Our nearly men worthy of praise not criticism

YOU know it’s been a disappointing campaign when you are left clinging to the PFA Awards for some solace. Yet in a season of such scant reward for such high-class entertainment, it’s of some comfort to see four Arsenal players voted by their peers in the PFA’s Premier League team of the season.

And after our 6-2 rout of hapless Derby it remains within the realms of possibility (albeit outrageously improbable), that the Gunners could rise Phoenix like from the flames of our “close, but no cigar” season, to take the title. As with most every footie fan, there’s this disconnection between head and heart, so that while I know full well that it’s not going to happen, hope continues to spring eternal.

Manchester United’s recent patchy form has only heightened all our “could’ve, would’ve, should’ve” torment, as we trawl through the ashes of our unsuccessful season fixating on each and every ember, every shot which hit the woodwork and every decision which went against us.