But was the season disappointing?

To all you who think it was, and to all those know nothing tossers who make a living talking and writing shyte about Arsenal in the media while purporting to know about the game all I can say is:

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Of course, having led the League for so long and to not win it is difficult to take, but even though I expected us to do well (see the ITV 'interview'), to be the best team for two-thirds of the season, play the best football and have to overcome injury and misfortune in doing so is a fantastic effort in a team so young in its development. While Man U were spending £65m on 4 players, Liverpool spending £60m on players during the season and Chelsea continuing their Lottery winners spending spree yet again.

 Arsene continues to produce players from nowhere who cost nothing or a pittance in relation to how good they are. Bacary Sagna is just brilliant with a great attitude and Gael is just magnificent. The two best full backs in the league and probably the best pairing in Europe. And at a combined cost of about £7m. Our whole first eleven cost about £35m. Compare that to the others of the top four. They are debt ridden and don't produce their own players anymore. 

Man U haven't produced a top class player for 15 years. Liverpool for 10 years. Chelsea the same.

And yet despite all the evidence to the contrary over the years with Wenger's player development - Cesc, Henry, Vieira, Kolo, Clichy, RvP, Cole, and his signing of older or more experienced players like Pires, Campbell, Lauren, Mad Jens, Ljungberg, Sagna, Eduardo, Gilberto etc., many of you are panicking over signings and "why haven't we made any yet, the season's been over for 10 days and no-one's come in and look at all those that have left" (one so far plus Jens).

So to all those out there who are even taking notice of websites who make The Sun and The Mirrors' transfer load of shyte look plausible: What the f*ck is the panic? Why pick over every snippet of Samir Nasri or Ben Arfa information? How many of you have seen them play enough to be able to pass judgement on how good they are or whether they would suit us? One thing you can be sure of and that is that Wenger knows exactly how good they are and whether they can play for us. And if and when he signs him, them or anyone else just think of our last two signings, Sagna and Eduardo and how f*cking good they have been for us.  

Sagna celebrates his first Arsenal goal

My Debt's bigger than your debt

And while I'm at it, why spend shed loads of money trying to compete with Chelsea, Liverpool, Man U and some wannabees? For what purpose?  To keep up with the Jones's? To run up debt in a game called 'My debt's bigger than your debt'? I didn't realise you have to have massive unrepayable debt to be called a big club these days.

I much prefer the Arsenal game. It's called Balancing the Books.  FIFA & UEFA should ensure that clubs around the world play that game. Then we'd see exactly how big the likes of Man U, Chelsea, Barca, Real Madrid, Internationale, Milan, Liverpool and others really are.  

Yes, of course we need a couple or three new players, but we can't risk upsetting the balance of the squad in terms of players coming in for vast transfer fees with wages to match. If we had wanted to do that, then we would have paid Flamini £70k 'netto' wouldn't we? And then doubled everyone else's wages after they too have had one good season. And where would it end? In the hands of Usmanov probably.

We have a new stadium, easily paid for over a period plus the second highest turnover in the world and the largest club membership in the world.

We have 4 players chosen in the PFA Team of the Year, the highest representation, an Academy producing tremendous players, and for those who think it is important, Wenger thinks we have about 9 English players who could be playing in our first team within a few years. Which makes the ridiculous notion that we would struggle with 1) any FIFA directive about having a certain number of Academy produced players in our first team squad and 2) be up the Swanee if a certain number of home grown (English) players are required.

In fact, f*ck it Nick, I think we should push for a certain number of Academy produced English players to be part of a 16 man match day squad.  Then watch the others panic. 

And one final word to those who think that our players shouldn't come out with bold statements about how we won't make the same mistakes next season or we have to deliver next season as three years without a trophy is too long or statements to that effect - I say the more they say it the better it is. It means they are more confident, but most importantly can see what they have to do having been so close to the big trophies this year. 

And we honestly don't need this so-called English spine. Look at Terry. Look at Ferdinand. Look at Spurs.

Roll on next season and please, please don't panic too soon over transfers. However, if we haven't signed anyone by the morning of August 31st then you can join me in a full on Arsenal Times collective panic up.

THE END 

Back to part 1

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