Already it feels all too familiar. As soon as the season is over, everyone is after our biggest star. A lot will be written over the coming days and weeks and most of it will be crap. No football website or newspaper will risk having nothing to say, even if they have nothing to say. Players at Arsenal will say that he’s staying (first up Laurent Koscielny) and players elsewhere will give hacks a quote about how they know he is going or would be better off going.

All that seems clear right now is that he will talk to the club this week, but it is unlikely that a final decision will be announced. He has to link up with the Dutch squad on Thursday. Everything else you read is most likely made up or at least exaggerated.

Even considering the most positive outcome, that he stays, there’s no incentive for Van Persie to agree straight away. This is likely the last major contract of his career, the last one where his pay will rise rather than fall. He’d be nuts to cave too early.

But before we start to feel that it’s just like last summer, there are positives too. By finishing third, there is no question over our Champions League status. We have already signed Podolski, a major statement of intent. Lukas Podolski is an established international. Last year our early signing was Gervinho. Now Gervinho may or may not come good in time, that’s a different debate, but he wasn’t a signing in Podolski’s class.

It will also help that Arsenal will start the transfer window with a much clearer view about their finances than last summer. Van Persie will want a significant pay rise and Arsenal know what they have in the bank.

All this may not be enough of course. He may decide that this is the last big chance to secure the financial future of the Van Persie household and it’s time to max out his earning potential. If it comes down to just the pay packet, then others can outbid us. Hopefully he will feel a greater attachment than that and that there is potential for greater success at the club.

If Arsenal could complete another quality, early signing it would help, but that could be hindered by the European Championships. Whatever they do, they must show a great sense of purpose than last year. If you wait for trouble it will come and find you.

My own hunch at the moment is that it’s fifty-fifty.

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In the four decades that I have followed Arsenal, this has to be one of the more emotionally draining.  So many setbacks, so many last minute changes in fortune.  But we did it.  Despite being screwed over by Barca, we did it.  Despite our own management team’s indecision over Fabregas and Nasri we did it.  Despite the season long injury to Jack Wilshere, the loss of four fullbacks at the same time and then of Arteta for the final month and fourth becoming the new fifth, we did it.  But it was so close.

Arsene Wenger made three changes for the last game.  Sagna was out with a broken leg of course and to the surprise of many he went with Jenkinson.  But despite having had to change one of the back four he made another change by bringing in Santos for Gibbs.  Many had expected Coquelin to replace Sagna, but instead he came in for Ramsey.  One change resisted was Szczesny, despite an injury, who was kept going with painkillers.  But the most important change was probably a West Brom one, with keeper Ben Foster being replaced at the last minute by Marton Fulop.

Some would say that Fulop gifted all three of Arsenal’s goals, certainly he was at fault for the first and last.  Three minutes in, Benayoun took advantage of Fulop’s indecision over whether to kick or pick up the ball, nicked it away and put it in the empty net.  For a second we all sighed with relief.  We were going to be OK today.  A second later we all muttered the word ‘Norwich’ under our breath and that proved the correct reaction.

Soon West Brom had equalised and then gone two-one up.  Meanwhile, Spurs were beating Fulham.  Their first goal was offside.  But not outrageous, bizarrely given, how on earth is that a goal offisde.  Shane Long got in on goal mainly because no-one closed him or Morrison down.  The second was soft too, with Jenkinson and Koscielny uncertain who was taking on a long ball and leaving Graham Dorrans enough time to take it instead.  Two-one.  Bloody hell.

But thankfully we didn’t give up.  There were a lot of fairly ineffectual performances but Benayoun, Santos and Koscielny kept the show on the road.  The rest were struggling one way or another.  On the half hour, Santos got the ball from Song on the edge of the area and scored.  We were back level again.  Norwich we muttered, surely not again.

Just like the Norwich game we went back into the lead after Koscielny pounced on a hopeless Fulop punch.  Still thirty five minutes to go.  Felt like hours and hours and hours.  Szczesny made saves, we had occasional chance and Gibbs may well have saved our season with a last minute tackle.  It was one of those that had to perfect or it was a penalty.  Phew!

