The drought is over

Eight years, eleven months, twenty five-ish days of struggle, emotion, anger, disappointment and ridicule.

But it's over. After what feels like a decade (and in hindsight, almost is one) Arsenal are the FA Cup Champions.

 

A myriad of apologies, as the full report won't be available today. It's just like family to ruin such a special moment and drag me to anniversaries and whatnot.

Savour the moment, though. The wait is over. A new chapter begins.

Proud to be Arsenal indeed :,)

-Santi (Follow me on twitter: @ArsenalBlogz )

FA Cup Final Preview

This is it. And I really mean it when I say it.

One game away from ending a shameful run 8 years, 11 months and 24 days, and the game's against Hull City, minus their two strikers. This really is as easy as it gets, and for the sake of my nerves, I pray we don't make hot water of it.

Regardless of the result in the FA Cup Final, I'm convinced Arsene Wenger will stay. I genuinely reckon he would have left had we lost the penalty shoot-out to Wigan, hence a part of me wanted us to lose. However, with his next two year apparently sealed at Arsenal FC, what the heck, let's pick up trophies under him while we can.

We really should be winning this, but I think we've seen enough of Arsenal to know it isn't a given we will. It's almost definite we'll make hot water out of it, yet I don't care. As long as the final result is in our favour, I don't CARE.

Tomorrow won't be a day of performances, it will be one of results. Yes, a good performance invariably leads to a good result, which is why having Ramsey, Ozil, Gibbs and (maybe) Oxlade-Chamberlain for this game is a huge boost. However, in the end, it all boils down to the final result.

I feel the nerves creeping upon me like snakes as I type this, 24 hours away from kickoff. Imagine my state when I wake up, considering I also have a touch of the seasonal cough on me. I, like every Gooner, will be as excited as terrified of what is to come.

Confession? I have never seen Arsenal pick up a trophy. The first Arsenal match I saw was back in 2006, the Champions League Final. I don't really remember much of it, except that Ashley Cole had dived to win the free-kick that led to Sol's opener. Of course, I remember losing, but it never hurt me like it would have today.

I missed out on watching the 2008 League Cup Final, and was unable to watch the 2011 League Cup Final as well. A close Gooner (who, incidentally, has written a piece on this blog) texted me the updates. I still remember the last SMS he sent me, I still haven't deleted it from my phone as well as my memory:

"Birmingham score, commit suicide Arsenal fans."

Considering it was Birmingham, that was heartbreak. And it will be the same if Arsenal fail to defeat Hull.

Contrary to other opinions, I'm certain that winning the FA Cup will not be a platform to replicate the glory days. Regardless of what happens tomorrow, it is only the future of Arsene Wenger that will signal progress or regress at Arsenal. Maybe winning the FA Cup will give him a taste of success, and make him more ruthless in the transfer market for a start, but I don't think it will happen. Increasingly, I think that winning the FA Cup will cement Wenger's belief that his deluded ideology is accurate.

Why do I want Arsenal to win the FA Cup? The answer is simple, for these guys.

Mesut Ozil: "It’s normal to be tense before a game. You want to give your all and that’s exactly the same case with a final. But the most important thing is that everyone is aware that we can win trophies now and can repay the fans. They have been excellent for the whole season and that’s also why I think we deserve to win this trophy."


Mathieu Flamini: "We have not won a trophy for a while so it is very important for the club and it is important for the players. When you play such good football and have so much quality, it is important to win trophies. We [also] want to win it for the fans. They have been behind us, even when we have not been winning trophies, so that will be a motivation for us.”


Mikel Arteta: "I think when you get to that line and you win, it creates a lot of confidence and builds something special. It will be something special between the players, the fans, the staff. Then suddenly you have the Community Shield to play for, which is another trophy and the ball is rolling. In my opinion this is something else than just a final and a trophy.”

Santi Cazorla: "It is the first ever cup final that I am going to play in, I have just played in the finals of the European Championship with the national side and I have never played any other final with any club. So it is something new for me and something that I want to experience, hopefully it is the first of many with Arsenal."

Olivier Giroud: "We feel really excited because the final is a special moment for a player and especially for the club and for the fans as well. We have been waiting for a trophy for nine years now so we really want to win it for all the Gunners."

Kieran Gibbs: "I just feel like the boys have given everything that they've had this season and we want to finish it off strongly. We finished higher than we did last year in terms of points and a trophy would add an extra positive feel to our season."

I love the players. I love the fans. In fact, apart from Arsene Wenger and a few frightened board members, I love everything connected to this football club. And for the sake of the club, I hope they win this.

I have cried only three times while being an Arsenal fan, all in recent times:

1) When Arsenal lost the Carling Cup Final to Birmingham

2) When Thierry scored against Leeds

3) When, amazingly, Wigan defeat Manchester City 2-1 in the quarters

I don't know what will happen tomorrow, but I know there will be tears at the end of it. Whether it's tears of joy or of sorrow, that's up to Arsenal to decide.

