About a month ago I walked the 10 minute walk from Finsbury Park tube station to The Emirates. It was a bright Sunday afternoon and both sets of supporters were in high spirits as they drifted through the streets of the residential area surrounding Arsenal's multi million pound stadium. Liverpool were continuing their run of good form under the management of Anfield hero Kenny Dalglish, while Gunners fans were dreaming of finally getting their hands on the Premier League trophy and bring an end to the trophy-less drought of the last 7 years.
That same walk one month on however had a very different atmosphere. Grey clouds littered the sky and both sets of fans were near silent as they mulled through the surrounding residential area. There were no calls from the burger vans, the few fans that were outside trudged the streets shoulder slumped and the spark of excitement of a few weeks ago was nowhere to be found. It summed up a season that for the Gunners will go down as another wasted opportunity.
With eight games left in the Premier League Arsenal had the title's destiny in their own hands. Four points behind United with a game in hand and a game against their rivals still to be played at the Emirates Wenger's men had to do just one thing, keep composed and keep winning when it mattered.
A win against Blackpool had picked up dressing room spirits after 3 consecutive draws to lesser opposition, and despite the disappointment of a late equaliser at home to Liverpool Fabregas and co still had a chance at getting their hands on some silverware.
But then disaster.
First a 3-1 lead away at Spurs turned into a 3-3 draw to their London rivals, then a late header from Cohen saw Arsenal suffer a devastating loss on the road at bogey side Bolton and despite a 1-0 win at home to United a 3-1 thumping from Stoke pushed the Gunners back to 3rd and left Wenger to ponder what might have been.
With Champions League football a guarantee next year Arsenal fans now have a late Man City charge to worry about as the season comes to a close, and with 3rd place now out of their own hands thanks to yesterday's 2-1 loss to Aston Villa Arsenal's season has well and truly hit free fall.
With just 5 points from their last 6 games the Gunners' form is the 3rd worst in the Premiership. That combined with a 6% increase in ticket prices next year leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of the clubs supporters, so much so that during the customary lap of the pitch at the final home game Fabregas and co were applauded by a mere handful of fans, the others leaving the ground loudly voicing their displeasure at both the season and the imminent price rise for tickets.
Wenger says that he knows whats wrong at the club and has tried to take the majority of the blame off his players and place it on his own shoulders, even going as far as to talk about spending a sizeable amount of money in next summers transfer window and breaking away from the youth development policy that has entertained but ultimately left the Arsenal trophy cabinet empty for the last 7 years.
Whatever the problems at the North London giants their fans will be expecting more then a 4th place finish in 2011/12. This summer will shape that title challenge and after putting the blame on himself Wenger may need to win some silverware or else face ending his tenure as Arsenal manager.
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