Arsenal: The season so far and what to expect next

The Arsenal fans celebrate the Arsenal goal scored by Per Mertesacker against Wigan

This was a tough weekend for Gooners. A lot of significant things happened this weekend which eventually might turn out be zilch. But lets savor this moment.

The last time Arsenal challenged for the title was back in 2007-08 season. That was a magical team with the core of Cesc Fabregas. Alexander Hleb, and Tomas Rosicky and Flamini to support them. Sadly that team had a chicken hearted Gallas as well. When Edurado’s leg snapped into two and so did Arsenal’s season. Following season, Hleb departed to the promised land of Barca (the silly boy thought that Messi needs his help to score goals), Flamini went to Milan to check out Italian models, Rosicky found solace in the infirmary and Gallas went to the Sc*ms. Poor fab was left alone in (un)holy company of Denilson, Nasri and Song.

Cut to 2013-14. Arsenal has had a path-breaking season until now. But as expected, Arsenal did drop the ball when it mattered. This team needs more steel and artistry to succeed and thankfully Arsenal has the money to do it. The question is whether they want to do it or not. And we will know that when the transfer market opens up. How about one of the top 5 strikers in Europe, a burly defensive midfielder and a beast of a central defender. Is that too much to ask?

But this season might still be termed as successful and the only way to do that is to win the FA cup and finish fourth. Arsenal are an expert at the latter. It is the former that is yet to be done by an Arsenal side since 2005. Arsenal went to Wembley with annihilations at the hands of Chelsea and Everton, and a draw with Manchester City. The semi final clash with Wigan was no longer a banana skin for Arsenal. It was a tragedy waiting to happen.

And the tragedy did strike when Per decided unceremoniously to stretch his legs to dislodge a Wigan player and gave away a penalty in the process. It was a familiar feeling for an Arsenal fan and I felt like one of the passengers on Titanic after it was hit by the glacier – waiting for imminent death by drowning in cold water.

Wenger’s face had the familiar frown and the thought of him walking into the sunset wasn’t just a thought anymore. The genius looked helpless and it was tough to decide whether his players had betrayed him or it was the other way round. This team needs success badly but the players looked helpless too. And that is when Wenger decided to throw the kitchen sink at Wigan. He decided to change the system and threw the handsome one in the mix. It looked like a case of too little too late. But Per had other ideas. The BFG scored a header with 8 minutes to go and Gooners all over the world were speechless. Game On.

Arsenal was back and the Gooners felt as if they were exonerated. Arsenal pushed hard but could not find another goal in the normal time. The game went into extra time and the thought of losing everything in penalties gave us shivers. After all penalties is a test of skill and confidence and the finding the latter in the gunners is like finding an oasis in the desert. But Fabianski had other ideas.

Cometh the hour cometh the Pole. Fabianski saved the first 2 penalties, and Arteta and the new boy Kim (Wenger had told that he will play a role in this season and he did) scored and the nerves settled down. The handsome one stepped up for the next one and scored. Santi came on for the winning penalty and the result of the kick sent the Wembey in delirium. Wenger choked with happiness and the as usual the gunners went for their regular dose of selfies.

Arsenal will win the FA cup this season and finish fourth. This is the kind of victory that spurs a team to greater heights. She wore a yellow ribbon. Indeed she did.