Your face won\'t make top four!
DENILSON rocked Arsenal
Something is missing at ArsenalTHE giant, red suitcases already lined up in the hall of his Hertfordshire home say a lot.But it is the look on the face of Arsenal star Denilson that says it all.It's a mixture of relief and regret.Relief that manager Arsène Wenger has agreed to his request to leave after five years in North London.Regret that he was unable to help end the six-year silverware famine that has blighted Arsène Wenger's team.And the 23-year-old Brazilian midfielder is as bemused as anyone as to why it has all gone so horribly wrong.He sighs: "There's something missing at Arsenal but no one knows what it is. Not the manager, not the players - nobody."Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool spend millions and millions on players."But we are still the best footballing side in Britain, we play beautiful football. Only Barcelona do it better. But we don't win trophies."That's so frustrating, you can't imagine how frustrating."Arsenal is a great club, we have a great manager and so many talented players. So we should be collecting silverware. And there are no excuses for it."Some people say we don't succeed because we are too young and naive - but that's no excuse."We didn't lose the Carling Cup final to Birmingham because we were too young. We lost because our confidence collapsed completely when Obafemi Martins scored for them."This was a final we should have won, we were the favourites."It was the opportunity to silence all our critics. Here's a trophy to shut you all up after five years - and this is going to be the start of many."What a lift that would have given us all. Especially as we were in such a fantastic position in all the other competitions too."The quarter-finals of the FA Cup, quarter finals of the Champions League and sitting second in the league. It was all there for us and we were so motivated."But when Martins scored it was all over. You could see it in the eyes of the players and the supporters there at Wembley. Our confidence just drained away and we never got it back. It was a catastrophe."That was the moment our season was ruined, it started a domino effect and no one could stop it."I knew it was a massive moment, the point where it all started to go badly wrong and I think we all knew."I went home afterwards and just cried. I was very upset, very sad and I was ashamed."Denilson was not alone. He says the whole squad, the entire Arsenal staff was devastated.The crippling damage of that final defeat proved impossible to repair.Within a fortnight an Arsenal side that was on course for an historic Quadruple was in freefall.The Gunners were knocked out in the Champions League quarter finals by Barcelona, despite a first-leg lead. And then a third body blow followed when they were dispatched in the FA Cup quarters by Manchester United.The triple whammy of despair left them so shattered that they have since slipped out of the title race too.Slumping from second in the table to fourth and facing the prospect of having to qualify for the Champions League next term even if they win at Fulham on Sunday.Denilson said: "After Birmingham the boss told us to hold our heads up and stressed there was still so much to play for."We had Barca and United coming up and we were chasing the title. But although we went into both those games still believing we could win, it wasn't enough. Since then everything has fallen away."Denilson can barely believe how Arsenal have slumped out of contention. He says they are paying the price for some expensive lapses in games they should have won."I remember leading Liverpool 1-0 and they scored in the last seconds. We were 4-0 up at Newcastle but drew."We also lost to Newcastle at home and West Brom and Aston Villa."We threw it away against Sunderland and Blackburn at the Emirates."Let's be honest, some of those games were shocking, shameful. We are better than that."But until Arsenal stop throwing away those silly points in those stupid games nothing will change."Denilson's sorrow is real but he can feel the pain and anguish of his manager too."All the players are hurting but we know the supporters suffer even more than we do."And most of all the boss suffers it worst of all and that makes me sad because he is a great man and a great manager."Denilson says Wenger has been brilliant in dealing with his desire to leave. "I went to see him and told him of my decision and he understood."He says he will not stand in my way and if the club receive a good offer for me I can go. I was so relieved to hear that. I am very grateful."Not every manager would have been like Arsène Wenger, not every club would act like Arsenal. I know in a year's time I might regret it and be wishing I'd stayed. I may go somewhere and find it's just not the same."But my heart tells me I have to take that risk, I have to be honest with myself, be true to myself."I am a footballer and I want to play every week because I want the chance to play for Brazil."Look at Lucas at Liverpool. He's been playing regularly and he's in the Brazil team. That's where I want to be."I would love to be able to do that at Arsenal but based on how things have gone this season, I think it's time for a change."So I am flying home to Brazil on Sunday and I'm hoping I can make a fresh start in Spain or maybe Italy."
“there is very little vegetables I can eat without gagging like a pron
