By Tony Attwood
No one quite knows what “We’ve got our Arsenal back” means, although clearly it has some sort of relationship with an Arsenal club or team from the past which is now back playing once again. Although not exactly the same players of course, for that would be silly.
And it cleraly has something to do with the glorious run we have had and the scoring of goals. Maybe recalling the good old days when we scored five goals or more at least once every 20 games. That was a record under Mr Wenger which we celebrated back in March 2012.
Mr Emery hasn’t been here long enough to start matching a record like that so perhaps it refers to going nine or ten in a row without defeat that causes the celebration. And thinking of that it came to me that although I know about how often we have scored five or more in the past 23 years, I didn’t know about the runs of victories we have had.
So being the nerdy sort of chap I am I started to have a look. Not going back decades, but just recent years. As far as I can see it goes like this:
- 2017/18 – best run: six successive wins
- 2016/17 – best run: seven successive wins
- 2015/16 – best run: four successive wins, achieved twice
2014/15 – ah now here we have to pause because in 2014/15 we actually got nine wins in a row. Here they are…
| Date | Game | Res | Score | Competition |
| 01 Mar 2015 | Arsenal v Everton | W | 2-0 | Premier League |
| 04 Mar 2015 | Queens Park Rangers v Arsenal | W | 1-2 | Premier League |
| 09 Mar 2015 | Manchester United v Arsenal | W | 1-2 | FA Cup |
| 14 Mar 2015 | Arsenal v West Ham United | W | 3-0 | Premier League |
| 17 Mar 2015 | AS Monaco v Arsenal | W | 0-2 | Champions League |
| 21 Mar 2015 | Newcastle United v Arsenal | W | 1-2 | Premier League |
| 04 Apr 2015 | Arsenal v Liverpool | W | 4-1 | Premier League |
| 11 Apr 2015 | Burnley v Arsenal | W | 0-1 | Premier League |
| 18 Apr 2015 | Arsenal v Reading | W | 2-1 | FA Cup |
So I guess we might be saying that we got our 2014/15 side back – although to be fair the Monaco victory was a bit hollow since we went out of the tie following a poor show at the Arsenal Stadium. On the other hand the Reading match, although against a lower league team, did take us to a cup final, so that was rather special. We didn’t know then that Mr W was on the way to becoming the man who won the FA Cup more than any other person in the history of history but still, it was a good moment.
But back to the time machine, because maybe 2014/15 was a bit of a freak. But it seems not…
2013/14 – best run: ten successive wins. Now this is important because it tells us the record we will equal with another victory…
And I remember that opening game of the season so well – it was a total farce – one of the most insane examples of refereeing that I have ever seen, and I’ve seen a few, so I have added that to the list (but tried not to count it in the upping up).
Of course it is possible for the naysayers to take a look at the league cup match against WBA and say that this was a 1-1 draw, and we won only in extra time (which is why the score is in brackets) but then that seems to me a bit of making up rules backwards.
| Date | Game | Res | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug 2013 | Arsenal v Aston Villa | L | 1-3 | Premier League |
| 21 Aug 2013 | Fenerbahce v Arsenal | W | 0-3 | Champions League |
| 24 Aug 2013 | Fulham v Arsenal | W | 1-3 | Premier League |
| 27 Aug 2013 | Arsenal v Fenerbahce | W | 2-0 | Champions League |
| 01 Sep 2013 | Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur | W | 1-0 | Premier League |
| 14 Sep 2013 | Sunderland v Arsenal | W | 1-3 | Premier League |
| 18 Sep 2013 | Olympique Marseille v Arsenal | W | 1-2 | Champions League |
| 22 Sep 2013 | Arsenal v Stoke City | W | 3-1 | Premier League |
| 25 Sep 2013 | West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal | W | (3-4) | League Cup |
| 28 Sep 2013 | Swansea City v Arsenal | W | 1-2 | Premier League |
| 01 Oct 2013 | Arsenal v Napoli | W | 2-0 | Champions League |
Just a couple more to finish off the run
- 2012/13 – best run: five successive wins
- 2011/12 – best run:: six successive wins
Which is not in any way to knock the current run – I am utterly enjoying it as much as the next chap. And yes none of the games had a five in it – although as I mentioned in the earlier article (and all the details are therein) we used to score five every 20 games over a number of years, so that’s another target to head for.
No I am not saying this is not special, it is great and I am loving it. But I wouldn’t want to lose the perspective as I aim to get my Arsenal back, whatever that means. That after all is what historians do – try to find a perspective.
