?The next year we went to Liverpool and won the title.?

Chris Hatherall

IF PROOF were needed that Arsenal’s failure to win a trophy in six years is holding back their players and creating an atmosphere of anxiety around the club, then watching the Carling Cup Final from the stands provided more than enough evidence to prove the case.
Arsenal went into the match with manager Arsene Wenger seemingly relaxed about his team’s trophy drought, choosing instead to highlight so many consecutive years of Champions League qualification as a barometer of his team’s success, while director Ivan Gazidis astonishingly claimed winning titles was not necessarily the club’s primary focus.
Arsenal fans, it seems, disagree. And, rather like their team, the current situation has seen them suffer a crisis of confidence.
The atmosphere in the Arsenal end at Wembley never hit the passionate, boisterous noise levels generated in the opposite end by Birmingham supporters; not because Arsenal fans don’t have the same passion for their club but because the frustration of six years without silverware has created a nervous tension and a strange lack of belief that is undoubtedly transmitting itself to the pitch.
BBC commentator Mark Lawrenson, never if truth be told a friend of Arsenal, snidely announced “oh, the Arsenal fans are here after all" mid-way through the first half when a roar went up from the east end of Wembley, but sadly he was right: Birmingham fans DID make more noise and gave the appearance they wanted it more.
It started as early as an hour before kick-off when an Arsenal film and a Birmingham video appeared on the big screen. Arsenal’s was full of history, of glories gone before and great moments to remember. Birmingham’s was an unashamed Churchillian speech about pride in your club and the place where you live – and ended with a rousing rendition of Keep Right On To The End of the Road from the hordes of Blues fans.
Arsenal’s film said: these are the standards of the past, now go and match it. Birmingham’s said: we’ll die for you, do the same for us and we’ll give you everything. And it inspired Alex McLeish’s side from the first moment to the last.
Not that Arsenal didn’t play some wonderful football; at times they did, especially in a second half spell when only Ben Foster kept them at bay. And few people would ever suggest Wenger’s boys are not a hugely talented side worthy of winning a trophy one day.
But there was a nervous air about their touch, especially in defence, and an underlying tension in the crowd and in the minds of the players that seemed to hold them back.
So when the catastrophic misunderstanding between Szczesny and Koscielny handed Birmingham victory there was no chance of Arsenal fans staying to back their heroes and provide support for the challenges still ahead; within minutes they were gone, leaving Robin van Persie and Co to climb the stairs to the Royal Box alone.
Outside Wembley, the disappointment and pain was palpable as supporters wondered how on earth it had all gone wrong – yet again - and whether their team was destined never to win trophy; so you can only imagine the scenes in the Arsenal dressing room as players wrestled with similar emotions.
The big question now is whether Wenger’s side can use the disappointment to fire them to success in future competitions.
“They need to bottle it, remember it and think about every time they go out on the pitch – and make sure it never happens again,” that’s what we did when we lost the League Cup Final against Luton,” said former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn. “The next year we went to Liverpool and won the title.”
That may prove easier said than done, however. The Arsenal side of Winterburn’s era was full of players with heart, passion and character; and judging by Sunday’s experience Gooners these days are yet to be convinced their current heroes the same qualities.
Only time will tell, of course. But this may be the moment for Arsenal fans to show some blind faith and turn up the volume when it is needed most against Orient in the FA Cup on Wednesday and against Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday; Birmingham’s following have already proved how effective it can be.
It should be the players who inspire the fans, but sometimes when confidence is low it has to be the other way around.

 

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/SKKe-6_BYNQ/post.aspx

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