Back in April last year I was reading a Gooner blog which had been infiltrated by Spuds (lets face it we all do it). At the time we were 6th in the league, they were 4th and we were struggling to keep with them. Will Henry stay or go was the constantly being debated with the smart money saying he'd go, especially if we didn't qualify for the Champions League which was looking very dodgy. Arsenal were certainly in transition and Spurs were on the up relative to their previous mediocrity.
The Spuds on the blog were of course revalling in the occassion. They told us we were a one man team, we couldn't score or win without Henry and he would be off to Barcelona. We wouldn't qualify for the CL and the loss of revenue on top of the stadium move would cripple us financially, the team would break up and Arsenal's glory days were over. We'd never fill our new stadium so we were doomed. They however were the new force with young and up coming English players like Carrick, like Lennon, like King. And qualifying for the CL would give them the financial clout to push on further and finally overtake Arsenal.
They were of course over the top as ever, however I remember being very concerned at the time of the possible consequences of not qualifying for the CL and losing Henry on the eve of moving to our new home. But what a long time 9 months is in football and how things change.........
210 minutes of semi final football. We completely outclassd them for 180 minutes of that. For the entire first leg we had an 80%+ youth and reserve team. For over an hour of the second leg we were 70% youth and reserve. And here's the bit if I was a Spud that would hurt me the most; OK Arsenal have more skilled players and technical ability, they can't do much about that. But it's each man for himself when it comes to passion, desire and heart. Our teenagers out fought them and showed more desire and will to win, and a refusal to lose, than they did across both games. Diaby and Denilson, naming but two, never took a single step back and were in their faces all game long. We have two teams now packed with talent and packed with desire all hungry for success. THAT IS WHY MY SPUD FRIENDS YOU WILL BE FOREVER IN OUR SHADOW.
Also can anyone remind me where Mr Henry continues to play his football? And hands up if you know where "the future that is Michael Carrick" now plys his trade?? One man team??!! "We would have won with Lennon. We only lost 'cos Berbatov was injured" Sound familiar?!! Gotta laugh.
Which side off North London is off to Holland at the end of the month for a Champions League knock out match? It aint the Spuds thats for sure. Watching Eastenders as ever I guess.
Lets just pretend Arsenal and Spurs were currently on a level playing field and were of equal standard (stop laughing and just pretend for a second). Two major factors would then decide who would have greater success going forward; A top manager with great ability and Financial clout. Arsene v's Jol? Say no more on that one! And then we have The Grove which now takes in more money on match day than any stadium in Europe compared to Sh*te Hope Lane. Add to that Champions League football and it's resulting revenue, high finishes in the League and the resulting prize money and it becomes clear that the Spuds cannot match us in any departmemnt what so ever.
Apologies for my rant by I am a very proud Gooner today and wanted to let my feelings know. So I'll shut up now and leave you with the moral to this story;
Spuds, only get smug when you have something to get smug about.
Thanks for listening, I'm here all week.
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