When the final whistle blew on that balmy Monday night, the biggest reaction came not from Manchester itself. Instead, the loudest noise was the gushing of a million frustrated sighs, coming somewhere from the southeast.
Having witnessed one of the most disjointed and strangely-constructed Manchester United teams in history crowned champions, it was only natural that Arsenal fans would spare an inward glance and ask a few hard questions. On a night where the title was won by the bafflingly mediocre midfield of Carrick and Cleverley, one wondered why a manger like Wenger (whose best sides were constructed on the premise of controlling the middle third) would tape together a trio of origami swans to do the same job. At the sight of He Who Must Not Be Named banging in a glorious hat-trick to secure the win, bewilderment only grew at the thought that we were now relying on goals from an under-pressure, still-adapting target man in a wingless side, a pace merchant who is neither a forward nor a winger, and a player whose technique is so unsightly it’s akin to following Susan Boyle through a House of Mirrors.
It has been confirmed that Arsenal will be staging a guard of honour for the champions when they step out onto the turf tomorrow. Now, I’ve always believed in the idea that truth is stranger than fiction, and yet there is nothing that really surprises me about the way this has turned out. Think about it – a frustrated talent, carrying a lacklustre side, before upping sticks to a team that can keep up with him – while his former side plays catch-up with itself after realising (too late) how hard it would be without his contribution. It was always going to happen, wasn’t it?
And that’s when you realise that the fans aren’t the only ones engaging in introspection; those players standing guard will feel the sting on their hands with every clap as their former captain ambles by. We can only begin to guess at what questions they would ask themselves, but one or two are bound to spare a sideways glance at the man at the helm; the man who only lives by the principles of football he has set out in his head.
I can’t be alone in wondering whether United winning the title at the Emirates would have been less painful. Fighting against your opponent, and losing with dignity is one thing, but there’s just something so soul-destroying, so humiliating, about doing battle when you know you’ve already lost the war.
Standing Guard in Quicksand
posted on 26/4/13
There are people that have actually said Wenger will use this guard of honor as 'motivation' to go and win the title next season, you just couldn't make it up.
Can't blame Robin for leaving and the players that clap him on to the field on Sunday will probably be asking themselves why they don't go down his route instead of fighting for qualification to a tournament we have no intention of winning in the first place.
posted on 26/4/13
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posted on 26/4/13
Hopefully just one more season of this!
Pretty sad, really!
posted on 26/4/13
Great read!
posted on 26/4/13
Great to see you back! I've always enjoyed your articles
posted on 26/4/13
There are people that have actually said Wenger will use this guard of honor as 'motivation' to go and win the title next season, you just couldn't make it up.
Can't blame Robin for leaving and the players that clap him on to the field on Sunday will probably be asking themselves why they don't go down his route instead of fighting for qualification to a tournament we have no intention of winning in the first place.
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I see your point, but the players really should be motivated by such a thing. There are very few players who will be leaving this summer unless we want them to - Sagna is the only one in a position of power and Wenger wants to keep him for the last year of his deal even if he doesn't sign a new one.
Obviously things will change. Maybe not in the next year or two, but it's an undeniable fact that Arsenal will, at some point in the future, win another league title. Whether that's in 5 years or 50, it will happen. Same way Man United, Chelsea and Man City will. Hell, even Liverpool might again one day.
As for your second paragraph, well, it's a difficult one. It's quite easy to blame him for leaving - the club invested plenty of time, effort and patience into his cause but got none back. On the other hand, he would have been looking at himself as a 29 year old, with one big contract left in him, and loyalty doesn't exist in football these days.
I'm not going to be sanctimonious and say he was right to leave. I'm an Arsenal fan, I don't like any player leaving us who has ability - let alone to a club who have been one of our biggest rivals over the last two decades. I am also of the opinion that we wouldn't be too far away from the top two had he stayed - just say United didn't sign RVP this summer; they would be several points worse off. We have had plenty of games where we've been a clinical finish away from a point or two more. Who knows - maybe we would be talking about next season as a realistic opportunity for the title.
posted on 26/4/13
We will invest next season
posted on 26/4/13
Nice to see you post on here again, KPPR. You're one of the best posters on here.
Don't see anything different happening this summer tbh.
posted on 26/4/13
I can’t be alone in wondering whether United winning the title at the Emirates would have been less painful. Fighting against your opponent, and losing with dignity is one thing, but there’s just something so soul-destroying, so humiliating, about doing battle when you know you’ve already lost the war.
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Emotional way to end the article, but a great read nonetheless.
posted on 26/4/13
You make a good case.
Which is worse - being the team RVP beats for the title, or being the first team he flaunts his winner's medal to? I think somehow we've actually come off worse than we'd feared because it's like we're not even worth beating.