom of the Premier, Nigel Adkins' side will be using this trip to gain points. Arsenal, now 8th with five points will want to continue in the vain of the Liverpool win, keep a clean sheet again for a fourth game. Amazing that you have to go 1924/25 for the last time we went three unbeaten. I have no doubt that Steve Bould is having an influence here. I also hope Giroud gets a goal to get that monkey off his back. As several people have been commenting, lets hope we have a Henry/Bergkamp awakening as we do seem to have luck against Southampton.

It would be wrong to write off Southampton in this match. Their game against Man Utd shows they are not to be under estimated but if Arsenal can keep their composure I am hopeful for a result. Here are some Opta facts for you.

Southampton have allowed their opponents more shots on target against them than any other team (19)

Arsenal have allowed their opponents the joint-fewest shots on target in the Premier League (7)

The players missing for Arsenal after internationals will be Walcott with a virus (possible agent speak for sulking) and Diaby who is rated at 50/50 but don't hold your breath. For Southampton Guly Do Prado could be dropped for admitting drink driving. Perhaps he and Santos could have a chat!

Arsenal (from): Szczesny, Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arteta, Podolski, Giroud, Mannone, Koscielny, Ramsey, Santos, Coquelin, Gervinho, Djourou.

Southampton (from): K Davis, Gazzaniga, Richardson, Butterfield, Clyne, Fox, Shaw, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Fonte, Seabourne, Stephens, Chambers, Ward-Prowse, Do Prado, Chaplow, Cork, De Ridder, Ramirez, Lallana, Schneiderlin, Puncheon, Hammond, S Davis, Lambert, Lee, Rodriguez, Mayuka.

As for stuff? Well Wenger does not want to discuss a new contract but just to focus on doing well. That makes a change for someone at Arsenal not to be bleating about money etc. Sagna has upset people with his comments on selling players etc. Be careful what you wish for I say. I still feel that something is wrong deep inside Arsenal but will leave that for another day.

Fingers crossed for the weekend all and see you on the other side.

Arsenal Darkman

Several wrongs and a big Liverpool right!

Hello and welcome to this which for me is my first blog of the new season.

Firstly i'd like to thank all my followers for their continued support and kind words last season.

As im sure your all aware, i have now changed my name to KatiesGooner85 and that name change is due to my engagement over the summer.

In todays post i hope to cover a little bit of everything, my thoughts on the summer signings and my overall opinion on the club and finally the Liverpool game.

right so here we go...

In my 24+ years of supporting Arsenal i find it hard pushed to think of a summer as stressful as the one that has just passed us by. 3 great signings in Podolski, Giroud and Cazorla really had me excited for the new season, but as is always the way with Arsenal it soon went downhill. Rvp released that statement and Song followed him out the door a week after Robins "little boy inside" decided his piggy bank wasnt heavy enough.

With nearer £80m in the bank we all sat there on the final day of the window expecting Mr Wenger to put his hand in his pocket and spend some money, but as time ticked on and the closer it got to 11pm it became clear that it was never going to happen. Twitter was not a very nice place to be that evening and im sure some of you reading this read my tweets as i was rather vocal myself.

The question you have to ask yourself is why?

Why wasn't money invested?

Some blamed Wenger, some Kroenke and some Gazidis. I myself happen to blame all three.

Since 'Silent Stan' rocked up it seems we have been more interested in making money than the overall success of the club.

Gazidis seems unable to tie down a transfer target or renue a contract, and as for Wenger he seems the man that has to take the brunt of the abuse.

We've all been told to wait till January so thats what i'm going to do, and if nothing materialises then, then things need to be changed and certain people should be sacked.

Now onto the Liverpool game. A game which promised a lot and didnt fail to live up to expectation.

2 bloody 0!!!! what a result and so far the display of the season. Cazorla was superb, Podolski was strong and Diaby's play at times was mouth watering. The introduction of Steve Bould as assistant manager has made us look strong and im full of praise for the work he has done with the first team so far. My fact of the day is that out of all the 92 teams in the football league only one has conceeded no goals this season? can you guess who that team is? ;-)

Anyways enough from me for one day and i look forward to writing for you all again very soon

Much Love

@KatiesGooner85

RVP! Don't fool me Robin, its money!

Well it's official. Robin Van Persie does not want a contract with Arsenal as he is worried that the club is going in the wrong direction, cannot win trophies, cannot compete and not going where he thinks Arsenal should be! Sorry, I thought Arsene Wenger was the manager?