Most Arsenal fans are really enjoying the new set up and Unai seems to have both the fans and players smiling again. Last season was somewhat toxic and the empty seats showed some people had lost the will to go. The fans singing at Fulham could hardly be accused of lacking perspective. They know what they like and come what may it has been a glorious start under the perfectly pleasant Unai. His energy is a big factor and it is rubbing off on Arsenal fans.
Tony
Just wondering if this item was inspired by a couple of post back on the 11th ?
We had the following fromcockerz:
clockerz
11/10/2018 at 3:01 pm
What a load of nonsense. Just enjoy the fact we have our Arsenal back. I see praise for us everywhere and that is because we have a new coach who has shaken things up.
“JUST ENJOY THE FACT WE HAVE OUR ARSENAL BACK”
I thought exactly the same as you so I asked him to explain exactly WHAT Arsenal he is talking about, so I asked him thus:
Nitram
11/10/2018 at 8:30 pm
We had an old coach that won 3 FA Cups, came 2nd 3rd and 4th in the Premier League, as well as winning 3 Community Shields, over a 4 year period.
So what Arsenal do we have back exactly?
—The one from 2013/14 in which we came 4th in the Premier League and won the FA Cup ?
—The one from 2014/15 in which we came 3rd in the Premier League and won the FA Cup and just as a little extra beat mega bucks Man city 3 – 0 in the Community Shield ?
—The one from 2015/16 in which we came 2nd in the prmier league loosing out to shock winners Liecster City, but somehow despite being so crap finishing above mega rich Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea in the Premier league, as well as beating Chelsea in the Community Shield ?
—The one from 2016/17 in which we won the FA Cup and came 5th in the premier League, un fortuneatly missing out on a top 4 finish for the first time in 17 yeras by 1 point.
And lets not forget that Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea went in to that 4 year period on the back of spending in excess of an average £30 to £5o Million, net, per season, for over 10 years, a 10 year period over which Arsenals net spend was zero until the purchase of Ozil.
Shame we didn’t see many signs of people ‘just enjoying’ that did we.
As much as I enjoyed Sundays win it is the first time we’ve been really impressive, so despite loving it and watching the highlights dozens of times, and walking around with a stupid grin on my face and an extra spring in my step, I’m not getting carried away just yet.
But equally I wouldn’t be whinging and whining should results of not gone quite so well.
But the reason for this post, and what really gets my goat, is the insinuation that for the last God knows how many years, despite all the above, Arsenal have been shite.
Yes, I know LAST YEAR wasn’t great but at the end of the day we won exactly the same as Liverpool, Spurs and Man Utd……Nothing.
NB: as was subsequently pointed out to me we did actualy win the Community shield which whilst not being a ‘real’ trophy is still more than nothing because as we all know, top 4 is NOT a trophy.
And not only did the magnificent Liverpool and Spurs win nothing last year, they’ve won nothing for over 10 years, and no titles for over 25 and 50 years respectively.
Shaken things up you say? Well maybe maybe not. But if Emery can give us 4 years anything like the 4 years I have cited above I will be more than happy.
But more than that, I will be amazed.
—As I suspected not a word in relation to the question I, and now you have posed, WHICH Arsenal do we have back?
In fact this is the extent to which his 2 subsequent posts have gone:
clockerz
14/10/2018 at 12:37 pm
The manager being Unai Emery. Would be more respectful to use his name
clockerz
15/10/2018 at 1:54 pm
Andy Mac(k) Unai’s Red Army sounds about right and a banner screaming We’ve got our Arsenal back! will look great at the Ems. I understand you are still grieving the loss of the ‘last manager’ ….
—- There he goes again, but this time he’s ‘screaming’ it. Well that makes all the difference.
But as we are asking, what Arsenal exactly is he’screaming’ about ?
Personly I cant wait for his inteligent, insightful and reasoned response.
Wait no longer!
But for myself – I am always interested in meanings and what lies behind the headlines. Headlines are of course easy, trying to find out what is really going on is much harder. One or two have thought that maybe I am writing something that is somehow against our manager – which is absolutely not the case. I just like knowing the facts behind the emotional response.
Tony
“I just like knowing the facts behind the emotional response.”
Exactly, and given clockerz above post we’re not going to find out exactly ‘which’ Arsenal we have back from him.
