Well, that was that. The end of our season (officially at least). As with the rest of the world without access to the game itself, I had to be content with Chelski 8 - Wigan 0. More about that later. So our last game, our first victory since that 1-0 win over Wolves, and all I had to watch on the telly was Chelski. Just great.
In the meantime, we can be glad for a third-place finish, and an eventually comfortable 5-point spread over Spurs. God bless the dearly relegated souls at Turf Moor. Beating Spurs 4-2 after being 2-0 down. What we couldn't do, the relegated Burnleys did. How sweet is that? Not as sweet though, if we had ourselves done a 7 or 8-0 over Fulham. We've been overdue one for too long. As I said, more about that later.
For now, I go back to what I'd said earlier, that the table never lies. It doesn't. Really. We finished 11 points behind Chelski, 10 behind Man U, 5 ahead of Spurs and 12 over Pool. That's just about right, I'd say. We could've and should've done much better. No complaints. The squad just needs strengthening, and any monkey with drums could've said so in August 2009.
Watching the highlights, looking at the line-ups, and reading Wenger's pre-match comments, you kinda wondered just what a first-team might look like next season.
Almunia, Fabianski, Silvestre, Gallas, Vela, Eduardo - OUT
At the very least, we should have Wilshere back. Why and how Wenger could even consider extending his time at Bolton is beyond me. Aaron Ramsey should be back at some point, so too Djourou. We have Chamakh in, so that will presumably fill the space vacated by Eduardo. We may (and should) give Sol a one-year extension, so that he can REALLY be cover for either TV or Gallas' replacement. On current form, Sol will be just the perfect stand-in on the odd weeks and the occasional FA Cup game.
I will say this one final time then. Here's what we'll need in sum and at the minimum: new goalkeeper(s), and two new "experienced" (so says Wenger) central defenders. We should be fine in midfield - if we can continue to endure the more-than-occasionally-frustrating Diaby - and get Ramsey and Wilshere back in line. If everybody keeps fit up front, I suppose we should be fine there too. Wenger has said the all too obvious that we've conceded far too many goals this season, so let's hope he takes the next logical step forward.
More about the season as a whole then. It's a freaky ride, no doubt. Yes, the unexpected blips of both Man U and Chelski were amusing, to say the least. Our roller-coaster ride too was filled with ups and terrible downs. But what really gets my beef is how so many teams have travelled to Stamford Bridge this season and basically capitulated. Just lay down. Asking for it, and getting it. Sunderland, Stoke, Villa and now Wigan. This was supposed to be, and for large part was, a season where the gaps between the teams narrowed, were the lesser teams became more competitive. The points prove it, but just how the 7 and 8 goal feasts came to be is a mystery to me.
All I can say is, it was a freak season in terms of Chelski's goals. We probably won't see it again for a long time to come. Sure, Captain Fantastic is now talking about dominating for the years to come, but we all know he's talking through his adrenaline-busting arse. This ain't the Primera Liga, and we'll probably have a more level competition for quite a few more years.
So this is the last Arse review from the Arsewiper for 2009/10. It all started this season with that remarkable 6-1 win at Goodison Park. How long ago that seems now. I can't wait till it begins all over again. This time, let's not get ahead of ourselves, and keep the idiot counting-chickens-before-they-hatch to those in the tabloid press and unfortunately, the editors at arsenal.com.
In the meantime...on to the World Cup!
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