Kevin Whitcher
I’ll start with a list of text messages for this one…
‘Honestly, there’s a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat. Magnificent!’ – Mike P
‘Who said Roy of the Rovers was fiction? Make the most it might be the highlight of the season’ – Pete Mountford
‘My first “wish I was there” moment in nearly three years’ – Lord Ashburton (who stopped attending because of his dislike of the atmosphere at the new stadium)
‘Ok calmed down a little now, but is that now what we’re reduced to – nostalgia? All of a sudden feel a familiar sense of sadness kicking in’ – Mike P
‘Vive Le Difference!’ – Howard Lamb
What the wonderful return of Thierry Henry demonstrated was how to put the ball in the back of the net when given the opportunity. It’s a dying art at Arsenal, with the exception of our current club captain. If you go through our roster of regular attacking starters – Walcott, Gervinho, Arshavin and Ramsey – you will see a lot of good chances and a disturbing proportion of them not being converted. The type of gilt-edged opportunity enjoyed by Arshavin when set up by Chamakh early on would have been gobbled up by Henry or Van Persie. I’m not sure what to say about Chamakh’s effort over the bar when called offside right in front of the goalmouth a little later. Perhaps, knowing he had been flagged, he relaxed and simply lost control of his touch, but I wouldn’t swear to it. The flag saved the debate but you have to wonder.
Leeds were resolute, arguably preferring a draw to a win for financial reasons. This is a club run by Ken Bates after all. They worked hard to stifle their opponents’ attacks, and although the Gunners fashioned chances, it was hard work. Really, the first 65 minutes of the game were all build-up to the main event, the re-introduction of the legend that now wears the number 12 shirt. A handful of those on duty had played on the same side as him in the past – Song, Walcott and Squillaci (for the French national side) - but for the most part, this was probably as big a buzz for some of the younger Arsenal players as it was for the fans.
And the man did not let us down. One chance, one goal. Yes, some of the pace has gone, but the intelligence remains. He was issuing instruction and interestingly, once the team went ahead, doing a lot of covering for attacking midfielders. Dropping back, ensuring a loose man was not an option for the goalkeeper. A salient lesson for Andrey Arshavin. The word is that these days he plays a lot more for the team, in contrast to his reputation as Billy Big Boots. There were no withering glares or hands on hips last night, just encouragement when there was any kind of reaction.
The only really concerning thing about the prodigal son’s return is that it is likely to preclude any activity in the January transfer window. There may be a defensive loan signing to address the left back position, but nothing of significance to help the team push on. It is blatantly obvious that the squad is light up front, and lacks creativity and wit in midfield. So there is the chance to strengthen and push on. But the club are more concerned with the financial insurance policy of failing to make the top four, so the £50 million plus sitting in the bank won’t be moving until the summer. It’s prudent, it’s unambitious. Spending the money might make all the difference between finishing inside or outside the Champions League places.
Ivan Gazidis says the club can’t compete with the petrodollars of Manchester City and Chelsea. However, so far this season, Tottenham seem to be making a fairly decent fist of it, with significantly less income than their neighbours enjoy. There are whispers that a board shake up may take place this summer, with a lot of the old guard being shipped out, and David Dein returning as chairman. Although no fan of Dein as the one to take the club forward on a business level (which he made a right hash of in the 1990s), that side of things has been out of his remit since the turn of the millennium, and to have a football man of genuine ambition actually having an influence in the boardroom once again would be a more significant return than that of the club’s record goalscorer.
For now though, Arsenal will rely on the number 12 re-igniting excitement amongst the fans and especially the corporate box holders and club level season ticket holders, who will get their renewal notices just around the time the player returns to New York. As a piece of marketing, his return is a piece of genius. And after last night, on a football level, it is difficult to think it will not be a triumph where it matters to the fans, on the pitch. It was a pleasure to witness an intelligent, thinking footballer ply his trade for the team. The value of experience. We haven’t seen too much of that since he departed in 2007. My guess is he will be on the bench against Swansea and maybe start the game in the next round against Villa. And we should savour every wonderful moment.
The current issue of the Gooner with a free 2012 calendar is available to buy online here. It will also be on sale outside the away match v Swansea next Sunday.
