Magic and Loss

The infamous magic of the FA Cup was hard to find around the Emirates over recent days. Their FA Cup loss to Manchester Utd was the club’s third significant loss in a fortnight, which must have left Wenger with much soul searching to do. Arsenal continue to play magnificently up to a point – the point where they really need to deliver results, many Arsenal fans now argue, and some of the natives are getting restless.

People calling for Arsene Wenger to quit, though, should consider that Arsenal consistently perform at the highest level and the margins at that level are slimmer than the man himself. Remember that the teams above Arsenal in the English Premier League are in financial wonderland and certainly not operable in any ordinary business sense. So be careful what you wish for – ask Charlton Athletic, Portsmouth or Leeds Utd. Arsenal's losses might be significant in terms of the history books, but any end of year report must encourage them to keep up the good work.

Whilst I am stepping off the pitch at sports coach UK I am already looking forward to the next game.  So, to my old team mates I say good bye and good luck:

REQUIEM FOR A TEAM

I am eight years old. We are Colwood Rangers. We are ploughing up hill first half.

Andy Gough: left winger, leaping squirrel – watch him go. Oh! He’s run out of pitch -

Again. Why does Craggis play him on the left? He is right footed.

I am thirty eight years old, remembering that first game. I scored two goals. I was

Good and got better. I lived for the flow of those hours; weekends when we played.

Then, innocence passed. And I saw how the game is – its horrifying glory.