Interesting start, hopefully you can keep it going!
thanks guys, looking forward to getting back into the writing.
Story from Ross' POV from now on.
I haven't given up on the league title yet and after the FA cup win over United I think psychologically that gives us a big boost.
The board have been more than co-operative by giving me more funds this January. Seeing as Sagna wants to stay until he is 34 on a big wage I decided to sign Carvajal from Madrid and was mighty close to re-signing Carlos Vela for his buy back clause... Unfortunately we didn't have the funds. He's been in great form and I am not convinced with Giroud or Podolski. Walcott has repaid my faith when I put him up front though.
United remain unbeaten under Moyes this year, doing it in the big games is something they've done which we haven't done consistently. Losing 3 matches in the League to United, Liverpool and Chelsea. Man City we've done well against but they've had a poor season in comparison to the money they have spent... Pellegrini has been replaced by none other than my old mentor and close friend, Arsene Wenger...
Time's are changing...
Ever since the 5-1 at Newcastle the boys have had spring in their step, a confidence when stepping onto the pitch. I played with 'wingers' that day, and carried on using that system. Using Ramsey, Garcia, Flamini and Arteta as my Centre Midfielders, one being deep lying playmaker and the other my ball-winner / box to box midfielder. Cazorla Wilshere and Ozil occupy both flanks and my Trequartista spot behind Luis Muriel but Walcott and the Ox can easily slot in, especially as Cazorla has been in and out of form. The circumstances in matches sometimes demand the pace of the two latter.
The two lads Wilshere and Chamberlain single handedly won me the final of the Capital One Cup against Everton. After going 1-0 down we rallied back to win 4-1. Ox grabbing two and Wilshere with one, he had come in for criticism before this game and responded by captaining us to the trophy. Not the one most people want but a trophy nonetheless.
United are still going strong and with 8games to go we are still 9 points behind. They had Man City and Spurs to play, who incidentally we beat 3-2 and 1-0. Whilst my relationship with Wenger remains very positive, my relationship with Vilas-Boas has turned sour. His side beat us in the FA Cup but the we dealt with them in the league. Hopefully he see's sense and we can reconcile our differences.
We are on the verge of Champions League 1/4 finals here after beating Shakhtar in the first leg. Here's to hoping we can go all the way...
Interesting but you played the whole season or simmed it?
Played it, not really into the match reports like some do though mate, rather give an overview of performance rather than individual games!
Final Stretch
8 possible games remaining, 6 league, and 2 legs of the Champions League against Dortmund. The games I had hoped Man Utd. to drop points in proved to be just hope, they won 2-1 and 1-0 vs. City and Spurs. Moyes has got them disciplined and nothing seems to have changed from the Fergie era. They have just dropped points at home to Fulham, a 1-1 draw meaning the gap is 7pts with 6 games to go...We have overcame Liverpool 2-0 and confidence is high. A young, exciting team that can reach dizzy heights.
Wenger called me the other day...
"Louis, you must believe in what your players can do. Give them belief and confidence as when you stop believing is the time when you have given up..."
That is all that was said. On the eve of a season defining game, Dortmund await us and we have to give ourselves hope of making the semi-finals with a good first leg result. Lose over two legs and I cannot see us salvaging anything out of that Premier League Campaign. Don't get me wrong, 2nd is great...
but it is also 1st loser.
Final twist in the plot?
United have only slipped up once in my recollection and that was the season Arsenal clawed back a big gap... This may be that time again.
They were sitting pretty, and after wins against City and Spurs I was convinced that was it, until two successive defeats. Liverpool and West Brom, much to everyone's surprise United appear to be choking and they have left us with the opportunity to close the gap to a point with 3 games left if we win against Swansea away.
Champions League Dreeam
After a 1-1 draw at the Emirates, it came down to us having to penetrate the Yellow Wall at Dortmund, The Signal Igunda Park.
Walcott starting as the main man up top in Muriel's absence and the Ox replacing an out of form Cazorla.
"GO ON THEO!" he is through one on one... Wiedenfeller tips it away but Walcott keeps it in. *just cross it* I'm thinking, then he starts to dribble, 2 defenders in his way before he can think about shooting from a tight angle. Bang. 1-0. Steve Bould jumping all over the place, our pocket of red in the stadium singing and stomping about. We can do this I thought.
Those thoughts lasted 4 minutes. Marco Reus being invited into our box by my defence, no-one stepping to him. When they did it was too late. If Walcott was doing well up top, then Chamberlain has done just as well from the right, after Reus scored I told the boys to sit and break on the counter until I could get them in at half time. Well, we did that. But not only did we do it, we scored from it, Chamberlain skipping past their left back, one on one with Wiedenfeller, Hummels closing his shooting angle off...
but not in time. 2-1. Advantage Arsenal.
Half time was a massive blur, I remember telling the boys to stay focused, this tie was not over, we were not going to get through this 45 minutes without a couple of scares. There were more than a couple of scares, but more than a couple more chances. None falling for either side, which meant a 3-2 aggregate scoreline.
Louis Ross' Arsenal, League Cup winners, potential Champions League and Premier League winners, you couldn't write this stuff ay?
![]()
so it comes down to this, the last day of the league... Norwich halted Arsenal from going top the other week so it means a tense last day for both teams. Arsenal must win and hope Manchester United slip up. Ross' boys have shown the form of champions in recent weeks whilst Moyes' men have had a few hiccups.
Arsenal vs. Hull
Manchester United vs. Norwich
Boy's it's all down to this one game, we've been better the last few weeks than Mancheser United and Norwich stopped us so can do a job on them too! You deserve this! you deserve to be winners. The time has gone where Arsenal wait for things to happen we have to make them happen now! Capital One Cup in the bag, we can add the one you all want today, the Premiership shows that we're the best in England !!1
0-0 at United here... but Arsenal are up within 5 minutes!! Luis Muriel!! he's ending the season very strong!! with Lewandowski signing a pre-contract maybe he feels threatened!
HT...
Boys it's now! we sit top at the moment, after 45 minutes it could all change and it's not in our hands. Give it your all and what's meant to be will be. Either way I'm proud of you.
69 minutes gone and Arsenal have doubled their lead!! Great scenes here as Juan Jesus heads home! The league's young player of the year has been in fantastic form this year.
In the midst of the madness United have gone a goal down!! Leroy Fer punishing them!! they have to get two in twenty minutes now....
Champions! Arsenal are CHAMPIONS
13 days after the Premier League Title win Arsenal were dismantled in the final of the Champions League by Manchester United. 4-1 the result. Ross set his side out to attack and dominate, but to be picked off by swift counters. The 'no fear' approach doesn't always work.
Exclusive Interview: Louis Ross
Louis, you had your doubters this year, how does it feel to win two trophies and prove them wrong ?
It feels great, I don't do it to spite people or to prove people wrong I do it because I love the club and I want to do well myself.
There's been verbal arguments between yourself and Mourinho, Moyes and Vilas-Boas, is the air clear now?
I don't have contact with Mourinho, but Vilas Boas and Moyes I would consider us civil, words will be said in football, and our words will be twisted by the media. It is a passionate sport and a pressurized environment. Sometimes you wish you could take things back.
Best players this season?
It's hard not to say them all. Ozil was influential. WIlshere and Juan Jesus were the two best young players in the league. Muriel and Walcott got 35+ goals combined. Flamini and Javi Garcia did the dirty work and Ramsey puts in magnificent shifts. Chambo had a great season and was unfortunate to get injured, meaning he'll miss the World Cup.
What was your best and worst result in your eyes this year?
Newcastle 5-1 changed our season I think. That was pleasing because we played so well, same with Everton in the final of the capital one cup. We destroyed them. But winning on the last day of the season is a feeling i'll never forget!! Worst has to be the Champions League Final, United had a bad end to the season and I thought we could capatalise on that and dominate... In the end that didn't happen. They played smart and exploited us.
Too much success in your first season could have been bad though? Players getting too confident, fans and the board expecting too much?
Of course. But you wouldn't pass up a Champions League winners medal would you? The boys wanted it so bad. But it makes us hungrier. The fans and board must understand we give our all and we still need time. We'll become even better.
Even better how?
Unbeatable.
![]()
Second Season Syndrome? What's That?!
We are only into October and Louis Ross and his Arsenal side are sitting top of the league. After an abysmal pre-season in which they won twice, drew three times and lost twice. conceding at will and not being able to gel with a few new signings and with Ross changing the system to play with wide players. By the time the Community Shield came around Ross' boys were starting to gel and you could see the understanding of the previous season coming back. But the man behind the double winners has revealed to
Sky Sports News what his plans are for the future of this team.
With a smile on his face, which has aged slightly more than it should have after that long grueling season.
I've got big plans for this club, no-one really saw or commented on the work behind the scenes last in getting staff in for my youth teams. Marcel [Desaiily] and Pablo [Riela] have come into the u21 set up and are specializing in working with the defence and attack, making sure our younger players are well prepared and competent when they make the step up. Terry Burton is doing very well as head coach too.
The Under 18's are coached by Claudio Borghi, along with Marcel and Pablo, these three were my key targets to bring in. Borghi specializes in the attacking, technical and mental aspects in the u18 set-up. My vision for this club is that the high standard of facilities and top coaches I have here are going to transform my English academy players into future first team and national team players.
So you're trying to create an Ajax of the 70's ? a sort of Barcelona team?
I suppose, footballing wise I want us to pass teams to death, to kill them before we step on the pitch. Like the Invincibles in 03/04; teams knew they were beat.
Wenger has been sacked as Manchester City manager now. How much of an influence was he to you ?
Well in my time in the youth set-ups I saw that the other coaches didn't do enough for the young players. Wenger would never neglect them though. He would give them chances and get them to train with the first team squad. This is my goal, to give my young players chances. Now that the League Cup is not an option I will have to find another way.
Here is a look at a few of Arsenal's next generation of youngsters. This is not to mention Will Hughes, Ravel Morrison, Serge Gnabry, Joel Campbell and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Ideally, the board want to create a starting 11 that consists of players that have graduated through Arsenal's academy. This is the Vision and now, fittingly I have re-named Arsenal's academy's THE VISION.
I have no problem with youngsters like Zelalem, Gnabry and co. making their way into the first team. Like now we have our British Core of players including:
Ramsey, Wilshere, Walcott, Chamberlain, Hughes, Morrison and Clyne.
There will be more to come.
Wow, amazing youngsters, Jack Grealish's value :OOO