Geez. What's left to say? Come on Arsenal.

-Santi (Follow me on twitter: @ArsenalBlogz )

Which strikers can we sign?

We need a striker. Regardless of the dwindling options, we need a striker.

Diego Costa seems to have wrapped up his move to Chelsea. Dmric, although I don't believe he would have strengthened our squad significantly, had gone to Bayern Leverkusen. Many Arsenal supporters believe that the chance of signing a world-class forward is gone, and that we should content ourselves with a Remy or a Vela.

I disagree. Yes, I am open to a Vela switch to Arsenal, which really seems to be on the cards. The guy has 15 goals and 11 assists in La Liga while playing on the right flank, that has to mean something. Should Wenger activate his £3.3m clause and bring him to he Emirates, I'd be happy. At that price, he's a steal.

However, I disagree with the notion that Arsenal are forced to content themselves with a buy like Vela. As much I like Vela, I strongly doubt he's our only answer to our striking woes. Should Podolski depart he'd be a clever, economical replacement, but in the striker area, I don't think he's a significant upgrade over Giroud.

Who could Arsenal buy this summer? Cavani is an idea. The guy is openly frustrated at PSG and has hinted a switch to a Premier League side is an option. He's quick, he's powerful, could be available around the £30m mark, and is 27, so has at most 4 years to offer us. I didn't see much of him except in the Champions League, and I must admit, he didn't look good then. But come on, do you really think a pacy striker with the midfielders behind him won't make it big at Arsenal? I'm sure he will.

I've heard many say we could go for Benzema. Sorry, I don't think we'll be seeing any of him at Arsenal. Unless Real Madrid try to fund a big-money move for Suarez (which I don't see happening), Benzema won't want to come to Arsenal. I'm confident he'll be a superb move, but one I don't see materializing.

Aside from not having much temptation to jump ship from Real to Arsenal, I think he's arrival will have an adverse effect on Giroud as well. I've said many times that Giroud could be an excellent backup option, but demoralizing him by picking another French striker ahead of him could result in his departure. It's kind of the same reason Fabianski is leaving the club.

My first preference, however, remains Mario Balotelli. I, personally think Balotelli is a good idea because he has power and pace, two attributes essential to make it big in the EPL. He also has EPL experience, so adaptation shouldn't be that much of a problem. Also, he'd be dying to get out of a sinking Milan and might come on the cheap.
Yeah, his attitude might be a problem, but frankly, we have too many nice guys out there (bar Flamini, of course). Balotelli might hand us a 'gangstar feel' on the pitch, one missing since the days of Vieira. For me, it's a no-brainer. I say GO FOR IT, no excuses.

Catch you guys later.

P.S. Don't remain in the hope that Wenger will leave this season. FA Cup or not, the guy's staying for two more years. I don't have proof to support it, but noises around the Arsenal camp all point towards one direction.

-Santi (Follow me on twitter: @ArsenalBlogz )

Norwich 0-2 Arsenal: Are you happy with fourth?

In the Premier League, what do I call progress?

I define progress by two aspects. Firstly, I see how many points we've finished behind the leaders, on comparison to last season. In 2012/13 it was (yeesh) 16 points adrift, this season it was only 7. In that respect, yes, we have progressed.

Secondly, I define progress by seeing the position we've finished in. Last season we've finished fourth, this season we've finished fourth. In that respect, we've stood perfectly still.

What should be given more importance, though, the number of points we cover up, or our final league position? I have to say, I think it's the former. We finished third in 2011/12 and fourth in 2013/14, yet no one would argue that today's squad is much better than that of 2 years ago. Yes, we have progressed.

Our progress has happened down to two factors - Steve Bould and the dual signings of Flamini and Ozil. Steve Bould has been phenomenal. Our defence has been superb this season. Had Wenger shown tactical intelligence against Chelsea, Liverpool and City, we could have ended with the best defensive record in the league. Heck, had Szczesny started, he would have taken the Golden Glove home. What was Wenger thinking there?

Flamini, when 'bought', quickly integrated and became a defensive midfielder. Ozil, let's face it, was a panic buy, but one that had a superb effect on our team structure. He being in our team strengthened the midfield. Cazorla was forced on the flanks, which in turn strengthened our flanks. Since his purchase was a panicky one, I refuse to believe that Wenger had a master plan for his midfield all along.

Yes, we have progressed, but most of that progress has been accidental. Aside from signing Flamini, nothing this season has been well thought-of. Had fan pressure not been applied, Ozil wouldn't have come and Bould wouldn't be given license to forge a defence of warriors.

I know Wenger won't do it, but I'm asking again. To prevent another 'not good enough' or 'what might have been' season, the club needs to be PROACTIVE. It is absolutely essential that we do the following:

1) Either sack Wenger or pen him down to a conditioned 2 year deal, conditions being that he cannot overrule his backroom staff, set his own wage budget or go solo in dictating transfer prices.

2) Sort out everyone's futures before they leave for Brazil, especially of Podolski and Vermaelen.

