Ian Tanner
I didn't waste my Sunday afternoon but am at half-time today on Arsenal.com. at work. I must need therapy. Just at the time the editor and the Highbury Spy were wondering whether 7th place wouldn't be better than 5th, thus avoiding Europa League, me and a fellow Gooner were having the same conversation. I definitely don't want to be watching (even for free) a secondary competition on any night, Thursday or other. It will be interesting to see how season tickets are priced if we play in the Europa. If they try to extend our loyalty to the maximum, including these games and at no reduction over CL prices, then there will surely be a massive head for the exit.
And even I, who consider myself on the AKB side of the fence, will have to think thrice about paying £2,000 for effectively 15 matches; 3 or 4 of the 19 PL games I invariably miss each season due to clashes with cricket (both ends of season), Christmas holiday away at the folks (thanks to Bob Crow this year, mind, I saw Wolves), and other holidays/things coming up. So I'll be looking at £2,000 to see the 5 to 7 games I really want (the rest we could all get tickets for easily and cheaply). As Americans (including Stan the Man) say, "do the math".
I also don't see RVP staying after this season. And who could blame him? He's due a final, massive pay-day before career end / decline due to Old Father Time. And he should want to max out and also win something that his talent deserves. Where that will leave Jack the Lad, I have to wonder? The Ox's trickery demands he starts NOW. When I wrote about him previously I cautioned about wanting too much too soon but he's the real deal. It was noticeable that Leeds' players were physically intimidated by him, or so I thought. Any opinions? And his flick inside immediately after half-time v. Leeds was incredible.
I also agree re: Vermaelen. He'll be captain next season, though quite why he's committed his future to us is a mystery as I can see many big clubs coveting him. Btw, Yennaris and Coquelin both did really well at right-back v. Leeds, I thought.
But we have been amazingly unfortunate with injuries - even by our standards. I think back to Eduardo's dive v. Celtic that was stirred up out of all proportion by the media and huge anti-English elements in Scotland, and then I see the penalty given against Ramsey where there was no contact and an affected fall to ground and no criticism of the player because it's little Swansea against nasty Arsenal. Life just ain't fair.
But credit to Swansea for playing both a pressing and passing game on such a limited budget. That no side has scored twice there this season before Sunday is an amazing statistic for a team promoted via the play-offs.
