So it came and went and the sun rose the next day.  Or so I was told.  It was a rough day.  We had heard the rumours and read all the crap that was spread.  It was numbing and each day that went by without it happening I could see the light at the end of the tunnel at Emirates and the red 14 kit was still there and the captain's armband was in place.  Then the news broke.  I was at home because my air conditioner had decided that it had given me enough comfort this hot Virginia summer.  A few websites splashed the news and then a check of BBC.com and it was confirmed.  Thierry would be given his media day on Monday.   

  Seeing him step out onto the Nou Camp turf with 30000 fans cheering and the flash bulbs going off was hurtful.   It was surreal.  It was like seeing your ex with her new significant other.    

 The skill will be missed; the finishing touch, the pace, and how he could create a chance on goal out of virtually a borken play.  He is special.  I think what seperates him from other special players was his ability to be the face of Arsenal.  His style off the pitch just magnified his greatness on it.  Nobody will deny that his legendary status with Arsenal is sealed.  While one legend left another remains.  Arsene Wenger is still employed with Arsenal Football Club.  Life goes on.

Through an injury plagued year Arsenal still managed to land in the final of the Carling Cup, the quarters of the FA Cup, and still finish in the top four of the league table.  What was lacking was the finishing touch needed to win games.  Dominating possession of the ball will not always translate into three points.  If football scoring was made up of stringing together passes we would be okay.  With Cesc, Hleb, Gilberto, Toure, and Adebayor we played beautiful football.  We didn't score enough goals.  Goals win football matches.  Here lies the problem. 

 Robin van Persie is a player that I believe could have a pretty big year next year.  Before the injury in the Manchester United game he was scoring goals and was showing that if you put the ball at his feet he could be dangerous.  Adebayor creates more goals with his ability to be at any moment a problem in the box and hold possession.  He draws defenders by his sporadic dribbling and pace.  However he lacks that finishing touch.  I could be wrong but it just doesn't seem as if he has the 20 goal season in him we need.  I hope I'm wrong.  Eduardo de Silva scored many goals in Croatia and Wenger obviously knows what he is doing.  The level of competition he was playing against wasn't up to par with the EPL but a player who has a knack for scoring goals cannot be denied if the ball is placed at his feet at a dangerous spot. 

With all the buzz revolving around the loss of Henry and replacing strikers I think one thing is being overlooked.  The backline was suspect at times last year.  I will tackle that situation at a later date. 

Henry will be missed but if he wants to do his thing for Barca we have to let him.  He gave us some great years and plenty of silverware.  A legend who brought us pride and a reason to cheer.  He certainly will give me great motivation for subscribing to Gol TV for the upcoming season.  If we meet him in Champions League football it would be great theatre.  Irony is delicious that way.