Arsenal are big game flops…only thesedays!
This piece is to address the growing notion (partly influenced by pundits and knee-jerk reactions) that Arsenal FC have been always designed to fluff their lines on the big stage.
In truth, that is just a form which has coincided with the frustrations which have come ever since somewhere in 2009…ever since Manchester United sucker-punched the Gunners 3-1 at the Emirates in the Champions League.
Believe it or not, not too long ago, in the league at least, Arsenal were so formidable in clashes against fellow title rivals that their Achilles’ heel was not beating the best, but in fact, beating the rest.
Proof? Let’s recall the 2006/07 season. The Gunners led the ‘mini-league’ after doing the double over United, claiming 1-1 home and way draws against Mourinho’s Chelsea, and thrashing Liverpool at home. Somehow, Wenger’s men were closer to dropping out of the top four than challenging for the title in the end, finishing 21 points behind champions United.
Let’s recall the 2007/08 season. Again, Wenger’s men turned up in the big games. The Gunners snatched a dramatic 2-2 draw with United at home, dominated and defeated Chelsea 1-0 at home (how forgotten that has become) and claimed 1-1 home and away draws with Liverpool. Indeed, Wenger’s men, who deserved the title if not for a collapse which began with Eduardo’s injury, were nearly impeccable during that season and in ‘big four’ games – only narrowly falling 2-1 at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge respectively, after taking the lead on both occasions. Arsenal would manage to finish third and four points behind the top that year.
Let’s now recall 2008/09. Arsenal had nearly a deja vu of the 2006/07 campaign, as despite a remarkable 2-1 win over United at home, a superb 2-1 triumph at Stamford Bridge (how forgotten that has become again) all in 2008 and home and away draws against Liverpool only saw them finish behind the trio, 18 points behind champions United after just shrugging off a big scare from Aston Villa for fourth place.
Arsenal did play against United and Chelsea again during the latter stage of that season in the league and cup competitions, and what happened then is what has left us with the mentality we have today. Chelsea would dramatically defeat the Gunners 2-1 in the FA Cup semi-final, United would stun the Emirates with a 3-1 victory (4-1 aggregate) in the Champions League semi-final and later that week, Chelsea emulated the red devils’ sucker-punching formula to run riot 4-1 at Arsenal’s ground.
To save some pride, Arsenal did conclude their grand-slam clashes that season with a credible 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in May 2009, but it has been ever since, (last season’s four losses against that duo and last Sunday’s result in West London) that Arsenal have been perceived as bully victims of their closest rivals.
No excuses, but this form may be fairly coincidental. In none of those four losses last season did Arsenal field a full-strength squad (with either Fabregas or Van Persie missing) and indeed, in three of them, they lacked a mere striker.
Last Sunday’s case was no different, with injuries as much of a nemesis as the football team we were facing, and when Arsenal did have some sort of front-man this time, they actually delivered a contest which might been won on a less profligate day.
I personally remember recent days where we would lose to Stoke City but beat United in the next match and Andy Gray would ask: ‘How do they do that’?… just imagine if they actually beat the weaker sides more often’.
These days, that equation has turned into ‘Arsenal bully smaller opponents and succumb to big sides’, but, to me, it is just down to the fact that the batterings Arsenal have suffered to Chelsea and United since 2009 have been so demoralizing that we have quickly forgotten those triumphs of the recent past.
Even so, there are those who exaggerate the implications of these ‘big four’ matches – especially when we lose them – claiming they are title deciders and defeat simply means conceding the race.
But if you think direct confrontations with rivals do determine the champions come May, ask yourself how Arsenal failed to even challenge for the title in 2006/07 after those wins in ‘big four’ games, how United clinched the title in 2008/09 despite their woeful ‘mini league’ form and how Arsenal managed to be only two points away from the top during March last season despite losing to Chelsea and United home and away.
These games…you can win them all and not even come close, you can lose them all and still contend.
And for those who will argue that ‘big four’ matches determine confidence and momentum in the title race, I have witnessed a side slip to defeat or a real blip after a win in such game and while another has sprung an inspiring run after such loss.
Indeed, Chelsea (who lost games immediately after both victories over Arsenal last season – to Man. City and Everton respectively) will attest that racking up the points week-in week-out against the Wigan’s and Bolton’s is much harder than beating United and Arsenal and indeed, what won them the title last term.
