Thursday, April 21, 2016

Same old Arsenal

So actually Arsenal’s season hasn’t materialized any extraordinary as compared to the previous 5-9 seasons. Start badly, gain momentum in the mid of the season, only to lose form and play catching up with a third of the season to go.

1st Jan 2016 – 20 games down, 1st position
18 Apr 2016 – 33 games down, 4th position. 13 points behind.

Arsenal fans wouldn’t have felt so demoralized and frustrated, if it was not for the shocking names sitting comfortably above us – Leicester City and Tottenham. The former boasts no big players and have proved the world wrong by lasting the whole season with a closely knitted team of determined footballers. The desire and tactical discipline displayed by the Foxes have been overwhelmingly impressive. As for arch rivals Tottenham, Wenger is beginning to accept the fact they will finish the season on top of Arsenal for the first time since 1995. Tottenham is playing some of the best team football seen all season, illustrated by these statistics – most goals scored, least goals conceded, most chances created.

Two shocking observations from Arsenal’s atrocious performances this season – they lost TWICE to arguably the worst Chelsea in a decade, but somehow did a double over table-topper Leicester City. This explains Arsenal. They will somehow manage to produce results in games they need to win; but collapse disappointingly when there is little pressure on them. When Arsenal conceded a goal to Crystal Palace on Sunday (despite enjoying 70% possession and creating many chances), the commentator lamented that it isn’t that such results happen to Arsenal; it is what they made for themselves. How true.

#Wengerout has been trending on social media… to the extent Wenger has publicly expressed he understands the frustration and disappointment the fans are feeling. But, he has no intention to leave. On the other side of the fence, some fans are sticking with Wenger because “if Wenger leaves, see what happened to Man U”, but MIND YOU – Ferguson has won a truckload of trophies while Wenger only has 2 FA Cups in the past 9 years. A change won’t do us too badly.


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Random notes from Ye

On 2 separate occasions, I was working at my home desk when Ye sat beside, doodled on a post-it and passed it to me: