So I’ve been sitting on this article for a year now, ever since we threw away a two-goal at Upton Park. On the way back from that game, I sat on the Jubilee Line and tortured myself

I didn’t want to do this, Arsenal. But you’ve made me do it.

So I’ve been sitting on this article for a year now, ever since we threw away a two-goal at Upton Park. On the way back from that game, I sat on the Jubilee Line and tortured myself by going through all the games where we’ve had the lead and then thrown it away – either ending up drawing the game or losing it altogether. That evening, I actually went through the
fixture lists season-by-season and came up with a definitive (I think) number of games where we’ve snatched defeat (or a draw) from the jaws of victory.

There have been occasions since that West Ham game where we’ve done the same, but for some reason or another I’ve refrained from posting this article. But after today, enough is enough. Those who know me – from my articles on here or my musings on Twitter (http://twitter.com/TheSquidBoyLike) – know full well that I’m no negative nelly or a gloryhunter who is only in it for the trophies, so please don’t take the following list as evidence of me hating on Arsene and Project Youth etc etc. These are cold, hard facts, and I’d like you to interpret them in your own way.

And now it gives me no pleasure whatsoever to present to you THE LIST (first scoreline indicates our lead, second indicates the final score):

2005/06:

1.West Brom(a) 1-0, 1-2
2.Porstmouth(a) 1-0, 1-1
3.Barcelona(n) 1-0, 1-2

2006/07:

4.Chelsea(a) 1-0, 1-1
5.Chelsea(n) 1-0, 1-2
6.PSV(h) 1-0, 1-1
7.Spurs(a) 2-1, 2-2
8.Chelsea(h) 1-0, 1-1

2007/08:

9.Blackburn(a) 1-0, 1-1
10.Sevilla(a) 1-0, 1-3
11.Newcastle(a) 1-0, 1-1

12.Birmingham(h) 1-0, 1-1
13.Birmingham(a) 2-1, 2-2
14.Chelsea(a) 1-0, 1-2
15.Liverpool(h) 1-0, 1-1
16.Liverpool(a) 2-2, 2-4*
17.Man Utd(a) 1-0, 1-2

*we didn’t lose the lead per se, but at 2-2 we were going through on away goals

2008/09:

18.Hull(h) 1-0, 1-2
19.Spurs(h) 4-2, 4-4
20.Middlesboro(a) 1-0, 1-1
21.Liverpool(h) 1-0, 1-1
22.Villa(a) 2-0, 2-2
23.Chelsea(n) 1-0, 1-2
24.Liverpool(a) 4-3, 4-4

2009/10:

25.Man Utd(a) 1-0, 1-2
26.Alkmaar(a) 1-0, 1-1
27.West Ham(a) 2-0, 2-2
28.Birmingham(a) 1-0, 1-1
29.Barcelona(a) 1-0, 1-4
30.Wigan(a) 2-0, 2-3
31.Blackburn(a) 1-0, 1-2

2010/11:

32.Sunderland(a) 1-0, 1-1
33.Shakhtar(a) 1-0, 1-2
34.Spurs(h) 2-0, 2-3

I believe this is an accurate and exhaustive list. I concede that through my tears last season when initially compiling it, I may have made a mistake or two. Either way, the gist of it is not good. For any team that claims to have realistic trophy-winning ambitions, to lose a lead more than 30 times over a period of five-and-a-half seasons is unforgivable.

And worse than that, look at the games and the opposition. How many times do our rivals Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool and Spurs crop up? And what about big games, like the Champions League final (mitigating circumstances, admittedly), the Carling Cup final, an FA Cup semi-final, two Champions League quarter-finals…

Furthermore, what used to be predominantly a problem away from home has now seeped its way to “Fortress Emirates” (tongue very firmly in cheek).

I’m not saying that no team is immune to losing leads – look at Man Utd this season, for example. But we clearly specialise in it. And that’s why many of our fans (myself included) can no longer relax at 2-0 up. Take Everton away last week – deep down we all knew that the game wasn’t secure because if Everton grabbed one (which they did), there was every chance we could fold and concede a second.

The worst thing? Once we get a reputation for it, mud sticks. From 2-0 up and cruising, we can concede a goal and the confidence drains away from the team. Just like it did today. And the opposition gain in belief. Just like it did today.

And who’s to say we won’t do it again? Not me, that’s for sure. The title of this article is “34 reasons why we’ve gone five years without a trophy”. Unless that first number stops at 34, the second will surely increase beyond five.

Time to man up, Arsenal. But how? The floor is open to suggestions…

Squid Boy

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