How Much?

After the most dramatic of climaxes to a season since the days of Michael Thomas celebrating at Anfield, the pound sign appears to have had the last laugh, triumphing over hard work and honesty. As a result, 2012/13 seems to be set for an equally exciting and controversial campaign with the biggest winners surely to be the back pockets. The clubs who were victorious this season, most notably Manchester City and Chelsea, have devoted huge amounts of money provided by foreign investors to guarantee success. However, with this success comes greed which is damaging the beautiful game. Even Liverpool, who won the Carling Cup in February, spent a whopping £56million on transfers last summer to end a six year trophy drought. In an age where money really is everything, just how much passion from the game is being lost by the will to succeed financially? With minutes remaining at the Etihad, and with City needing two goals to claim their first top division title in 44 years, up steps £65million of footballing talent. After Edin Dzeko had equalised with a close range powerful header, Sergio Aguero showed composure and class to beat Paddy Kenny and therefore Manchester United to the title. Roberto Mancini will say that because of these contributions it is money well spent, yet just how deep will the City owners reach into their pockets to make this club, as Yaya Toure so blatantly put it, “the biggest club in the world”? It cannot be denied that in order to be consistently successful in today’s football, you must be financially supported. Just ask Ally McCoist. However, this factor is depriving inferior clubs and managers of achieving their potential. Had a wage and transfer cap been installed when the Barclays Premier League was launched, the careers of many could have been dramatically altered. For example, would our shores have ever graced ‘the special one’? Perhaps instead, managers like David Moyes and Martin O’neill would be receiving trophies as well as admiration and respect, whilst Ashley Cole would be left swapping provocative images with that larger-than-life hairdresser instead of donning the front pages of celebrity magazines. However, it is too late for any kind of structure to be put in place now to recapture the glory days of our sport. Instead, in addition to the money pouring in, passion must also be included into the cauldron. Looking back to that final whistle at the Etihad, as a neutral who were you most happy for? Joe Hart, Micah Richards and Vincent Kompany? Or Aleksandar Kolarov, Samir Nasri and Stefan Savic? The sheer joy seen on Hart’s face as he ran towards his team-mates in jubilation showed just how much winning a trophy with the club meant to him. I have huge admiration for Manchester City and Chelsea’s success because of these kind of players who still play for the love of the game. Passion for football is something that will never be what it used to, yet it must also not be forgotten. Otherwise, the ball deflates as the wallet gets bigger.

Arsenal Season Summary

Yes there is one game left of the season to play and yes that can dramatically change the outcome of our season but I've decided to do some evaluating early, on how my team have performed, and in some cases not, this season. Arsenal have for the seventh season finished with nothing to add to the trophy cabinet, yet it's not all doom and gloom. Having spent considerably less than our main rivals in the transfer window, I believe we have surpassed expectations being positioned third after 37 games. Also, add in the disastrous first couple of months and it seems a miracle that we are where we are. I remember on the 1st of September being jubilant that Arsene Wengers had ditched his normal transfer traditions of just signing young unproven talent and instead brought in some much needed experience to the dressing room. I truly believe that Mikel Arteta has been one of the signings of the season as he has consistently played with assurance when conducting Arsenal's play. Alongside Alex Song, the Arsenal number 8 has the freedom to push up but also the experience to cover his midfield partner. Furthermore, he has contributed with some breathtaking goals such as the beautiful strikes against West Brom and Manchester City respectively. However, Arsene couldn't resist purchasing younger talent and in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain seems to have found a real rough diamond. Exciting and unpredictable, the former Southampton forward has brightened up the flanks at the Emirates as he continues to bamboozle his opponents with outrageous confidence. I wish I could praise all of Arsene's recruits with this much enthusiasm, yet unfortunately some haven't shone as brightly as others. Worst to make an impression is surely the South Korean striker Park, signed from AS Monaco in August. The only positive being, at least Chamakh has found someone to keep him company on the bench. Yet ones man loss is another mans gain, as playing like a new signing, our veteran midfield general Thomas Rosicky is having the season of his life. Out of nowhere the 31 year old seems to have rediscovered the form he showed at former club Brossia Dortmund, producing several match winning displays. No gunner has performed as remarkably though as captain Robin Van Persie who has quite simply carried the squad through matches on occasions. His amazing 30 league goals to date saw him rightly win the PFA Footballer Of the Year and Footballers Writers Player Of the Year awards. With one game remaining to guarantee that prestigious third spot, it is vital that we get all three points against West Brom next week. Not only for Champions League security but also to prove to our number 10 that we are a top European club capable of competing in the best competitions. In addition, the latest announcement of the signing of Lukas Podolski is particularly pleasing. Hopefully the German international has been signed to support Van Persie and not to replace our iconic talisman. Having bounced back from that early season blip, with impressive wins against the likes of Chelsea, Newcastle and Manchester City it seems that my team from north London is finally beginning to grasp that winning mentality that can get trophies. Also if we keep Van Persie and add more signings like Podolski I think next season can be our year. But doesn't a gunner think that every summer? P.s M'Vila is a must buy