IMMENSELY PROUD OF ARSENAL

LOST A FINAL, BUT PLENTY TO BE POSTIVE ABOUT

Felt the need to just bang out a few words before we get into the inquisition phase of the project, mostly because I am immensely proud of Arsenal. The team, the players, the manager, the backroom staff, the fans, everyone who made this season one of the most memorable on record.

The Champions League, once a team is in the semi-finals, is a roll of the dice. You don’t need me to tell you that, just listen to Luis Enrique before the game, stating with seriousness that 10 teams can win it.

Paris is run by a man of class. I love Enrique; he’s one of the true role models in the game, and he’s been through absolute hell in his personal life.

But the club? The most monied on the planet. They are underpinned by unlimited funds, a compliant league that gives them rest between games, and they are also blessed to be disgracefully overpowered compared to their local competitors. You have to add up the wage bills of the FIVE teams behind Paris to get close to their wages, which are higher than Man City’s. It’s a nation-state club, and its whole existence is geared towards winning one trophy, and they won it.

We took that team to penalties; they had three shots on target, and two of those were errant crosses, and the other was a penalty. You have to salute the defensive lockdown of Paris.

Arsenal were also refereed very differently in the second half. It was incredible. We got absolutely nothing. I will never stop thinking about the refs' mindset for not revisiting that Noni foul in the box. Doesn’t matter if the Mendes arm was held, it went over the player, and there was no attempt at the ball. Absolutely disgusting officiating.

We’re well beyond crucifying players for missed penalties. It is what it is. The only thing you ask for is that players at least make the keeper work and we didn’t twice. You’d hope that someone other than Big Gabi would be taking number five, but the fact he stepped up deserves all the credit in the world.

I’m not hammering anyone today.

If there is a clear vision for phase 6 of Arsenal, it’s that we need to find players with more about them in the final third. That’s something that we’ve needed in the league. But, let’s be clear, Kvara was rubbish bar winning a penalty. Dembélé was nowhere. Can’t remember Doué doing anything of note all game. These are three of the best attackers in the game. They didn’t make much of a difference.

Defensively, we were monstrous. No arguments. Every single member of the starting 11 did their job. Maximal concentration all game. No major errors. No real scares, bar a couple of mazy runs by Barcola when he came on. Arsenal were so good defensively, PSG kind of gave up after 80 minutes and the game rolled into a stalemate.

Where would I have liked to have seen more good times up top? We didn’t create much all game. Arsenal have been better against PSG in the past. But we were quite focused on this game being a grind fest. Saka wasn’t great, nor was Martin, and I think Trossard struggled. It felt like a game that Max would have been more appropriate as a sub as well.

Arteta is the best manager in Europe for subs of consequence and you felt he let a very hot game go a little too long before making a sub. Getting Timber on at 60 would have been better. He wouldn’t have lunged in like Mosquera did. Life could have been different. But, again, this is a guy who has had next to no minutes. Can you bring him on at 60 knowing he could have to play 50 minutes with extra time? But… let’s be clear, Mosquera was absolutely incredible bar the penalty give away. It was his best game, so I’m not down about that.

We will win the Champions League under Arteta. If we upgrade our attackers to be better passers and more aggressive about final output, we’ll win the comp. We’re an incredible team. Arteta is an incredible manager. The only silver lining I can wrap into this afternoon is that winning it all at once might lead to a flat new season… now we have something to keep us motivated.

Final thought goes to the Arsenal fans. They were incredible. The vibrancy of our fan base over the last week has really shown the world how big this club is. More of that next season.

I also want to thank all of you who read this website. The folk I fight with in the comments. The people who send nice messages. Those who send mean ones. Those who say hi when we’re in London. I love you all, and I’m so happy we’ve been on this mad journey together.

We’ll get some down time this summer, the club will spend some money, and we’ll have another crazy one next year knowing we’ve won at least one major trophy.

This is the start of a dynasty, let’s see how far the club can take it, I can’t wait. x

P.S. Dropped a little bonus OTW with Jacob. Sound isn’t great because he was out in London. But we did it anyway.