Is Your Climax Spoilt By Premature Evacuation?

The hordes of Gooners who’ve acquired the annoying habit of heading for the exits long before the final whistle, all missed the marvellous sight of the players having a post-match ‘knees up’ in the centre-circle on Saturday. The same has been true at all our other matches, where in addition to the group hug prior to the game, they’re now encouraging one another to gather together before departing the pitch, to take a moment to savour their victory and demonstrate the spirit of camaraderie, which is the key to our cohesive displays to date.

Some cynics amongst you might suggest that this is merely a show for the cameras, a gesture from modern day mercenaries that is no more sincere than the oft-repeated scenes of disingenuous badge kissing. But I’ve been watching football long enough to be confident in my belief that we’re currently catching the scent of something special.

Whereas Arsène’s constant claims in his programme notes about the spirit and the belief in the camp these past couple of seasons, have often rung pretty hollow, when they’ve been in complete contrast to the body language expressed by some of the players. Like a disaffected Thierry Henry staring daggers at his teammates for failing to put a pass on a plate for him, or an outbreak of furious finger-pointing, between our back-line and keeper, after our defence has been breached and they all appear to be claiming the footballing equivalent of plausible deniability. Back then it felt as if Arsène was intent on repeating these sentiments in the hope that he might just make it so, merely by means of auto-suggestion!

I have to agree with Andy Gray’s contention that the fightback against Fulham in the first game of the season played an absolutely crucial part in the confidence building process. An opening day defeat would’ve only fuelled all the disparaging stories about the Arsenal being on the skids after Henry’s departure and it’s fairly likely that our season would’ve taken an entirely different, far more disappointing course.

Whereas this victory and the manner of our revival, with its journey in those dying moments, from an abiding mood of abject resignation, through to euphoric relief, has proved to be the seed which has been carefully cultivated since, to the point where it’s about to blossom into an unyielding oak.

I know there are still plenty of transport problems, which are most people’s excuse for departing their seats with the game still in progress. And perhaps I can appreciate their point of view, when they’re likely to be travelling late into the night after a midweek match. However aside from the torment that they’ll have experienced, as they’ve trotted towards the station and heard the hullabaloo in the distance, resulting from the three last gasp goals that they must’ve missed to date, all these thousands of pesky, premature evacuators are sacrificing the most satisfying moment of the afternoon, merely for the sake of saving a few minutes on their return journey.

Personally I’ve been in the habit of heading to a vacated seat closer to the exit, only because I’m desperate to get out of the ground in order to light up a long awaited fag. Nevertheless, of late I’ve found myself lingering until the last player has left the pitch. After a couple of unrequited campaigns, it’s an absolute delight to be able to drink in the taste of an intoxicating brew, which is becoming distilled, match by match, to the point where both players and fans alike are beginning to get the whiff of a team spirit which might well be 100% proof.

Don’t get me wrong, as I’m not about to start making far too presumptuous predictions. In truth the slavish hype of the media bandwagon is somewhat bewildering, after a weekend when we’ve merely rolled over relegation certainties in waiting, whilst cruising in second gear. Most Gooners who’ve gone to every game will confirm that we’ve only witnessed brief glimpses of the sort of beautiful football that this squad of players might well be capable of, with several players still some way from producing anything like their best form.

However we’ve been incredibly privileged to enjoy this highly entertaining brand of Wenger-ball ever since Arsène arrived at the club. But with the snowball momentum inspired by that winning feeling these past few weeks (and perhaps the possibility that we’re starting to flourish as a team now that the focus is no longer on one individual?), everyone is starting to sense a distinct, albeit subtle difference, compared to the past couple of indifferent seasons.

The pundits might attempt to put their finger on it, with their suggestions that the long ball has become an option, which wasn’t in our armoury before. Or by pointing out that we’re more inclined to shoot from outside the box, as an alternative to our infuriating insistence on passing our way into the net. Yet despite the accuracy of such insights, to my mind they are merely symptoms of a more intangible remedy to our recent lack of success, whereby the harmony and the chemistry fostered within this squad by various factors, is enabling us to play with a freedom which only shows its face when there is no fear of failure.

To give the auld alchemist his due, Fergie was spot on in his analysis of Man Utd’s somewhat timid second half display at Old Trafford on Sunday, where he suggested that their performance was perhaps inhibited by the ominous portents of blowing three points. Although it’s marvellous to think we could have a five-point cushion if we win our game in hand, from what I’ve seen, our elevated status is more a reflection of the mediocrity of our rivals, than our own supremacy.

Indeed, on paper, the Scousers appear to have acquired the sort of strength in depth that left them looking like far more likely challengers for silverware than ourselves. Thankfully footie is played on a pitch not on paper and where Benitez’ constant tinkering has had a negative effect, Arsène’s reliance on a smaller group of established players has resulted in a much more rapid establishment of a resolute team spirit.

Moreover, with our first-choice players having created a winning momentum, they’ve laid down a marker that’s enabled our manager to rest players but from a position of strength. Thus hungry youngsters like Denilson and Eduardo, with everything still to prove, are able to slip seamlessly into the first XI with no noticeable impact, other than perhaps adding another dimension to our play.

There was a time when we Gooners might have been disappointed to turn up for a Carling Cup game, only to discover all our star players had been given the night off. However nowadays this competition has become such a wonderful shop window for Wenger’s up and coming kids. that even with all that additional capacity at our new stadium, there aren’t enough seats for all those who want to watch the potential talent waiting in the wings.

I was fortunate someone came to my rescue, as I was shocked on Saturday when I realised Tuesday encounter with the Toons had sold out prior to me purchasing a ticket. On the evidence of last season, I would’ve been absolutely gutted to have missed out on a taste of the future which holds just as much, if not more promise than the present.

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