We all know that after the fantastic form Arsenal were in towards the end of last season we were all full of expectation that this season just started could be the year when we finally became title challengers. All summer we listened to the players and fans talking up our chances that ‘this could be our year’, but we were all suddenly brought back down to Earth by our opening day defeat.
Now the Gunners legend Jens Lehmann thinks it is time for the team to stop the talking and actually bring those words into reality. Lehmann said on Goal: “I have heard the players saying that this season is going to be ‘special’ and I’m curious how this speciality will be displayed,”
“Everybody now is expecting that they have to win the championship again and anything less would be another disappointment.
“The fans are expecting it. They’ve got a fantastic club and infrastructure, a fantastic stadium. Now it’s down to the players and of course it’s up to everybody there to perform and win it – not only talk about something ‘special’ which could happen, whatever that means.
“It was a great success to win the FA Cup again, but everybody knows it’s only six or seven games. So winning the championship is the true measurement of your quality, your endurance and your mentality. You have to maintain the winning spirit throughout the whole season.”
Lehmann obviously knows what he is talking about, having won the title as one of the Invincibles, so you can understand why he wants the present squad to stop ‘talking the talk’ and start ‘walking the walk’. It really is time for this team to come of age and actually act like they are Champions, instead of just spouting platitudes to keep the fans happy.
So, is Jens right? Are we ‘expecting’ the title this year? Will we be ‘disappointed’ if we don’t win the title, or do we not really believe it could happen in the first place?