So here we are, just a couple of weeks into the new season, bemoaning the lack of action in the transfer market, bemoaning the awful first game at home to West Ham, bemoaning the fact our rivals have spent silly money strengthening their squads, bemoaning the fact that Giroud couldn't score in the preverbial brothel...... it's being a Gooner on a loop, same old same old, Wenger Out, sack Gazidis, replace Dick Law, spend some f*cking money!!!
Except it's not.
It's not 'Groundhog Day', despite what many Gooners would have you believe, judging by Twitter and the sports radio phone-ins.
As I pointed out in my last blog post, things are very rosy at Arsenal, not gloomy.
Arsenal are in a very strong position compared to the last few years, both financially and in squad depth. We all know about the financial implications in building the fantastic Emirates Stadium, plus the consequent transfer restrictions.
We were told we'd still 'challenge' during this period of limited spending, and in continually finishing in the top 4 at the expense of big spending rivals, we did 'challenge'.... achieving this, year after year with a squad packed with keen but fairly limited players was incredible genius from Arsene Wenger and his staff.
The Wenger haters put a whole different spin on this achievement, claiming Wenger was to blame in not challenging for the Title or winning trophies during these barren years, as he sold our best players and bought cheaply.
Why do you think he did that?!
To get the stadium debt paid off as soon as possible, so Arsenal could get back to being the Club it always was before.... successful, challenging for Titles, winning trophies... and this time in a gleaming modern 60,000 seater stadium, as is fitting for a club of Arsenal's stature!
I don't believe any other top manager would have seen this through. Arsene Wenger could've left for Real Madrid, or any other club. He's on massive wages for sure, but could've earnt more elsewhere, plus practically guaranteed himself many more trophies on his CV.
But no.
He stayed at Arsenal because he loves the club. He took ridicule from a large section of his own clubs fans, culminating in vile abuse at a train station, plus having the likes of Gary Lineker laughing at him falling over and playing it to millions of Match of the Day viewers.
This is the treatment he got for his loyalty!
He still has more than a handful of detractors, stoked up by the likes of Arsenal hating media types
(Adrian Durham) or bitter ex players (Stewart Robson) or high profile idiots (Piers Morgan).
Every defeat or even draw, the 'Wenger out' brigade are out in full voice. They only go quiet when we win. Boy, do they hate Arsenal winning!
Now I appreciate anyone's opinion, but let's keep a sense of perspective!
Nothing is ever perfect, and nothing is ever a disaster. But it always has to be one of these 2 extremes at Arsenal! It's never somewhere in between, where the real truth lies...
The West Ham game WAS shocking. A massive anti-climax after a great end to the previous campaign, a convincing FA Cup win, plus a 100% winning pre-season. We were all brought crashing to earth with an almighty bump!
Twitter went into meltdown. I expressed my own disappointment, blaming the players for what I saw as over confidence coupled with an unseemly amount of arrogance. Other Gooners went right over the top.
Despite the loss of 3 points we should've won, it was only the first game. We could learn from this.
Arsenal are notorious for having terrible opening games. 3 years ago Man Utd lost their opening game to Everton, then went on to win the league at a canter!
We were not out of the Title race after one bloody game!!!!!
As it turned out, we DID learn from that game, with a battling win at Crystal Palace the following week!
One player who took the most grief after the West Ham game was Olivier Giroud. This was wholly unfair, as the whole team were rotten, even our brightest spark, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, gave the ball away for West Hams 2nd goal!
Petr Cech had a debut to forget, and everyone else, to nick Paul Mersons phrase, 'were running around with a fridge on their back'.
For a passing team, we couldn't string 2 passes together, and West Ham borrowed Mourinhos bus and defended for their lives, hitting us on the break.
I heard many people blame Giroud for our defeat saying he missed 'many good chances'...
Really?
I can only recall a couple of less than half chances, our midfielders were giving him little quality service and he was battling alone against a deep and packed defence, with very little space to work in.
At one stage he was almost knocked out by an 'accidental' clash of heads with Tomkins, which actually looked like a foul on him to me!
He kept battling on, because that's what Giroud does! He never hides. Everyone knows he lacks pace, but he has great movement in the box, his touch is fantastic for a big man, and he can finish!
I spent the days after the game tweeting clips of great things he has done, just to remind people who may have been thinking of jumping on the Giroud bashing bandwagon!
He scored a cracker again in the next game to Palace to prove my point. Thank you Oliver!
The farcical Benzema rumours aren't helping Giroud either. I don't think that transfer will happen and I've been tweeting as much all Summer long!
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't complain if we signed him, he's obviously quality, but is he £50millon worth better quality than Giroud? That's what you have to ask yourself!
My objection is to the clueless attention seeking 'In The Knows' who pop up every transfer window, selling dreams. Many Arsenal fans are so desperate for new signings that they'll believe anything they read. Then, if and when the transfer doesn't happen, Wenger will get the blame again, The Wenger Outs will have their days in the sun and the whole depressing merry-go-round will start anew...
The only person on Twitter that I think has genuine Arsenal connections is GeoffArsenal. If he's not saying it, it's most probably not happening!
Tomorrow night we have Liverpool at home.
This will be a tough game. The players have to get over the last home game quickly. Liverpool will play like West Ham did, Brendan Rogers likes to play a passing game, but he knows after last seasons 4-1 mauling that he can't afford to be 'open'.... Arsenal will need to be patient, but this time do the basics properly, which they failed to do against the Hamners.
I expect us to win..... and what's the chances that Giroud will fire the winner?!
Benzema who?
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