Let’s do it for Jack, at least

Events of the past three weeks have obviously put a huge dampener on all sorts of expectations and hopes that this season promised. So much was expected, nothing so far has been delivered. The Carling Cup apart of course, no trophies are handed out by March of any season.


It was never expected that we would be in possession of anything in terms of silverware by March. Our serene and surprise progress to the final of the Carling Cup however raised expectations skywards that before May when trophies are normally handed out, we would have at least have the League Cup to show for our season’s efforts. Well, as we all know, Birmingham put a brutal end to those expectations and immediately after, Barcelona and Manchester United both got in on the act to compound our misery and leave us empty-handed. Or almost.


March is coming to an end and with it, the business end of seasons everywhere in Europe is fast approaching. While our so-called rivals, the likes of Man Utd, Chelsea, Tottenham and Man City are all involved in do-or-die battles for silverware, we are left licking wounds both physical and psychological as we contemplate what might have been for the sixth season in a row. Our perennial betenoire, Man Utd are actually involved in fights for silverware on three fronts.


One of those fronts, the Premier League, is interestingly, where we are destined to cross swords again as we lie second behind them with a game in hand. It is inn the premiership, which we haven’t won since 2004, that ironically we now have the only real hope of any silverware and if you ask me, the brightest chance.


We may be three points behind Man Utd, but everyone acknowledges that we have an easier run-in. Taking the spotlight away from us though, the real story is what is happening to everyone else around us.

Immense..Jack has stood tall all season despite our disappointments

Man Utd, the only team above us, are battling injuries especially in the defence. Sir Alex Ferguson will never admit it, but the chances of Rio Ferdinand playing again this season are fast receeding. Captain Nemanja Vidic is also hampered by injury and needs injections to complete minutes. Fabio, the anointed successor to Gary Neville at right back is out for a month with a hamstring. Same for John O’Shea who can play almost anywhere at the back. Only Patrice Evra is left standing at the back and he has to midwife the likes of Wes Brown and Chris Smalling. With such suspect backline, Man Utd have to take on Man City in an FA Cup showdown that as always packs in all the bitterness and hatred both sides reserve only for each other. Not mentioning a two-legged Champions League arm wrestle with Chelsea next month before they arrive at the Emirates in the first week of May for their league date.


I do not consider Man City, Chelsea and Tottenham as serious threats in the league but nonetheless, they are all burdened with internal issues and pre-occupied with the lure of greater glory in either the Champions League, or the FA Cup. Just dumped out of the Europa Cup during the week, Man City know they have to give everything for the FA Cup, or else they stand the big chance of missing out of Europe altogether next season. Of course, they are involved in a neck-to-neck with Tottenham and Chelsea and even Sunderland for that last Champions League fourth spot in the league, but that is a race where no bets can be taken until the last ball has been kicked on May 15.


So, where does that leave our dear Arsenal? Well, if the truth be told, in a nice spot indeed. Injuries are aplenty of course, but so is it with all the other sides. Positively, the likes of Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas and Alex Song should return in 2-3 weeks and we do not have midweek games to disturb our serene march to the title. What title, you may ask?


Wenger would never admit it, but we have a golden, almost-unbelievable chance to nick the premiership if we just hold our nerves, concentrate and win games. Tottenham’s ever-pragmatic manager, Harry Redknapp said what everyone at Emirates is avoiding to put into words last night. He declared:


“What an opportunity Arsenal have. They are not playing Saturday, then midweek. They are going to play Saturday-Saturday, while everybody else will be playing Saturday-midweek. Arsenal have a great chance of winning the championship now. They are out of everything now except for the league…I think you have to say Arsenal have the most incredible opportunity ever”.






Well said Harry, but the hard yards need to be put in on the pitch. We signed on veteran Jens Lehmann to provide back-up in the goal for Manuel Almunia and it was a clever move. If Wenger wasn’t positive that we could nick, he wouldn’t bring in someone who’s been there, done it before like Jens.


So, let’s go nick it for Jack Wilshire, who for me, has been our most outstanding player all season and a beacon to all the rest of the team. He doesn’t deserve to finish the season empty-handed and what better way to mark his first full season, with the premiership!