I’m in no fit state to comment on tonight’s events. At some point, I’ll probably update this post, once I’ve had a chance to absorb what’s transpired. But not now… not yet.

I still love my Arsenal… I just have to step away and breathe a bit.

UPDATE
Ok, stream of consciousness time… I’m afraid nothing else is going to be forthcoming, as I’m still feeling pretty gut-punched right now and don’t think I can manage a properly planned blog entry.

At this point, I’ve read all the other blogs that I usually do, or at least as much as I care to anyway. It made me feel a bit better to read some other stark, although pragmatic views on the match. Yet, I’m still feeling just a bit glum about the whole thing. To see a team with such promise, such talent, come away yet again… with nothing. It’s a lot to bare. And I think I feel the most for the players themselves. How hard they’ve worked, and for so long… all for naught. Sure, there’s some consolation in being paid handsomely for playing a game you love. But I don’t think that’s enough for many, if not all of them. The reason these men are at this level in their sport, the reason they play for one of the most prestigious clubs and in the most prestigious competitions in the world… is because they are at heart, true competitors. And when that’s your line of duty, losing cuts deep… right to the bone.

So, now what? Does our rebuilding period begin right away, and continue on through to the beginning of the next campaign? I hope so. I wouldn’t be surprised if Arsène Wenger already has those wheels in motion. I don’t imagine a man like him will take this easily, or without reaction. It will be interesting to see just what that reaction is. I, for one, still believe in him. It will take a lot more than four seasons without silverware to change that. Blind faith? Perhaps. But let’s not forget the most important thing that Arsène has delivered: beautiful football. Perhaps not at the levels we’ve seen in the past… perhaps not at the consistency we’ve seen in the past… but it’s still there. And that is what brings me back.

But in the meantime, I’m going to take a step back. The frenzy of the season is over for me for now. Apart from some momentous event in the world of Arsenal, this will probably be the last blog entry on this site until the 2009/2010 season nears. Perhaps I’ll bring it back with a new design, new approach… who knows? But for now, I’m going to take a step back and watch my team play out the remainder of their season, with pride. And then, from a distance, I’m going to watch with one eye as Arsène rebuilds our team from the tatters they’re surely in this morning. Until then…

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!