Don't get me wrong, he has been a great captain, but one great season a legend does not make. What does this say to the other Arsenal players eh? Yes your good lads but your not capable of winning anything so if you don't mind I am off to somewhere that can, Oh and by the way I shall earn alot than more than you by doing so!
Yup, once again Agents (inset your own word for agent here) have bent the ear of an Arsenal player "your worth so much more" fawn fawn "best for you" and then running all the way to the bank!
Why not be honest Robin? Thank the fans the right way, say this is your last chance at a big move, you want to do right by your family but do not blame Arsenal. That is just a blatant use of player power, supported by agents, which in my humble opinion makes a mockery of the " I love everything at Arsenal, all the the staff I know by first name etc" Yes he did say that!

What Next

Sell, sorry but Arsenal have no option, as with Nasri, if they are unhappy get rid. The kind of influence he has at the club will make it impossible for other players to take to the pitch with confidence. Now in some ways I do blame the board, this insistence on not spending and being viable is just another phrase for profit. Again just my opinion but one that is shared by alot of fellow Gooners!

So Arsenal, sell and sell now! I spoke to both @Dognash1 and @Mattcarr85 two months ago warning of Man Citeh interest and that the amounts would turn his head. Am I happy about that? NO, Am I ITK? NO! I was just talking to friends who worked in the business and was advised of the offers going about. However I always hoped at the back of my head that he would prove me wrong.

So |Robin, thanks, for last season you were on track to become a legend, you were relied upon to pull us out of the coals, you did so. I will always be grateful for all that you did but that was last season. I do not know the player you are now and the sooner your gone the better in my view. We do not need another Nasri. All I ask for is honesty, something lacking in your announcement today. As they say in the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, "so long and thanks for all the Fish!

@Arsenadale

 

Giruod's a Gunner!

Finally...What we all have been waiting for has been confirmed...Olivier Giroud becomes a GUNNER...Not that I had any doubts anyway...These stories always find their way out even before its confirmed...





OLIVIER GIROUD

What exactly does he bring to AFC? We surely have read a lot about his capabilities...His explosive left foot,his physical presence in the box,his hunger for goals and a strong desire to succeed...There is no need going on about his abilities,we have all read that as Arsenal fans....But I can't wait to see that forward line next season...Hoping our talisman remains a GUNNER!!!

M'VILA
I'm hearing some stories this morning that "The Prof" is thinking of pulling the plug of further negotiations because of his off field personality and especially because he's being investigated by the FFA for misconduct...He's a fine player with strong capabilities....Sits very well in front of the back four and provides adequate cover for them and also a good link between the back four and the midfield...But his off the field behaviour is important too...Well,let's see wat AW does....He's a good judge of character....But I think we need him...Song has been very creative with his surging run upfront..And we know what that means,leaves us opened at the back and that's where M'vila comes in....Let's trust that AW knows exactly what to do....He has got us up and running very fast in the transfer window.

This is my first write up and you can look out for a whole lot more.....
@ade12_arsenal

T'was the season Part III

Well it's the final part of the season review, not quite Lord of the Rings,so lets jump straight in!

February 2012 (A fond farewell and strained relations)

Arsenal's start to the month was pretty much where January signed off, deflating! Banners at the Emirates were the order of the day, both pro and anti Wenger. Now with me I feel that if you pay you also have a voice but there is a time and a place for it. As Gooner Dan said on 8th February, most are armchair fans and do not know why we sing "She wore a yellow ribbon". Anyway the first game of the month was a drab 0-0 away to Bolton, only to be followed by a 7-1 blasting for Blackburn at The Emirates. The came the league farewell again for the legend that is Henry away to Sunderland and he did what he always does. The Dog remarked that the goal might be worth the £600k paid for those three points alone. I will ask to borrow his crystal ball! The Champions League saw Henrys' last for Arsenal but no fairytale ending as Arsenal lost 4-0 and then out of the FA Cup to a team they had just beaten early, losing 2-0 to Sunderland. It all seemed so depressing but then came this!

