Well we crept over the line in the end rather than a roaring finish. But most important of all was that we did it at all. Third, a place higher than last season. But not a classic season by any means, more one of grinding attrition.
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.
