"SOMETIMES BY LOSING A BATTLE, YOU FIND A NEW WAY TO WIN THE WAR"

"SOMETIMES BY LOSING A BATTLE, YOU FIND A NEW WAY TO WIN THE WAR"

Whoever supports Arsenal FC can only know the feeling of optimism, hope, ecstasy and belief (as Arsene Wenger likes to emphasis regularly). However, these emotions come to close, usually towards the February/March part of the season, fixture list overload and injuries taking a toll on our vulnerable team, with the manager and captain's at a loss to explain the slow decline. Someone once said that you learn from your mistakes, but time and time again Arsenal seem to succumb to the same morale derailing moments that define the season. 

Since our 7-year barren run in terms of trophies started, there have been certain moments that define our season. These moments have not only disturbed the team spirit, but they have dismantled the style of play - leaving Arsene in a bit of a muddle. Where does it start from really?

2006. Arsenal were leading 1-0 in the Champions League final against Barcelona, Jens Lehmann's early sending off was irrelevant until late on, when the ever frustrating Manuel Almunia managed to concede two simple goals and end Arsenal's hopes of becoming European champions. This moment of conceding the second goal foreshadowed everything that was to come. Dismay, anti-climax and defensive naivety.

2007. When the Gunners let go of Thierry Henry in the summer preceding this season fans and critics alike wrote of Arsenal of having any hope of success. But the outcome was different, the newly built young side playing football that had never been produced since the Invincible side. However, this was to end in tears yet again. Arsene Wenger had kept faith in a side that had beaten Spurs along the way to a Carling Cup final against Chelsea. After a drama filled game including a near death experience for John Terry, a first goal for Theo Walcott and an annual Didier Drogba winner against the Gunners, a fight broke out - showing that Arsenal's Young Guns still needed time to mature.

2008. Arsenal were four points in front of Manchester United at the top of the table. Great football, great spirit and great support - things were never better. Out of all the moments that have blightened Arsenal, this one lives long in the memory for me and most likely the majority of other Arsenal fans. Eduardo da Silva was running off with the ball early on, until Martin Taylor, the Birmingham City player, broke the in-form strikers leg. The reaction from players said it all and despite Theo Walcott's two goal attempt at getting the Gunners back into the tainted game, Gael Clichy gave away a penalty - a teary William Gallas producing a sight that haunts me even now.

2009. Another moment against Chelsea and another moment that haunts me forever. We were in the Champions League semi final as well as the FA Cup final, a potentially memorable season loomed for the Gunners. However, despite another Theo Walcott opening goal in the FA Cup semi final against Chelsea, Didier Drogba proved the stumbling block again, rounding an AWOL Lukasz Fabianski and celebrating in the Drogba way - top off waving it around and running round in ecstasy. Just once I want to see an Arsenal player do the same.

2010. Despite the season starting off fantastic, myself watching the opening 6-1 win against Everton in an Irish bar in Zurich, Switzerland, the inevitable seemed to happen. This years moment came late, us having a pop at trying to win the title until a battering at the hands of Lionel Messi took us out the Champions League and Tottenham's Danny Rose producing a "world class" (Although I think it was a FLUKE - cheers Almunia) goal. This was the moment that changed everything, our confidence slipping, causing us to drop points against Wigan and Man City, thus succumbing us to a third place finish.

2011. The 2010/2011 season saw Arsene Wenger proclaiming to the media that, "I personally believe we can go in every competition to the end." He could have been right. However, when Arsenal's heroics of getting to the final of the Carling Cup against Birmingham at Wembley to win their first trophy in 6 years, things couldn't have gone worse. After Nicola Zigic's first goal and Robin van Persie's equaliser, which led him to coming off injured, Obafemi Martins struck late in a horror mix up between Wojciech Szczesny and Laurent Koscielny. Another bad mistake, another trigger for a barren season.

2012. There was not a standard moment this year that made everyone sit up and think. After the huge defeat at Manchester United, foreshadowing has never played a bigger part - Arsenal getting back into the top four only to have Champions League football not guarenteed with the last game to play on Sunday. Despite being in the driving seat, the usual defensive errors have crept in - and while not trying to bring it up again, the 8-2 loss stays firm in the memory.

 It's all gone wrong in previous years. But hopefully, next year, we can move on and make sure that the errors don't strike again. Who knows?
"SOMETIMES BY LOSING A BATTLE, YOU FIND A NEW WAY TO WIN THE WAR"

ARSENAL FC - BY FAR THE GREATEST TEAM, THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN