Importance of the FA cup, teamwork, belief, new found consistency, and role of fans by MH
Hi fellow Gooners
So our Gunners didn’t listen to so many fans and pundits about the idea of giving up on Europe. As a result we got one of the best performances of recent times. Now this is almost same team which played to Monaco at home and lost. This is also the team which lost to West Ham, Zagreb and Olympiakos. I have already written in my previous article about those losses and they were largely due to individual errors – not that team played very badly.
The last time we played badly and lost in a match of utmost importance it was against Monaco in last years UCL. That match was also at home so why did we lose? Simply because we were complacent. We gave the ball away too easily in dangerous areas and we couldn’t make up for that because we were not defending as a unit. Some players were simply giving the ball away and stood watching. Since the start of last season our biggest defeats came against Monaco and in UCL and 2-0 loss against Chelsea in the league so how did the team which got spanked all over the season before improve their defending so much in the course of just six months? Remember the FA cup 2014, our first trophy and not-so-important to many Gooners but that gave our team a real belief in themselves as a unit. They felt like winners and once a team starts to win something, a sense of collectiveness or oneness passes throughout the squad and they play like winners. They play for each other. They play as a team.
It is same thing as in our life as a student you work hard but you realise your ability only when you get some accolades and good marks then you would be appreciated by fellow classmates. This is why it is very important to win something. Now the last season saw us give our best performance in the league away to Manchester City. That was I think the most important league result of last 3 or 4 seasons. This was such a massive result and the team was praised at last by everybody, neutrals and pundits alike.
Next came Man United in the F.A cup quarterfinal and we broke our Old Trafford jinx of the last 8 years . Our next big win was in the F.A Cup Final against Aston Villa. Yeah it was a big result as it ensured that our team was maturing. Long gone were the days when we would lose due to some individual errors or sloppy defending. This win again solidified the belief in our players minds that they can win and defend trophies in style.
So there had been this trend of good results since New Year defeat against Southampton. This is what I see as our new found consistency. If you see the league table since the New Year we have taken the maximum points and I am glad the results against Man United and Bayern Munich are another proof of that. If we have the belief, we play together, work for the team, then bring on whoever be it, Real Madrid or Barcelona or Bayern!
Now coming to the role of the Arsenal fans. First I would like to tell you all I am not an AKB or an AOB, I am an avid supporter of AFC. It really surprises me how some fans have no clue what a cup win brings, and they disrespect the F.A cup. To all those I say try to appreciate our team more, it will give them more confidence.
Next is – whoever may be the opponent – we should believe in ourselves. It was very disappointing to see fellow Gooners arguing among themselves and after our win against Man United some gave the argument ‘Let us face Bayern – when we lose you will get a reality check’. Let’s cut out this negativity AKB and AOB thing for once and for all. Our job is to create a good environment for our team not just moan and moan and moan, as moaning during the season wouldn’t give us anything. It just leads to arguments and thus division among our fanbase. So during the season only constructive criticism should be done, not that ‘why we didn’t get that player or this player’. What is the point of these? Just get behind our team! That is the fact that our support should be unconditional. But it doesn’t mean that you guys are always wrong…. I have been to many fan sites and believe me guys this is the best fan site I have come across. Also this may be the final two seasons of our great manager give him some credit he truly deserves it .
Good bye
Mir