Watching Arsenal is too much stress and Wenger must put his act together

FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 - 00:00 -- BY CAROL RADULL

I don’t know much about what has happened in the football this week as family matters took precedent, but I still got to watch the final weekend Arsenal match of the EPL season.

Of course most Arsenal fans wanted the Gunners to finish 4th and I have been preaching about the “Top Four Trophy for several weeks now, but what an anti climax it was.

Yes I am happy that we will not be playing on Thursday nights but it’s more a pride issue than the fact that Arsenal is progressing, because we aren’t.

So we finished ahead of Spurs and will be in the Champions League, but aren’t we just ‘life-long’ participants of the Champions League?

We never really show any intent to win it and have only reached the final once, but we all know that if there aren’t drastic management changes in Arsenal, then our target next season will again be to reach the “last 16” and then qualify again.

 It’s like always being a brides-maid and never the bride. And never making an effort to look good to attract a suitor. But always hoping that one will come. Last Saturday during the Score, we called up ardent Arsenal supporter George Lutta who was praying for Arsenal to finish 5th.

At first I was annoyed with him, but his reasoning was that we had more of a chance to win the Europa league next season than an other trophy. So why not dive straight into it.

He said watching the EPL had become a stressful affair because as Gunners, we were always expecting the worst; and often it happened.

We ultimately agreed that perhaps it was time for us to accept that Arsenal is no longer a contender for any big silverware; kind of another Stoke City or Newcastle.

You know those teams that have targets like finishing in the Top 10, or qualifying for Europa, or maybe, just maybe, winning the league Cup.

Perhaps it’s time to lower our expectations and end the disappointments. Already there is talk of Arsenal players being targeted in the transfer window, with Wenger of course eyeing a few French babies already.

So far little is expected to change for the better next season but there are two months or so for Arsene Wenger to get his act together.

And get that act together he must! Like Lutta, I’m tired of the stress that comes with watching Arsenal play. I want silverware next season and nothing less! Even a Europa League Cup! Talk to me on @CarolRadull on twitter or www.facebook.com/CarolRadull