Observations of optimistic outlook…

With both a historic FA Cup final and historic Champions League Final almost upon us, I’d just like to raise a few points re Arsenal this season in response to many anti-Wenger comments that I’ve read in various papers and forums. As an almost life-long gooner I am happy with AW and with his record at the club; of course silverware every year would be nice but sometimes putting things in perspective is necessary: his record speaks for itself and to average 2nd place in the Premier League over the 12 seasons in charge is quite good, no? ...better than all other clubs, bar one [grrrrr]

This season – which started so well and in which, if a turning point was needed, it was probably the Taylor/Eduardo incident and the injury-time penalty in the same game against Birmingham - they led the League for 80% of the season and...

...they ended the season with a much better home record than Chelsea and a better away record than Manchester United

(Yes they did; check it out); all this when they were supposed to cave in after Thierry Henry left and to be honest most of the season I had fingers crossed because it was so hard not to secretly feel it would end in tears/it couldn't last/ too many bad decisions going against (yeah, yeah, yeah)/missed too many chances...