Carling Cup
On 2 December 2008 we were beaten 2-0 away by the championship side Burnley FC, some 20 positions below us in current national ranking. Exit from the Carling Cup. We failed to progress beyond the last eight, eliminated by a side from a lower division - nothing to be proud of.

FA Cup
On 18 April 2009 we were beaten 1-2 at home by Chelsea FC, nominally our approximate equals. With that result we were out of the FA Cup Competition. We had reached the last four and went out in the same round as Manchester United. Hence Arsenal and United finished third and fourth – or vice versa.

Champions League
On 5 May 2009 we were well beaten at home 1-3 (1-4 on aggregate) by Manchester United FC and were thereby knocked out of the European Champions League. Again we were in the mix right up to the last four and again went out in the same round as Chelsea. As before, we ended up in either third or fourth position.

Premier League
On 10 May 2009 we were comprehensively beaten 1-4 at home by Chelsea in the Premier League. Because of its chronological proximity, this match may be interpreted as the form decider for third and fourth positions in both the FA Cup and the Champions League. Arsenal may be assumed to have achieved fourth position in both series. Whatever happens in the Premier League between now and the end of the season, we will also take fourth position.

What do we conclude? Our manager Arsène Wenger views the results in the most favourable light possible: “We have done very well indeed this season with a very young and inexperienced side operating in the most demanding league in the world. We will get even better during the time remaining on my contract, but if we don’t I will take all the blame”. We’ve heard this before.

If Arsenal had been a mediocre club, it goes without saying that all supporters would be highly delighted to have achieved so much in one year. But simply because we are talking about Arsenal, supporters will most decidedly not be satisfied with things as they are. In any football competition there is just the one winner. The teams that don’t win are the losers. The closer your team gets to the winning post, the greater is the feeling of loss when it doesn’t actually win. Arsenal is (thankfully) usually in amongst the final few, but very seldom makes it right to the top. This is the source of supporter anguish and frustration. Arsenal supporters feel let down again and again.

To change this, the manager’s methods have to change. He backs the young players come what may and in principle that is a very good thing psychologically. But a loyalty contract has two sides to it. He believes in them and their part of the bargain is to produce for him on demand. If they cannot, the contract is null and void and he is obliged to drop them from the squad with a clear conscience, as an incentive, until they improve. It just has to be so!