I hear what you're saying JD and I agree to a certain extent. However, I'm being pragmatic. Whilst I want us winning trophies, I would prefer to be challenging for the title year in year out.
With all due respect to the FA cup, it doesn't indicate that winning it means you're a TOP team. Wigan and Portsmouth managed it. As for Arsenal, do I think they will push on and challenge for the title next season? No, I don't think so. It's great for building winning mentality and is important, but not as important for a club's place in the elite of football as regularly challenging for the title.
I obviously don't want to be like Arsenal, content with CL place each year. However, we do need to be there. We have been a top team this season, and we were a top team under Rafa...in between, we were not. (top team in the wider context in terms of history and class etc, but that's a different matter). So it's really important we focus on going for winning the league again.
Do I prefer finishing a close second with no FA cup or finish 4th and win the FA cup? I'd prefer a second place finish to be honest. It's sad that FA cup has lost it's allure due to the mega money of CL, but that's reality.
2) Footballers go to clubs that are fighting to win things. Running round pitches with trophies, open top bus parades, silly hats, their kids holding trophies - that's what they love. That FA Cup win will have given Arsenal's players a real impetus for next season and a hunger for more - they will feel a real sense of achievement.
I (respectfully of course) disagree. Footballers these days go to clubs to play Champions League and challenge for league titles. World class players will not flock to Arsenal because they've won the FA cup. If a top player had a choice between going to Arsenal or us next season, I reckon they'll choose us because we're closer to winning the league than they are - but that's my personal view.
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