As Arsenal fans enjoyed an ironic, taunting Poznan after scoring against Man City, it’s hard to imagine that just a few weeks beforehand the Emirates was filled with boos as Arsene Wenger put on Andrei Arshavin for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain against the team in Manchester that will win something this season.
Perhaps it was a rock bottom, a cathartic moment from which the only way was up. Since then many have commented on the atmosphere in the stadium being better and while performances like the one against City and the turnaround against ‘Arry’s bottlers from the down the road have helped, it hasn’t gone unnoticed by the players.
After Sunday’s game, Wojciech Szczesny paid tribute to the fans whose backing of the team in recent weeks has surely played a part in the good run.
“It was fantastic, it was as good an atmosphere as there has been at the Emirates,” he said. “You could probably compare it to the Tottenham and Barcelona games. The fans helped us, so we thank them very much.”
He echoed the pre-match comments from Arsene Wenger who said of the fans, “After a difficult start to the season they understood quickly that we needed their support. Overall, during the season, especially since January, they have been really behind the team and it helped us in many games.”
And with City seemingly buckling under the pressure of a title-race, the Polish stopper, well known for his ultra-confident outlook, wants Arsenal to take advantage.
“I believe we will finish third. Man City have lost their chance of the title – it was a big blow to us last year and they might drop a little bit, so who knows maybe we can catch them as well.
“Our aim is to win every game and if we do that we will be in the Champions League next year.”
We are still in for the title mathematically. Just saying.
Good that our players arent that dreamy.
We’re 18 points behind those cunts. It’s too much to expect them to lose 6 matches in a row.
That’s the spirit Chezney!
Woj is a legend, give that man a beer.
Not so fast: alcohol ban ends after the last game of the season.
Classic SZCZ, loved it when he came out to clear when balotelli was put through. Half expected him to leave a boot in and teach balotelli a lesson
If that had been crazy Jens then one of Balotellis limbs wouldve been joining the ball in row 41!
2nd would an incredible achievement considering what we’ve gone through – the chances are low but certainly not impossible. Although there is no actual difference in finishing 2nd or 3rd, the message it sounds out to everyone about this Arsenal team would be massive.
Our aim should just be to play hard the rest of the season and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes we did at QPR.
Finishing 2nd or 3rd might not matter in terms of CL automatic qualification spot, but it does matter in terms of the revenue generated from the EPL, tv rights, etc.
imagine a world where Szczesny gets injured, Freaks me out.
Don’t say those words!
Such a world shall never be spoken of again.
Nothing is Impossible ah!!
2nd is mathematically more than possible.
Keep producing the same performances and you never know.
But please dont play aaron on the left midfield…please Mr Wenger!!
Amazing to think Arsenal could finish in a better position than last year, with no Fabregas or Nasri and no Wlishere all season.
Arsenal never cease to impress me.
…and with the worst ever start to a season!
He’s a Legend, end of. And he’s young – what, 21? He’ll be a cracking keeper for years to come. Very, very happy to have such a confident No. 1 (Well, No. 13, technically, but y’know…) and if we can keep our centre-backs happy, we should start to have a more efficient back line, which has been our main problem for some years.
Wonder if he will stay at #13 until MA is offloaded – or perhaps he prefers to play in the no 13 shirt???
thats the spirit SZS,personaly i dont care wether we catch up wit shitty or not aslong as we finish above that tiny club from north london.the last tym tht tiny club finished above us,the OX was a year old.
how cool would it be if we could catch them and finish second? its too dreamy but i would be satisfied with third considering the way the team has struggled in the early stages
Shez is mad BUT his our mad keeper!! I feel so comfortablenow when a cross come in!! The ammonia days are long gone!!
Almunia *
Kind of appropriate cos he was piss poor towards the end
That’s the spirit Szczesny, I’ve said it before we should aiming for the 2nd sport.
I love this guy, Arsenal forever!!!
It was a magnificient performance by the lads. I just Alumunia’s name is never mention again.
It feels so good that we don’t have a ‘keeper’ issue anymore. Remember when the media always used to go on about it? Now they say it’s our defence. I say fuck em, fuck em all! We are The Arsenal and here’s to Shez to being are keeper for the next 20years!
Re: “Woj is a legend, give that man a beer.”
Someone already DID give him a beer. Well, sort of:
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/arsenal-wojciech-szczesny-pretends-drink-beer-thrown-during-032821792.html
He did save us when a through ball was played for Balotelli, in typical crazy Wojciech style. A beer was very well served…!
I love the way a few weeks back we were all gunning for fourth and would have been so happy with that with what’s happened this season, now we’re gunning for second, oh yeah….. That’s how we roll…..
Lets just pray we can carry this over till next season!