Everyone Calm Down

Well, Arsenal failed to get it done yet again. When matched up against the Premier League's other top clubs, the Gunners almost always fall short. This seems to be the sentiment among both Arsenal supporters and football media outlets alike. But, is this a fair assessment of a team which, until their most recent defeat against Manchester United, held the top position in the EPL table? 

Arsenal are a top-four club. Few would argue otherwise. However, much of the reasoning behind this accolade stems from their history as a winning club. Thus, in media induced conversation, they are almost always lumped in with the league's top clubs, i.e. Man U, Chelsea and Liverpool, without regard to the current quality of its players (the same could certainly be said of Liverpool). Because of the club's winning history Arsenal are simply expected to win. 

There has been a lot of talk this season about Arsenal's lack of silverware in recent years. But, why? I didn't hear a peep about this absence of recent trophies a year ago. It's almost trendy to mention this. It's a hot-topic. But are Arsenal really ready to win anything this year? Maybe, but I wouldn't count on it. Why this sudden interest in Arsenal winning a trophy? It seems as though members of the media have precipitously decided that this IS the year Arsenal must win. We are no longer allowing them to grow. Last year, they were a young promising team in a growth stage. Why has this changed so dramatically in just one season? They've really only acquired a couple new players. All of the others that remain from last year's squad are only one year older. This sudden pressure to win a cup is mind-boggling. They aren't suddenly better than those top two aforementioned squads just because they are a year older. 

  Simply put, they are overachieving. Without Cesc Fabregas, Robin Van Persie and Thomas Vermaelen, Arsene Wenger has been leaning on the likes of young Jack Wilshere and [relatively new to the superstar moniker] Andrey Arshavin and Samir Nasri. Even though Nasri and Arshavin have been playing fantastic football, this really is a breakout season for them. Although their talent is no secret, no one could have guessed just how exceedingly well they would be playing this season. So, again, why is everyone expecting a trophy?

 

The Gunners, although they were just knocked off the top of the table, perhaps shouldn't have held the position in the first place. They were there because Chelsea and Man U have been underachieving, not because they are the top club in one of the world's most prestigious leagues. Not yet, anyway. For that they will need a healthy Cesc Fabregas and a top player to be named after dumping the monetary wasteland that is Robin Van Persie. Chamakh has proven that the Dutchmaster is simply not needed in North London. Sack him and pick up a quality player of similar monetary value; one much less injury prone. 

  In closing; give Arsenal a break. If they win anything this year, it will be a bonus and a testament to a young club that worked really hard to get there. The Gunners are expected to play and succeed without the Drogbas and the Rooneys. If they do succeed, we will celebrate. Until then, Let's stop expecting it. The club will not implode if they go another year without a trophy. They are given out  every Spring.