“They know what they like and come what may it has been a glorious start under the perfectly pleasant Unai. His energy is a big factor and it is rubbing off on Arsenal fans.”
As has been stated by Tony we have had similarly ‘glorious’ if not better recent runs than this under Wengers stewardship, but it didn’t stop people constantly whinging then did it ?
-2017/18 – best run: six successive wins
-2016/17 – best run: seven successive wins
-2015/16 – best run: four successive wins, achieved twice
We’ve had similar results to the Fulham result in recent seasons as well, and that didn’t stop people whinging either did it ?
West Ham United 1-5 Arsenal
3 Dec 2016 … Arsenal move up to second in the Premier League table…..
Leicester City 2-5 Arsenal
26 Sep 2015 … Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez rediscovers his goal scoring touch as his hat-trick.
And incase you missed it, we won 3 FA Cups under Wenger, and even that didn’t stop people whinging did it ?
So I suppose Tony it could be those Arsenal teams we have back? I don’t know perhaps he’ll tell us?
Only if it is it’s a bit odd, as when Wenger was going on unbeaten runs, posting 5 – 1 victories and winning FA Cups it wasn’t good enough, now it seems it is, even without the FA Cups.
Same as you Tony, I’m not critisising anything about Emery either. I like the guy and think things look positive for the future. But that’s it. Nothing to suggest we are now World beaters, but everything to suggest we should be hopeful of regaining our top 4 status, maybe winning a cup or 2, and even a possible title challange, all of which of course we have already done in the last 5 years.
And thats what MY point is.
Yes, welcome the new manager and enjoy a fresh approach, but please stop using that as a reason to discredit the past manager and demean his achievements, both distant and recent, to the point of irrelivence and even non existance.
Wenger was a magnificent manager and apart from the last season was still bringing us success.
As I said earlier, if Emery can match 3 Fa Cups, 3 Community shields, and 2nd 3rd 4th and 5th placed finishes over a 4 year period, as Wenger did, I will be more than happy.
On the bright side, Clockerz better cover his ears, maybe the away fans that started this new chant, and very catchy it is too, even the tabloids liked it.
Maybe a few amongst them ,that had suffered the recurring nightmares of last season, were merely aexpressing their euphoria from a successive away victory, amongst a larger than usually away support.
Chants like these aren’t voted on, except in the here and now ,with voices. One or two go up, then see who follows. I haven’t seen any bloggers claiming any underlying reasons ,and much to Clockers dismay, no evidence to suggest that The Arsenal they had back were not any of the teams ,other than the away team from last year.
The one which you rightly observed, for some unknown reason, failed, repeatedly, and seemed to have no way of rallying.
We’ve got our Arsenal back is catchier than thank heavens last years away form has fucked off la la la la lah
Ferg
I certainly have no issue with the lads singing it. On a very basic level it’s just a bit of fun, and as you suggest in the context of our away form last year it certainly has credence.
But clockerz is certainly attaching way more significance to it than that, and is basically using as a metaphorical stick with which to bash Wenger, which by the way also explains exactly why the media loved it so much.
I mean anything that can be interpreted as ‘Wenger bashing’ is manor from heaven for those numpties.
Corr: Manna……
I believe us the Gooners irrespective of which sides of the Gooners’ camp one belongs to, are in one accord to see Arsenal extend their current winning run from the 9 games winning run they are currently on in all competitions to an unimaginable winning run in all competitions that’s not imagined they’ll have in all competitions this campaign.
In fact, I’ve not seen any team in the PL including the big teams of Liverpool, Tottenham Hs and Man Utd who are the teams Arsenal will play against in the next couple of weeks including the moderate and the lower club sides in the PL who will also play against Arsenal that will stop Arsenal in their current winning run in the PL between now to the end of December this year when Arsenal will start getting out of the sights of their PL big teams Title win rivals as they continue winning on the run topping the table before the 2nd half of the season’s campaign kicks off.
Well said Sam and cannot understand exactly what the above are defending when the site says it is here to support the manager and the team. That I believe is what I am doing and as someone who has watched Arsenal since the 60s I think I know what kind of Arsenal I like and Unai is presently delivering on all fronts and I was there in the flesh for all of the last manager’s earlier competitive glories and perhaps 23 years at the helm was just too much. Wenger himself said as much. Also a big up to Freddie for revitalising the youth project.
The saying goes that nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.
I think they forgot the other absolute certainty which is that clockerz and his ilk will be the first ones to turn against Emery when things are not going so well, as they almost certainly will at some stage down the line.