At the end of that three hour second half the fourth official called for five minutes overtime.  Haven’t a clue why, he must have been watching the City QPR game.  Five more minutes of hell and then it was over.  And we were third.  Amazing.  Not classy or memorable, not a Norwich rerun, but amazing.  Well done guys, just don’t do it that way again okay.  I’m feeling old this morning.

Benayoun and Koscielny led our match poll with Yossi the winner.  My choice was Santos, but I almost voted for Gibbs just for that tackle.  Between them they had enough in the tank to see us home.

Well done Gunners.  Mind the gap!

West Brom 2:3 Arsenal
Goals: Benayoun, Santos, Koscielny
Team: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Santos (Ramsey), Song, Rosicky (Walcott), Coquelin, Gervinho (Gibbs), Van Persie, Benayoun.

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Come on you Gunners!

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Two obvious issues: does Walcott play and who subs for Sagna? Theo Walcott apparently joined in with training again this week but it sounds very doubtful. He did his hamstring just two weeks ago so my guess is that he probably won’t make it. I assume that Benayoun will start so the question is – Gervinho or Oxlade-Chamberlain? I’m guessing Gervinho. He has struggled with his form, but to be honest if the Ox plays I think that it’s Ramsey who should lose out.

Who will replace Sagna, out now with a broken leg. Koscielny isn’t an option with no Mertesacker. When Sagna came off we had Coquelin and Djourou on the bench and Coquelin for the nod. So Coquelin or Jenkinson? Close call maybe, but I would go with Jenkinson. I’m no manager but I always reckon that if it’s a close call, go for playing someone in their right position.

So how about making our final gamble:
______ Szczesny ______
Jenk _ Kos _ Verm _ Gibbs
________ Song ________
___ Rosicky __ AOC ____
Gervinho _ RVP _ Benayoun

What do you think?

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Fortunately, when we did get to play the market on the last day, it went pretty well: Arteta, Benayoun, Mertesacker, Park and Santos. Five players signed as the window closed and four of them have had a positive impact on the team. Park remains a mystery but given the circumstances it was a lot better than it might have been. The real difference though was the likes of Van Persie, Rosicky, Koscielny and Szczesny taking a big step forward.

But for all that recovery though, we face the prospect of the same sort of summer. Fail to beat West Brom of Sunday and we face the same doubts over re-signing key players and, potentially, the same wait for transfers.

West Brom v Arsenal (67)
Tottenham (66) v Fulham
Everton v Newcastle (65)

A draw and we can’t be worse than fourth. A win and we can’t be worse than third.

West Brom’s form at home: won 6, drawn 3, list 9.
West Brom’s last six at home: WWLWWD

That’s good form for a club of West Brom’s financial clout. But, frankly, this isn’t about West Brom’s form. It’s about what goes on inside the Arsenal players’ heads. Treat this game right and Arsenal are way ahead of West Brom. Play like we did against Norwich and West Brom will take advantage.

I don’t know how much more motivation do they need?

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It sounds as of the price is decided between the two clubs. It could well be that the player wants to wait until the Champions League position is clear. Fingers crossed that means next weekend.

But what would it mean for Alex Song? A bit of competition or are rumours of his departure a real possibility? Maybe Arsene Wenger wants the option of playing two holding players against the better teams.

Junior Hoilett
There also seems to be a bit of a media bandwagon for Blackburn’s Junior Hoilett as well. Not quite sure about the logic of this one, particularly with the Podolski deal done. Hoilett is a winger come striker, much like Podolski. We also have Gervinho. It could be an alternative to a deal for Benayoun, but I think that we have benefited from his experience.

Jan Vertonghen
Apparently we are about to be ‘snubbed’ by Vertonghen as he chooses Spurs over us. Typical life-cycle of a transfer rumour! First link a player to a club and build the story up. No firm evidence required. Then, when the unsubstantiated transfer doesn’t happen, switch to the ‘snub’ stage.

