Of course Arsene’s Arsenal can finish fourth
209 comments September 19th, 2011
Sky Sports’ Sunday Supplement has long been a home for fatuous and frivolous opinions. A carousel cast of journalists arrive to slate the players they’ve hyped the previous month, and call for the sacking or promotion of coaches based on a handful of results. At the centre of this ring sits the trollish Brian Woolnough, with views as stale and poisonous and the aging croissants decorating his set. All that said, it’s often quite good fun.
After listening to the podcast version of this weekend’s show, however, I felt moved to respond. All four hacks at Woolnough’s round table declared, with utmost certainty, that Arsenal had “no chance†of qualifying for the Champions League next season. It was at this same table, last week, that the seemingly sane Martin Samuel heralded Stoke as serious contenders for fourth spot.
This is bad enough, but only to be expected from the sensationalist press. My despair is compounded, however, by the fact that I’m hearing the same views replicated among Arsenal fans. The sense of despondency and talk of crisis is contagious, and threatens to destroy our season before it has truly begun.
And so: I believe Arsenal can finish fourth. In fact, I think they will.
That statement will doubtless cause some to stop reading, deriding me as a deluded optimist. I understand their fears: my gut feeling is no guarantee. I’m a hugely positive person, determined to see the best possible outcome in every situation. My glass is perennially half-full, and continually replenished.
However, I think there is real evidence for my assertion. The team favoured for fourth by most is Liverpool, who beat one of the weakest Arsenal teams in history largely due to an unfortunate own goal. Yesterday they shipped four goals at Spurs. They’ve now lost consecutive league games. Despite about £100m investment, they hardly look world-beaters, and are just three points ahead of an ‘in crisis’ Arsenal.
If not Liverpool, then Spurs, you cry. But Tottenham remain, well, Tottenham. They have not finished above Arsenal in the course of Arsene’s reign, and consistency remains a problem for them. When it comes to the crunch, wobbly nerves or dicky tummies tend to see Arsenal emerge on top.
Oh, and Mr. Samuel, for the record: Stoke were beaten by four yesterday too. At Sunderland. Watch out Barcelona.
It is, in reality, a three-horse race for fourth place. Looking at the squads on paper, there isn’t much to choose between Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool. But the fact that we’ve done it before will surely count in our favour. Every season for the past five years I’ve seen pundits write off our chances of a top four finish, only to be proven wrong. This year, after the difficult start we’ve had, would be sweeter than ever.
I’m not saying I’m happy that fourth spot is the height of our ambitions. Last year we were title challengers, whereas this year I admit we stand no chance of keeping pace with Chelsea, United and City. But we can yet be the best of the rest. For those of you pointing to the league table: do you really believe that Newcastle’s current fourth spot is indicative of their ability? Or that Bolton will be relegated? We may only have four points on the table, but there are still another 99 up for grabs. And with new signings still bedding in, this Arsenal team will surely get better.
The second part of this argument, I suppose, is that they can get better with Arsene at the helm. To be clear: this is not a long-term endorsement. I don’t necessarily believe that he’ll be the man to clear the dust from our trophy cabinet, nor even that he’ll be here beyond May. Nor, however, do I see the logic in changing the manager now.
In a season where the apogee of our aims is Champions League qualification, why ditch the manager who has consistently shown that this, in spite of everything else, is what he can deliver? A change is not always as good as a rest.
There are things that irritate me about Arsene, chiefly his stubbornness and steadfast refusal to put pragmatism before principles. I believe this is in part because he has been mismanaged. A football manager ought not to be an autonomist – everyone should have to answer for their actions. I’m not part of the “bring back David Dein†brigade, but it’s clear the current board have not provided Arsene with as much direction as you would hope for.
At the end of the season, both Arsene and the board will have to have a long hard think about the long-term viability of his reign. Until then, he won’t be going. He won’t resign halfway through a season, and nor do the current board have the strength of will to sack him.
Nor should they, yet. I remain confident that Arsene is perfectly capable of turning around our fortunes, and achieving fourth. No more, but fourth. And right now that is all we need and all I want.
It’s a little optimistic, but it’s based on objective truths. In a league where three teams dominate, everyone else is inevitably left to scrap it out. It’s a scrap that I believe we can win. If are witnessing the final days of Arsene’s reign, and I don’t deny that we might be, then I’m sure both he and the Arsenal fans would love to see him sign off by proving his critics wrong once again.
Come on Arsenal. Go Fourth, and Prosper.
