Morning everyone.
Days drag by in a quiet atmosphere as we are approaching the final league game. Still, there was an interesting interview from Szczesny on Monday and I thought it worth dissecting. A nice change from all the talk about how we should pick ourselves up after losses, or about our greatness after wins.
First things first, the Pole is on course to get the Golden Glove. Up until two days ago I didn't even knew such a thing existed, but here you go. In case any of you are still in the dark (like I was), Golden Glove is a prize a goalkeeper gets for the most clean sheets (league only) in one season.
Turns out Szczesny had accomplished his 16th game without conceding on Sunday and this result allowed the Pole to match Cech's record. As the Blues keeper is out for the remaining fixture, the fate of the prize is in Szczesny's hands (quite literally).
I think it'll be very nice should he get it. There were some atrocious results down the season (it was hard to blame our goalie for any of them), but the main feature of this Arsenal side during 2013-2014 was consistently good defending. Apart from the four beatings (and I know it's a lot), there were just 2-3 occasions, when we've conceded more than once in a single game. Much of this is down to Szczesny.
It's always hard to recall important saves, but the ones from Cardiff (when we were 1-0 up) and Hull (same story) spring to mind. Szczesny was able to step it up and that was the difference in a number of games. The difference between 3 points and 1, 1 point and 0.
Back to his interview, however, and there were some interesting remarks there. Starting with:
He then goes to show the silver lining for all Arsenal fans, but for me it's the bit about dropped points that is more important:
Thing is, I'm not as sure as the manager (or the players) that we've lost the title in big games. I've written back in December how it's much more important to beat lesser teams, so that when (and if) we take a beating from one of the big boys, it won't be crippling to our title bid. Just look at the table. We are five points of Liverpool and can be only seven behind potential leaders City. Had we won against Swansea, Stoke and, say, Southampton, we would be level with league leaders. How's that?
Finally, Szczesny also touched on potential transfers:
That's it for today, I'll most likely be back for a preview of our last league game.
Until then
Days drag by in a quiet atmosphere as we are approaching the final league game. Still, there was an interesting interview from Szczesny on Monday and I thought it worth dissecting. A nice change from all the talk about how we should pick ourselves up after losses, or about our greatness after wins.
First things first, the Pole is on course to get the Golden Glove. Up until two days ago I didn't even knew such a thing existed, but here you go. In case any of you are still in the dark (like I was), Golden Glove is a prize a goalkeeper gets for the most clean sheets (league only) in one season.
Turns out Szczesny had accomplished his 16th game without conceding on Sunday and this result allowed the Pole to match Cech's record. As the Blues keeper is out for the remaining fixture, the fate of the prize is in Szczesny's hands (quite literally).
I think it'll be very nice should he get it. There were some atrocious results down the season (it was hard to blame our goalie for any of them), but the main feature of this Arsenal side during 2013-2014 was consistently good defending. Apart from the four beatings (and I know it's a lot), there were just 2-3 occasions, when we've conceded more than once in a single game. Much of this is down to Szczesny.
It's always hard to recall important saves, but the ones from Cardiff (when we were 1-0 up) and Hull (same story) spring to mind. Szczesny was able to step it up and that was the difference in a number of games. The difference between 3 points and 1, 1 point and 0.
Back to his interview, however, and there were some interesting remarks there. Starting with:
"I think it's good to sign off with a win and sign off in front of our fans but with two games to go we had nothing to play for at home and I think we shouldn't really be in that position. We should be fighting for the title".Absolutely right. There are reasons behind our failure to be title contenders till the end (psychological breakdown being my favourite), but when a team as good as Arsenal has nothing to fight for for two games, it just shows we've underperformed. Again.
"I never considered fourth place before the start of the season as a successful season and a good position. I play for Arsenal Football Club because I want to win the title every year".Our greatness has faltered down the years (hope we can rectify that by clinching the FA Cup this season), but Szczesny is right again. Though no one could have predicted United's fall from grace and Liverpool's success story back in August, no Arsenal fan would have said fourth is what we should be fighting for. Finishing fourth is one thing, naming it our goal is another. Something the Pole acknowledges:
"Obviously at some point, when you lose games and you lose the chance to fight for the title, then the new challenge is to secure the Champions League spot and that was the aim this season, but I wouldn't have taken it before the season".
He then goes to show the silver lining for all Arsenal fans, but for me it's the bit about dropped points that is more important:
"We dropped some important points and lost games and had to finish fourth when we weren't probably the favourites to finish fourth. At least we managed to do that for our fans and hopefully we'll manage to get the FA Cup for them."
Thing is, I'm not as sure as the manager (or the players) that we've lost the title in big games. I've written back in December how it's much more important to beat lesser teams, so that when (and if) we take a beating from one of the big boys, it won't be crippling to our title bid. Just look at the table. We are five points of Liverpool and can be only seven behind potential leaders City. Had we won against Swansea, Stoke and, say, Southampton, we would be level with league leaders. How's that?
Finally, Szczesny also touched on potential transfers:
"It didn't happen for us this year but one thing we have learned is that that we are good enough to challenge next year, and hopefully add a little bit more strength as well with a couple of new players coming in".Another player goes on record to state we need acquisitions to uphold our title aspirations. Arsene has said only two to three players need to be added, but then he also spoke these would be "on top" of an existing consistent squad. The same squad that will most likely part ways with Sagna and Fabianski, while Viviano, Vermaelen, Arteta and Podolski could all join them. That means a maximum five (!) players have to be brought in to replace the ones that left. Plus the 2-3 for strengthening. Do you think Wenger will buy 7-8 players even if he had enough money? I somehow don't think so.
That's it for today, I'll most likely be back for a preview of our last league game.
Until then