There’ll be a fair bit of coming and going this summer

Reflections after the last home match of the season



There’ll be a fair bit of coming and going this summer

Forsyth: Might as well sign him if we’re going to persist with Eboue


I suppose as end of seasons go, that was pretty tame. To me Everton at home in May summons up pictures of Steve Bould slotting an inch perfect pass to allow TA to slam the ball into the net. Whoever took that photograph must be still dining out on it.

I bet you felt a big lump in your throat at saying goodbye to Jens. A bit like a ham actor, he didn’t really look like he wanted to leave the stage, which is quite telling. Did you also notice that almost as soon as he came on, everybody started to play with a bit more confidence? I think we’re going to miss him, even if he is no spring chicken.

Flamini was a bit more coy. I had to scan about a bit to see if he was actually involved in the lap of honour. He somehow cunningly kept a low profile in the pack, probably feeling a bit sheepish as he’s obviously known for a while that he’s on his way. I know no-one could have predicted the season he’s had, but it still seems a bit careless to let him run his contract down, and even more negligent to release Diarra. Every time I see him turn out for Pompey on the box, I cringe.

On the subject of very big mistakes, it was nice to see Djourou at the end. Can anyone explain the point of the loan system? Has there ever been an Arsenal player, who has actually benefited? The normal course of events seems to involve getting shunted off to a side whose manager either plays them hopelessly out of position, or doesn't really want to play them at all. Pretty soon it becomes apparent that the tactics they’re having to adapt to belong to the Jurassic Period. The player then falls out with the coach, gets injured and eventually comes back a confused wreck. A brilliant strategy! And of course we’ve got so may top drawer centre backs we can pick and choose. Having said that, Song didn’t look half bad, it’s just a shame he’s not four inches taller. Can you imagine what it’s going to be like when he has to face some of the big number 9s the teams up north put out?

It was nice to see Traore get a little run, now he’s reinvented himself as a left winger. Someone like him is exactly what we need. Quick, direct, left footed and can get a cross in. If you’re going to play Adebayor and Bendtner, doesn’t that make just a little bit of sense? Rosicky? Forget it. I mean how many little jinking central midfield players do we actually need?

Of course, it also enabled Walcott to move to the other side of the pitch. Would I be right in thinking that he didn’t start there because Wenger felt he had to have Eboue in the side? Jesus wept. Here’s a bloke who can’t defend, won’t defend, and wouldn’t know end product if it came along and kicked him. On top of that, sh*t attitude. A nice dancer and quite a laugh in the dressing room, apparently. Well that’s OK then. If that’s important, why not sign up Bruce Forsyth?

So there we have it. Another season over. Wenger says he won't be doing much in the transfer market. Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he? Personally, I think there’ll be a fair bit of coming and going. We shall see.


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