You wouldn't believe how many times I've been on radio shows this summer and referred to as a 'blogger'. So here I am to share some thoughts on the rising levels of expectation around Arsenal after three more very ambitious moves in the transfer market. Yep, you've guessed it, in the form of a blog!
A guide to coping with the rising levels of expectation around the Arsenal...
Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice have all joined Mikel Arteta's side taking the club's spend under the Spaniard up to something in the region of £600m. So is it time we stopped prefacing everything with 'this is a project' or 'we're not quite ready to compete yet'?
Don't get me wrong, the money needed to be spent and the squad looks totally different to when Arteta took the reins in December 2019. Most of the 'deadwood' has been shipped out even if it meant in some cases, terminating contracts and taking a financial hit. Arsenal have been through a huge transitional period but is this the point where we are now expected to better last season's performances and challenge for the game's major honours?
Expectations are rising among the fan base and that's down to a number of reasons. Primarily though, the trust that even those who were heavily critical of the boss in the past now have in the 41-year-old to keep things moving in a positive direction.
There's a feel good factor around Arsenal and maybe it's because I cover the club professionally these days but I can't remember ever feeling this connected to the side I've supported since I was a boy. I'm desperate for them to crown off this turnaround with a Premier League title or that long awaited Champions League trophy.
While last season's 'drop off' was tough to take, deep down, plenty of us knew we were only ever a couple of key injuries away from our level dropping significantly. That was to be the case but it shouldn't be forgotten we ended up missing out to the eventual treble winners - hardly a disgrace!
The mindset and expectation levels around Arsenal going into the 2023/24 season however are very different and as supporters, we'll have to adjust the way we think in order to cope with what is inevitably going to be an emotional rollercoaster of a campaign. Here's how to do it, my three golden rules if you like...
Enjoy it!
It's been ages since the Arsenal have been this competitive and while I know better than most, its not always possible in the moment, enjoy it! With success comes envy and you're inevitably going to come across rival fans who are desperate to discredit the work the club have done in recent years. We're back in the Champions League and ready to fight arguably the greatest side this league has ever seen for the Premier League title, a place that looked a million miles away just a short while ago.
Take the 'hate' as a compliment
You could feel it creeping in again last season. In years gone by, rival fans had become apathetic towards Arsenal because they no longer saw us as a threat. That all changed when we returned to the summit of the Premier league last season. I often felt a similar feeling during Wenger's glory days - it was very much us against the world. While we were struggling to come to terms with last season's collapse, rival fans were relieved to see us fall short - that in itself should be taken as a compliment. We're back and they know it.
Remember what's important
I'm not going to sit here and pretend that winning isn't important, of course it is. We're all desperate to see Arsenal winning the biggest trophies again. But the pandemic, as awful as it was shone a light on what makes football so special. The sense of community, the togetherness and the escape it offers from your everyday problems or challenges.
To feel a connection with your club and the people you share the love for it with is invaluable. Football and more specifically Arsenal give you something to look forward to at the end of a difficult week. When the games stopped and during the period in which we were unable to attend matches, I personally found myself lost. This football club, whatever the results, unites millions of people across the world and although it might not feel that way all the time - that's the most important thing about being a Gooner!
UTA!