So another season draws to an end, and barring a miracle it will again have yielded no trophies for arguably the most fluid and stylish team in the league. That's obviously disappointing for everyone involved with Arsenal: the players, the manager, the club, and us fans. But it's worth remembering the expectations most of us had back in August. No one doubted the promise of Wenger's young and talented squad. But likewise, many fans had doubts the team had the strength to conquer Europe and secure the league title. Most of us were prepared for another "transitional season" - another step towards long-term domination.
As we all know, there are three aspects to strength in football: the technical, the physical, and the psychological. On the technical side the players were undeniably strong. Wenger's talent for finding gifted footballers and developing them into world stars has never been in doubt, and most of his current crop had already shown their technical talents in the previous season or two. On the physical side the squad appeared a little light-weight compared to some teams, mainly because of a lack of height. But as we've seen in the past, they were still more than capable of competing with the more combative sides.
But psychologically many fans, myself included, had lingering doubts. We hoped the team's technical brilliance would give them the necessary momentum and carry them to glory. Sadly that hasn't happened. I'm sure Wenger expected Gallas, Silvestre, Almunia and Campbell later on in the season to guide the team through the tough times. But those individuals failed to deliver to the necessary degree, and it's that lack of stable and experienced leadership which has led to inconsistent displays, an erosion in morale, and frustration boiling over.
That's a contentious point, and some fans bristle at the thought of some of our young stars being described as unseasoned. They argue that age doesn't necessarily equate to maturity, and cite Fabregas as a prime example. I used to share that opinion in the age and experience debate, but our performances over the past few months have changed my mind. None of our current players have consistently organized and rallied the team like earlier Arsenal captains under Wenger's reign. Some, like Gallas and Fabregas have salvaged a few games with moments of individual grit and brilliance. But none have established themselves as an indisputable leader of the team.
Yes, we've had more than our fair share of challenges: horrible injuries, poor refereeing decisions, and cynical tactics from some opponents. But earlier Wenger teams always had a couple of veterans marshalling and guiding the rest of the players. Right now we're lacking in that department.
Let's look at our more seasoned players right now: Sagna, Clichy, Eboue, Song, Vermealen, Fabregas, Van Persie, Arshavin and Gallas. All of them are fantastic players, but right now none of them have the leadership abilities of Adams, Vierra or Henry at their peak. The first three will never get to that level: Gallas and Van Persie are too erratic and volatile, and Song and Arshavin are too quiet and passive. Vermealen and Fabregas will almost certainly become the leaders the team needs. But both require another year or two to fully find their voices.
Notice how I haven't included Nasri, Walcott, Diaby, Bendtner in the list of future Arsenal leaders? Well, that brings up a painful consequence of our recent lack of psychological strength. To find players like that Wenger needs to dive into the transfer market. While he's there I suspect he'll also be looking for cover in central defence, another area that has recently proven to be a vulnerability. The club certainly has the money and the scouting network to find suitable players, and with the appeal of playing for a top European side it shouldn't be too difficult to lure in some top players. Hopefully Wenger can also bring in at least one experienced leader who can provide some extra guidance.
Obviously, there are still plenty of reasons to be optimistic. With so much young talent in the ranks and a phenomenal coach providing expert guidance we'll see a continuation of great football and satisfying results. But we fans need to accept that next season will likely mark a continuation of the now famous "transitional period" at Arsenal, especially if we fail to acquire one or two strong veterans or key members of the current squad don't step up. But it's only a matter of time before things turn around at the Grove. The trophies will come, but we must be patient and have faith.
