Yes, dear Media Arsenal did indeed deserve this FA Cup title
If you’re anything like me, you’re bloody well still celebrating the FA Cup win. It’s been 3 days and it’s still as sweet now as it was then. Okay I am not a babbling, crying fool like I was after the final whistle went but I am still just as chuffed as I was on the day.
It’s been 9 years running and Arsenal deserve to win silverware. Their approach to the game both from the easy on the eye style to the prudence of how the club is run, warrants success. When other clubs are investing a “sugar daddy’s” money to achieve success, Arsenal are building it and supporting it through a sound business model, even if I don’t like the continued ticket increases
Still, if you are regular reader of the press or if you track things on Social Media you’ll likely have heard the following ways to diminish the Cup win:
- It was only Hull
- It was only the FA Cup
- It was only 1 trophy in 9 years, and
- Arsenal didn’t deserve it
There is a variation of the last one, but let’s look at these individually. Of course we’ll be preaching to the choir, but maybe, just maybe if we reach one of the unenlightened ones, we’ve done something.
“It Was Only Hull.”
Going into the match, some people were speculating that because of Hull’s run in they’d be easy pickings. I looked at the match with caution because cup ties are not as red and white all that. Players want to play in cups. It takes them to another level. Eventually you hope it levels out. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t.
Arsenal’s decision to play their methodical approach worked against them from the off as Hull clearly wanted to come out and make a statement. Boy did they. They were energized and focused and the two, almost three goals were more warranted for their industry then Arsenal’s lack of it.
Anyone who makes it to a cup final deserves to be in the Cup final. Yes, Hull are just out of the premier league relegation zone, but they’ve been a pretty steady side and Brucie has them well coached. They were always going to be up for this one. Anyone who hung anything on the 3-0 drubbing a few weeks ago doesn’t know the psychological aspect of sport too well.
But Arsenal’s patience paid off. They didn’t flinch in light of being down 2-0 and after getting back to 2-1, I personally felt we would win. As much pressing as Hull were doing (and doing well) it was with such a pace that it didn’t look like they could sustain it. And they didn’t. Arsenal’s patience paid off.
Hull made Arsenal fight for the title. Sure it was just Hull, but last season it was just Wigan – who sent Man City out. The beauty of the cup is that the expected doesn’t always happen and to say it’s “just Hull” does a discredit to Hull and Bruce. They made it there. They deserved to be there. It wasn’t just Hull.
“It was only the FA CUP”
This is one of the more ridiculous statements I’ve heard. Yes it was the FA Cup, the oldest cup competition in the world. It is considered the most prestigious of cup tournaments. Santi Cazorla has played in both the FA Cup and Copa del Rey. He said his preference was clearly the FA Cup.
Given the route Arsenal had to go to get to the FA Cup final it was a gauntlet of teams that would’ve liked nothing better to displace us and continue our 9 year run of nothingness. Tottenham, Liverpool and Everton are all top 6 sides. We played them all and won.
The FA Cup is a glorious competition and magical when it suits the purpose of those who seem to have a bias against Arsenal. But when Arsenal go ahead and do the improbable (come back from 2-0 down to win) then it only the FA Cup.
Make up your minds. Because when a team doesn’t take it seriously you criticize weakened squads or insuring it’s only a youth run out and when one of those teams is successful it’s “just the FA Cup.”
Tell that to any of the purported minnows who take a big team scalp or to Wigan who defied the odds and snatched it away from City not only last year but this year as well.
I said all season long this was an achievable target. We’ve achieved it. I hope it is the foundation I believe it can be for more success in the near term. The FA Cup is a glorious competition. Shame on those who diminish it as a tool to expound on their bias.
“It’s only 1 trophy in 9 years.”
You knew this one was coming didn’t ya? No longer able to flog us with no titles won, they had to amend it. IT’s a true statement for sure however, it ignores the basic facts of Arsenal’s situation much like the – no trophies in 9 years story did.
Challenge any of the title winners in the last 9 years to build a new stadium without the assistance of a wealthy benefactor, have it funded through the commercial limitations of the that time. Then tell them they have to sufficiently manage the debt so that it doesn’t become a burden that could sink the team. Now tell them to try and be competitive until the financial picture is better for them.
First, you’d lose City and Chelsea right away because they would never have been able to do it as they weren’t in the position 9 years ago to achieve anything. United could’ve but you’d probably see a league that was more balanced with more than just 1 or 2 teams winning the title.
Let’s see how much 1 title in 9 years holds up against other clubs if they try and operate under similar circumstances.
“Arsenal didn’t deserve it.”
I am calling bullshit right out of the bat on this one. They were bloody 2-0 down. Could’ve been 3-0 down had it not been for Kieran Gibbs’ forehead. But down 2-0 they didn’t panic. They dug in and got back 1 goal. That one goal became the catalyst for the turnaround.
Hull continued their intense pressure but you just knew that it wouldn’t last. They aren’t built to maintain that kind of pressure over 90, let alone 120 minutes. Arsenal had to be patient and not let the early deficit unhinge them as it did in the league.
They needed to and they did buckle down and just keep chipping away. In the end the 2nd goal was inevitable as was Aaron Ramsey’s eventual winner. Arsenal maintained pressure and Hull getting weary from the pressing began giving the ball away more and more. Arsenal then turn to take chance after chance and in the end they got the additional goals they needed.
If that’s not deserving it, I don’t know what is.
Instead of celebrating a wonderful cup final we’re now staring at idiotic stories like those above or the fact that Vermaelen and Szczesny didn’t play a lick but were celebrating with their teammates. We’re told we don’t deserve Aaron Ramsey.
None of the pieces offer any insight or commentary they are just sticks to try and flog Arsenal and her supporters with. Good thing is, I think we all still feel too good to let the muppets like Adrian Durham get to us.
Enjoy this Gooners. I still think it portends well for the future. But even if we start winning trophies regularly again, don’t expect us to get any inch of respect. You know what though – who cares – we’re Arsenal and we’re the 2014 FA Cup Champion’s and that lasts at least until next May!
Tell us what was the most ridiculous story you heard this weekend? Are you still buzzing?
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