Spurs 5-2

Roy Keane had been quoted this month that this was the worst Arsenal team he had ever seen and given the results of the previous weeks it seemed a par for the course win for the dreaded rivals and Arsenals' home. With Arshavin going out on loan, spirits low it did not help that Arsenal were 2-0 down and seemingly heading for another defeat. It was 34 minutes gone, Bale produced a swan dive for a penalty and Saha with a deflected goal, it looked as if another high score was on the cards. It took a man to show the fighting spirit Arsenal had been lacking, one I did not expect, in Sagna. His goal assisted by Arteta turned the tide and followed by a goal from RVP with a sublime strike. 2-2 at half time! The second half produced a goal fest for Arsenal with Rosicky finding the net and a resurgence of form followed by 2 goals from Walcott. He really did wake up in the second 45. Sagna summed up the game with the words "we could not lose to the enemy". How apt! A year since the defeat to Birmingham in the Carling Cup signalled a rally of Arsenal and a collapse of Spurs.

Arsenal ended this month in 4th with won 14 drawn 4 lost 8 and 46 points. Six behind Spurs in third!

GFS had 2 posts from Statto, new to the site but 3 caught my eye this month and they are around the Spurs game from The Beck, The Ghost and Surfergirl.

http://gunningfromsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/north-london-derby.html

http://gunningfromsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/2-0-down-5-2-up-arsenal-destroy.html

http://gunningfromsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/sore-throat-sore-hands-filled-with-joy.html

March 2012 (Goodbye Champions League)

Arsenal were now on a run of form and it continued with a 2-1 win against Liverpool with RVP at his best. Following this a win at home against Newcastle 2-1, the fourth comeback of the season, Everton away 1-0 and Aston Villa on the receiving end of a 3-0 at the Emirates.. The only blight on the league run was the final game of the month at QPR with Arsenal losing 2-1. After what Arsenal had been doing it disappeared in this game and it was a haunting from this season which would strike us again before it all ended. For me the highlight of this month had to be the following game.

Milan 3-0

After the run of form people were asking, is it possible they could do it? Could the comeback kings spring another shock? Well I thought so for the first 45 minutes. Three goals and it looked like more to come off the back of Koscielny, Rosicky and a RVP penalty. With another 45 minutes I, like other Gooners were dreaming of the impossible. What a slap in the face to our critics. Sadly dreaming was all it was. The second half saw an Arsenal team out of puff, drive and finally exhausted. What really struck me was the pride they showed, the fans reaction and a sense of satisfaction. OK we were out but what away to go. Also the hope it gave for the move up the league was immense and I was very proud of my club that night.

So the month ended with Arsenals' league position as 3rd. Yes I know 3rd! HAHA Spurs 3rd!!!!! 31 played, won 18 drawn 4 lost 9 with 58 points. Three above Spurs (3rdHAHA) and..............MIND THE GAP!

For GFS however not a great month. The Dog succumbed to Testicular Cancer, you did meet me so a big highlight there Dog, meant a low blogging month of only 7 bits. These 2 did catch my eye though.

http://gunningfromsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/1-point-behind-spuds.html

http://gunningfromsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/arsenals-lucky-number-3-4-6-errrm-0-1.html

April 2012 (Oh Theo etc)

The month of fools, well some anyway, began with the after taste of QPR leading to Adrian Durham starting his daily Arsenal digs to raise his ratings on Talksport. Well I did say fools! I have only one thing to say on this......Shock Jock my Arse........nal! Also Theo did not help matters with this quote....

" With QPR we probably underestimated them. But it's always going to be a tough game. I felt that we didn't really want it as much as QPR did but that will change on Sunday" Oh No Theo!

Where was I? Oh yes. Arsenal. A game was looming which, including the fool above, was already being hailed as a loss so Arsenal might as well not bother to turn up as it would be a further

embarrassment. Some people should use another part of their anatomy to speak sense with!

Man City 1-0

A team destined to be champions it all looked to much for them. A flaky performance from the northern money bags, scared to death of winning? Just plain scared with Balotelli sent off (Does this player have a brain?) and no mental strength to speak of. Arsenal really ran the show and Arteta with a stunning 87th minute strike to seal the points. RVP was sharp and Rosicky a player reborn. Here is Mrs Fs' ans Shortstuffs' take on it.

http://gunningfromsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/mrs-f-and-shortstuff-mix-things-up.html

The month continued with a win over Wolves and a really good write up from the Ghost. I love the way he calls them Wolfs!

http://gunningfromsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/last-howl-of-wolves-confident-arsenal.html

However the wobbly Arsenal of this season returned with a 2-1 loss to Wigan, Chelsea and a 0-0 draw ending with a 1-1 draw with Stoke. Arsenals' league position was 3rd (3RD HAHA) with 36 played, won 20, drawn 6 and lost 10. 66 points and 4 ahead of Spurs in fourth but it was Arsenals to give away. Maybe Durham was right, NOT!

