Empty Cup
Arsenal lost to Nottingham Forest in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday. Shocking? Yes, but not as shocking as it should be.
Here are my thoughts:
- Depth, squad-wide, is not as solid as it should be for a "big club."
- This club is no closer to being a Premier League Champion today than it was a year ago - even with additions at striker and defense.
- The road back to being a consistent dominant force is much longer than many, including myself, thought.
- My thoughts are not based on one game. With distance and reflection, there is an obvious and gradual decline in performance over time.
- The team will not win anything this year. No FA Cup, Premier League Championship, Top 4 finish, Carabao Cup, or Euro League.
- If the manager cared as much as he claims about the club, he would resign.
- The previous point is the saddest. Arsene Wenger is a legend in soccer and will be known, hopefully, for all his outstanding accomplishments, not the underachievement of the end of his career.
- The players are either playing to see him out or truly have limited grit.
A few years ago when I began my journey to soccer fandom, I had no idea who to follow. Frankly, my initial reasons for choosing Arsenal was that I thought they had an awesome badge (see above) and a cool nickname: The Gunners. I do not regret that choice and I have never thought of supporting any other EPL team. I guess the sign of a true "Gooner" is the passionate response to wins, draws, and losses.
Often we are most critical of the things we appreciate the most. Frustration is a sign that you care.If that is true, my choice to be an Arsenal supporter must have been correct. Frustration and criticism are not short in supply.
COYG!
