Written by Mean Lean on Thursday, 13 October 2011 12:36
It is time to pop open the champagne, stick on our party hats and dance the night away as the post International matches disco can begin.
A thought has just popped into my head whilst writing that. I almost expect others to have that same very feeling as I do about International football but that is probably the wrong assumption to make.
I guess there are many Gooners or top club supporters who are just as passionate about their country playing as they are their club side. Then I think of the relationship between supporter and team.
Yesterday I spoke about supporting the Arsenal as a type of cult, it is beyond a hobby or pastime, it turns into a big part of life. But for me, the same cannot be said for International football. I am English, born and raised but my feelings towards the England national team is virtually zilch. Much of this is due to the players who wear the shirt.
I think it is almost beyond me to cheer on people like Ashley Cole, John Terry and Wayne Rooney. There is not much I like about those people so supporting them even for 90 minutes is very difficult. When it comes to Arsenal players it is a totally different story.
Even if an Arsenal player is not good enough, I still feel a sense of loyalty to said player because he wears the red and white of Arsenal. My Arsenal.
When supporters of other clubs or indeed our own slag off our own, I find myself getting defensive because he is one of our players part of my cult.
So then what happens when an Arsenal supporter has the same mentality that I have when it comes to England. What happens when the love isn't there any longer and the only enjoyment from associating yourself to Arsenal is finding fault in every situation or totally dismissing any positives. Not just this season but even when we were going through good periods over the last few seasons?
Rooney had a very good first half in his last England match but I can forget about that and call him an absolute plumb for kicking out at the Serbia and Montenegro player. Why? Because I don't really want to find anything nice to say about Wayne Rooney.
I am wondering if this is the case for Arsenal fans who have only been able to point out negatives, for people who distance themselves from blogs when we have won and played well. Has your love for Arsenal deserted you? As my love for England has deserted me? It is surely the only way to explain the coldness and negativity of some.
Sorry just thinking out loud and once again I have gone way off track. I wanted to get back on the domestic trail but my verbal typing diarrhoea has taken over.
I have been interested in what Andrey Arshavin has had to say about what the fans should expect from him.
“They should expect more from me, of course,” he told Arsenal Player. “They should expect some more tricks, goals and unbelievable passes.
“To be honest I am still expecting more from me as well. But believe me, I do everything I can do.
“I just have to give everything I can at the moment, just on the pitch. I want to score more goals and bring my team to the title.”
Arshavin often has the appearance of a man who doesn't care very much but since he has come to Arsenal, he has always come across as a very self critical man. Arsene has said similar things previously about the Russian.
I'm not sure about expecting the tricks, I'd happily settle for 'unbelievable passes' as we are missing that link right now. I am certainly no expert but I wonder if Arshavin has the engine and fitness to play as a wide striker, especially now at 30 years of age.
I like Arshavin when he is good but given that we have rebuilt the squad, I am quite surprised that he wasn't one of those that we were going to let go and replace. At 30 years old in the position he plays in, I find it difficult to imagine that we will see his best form on a consistent basis from now until he leaves the club. That said he can be a very important squad member if he can find his best form and make the difference when he either comes on or when he is given the starts that he needs.
Arsene Wenger was speaking about the added experience being a positive for the squad when it comes to the end of the season. Our experience issue over the years is somewhat of a catch 22 situation I feel. If we were able to add the likes of Arteta, Mertesacker, Benayoun etc to the likes of Cesc, Nasri etc then I imagine that our 6 year trophy drought wouldn't be mentioned today and the reason why we have failed is because we haven't had that experience when it mattered but at the same time it is almost impossible for Arsene Wenger to buy experienced players at the level of quality that is required to play our game.
The reason why we have been able to fight at the top end of the table for every season since Arsene arrived is because he has managed to find great players before they were great. You can afford them, you can pay their wages because they are only potential. Arsenal will not or perhaps cannot find players of 28-29 years of age at the same quality of Robin van Persie. We bought Holland's best striker for £2.75m. We cannot buy a Cesc Fabregas of 27 in the peak of his career we paid £500k. We cannot compete for the best experienced players because a) the players transfer fee and wages will be way above our pay structure and b) there is simply no resale value which is important for any self sustaining football club.
That said, I think Wenger may have under valued the need for older players amongst our talented youngsters on a few occasions and this may have been the reason why we have fallen short at vital times. That might be simplifying things somewhat. Experience means very little if the player has the wrong type of character or even talent.
You can be a great shouty, pointy leader of men but if you cannot control a ball or make a five yard pass accurately then you will be little use unless you are content to sit on the bench to make up the numbers whilst using your talent on the training pitch and dressing room.
Lets hope the new experience we have in the squad along with raw talent like Alex Chamberlain and Ryo Miyaichi can come together smoothly like milk in coffee, which is exactly what I am about to drink.
So before it goes cold I bid you farewell,
'til Tomorrow.
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