GFS had more writers joining this month with Matt Carr and Tazwoz. Who knew they would be so popular. Also Ben in Black. Here are there first blogs.

http://gunningfromsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/my-first-arsenal-blog.html

http://gunningfromsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/new-blog-member-citeh-wolvesarsenal-and.html

http://gunningfromsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/stunned-at-home-arsenal-and-me.html

May 2012 (The end of the line)

Two games left for Arsenal and some sadness to come as well as a final game to match the scene from Fever Pitch. (Happy days 1989).

Norwich was the last game at home and saw The Dog get out of Hospital to see it. Arsenal had it all to gain or throw away!

Norwich 3-3

Given that Benayoun was finally having an impact at Arsenal it was fitting that he scored the first on his 32nd birthday to give his team the lead. "At the time" said The Dog "it looked as if we would romp away with it!" It was the start of an abject performance which saw Arsenal lose the lead twice and leave the fans on a knife edge. Sagna broke his leg again and having lost Arteta to injury the midfield was devoid of a play maker. There were sparks of genius and inept passing alike. A gifted third for Norwich gave the advantage to Spurs. Thankfully their season collapse continued with a draw at Villa and it was all down to the last game of the season. Was this also the final game at The Emirates for RVP? Time will tell.

WestBrom 3-2

Well here it was, the last game of the season. Both myself and The Dog were in Hospital for this but I got a stream and we watched the saga unfold. It was a day of goodbyes. Roy Hodgson off to all things England and Arsenal legend Pat Rice retiring as the ever faithful no2. A win, nothing else would do as going fourth would mean relying on other teams to help Arsenal clinch a Champions League spot. This was my first experience of watching an Arsenal Game with The Dog (sadly my last too) but I am not sure my nerves could take another. Arsenal started again taking the lead with Benayoun being gifted the opener by keeper Marton Fulop. "Bloody Norwich all over again" came from the Dog. He was right. Back came the resting on our backsides. First Long, who was offside, hit back followed by Dorrans to strike home. "For Gods sake Arsenal!" started this dialogue between us.

Me "What?"

Dog" It's bloody typical Arsenal!"

Me "Yes Bud but it's not done yet!"

Dog "Give me an Ice Hockey team to support!"

Me "F@ck sake shut up!

Nurse " Keep the noise down gentlemen"

Us "Yes Santos!!!!!!!!!"

So half time came, Spurs were comfortable at Fulham, Arsenal were.....well Arsenal.

Second half and more of the feeling of being in a car with no brakes and hoping to hit a wall of mattresses. As we both watched the game it was obvious we were going from hope to despair every few minutes so the nurses left us to it.

Dog "Can't bloody stand this"

Me "Want it Arsenal"

Dog "Want it? What's that?"

Me "Up yours!"

Dog "With knobs on Numpty"

Us "Koscielny, get in!"

There it ended. A win, 3rd Spurs below us. A season of heartache over. Jacks' bet won and then that horrible empty feeling that will not be filled until the 18th of August. It was all over! I do think though that this pic from Fever Pitch sums us up nicely for this game. Dogs the bald one!

The season league position was this. 3RD played 38, won 21, drawn 7, lost 10 and 70 points. One ahead of Spurs. (3RD HAHA, sorry)

I think Wenger did a good job overall where some managers might have crumbled. Yes as a season went it was not the Arsenal we wanted. For a season of highs and lows it had it all. I do however think we will not see it's like again. It gave us a full season of RVP, Sagna two broken legs, players lauded and decried in equal measure but we got through it. So as they say that was that!

GFS had grown from a small idea to having a great group of writers and finally it's own plaque at the North Bank Terrace.

Sadly due to site issues with Hacking I cannot give an accurate hit level as the site was rebuilt losing information but I did do some digging and can confirm that their hit rate stands at over 30k plus, no small feat with the amount of blogs about and 5 Google plus recommendations. Also the top writers is as follows.

1. Matt Carr.

2, The Dog

3. The Ghost and Tazwoz joint

4. Mrs F and Surfergirl joint.

5.Arsenal Statto and The Beck joint.

I will in a later blog give a full breakdown but it has taken me too long for this and could be a blog in its self!

The site has it's own unique feel which I feel really makes it special along with the writing. To GFS keep up the good work. I look forward to reading you in the future, I also have another piece in mind for you.

I hope you enjoyed my season review and thank you for reading.

 @Arsenadale