Arsenal's 2011-2012 season has been a tough one. It's either been all good or all bad. This past weekend's 3-3 draw with Norwich at The Emirates was definitely bad. In fact it was inexcusable, pathetic and downright frustrating. With just 2 games remaining in the season, Arsenal had third place and a guarantee of Champions League football next season all but locked up. They controlled their own destiny...win their last two games against Norwich at home and West Brom away and this difficult season would end on a positive note. Third place, guaranteed Champions League football and the arrival of the yearly Arsenal holiday known as St. Totteringham's Day.
No disrespect to Norwich, but Arsenal should have bossed this game from start to finish and recorded the win with ease. Less than two minutes into the game and a Yossi Benayoun strike from distance and it looked lilke Arsenal would cruise. Instead, Arsenal had to fight back throughout the match. When Robin van Persie scored his second goal of the day in the 80th minute, the Gunners had regained the lead 3-2. All they had to do was defend their lead for just 10 minutes. They didn't do it. The 3-3 draw let the door open for Spuds and Newcastle to jump Arsenal for third place.
Some higher power must be a Gooner as Arsenal were given a gift today. The mercenaries of Manchester's Oil City United defeated Newcastle 2-0 and miraculously Spuds only managed a draw with Aston Villa. So, with one game left....just one, Arsenal again have their destiny in their own hands. A win next week and the job is done. This is not only a winnable game, it is a must win. Hopefully, the next blog entry will be a positive one as we put the most frustrating and unpredictable EPL season in recent memory to bed. GET IT DONE ARSENAL.
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| Better late than never |
Meanwhile in Queens, New York the Mets put a stop to their own run of inept play and actually won 2 out of 3 from the Arizona Diamondbacks. In fact, I actually got to witness one of those wins as I attended my first Mets game of the year. A friend gave me a pair of tickets he couldn't use and the only catch was that I had to bring back the Tom Seaver bobbleheads that were being given out at the stadium that day.
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| The Tom Seaver bobbleheads as promised |
In a rather unexciting game, the Mets finally rewarded Johan Santana by scoring 4 runs and actually holding on to the lead. 4-3 was the final and Santana had finally notched his first win of the season.
R.A. Dickey followed Santana's great outing with one of his own today. Dickey pitched 8 scoreless innings and the Mets' came away with a 4-1 win.
So one team that should have won, didn't and one team that shouldn't win did. Here's hoping that next Sunday will be victorious for Arsenal and St. Totteringham's Day will be celebrated all across the world!
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| Finally, The Mets' earn a win for Johan Santana |
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