3) Buy at least a goalkeeper, a right back (Aurier seems to be a done deal, in fairness) a striker and a defensive midfielder before the World Cup is over. Bayern have signed Lewandowski, Leverkusen have signed Dmric and United have bid 27 million quid for Shaw. Why can't we do the same?

4) Make sure the transfer business is done BEFORE the season starts, not after the Champions League qualifiers.

--

Do these, and a solid foundation will be set. We might yet not win the league, but I guarantee we'll be much closer than previous seasons. We will even go closer in the Champions League, and that's all I want, anyways. Even though there is a fantastic chance to win the FA Cup next week, I've never said that I want the team to win trophies. All I demand, all I have ever demanded, is competitiveness on the big stage. And by the big stage, I mean the Premier League and the Champions League.

Winning the FA Cup is great, sure, and I wish I could say that it could be the start of something. But the truth is, if the above 4 points are not done, there is no way we'll see genuine progress. Frankly, if the above points are followed and we fall short, I'd still be happy. I'd prefer finishing second in the league, losing in the semi-finals of the CL and not winning the FA Cup, rather than finishing 4th and winning the FA Cup and being a nobody in the CL.

What I want next season is for Arsenal to compete in the Premier League and the Champions League. If we don't win it then I'd be sad, but at least I'd know that we'd be on the right track. It would provide hope and a good foundation for the future.

Whatever happens, I don't want this 'flattering to deceive' nonsense again. I don't want the season to be a predictable collapse, foreseen a day after the transfer window ends. I don't want the club to go meekly out of the Champions League and fall short in the EPL. I want competitiveness, right from the first day till the last.

Win the FA Cup, get the deals done early, listen to the experts, and it might just happen, Wenger. Come on.

-Santi (Follow me on twitter: @ArsenalBlogz )

Norwich vs Arsenal: Match Preview

So, here we are. Final league game of the season.

Compared to the previous two campaigns, when we had to scrap with Tottenham for fourth, you could say that this season has been progress. After all, fourth is sealed two Gameweeks in advance and we have bettered our points tally by potentially six. That's good, right?

I agree! However, for me, at least, this season hasn't been progress enough. I firmly believe that the team we had was better than Liverpool, injuries or not. Indeed, with some clever tactics, we could have even gone past Chelsea.

I firmly believe that on paper, we are the second best team in England, below City. Add a striker and a defensive midfielder in the coming months, replace the departures with quality, and we may be the best. Why then, did we slip to fourth?

For me, it was the away hammerings. Of course, you could argue that we could have won the league despite that, had we not slipped against Stoke, United, Southampton and Swansea. Mathematically, yes, we could.

However, in a 38 game season, you are bound to make a mistake against lower opposition once in a while. Even though our record this season against mediocre opposition is impressive to say the least, going through flawlessly past all of them is nearly impossible. If you want to be the best, you need to take out the best.

That's where we've failed this season. And last season, and the season before. That lies with Wenger, as he failed to suitably adjust his tactics and motivate his team ahead of these crunch clashes.

Finishing with fourth and the FA Cup is not a successful season. It would be, on comparing with our previous eight seasons, or comparing it to teams like Everton or Spurs or United. Those teams would take Champions League and a trophy anyday.

But we are Arsenal. If you look at the players we had, the instability in other teams, and the bank balance of ours, we should have done better than fourth. This season, hugely because of the FA Cup, has been acceptable, but not a benchmark for other seasons.

Coming back to the game, which shouldn't be of much importance. The league season is practically over, and considering there's a final coming up, we should rest a lot of players. Again, I say 'should', but I know Wenger won't.

I would like Diaby, Rosicky or Sanogo to get a run in. Maybe even Vermaelen or Jenkinson, and Viviano as goalkeeper. If I had my way, I'd go with Viviano - Jenkinson - Koscielny - Vermaelen - Monreal - Kallstrom - Diaby - Rosicky - Cazorla - Podolski - Sanogo.

But screw it. Why fantasize over something that won't happen? I know Szczesny will play, Mertesacker will play, Özil will play. Giroud or Arteta might be rested for Wenger's two French darlings, but that's about it. Let's just live with that.

I'd love for Arsenal to reach 79, for it might raise the bar higher for next season, and keep the confidence flowing ahead of Wembley. But in hindsight, the win obviously will mean nothing.

If anything, this will be the last time I'll see this Arsenal side (one more colourful and characterful than other) play in sync, without pressure, without expectation. It goes without saying that I'll miss watching these group of players together, so I'd better appreciate them before they get disbanded for lesser known, lesser cared-of people. And yeah, that's happening this summer, so live with that too. Sagna's on his way out.

Until then, there are only two games of this Arsenal left, one so close to perfection. One final show, please, Arsenal?

P.S. I've been told that Arsenal's interest in Serge Aurier is genuine. You can take this as a fact. Make of that what you will. Personally, I don't know him, and that's what worries me. I don't know him.

-Santi (Follow me on twitter: @ArsenalBlogz )