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I think the point is that in the big games at the business end of the season we have generally failed in the last few years. I included defeats against, Liverpool, Manchester United and Barcelona in the Champions League in this too. The losses to Chelsea and United also came in the second halves of the season, games we really needed to win in order to push on. Beating Chelsea or Man Utd is satisfying whenever the time but the reality is that when we have really needed to beat them, i.e from March onwards, we have failed.
ur roght mat look at last year barca 1 4 man u 1 3/1 2 spuds 1 2 chelsea 0 3/0 2 man city 2 4. all you have to do is look at these results and it showas u r squad aint big enugh or good enough
we have most of our 1st team players out with Ashavin as the main striker. just imagine what will happen to chelski or manure if they have most of their 1st team players out for long periods. i believe the results will differ greatly.
soory our squad aint big or good enugh i am a gooner
@jose reyes…ya rite…
very good piece i agree with everything you said. imagine a whole season where we didnt have such an injury crisis, imagine having atleast cesc and vp for the whole season. wenger did say the side that faced chelsea was strong enough to beat them, and if it wasnt for a lack of goals on arsenals part we really had their backs against a wall. something else people havnt noticed is how arsenal are coping better with their injuries than previous seasons, almost as if they expect to lose half the team. sad but good at the same time..i guess.
ps, @jose reyes is a yid. go back to white shart
dont ever call me a bluddy yied iv had a season ticket for 8 years now and you insult me by calling me that yieds are the scum of the earth. i just think u gotta admit that people like almunia fabianski squillaci koscinely and denilson aint good enough to win the title. not when you compare this squad to the double winners of 01/02 or the unbeatbles of 03/04. leahmann/seaman,campball/adams vieira/parlour were all miles better than almunia fabianski squillaci etc
Imagine Imagine Imagine. Could you use that excuse anywhere in life? I imagine a day where we stop using excuses. They have no place for a winning mentality in professional sports.
Fair point, but there’s a point when injuries stop becoming excuses and start becoming reasons. When we have, say, only Walcott, Diaby and Denilson missing and we lose, it’s an excuse. When we have more first teamers injured than available, it’s a reason. Our first team would thrash Chelsea’s Fringe squad. Granted, our team this time wasn’t exactly a fringe squad, but anything resembling a full team it wasn’t.
I hear you Feygooner, but that whole mentality is a rot upon the psyche of a champion. You aren’t born a champion you become one by turning situations like this in your mind into the perfect place to showcase your talent. If you play for Arsenal you should be good enough.
Your post is spot on. We’ve lost the mental edge that we had against the other members of the top 4. I thought we missed a big chance to recapture that with Diaby scored the own goal in the opener last season. Since that time we’ve gone into games (particularly against ManU and Chelsea) hoping for a result rather than knowing we could or would get one. Personally I’ve also been disappointed with Arshavin as I thought that after his early performances against ‘Pool and United that he would be the guy whose game would step up against the top teams. That hasn’t been the case and he is often more of a liability on the field than a anything else. Ever since we lost Flamini we lost that mental steel that he brought to our midfield that we still haven’t replaced fully (and I’m a fan of Song but he’s not as good as Flamini was)
Hey I just saw this under the Arsenal news on Daily Mail.
http://www.shoot.co.uk/news/latest_article/C52/latest_news/arsenal_agree_youngster_deal
Is this true?
I really hope that article is true if the kid is even somewhat close to as skilled as the article implies. Comparing someone to Drogba shouldn’t be taken lightly
A very iteresting and insigful piece, however I am so very PO.d with the lasted Febregas – from a guy who caused depression for team club all summer ad has spent most of ths season on he benched he shoul keep his mouth tightand shut. A big way for the Captain to cause a “like of winner mentality” is to air it in public . It becomes an inditment on his colleages – and causes further depression surely. He is surely the one guy on the field and in the locker room who should be encouraging the players to do better et…. Leadership Man!! not cristism from YOU. Really does this guy want to be with us – I somehow don,t think so, he is, so far it seems letting this year go by. Get rid of him in JAnuary give somebody a chance of real leadership – thereare a couple of real potential leaders in the the team. I have always admired Fab… but feel he has lost the desire to REALLY play for us. With the guys coming back and the Welshman too we can win games. Get rid of the negatives.