Giovanni Fontanella
The Udinese away leg has just finished and now we're all happy that we're in the CL for the umpteenth time. The qualification process was rather tortuous this year, and I can't deny I had shivers down my spine when Antonio Di Natale, deservedly or not, gave them the lead. And I am sure we all realistically began to think about the imminent Europa League campaign to which we were headed. In the end our few remaining personalities (one and a half maybe) put us through, thanks to our quality and our mental strength... I'm joking of course.
We were lucky enough to go through the first half without going 3-0 down: they hit the woodwork twice and they would go on to hit it another time in the second half, but when the match was mentally over, though. Robin and Theo helped us go through with two vital goals, but the combined effect of Udinese’s relative inexperience in European ties and of their deteriorating physical condition in the second half can’t be underestimated.
The Arsenal of today are the remnants of what we had in previous years, of course, and this team, as of today, badly needs improvement. We all know what is needed and it would be useless to repeat once again what is being said, day after day, on this site and in the press. I'd like to point out a few of tonight’s positives, instead. Yes, there were definitely positives, in my humble opinion. First of all: we have a keeper. Szczesny seems mature enough to compete in all four competitions: his decision-making is very much improved and his reflexes are at the top. I followed the match on Italian television and the pundits were full of praise for him (and for the rest of the brigade too, to be honest). He proved vital in saving that penalty kick... things might have been a bit different, had Di Natale scored. Give him a few more matches and he'll be even better.
Second: Frimpong. Although the guy was mysteriously subbed at halftime for Rosicky, a choice that proved to be vital and that worked for the first time in years, Emmanuel Frimpong is definitely a tank and the very heart of Arsenal. No-nonsense and tough when needed, he reminds me somehow of a young and smaller Patrick Vieira. The fact that he's so passionate about Arsenal is a great thing, the thing we needed, actually, but this could mean that his main hobby could be collecting yellow and red cards (that's why Arsène probably subbed him: we couldn't afford to play 10 against 11 tonight). However, the man is already reaching cult status.
Third: I really appreciated Jenkinson tonight. This young and very inexperienced player came from non-league (don't tell me he comes from Charlton Athletic! He barely played a handful of games there) and after a discouraging start, is showing increasing composure and character. Even thought he might not be an…. erm…. “quality” player, he's surely getting better and better with his confidence. Not a regular first-team starter but not a bench-warmer in the fashion of Eboué, either. Fourth: the English (and Welsh) bulk. We're building one, first of all. And we badly need it. This could avoid mass departures of players, in this era where money is the only link between a player and his club. Walcott, Ramsey, Jenkinson and Frimpong were fielded tonight (not mentioning injured Wilshere and yet-to-be-seen Chamberlain), in perhaps one of the most British Arsenal sides of the last few years. We should now buy two or three older, real quality and no-nonsense players, preferably from Premier League sides, to complete this bulk. But I'm sure this is not going to happen.
I've apparently run out of positives now and I definitely don't want to sound boring by listing the negatives. So that's it for today!
P.S. This lot might be the worst ever seen in years, as of today, and obviously we’re hoping some last minute high-profile players come to Arsenal. But in some way, I cannot explain how, even after losing 2-0 at home to Liverpool, soaked in rain, these kids make me prouder than past teams, in which we had greedy c**ts deliberately staining the hallowed red and white.
