2008/2009 ended with arsenal going four seasons without a major trophy. Four trophyless seasons for Wenger's young team. In 2005 Vieira scored from the spot kick against manchester united during the shoot-out in the FA Cup final in what was his last kick for the gunners to give us what is up to now our last trophy well we did win some Amsterdam and Emirate cups in between. We were very close in 2006 with the CL final and 2007 with CC final and last year with the league. But this time we never were close. We finished 4th with 18 points short of manchester united, got knocked out from the CL and the FA cup on the semi finals by ManU and Chelsea.
The positives are though we did that whith a very young team younger than last years and with all our major players short of form. Fabregas was exhausted after the EURO he won with Spain, Ade was way off the pace as was Gallas for most part of the season until november when he got stripped off the armband. Van Persie was injured when he was on top form and many players did very well for their first full season in the top flight mainly Denilson, Song, Gibbs and Bendtner. We have further better news in the first arsenal academic graduates being well and truly destined to greatness having won the under 18 league they are on the verge of completing a fantastic double by winning the FA youth cup with the likes of Wilshere, J. E. Thomas, Sanchez Watt, Henri Lansbury, Ayling, Bartley and Coquelin catching the eye. We also went 21 unbeaten in the league when the CL qualifying spots seemed away from us. But the biggest positive has to be Andrei Arshavin. The little russian joined us in the last day of the january transfer window and was an instant hit. He fitted well in the team right away and gave another dimension to our attack. His four goals at Anfield against liverpool were the highlights of his successful arsenal start. The arrival of Gazidis on the board is also a very welcome one as Wenger was truly overwhelmed by all the charges put on him after David Dein's dismissal.
After losing 4-1 on aggregate against manU in the CL semi and 4-1 at home to chelsea in the league, Wenger met the shareholderes in the most controversal meeting he ever had with arsenal supporters. The discussions were heated and exchanges got hot. I think that may be the blessing the club needed. The manager fell offended and the supporters put a march for him on the last game of the season. This put both the supporters' and the manager's backs on the wall. I believe it gave us all something to think about! The support has been pretty poor at the Emirates and the Boss did make some decisions hard to back up.
I may be alone on this but I don't think we need major investment on the team but we need not to have a major loss either. By the start of the 2009/2010 season we will have Arshavin, a one year of full season on their belt Denilson and Song, probably a fit againn Eduardo and Rosicky. We will have a better Almunia. I think he is the reason I believe so much on Denilson and Song, after coming into theframe last year where he seemed average at best he turned to be a great keeper this year. Next year we will have a summer rested Fabregas and Van Persie. And most definately I would expext a bit of Wilshere, Ramsey, Vela and the likes.
We have to know that world class players are very expensive and I would rather have an average looking home player that can be world class than a just more than average experienced player that cost a fair bit of money. When you buy those players you get three problems. You won't win anything with them, they will destroy the development of your potencially world class youngster and by spending the part of the money you have, you won't be able to get an Arshavin type of player when he is available.
I know this summer will be very hot and I hope we, gunners, will be warmly enjoying it.
Have some teranga.
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