Guys Just enjoy the run and the harmony that is around the club once more.We needed to freshen things upand a new manager with new ideas was the way forward.Oh and nitram get over Wenger ,,hes gone lets move on..
nick
I’m presuming that you and Nitram are tight, in which case I applaud you,otherwise your being a bit of a dick. Which is also quite amusing ,but more biological .
Ferg..I dont know what the slightest you are on about.All im saying is that we have a new manager at Arsenal who is starting to find his feet and is doing better than expected so soon.Time to move on and enjoy the moment.
In a ferkin bad mood today, don’t mean to offend. Excuse the language but….
But something’s just really got me now!
Kim Little, star of Arsenal, Flower of Scotland, following what Andrew described as a horror tackle,but I can’t find the footage, has a broken fibula because some Chelsea wanker can’t take being outclassed.
And the ref awarded a yellow. Wanker aswell apparently.
One day someone should get sued for negligence.
Professional footballers should have a duty of care to their fellow players.
And negligent refereeing, I’ll leave that to black sheep and the experts. Commenting I mean!
Sorry nick
I see your saying that now. I just thought the poke at Nitram was a bit unnecessary ( as Tony is Worse😬), except then I thought you might know him, in which case it’s a perfect backhand.
Either way I agree with you , and I wished the Wenger out mob would stop crowing at any opportunity, and the sympathisers,stop rising to it.
nick
It’s got absolutely nothing to do with getting over Wenger, it is to do with defending his legacy and achievements against people like you and clockerz, who see fit to trash him at every opportunity.
You keep knocking him, I’ll keep defending him, it’s as simple as that.
Either way, my admiration for Wenger in no way affects my enjoyment of the 9 match run, or the 5 – 1 win, or in anyway affects what I think of the Emery.
I like what I’ve seen so far, but it is very very early days.
As I said before, if Emery can get anywhere near emulating Wengers FAILURES of winning 3 FA Cups, a 2nd 3rd 4th and 5th placed finish, over the next 4 seasons I will be more than happy.
The question is, will you ?
And my explanation has been banned. Strange little site.
Reiss Nelson scores a cracker for England Under21’s.
https://twitter.com/England/status/1052276594486767616
Nitram
Great posts above. I really admire your thoughts. In fact I always think in the same way maybe a step ahead. I don’t want to degrade Unai Emery but people who think UE is an upgrade on Wenger would be disappointed some day. I can challenge anyone from the Wobs that no manager in the world can keep Arsenal in the top 4 for 20 consecutive years.
Maybe Arsenal fans are happy that we have got our Arsenal back but in fact I don’t see we are the same team now that we were under Wengers regime.
I don’t see any of our players now replicating Henry, Bergkamp, Viera, cesc,
Arshavin, Cazorla, Rosicky, Alexis, Ozil
And many more.
You know with Wenger on the touch line it was always a calming influence and we knew from the heart we are in safe hands. Even when we were losing I had hope that Wengers boys will turn it around.
People saying that we are progressing after beating Fulham and Newcastle bu
And we are 4the now on the table but fail to recognize that we have been here for 20 years under Wenger and even won it thrice plus numerous cups.
In fact we we’re top of the league in many years under Wenger midway but the harsh winters injuries and pigmob did there job and we lost the title challenge a number of times.
Let’s see what happens this time.
In addition to above I don’t see that we are the same attack minded team now than we were under Wenger and the football now is not so attacking and free flowing as before.
Clockerz I think the strangeness is with you. This site has a page which sets out how things work in relation to comments, and it is quite clearly there for you to read and follow, or not as you see fit. You choose not to so you are likely not to have your comments published along with a very large number that we receive. What I find interesting, however is first that you spend time reading and writing to a web site the approach of which you clearly disagree which, and second that you bother with a site which you consider “little”. If, as you say, Untold is that small and (as your comment implies) insignificant, why would you spend time trying to comment on it while at the same time breaking the rules of the site?
I am sure there are good and logical explanations, but they remain somewhat beyond my ability to grasp at the moment.
The meatya are sticking it to laccazette right now for saying that France stadium are more lively to England’s. Daily mirror is saying he’s leaving.
I’m in a better mood today, but if you’ll forgive me one more time. Complete wankers.
They do it entirely for their own satisfaction. There that’s more evidence for my assertion than they have provided for theirs I’m sure.
