Could Arsenal really emulate Manchester United and win the Carabao Cup and the Europa League?
They could, without doubt. Maybe a better question would have been “will they?”
Arséne Wenger has, yet again, proved that when opening one’s mouth it is wise to ensure that the nearest object within chewing distance isn’t one’s own foot!
Having been less than complimentary about the Europa League, he now finds himself in the unenviable, (to some, very enviable to others), position of being one of the favourites to win it.
His crown maybe lying a little uneasily at this prospect as winning the Europa League was not one of his priorities when the season kicked off back in August. Now it may be his only chance of returning to the Champion’s League next season!
This would indeed be ironic given that Wenger doesn’t believe that a Champion’s League place should be awarded to the winner of Big Vase.
Why not? He doesn’t elaborate too much on his reasoning but it seems strange that he disagrees with the winners of a “B” competition being promoted to an “A” competition. He is basically disagreeing with the concept of promotion for winning a lower division, a concept which works very well everywhere in the world, (except in MLS where it is far too simple for their conniving and complicated minds).
The other factor which must be taken into consideration is that Stubborn Old Man aired his views having just failed, for the first time in twenty or so years, to qualify for the Champion’s League through league position. He obviously did not expect this failure to be repeated which, unfortunately for him, it almost certainly will be this season.
His comments were also a sly dig at Manchester United who, as everyone knows, qualified for this year’s Champion’s League by winning the Europa League and it is probably this fact which is at the root of Wenger’s gripe, given that they finished last season one place below the Gunners.
So, as is often the case with Wenger, past remarks or opinions are returning to bite him and it is probably about time he kept his far too many opinions on far too many subjects to himself. He frequently ends up being contradicted when his better players are sold despite his comments to the contrary, or when winning the Europa League becomes a necessary evil after he has slated the competition!
He could, of course, also win the Carabao Cup where Arsenal face Manchester City on Sunday February 25th and, in doing so would, providing he wins the Europa League, exactly replicate Manchester United’s achievements of last season.
The major difference is that United won the trophies and, as it was José Mourinho’s first season in charge, it was considered a genuine achievement as it was something never before seen with any manager at Old Trafford.
Arséne Wenger may not be quite so lauded as he is now in his 22nd season with Arsenal and winning the Carabao Cup and it’s European equivalent will not be seen as much of an achievement after all this time.
There is one positive for all the Arsenal fans out there. If he wins nothing he will probably leave at the end of this season.
The silver lining of winning the Europa League carries the cloud that he will stay on to have another tilt at the Champion’s League next season.
Be careful which one you wish for Gooners, because this seems to be a lose/lose situation.