Personally I don’t get the Vertonghen story anyway. I think that our defensive problems are about the way we play rather than the individual personnel.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have lost to Liverpool. So they can do no better than sixth now. So they have to win the Champions League to play any kind of European football at all next season. A win-win for Di Matteo then: win the Champions League and Abramovich is so greatful that he keeps the job; lose and no big name will want it and he gets to keep the job.

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If he can add some discipline and awareness to our defence he will have a big impact. Instinctively this feels like a good decision. Some hoped for Tony Adams but I suspect that might not have been a happy working relationship. Until he makes it or decides not to make it as a manager I think that he could make a brooding number two.

So good luck to Steve and also Neil Banfield who steps up from Reserve Manager to join Boro Primovic as a first team coach. More preparations made early for next season. Encouraging stuff, but so much still hangs on the last game.

The New Kit
Another preparation for next year has also been announced. The new kit. Don’t like it. I mean it’s not terrible is it, just completely uninspired.

“Err, what shall we do this time. Dunno, could just stick some hoops on the sleeves and socks I suppose……three hours later…….yeah, that’ll do, some hoops. What’s a popular colour other than red or white?”

Do we have to have a new kit if that’s the best we can do?

Bye bye Blackburn.
Their chances were already slim and they needed a win. But Wigan wanted a win too and they got it. They’re safe now and Blackburn are down. Wigan and Martinez deserve it for the type of football they play in the Premier League on the budget they have.

Steve Keen has done his dignified best but Blackburn have neither survived or endeared. There are plenty of rumours about how little Blackburn’s owners really understood about the realities of the Premier League. No doubt they get it now.

So now it’s down to QPR and Bolton. Owen Coyle’s team need to win and hope that QPR fail to get a point. Given that QPR have to play Title-hunting Man City, whilst Bolton play Stoke, I’d say that Bolton have a decent chance. But still only a slim one. Hope they pull it off.

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I feared for Jeff Stelling’s heart yesterday, goodness knows how worked up he’s going to be next Sunday. Every reward the Premier league has is still to be decided. Two of the relegation slots still to be decided. Compulsive stuff.

Now that City have done their job against Newcastle we are obviously less interested in their progress. The amazing thing is that Arsenal still have something to be interested in. On Saturday night there wasn’t an Arsenal fan who thought we hadn’t blown it. Now it’s the Spurs’ fans turn to feel the same.

But even now, there’s everything to play for. We could still come anywhere from third to sixth on goal difference. We could finish higher than last season or be out of European competition altogether.

I mention finishing higher than last season because that will be some achievement. An achievement that some Arsenal fans will not regard as good enough. Personally, afters the events of last August I will regard it as absolutely amazing!

Some fans are seriously suggesting that finishing fifth or sixth would be a blessing in disguise. Damn good disguise I think. Take a look at Liverpool. Getting back into the top four would be very difficult and it will have a big impact on the players we need to keep and bring in. I can’t help thinking that the urge for a cathartic experience is a naive.

In a way, our cathartic experience was this season. Could we exist without Cesc. Fortunately we just about could, thanks largely to Van Persie, Arteta and Rosicky. I’m not trying to do a spin job for the current set-up. Nobody who saw the Norwich game could. There is plenty to do at Arsenal. We have players who aren’t going to make it. Many of them are out on loan. Arsenal have got into a bind by having an equitable wage structure which might be admirable socially but it makes it difficult to sell these players on. But none of these tasks will be made easier if we come fifth or sixth.

I suspect the truth is that there is no magic bullet solution. The oil money pumped into Manchester City means that there is another club at the top table and life is going to be tougher. There is a lot more money available to all the clubs now and that makes the league a lot more competitive.

Despite the crash in the global economy that may not change either. Rumours abound that the likes of Al-Jazera are thinking of competing with Sky for the TV rights. That will bid the price up higher. When Arsene Wenger talks about clubs struggling to get their squads sorted this summer, the real challenge is the 25 players rule.

The game has changed and Arsenal will need every advantage they can get to stay competitive. It’s always going to be this crowded at the top now. We need third place.

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