82 points in the calendar year, mandatory top 4 finish yet again, signing of the season in Mesut Ozil, top of the league end of the year,yet another ticket price hike and the collective prayers in our minds at the end of it all of hope and a dream. 2013 had it all, so what does 2014 behold to the Gunners?????????
19 games gone and 19 to go. 42 points now can it be another 42 points end of the season, will 84 points be enough to win the league after 10 years? A decade after the Invincibles did the unthinkable, this Arsenal team can create history all over again.
But wait if only it was so easy. A monumental effort not withstanding, the team needs to do it all over again in the second part of the season. City look menacing, chelsea have the know how and the squad, united can never be counted out and in suarez’s liverpool, 4 will look at Arsenal and say, well not this time.
What should Arsenal do to win the league? – the league is not won by beating the top 4 contenders, what Arsenal have so far managed to achieve is be able to beat a lot of mid lower placed teams in the league, its not the defeats that hurt, its those darn draws that do. Arsenal so far have achieved the first objective of getting maximum points against the so called spoilers. They need to continue doing the same.
Keep the squad fresh and injury free- Injuries are this team’s middle name, the new year will start off for the gunners with atleast 6 of their first team players injured. The good part though is we have players coming back at the same time, podolski, theo and Oxlade are all back and with them back, its damage limitation plus also a new impetus. Arsenal need to ensure that the ones injured are back far quicker than usual and need to remember the fixture list will get even more congested as the season goes on. In a hindsight if league is our priority, i for one dont mind Arsenal falling off in other competitions, time shall tell.
Refresh in Jan- Arsenal cannot stumble in the end and regret by saying if only där if, we need to buy and buy quick to ensure we cover our bases. A striker, a left sided mid fielder and if Sagna leaves,then a right back need to be the priorities. january is an inflated market but where there is a need there is a way.Diego Costa maybe a far fetched idea but a Pato or a Morata can fit the bill. Draxler maybe a summer signing but how about a cheeky bid for Juan Mata(mou is crazy, try it Arsene), right back maybe a summer need for at the moment irrespective of Sagna signing the contract or not, i am certain we wont let him leave in jan.
Finally Believe- If we can believe we will win, yes city are favourites, yes chelsea know how to win ugly, united have the tooth fairy on their side, for all this, Arsenal need to believe they indeed can win the league.A team accused of not having leaders may just prove a point if they raise their hands and say we shall ensure we cross the line first. Per,flamini, Mikel, Lukas, Sagna are all the players who need to install that sense of belief in this team for the players here barring the exception of Ozil havent had that winning feeling in a long time. Characters are made or broken in such circumstances, remember 08-09??????.
Lastly pray for some luck- prayers have magical powers. We all can pray but the team needs that luck in crunch situations, winning a losing game, a rebounded goal , a goal line clearance, a refereeing decision in our favour, titles are won or lost in mili seconds or micro moments. This time around the league will be decided by which team does less mistakes than by ones who win big, 1-0 to the Arsenal will suit as just fine, let city keep winning 6,7.8 at home and lose away,hahahha.
Finally whatever may happen, remember this has been a magnificent effort by the team and the manager.The boos that rang out after the villa game have been long forgotten but they may well return if things crumble or crash. Irrespective of what happens for me this has been a season of progress, belief and class. Lets all wish that for once all this is substantiated with a trophy for in the end for football as in life, only winners are recognized. Come on you Gunners, it is our time, it is our destiny.
Regards
Vinay.