There’s been a barrage of positivity after our 9th straight win. Rightly so, it feels good to be competing. It also feels good for many to feel absolutely vindicated in wanting a managerial change. As I’ve said countless times before, regardless of what happens this season, sacking Wenger was the right thing to do (10 years to late). However, I do think some might be going a touch overboard, I read someone complaining that it was unfair we’d not been considered title contenders. We’re not title contenders. We’re doing well points-wise, but let’s not pretend this 9 game streak has been pretty to watch, or without major flaws.
The real opportunity is going to be 4th. Arsenal are going to have some dark times ahead. Our defence is still very worrying, and we have a nightmare schedule coming up. However, I do think we’ve seen enough to say that the strategy of hiring in experience and a dash of youth might be enough to put us in front of a very flat Spurs and a United that will have to change manager at some point this season.
Reading this site is similar to reading pro Trump or leave postings. They are the filling for most of Private Eye’s and many other satirical platforms. I am drawn here because of the unintentional comedy and the contrast with other more optimistic and happy Arsenal sites. That you have Wenger references both in text and visually on a daily basis does make you a subject to objectify. Onwards and upwards with Unai Emery who I believe is the head coach/manager at Arsenal and if you really were supporting him you would have his pictures up and maybe one of those lovely shots of the team while training. Hilarious to be ostracised by a site claiming to support the manager when what I am doing is supporting the manager. The likes of Nitram & Roscicky would do well to find a new club as they sound like glory hunters who stayed around too long. You ask why I come on here and yet you must spend half your waking life reading media you vehemently disagree with as you judge them in a way Trump would be proud of. Have a good season. I know I will.
Well, I guess we all get something out of this. You find what we do hilarious, while I find your inability to understand our approach bizarre and informative. So we’re all satisified.
Tony
Well done. I don’t always agree with the comments on the site but they do make you think.
Somebody having a name based on the clock end reminds me of the only time I have been physically afraid for my life at Highbury. FA cup n midweek afternoon because of power rationing (now that takes you back) I think it was against Derby County. I was on shift work then and went along to the clock end as we all thought nobody would turn up. The crowds kept swarming into the ground and I dont believe anybody knows how many were in the ground. I spent the first half off my feet moving back and forward with the masses whose weight broke some of the inadequate crush barriers. At half time when the crush eased I got out via the playing surface and went home glad to be alive. I can tell you I am a great supporter of the Taylor report.
My Arsenal is all about home players making a super-human effort, not always winning but really trying.
For what it is worth my greatest Arsenal player since 1953 is the sublime Dutchman.
Oh Nitram.We all enjoyed most of Arsene Wengers time in charge ,some of it breathtaking,but lets nove on….onwards and upwards.We are one of the top 10 clubs in the world ,lets get back to playing like one.
Wow not been here for ages
So I just read this thread and the question about the song from Tony – I was there at Fulham and the song was came simply from the fact that in recent years away travel with The Arsenal has on balance been quite a painful,negative,disappointing and even violent experience and on Sunday the team ,the fans,and the management felt like they were on the same page for the first time in ages .
Lots of people saying , “lets not get carried away” and “still a work in progress ” but just enjoying All Being Arsenal together again thats All .
I guess a lot of people on here who could not understand it dont go to many away games ? but if you did , you would – not saying your less supporters just that its an experience its hard to understand if you don’t go .
Finally – Some of you chaps are starting to sound like old Japanese men stuck in the Jungle 30 years after the war still saluting pictures of the old emperor and refusing to believe the leaflets .
It’s ok to come out now – the war is over and nobody lost .
Or on the other hand Bannerman you are simply not comprehending the commentary
Bannerman – you are the only one who truly knows what you think and understand.
The ones who feel they’ve got their Arsenal back were probably some of the ones sticking the knife in Wengers back. Now that they claim to have their Arsenal back, they will soon be sharpening their knives for some players back or the back of one of the board.
AS for Jonah you’ve been following Arsenal for 10 years too long. You obviously didn’t celebrate the FA cup run & the superb champions league revenue that paid for the new management system & new coach Unai Emery. Yes there is a management structure that Arsenal has that selects its players, coaches and other staff.
So just to reiterate Arsenal do not have a new manager but a new management system. Wenger was not sacked, but he resigned to make way for the new management system. Unai Emery is Arsenals new coach (not Manager). Ivan Gazidis also resigned for a better wage packet elsewhere.
Wenger can write his own cheque in several countries in whatever capacity he chooses -that is how great a man he is.