Why International football is important for players and for us Arsenal fans

When Arsenal won 3-1 at St James Park, like many others I was cursing the fact that the international break was around the corner. For starters we were looking again menacing in attack and our nearest rivals bar Liverpool were on shaky grounds. The outlook was bright as it could get. Then came the international break. Unless you have a international team to support as passionately if not more than the Gunners, its great. Otherwise counting sheep seems a much better alternative. So why would I even welcome the international break in the slightest?

Following the acquisition of Arshavin, our squad is now closer to finding that balance between youth and experience. It is certainly showing. When we were down against Hull, we battered them to such an extent that Phil Brown had to spit out lie after lie to distract the viewers from the fact that his team were outplayed regardless of the questionable goal and final scoreline. Then came Newcastle who played a high tempo game, fell behind and then had the audacity to level the score within 2 minutes after going 1-0 down. Still we showed a mental strength to win handsomely.

Our squad is younger than that of our rivals and sometimes it showed when we got one really good result with one that was let’s say less impressive. The international break allows the squad, in particular the younger players to be in a different environment with players where they can learn more from their more experienced team mates. This can only make them stronger when they come back for Arsenal. Even if they don’t play in the games itself, just training with players of the calibre of Ribery, Poulsen, Robben etc should help their cause. The moment you think you can stop learning more about the game and about yourself in the game then we get stagnation.

For us fans, it gives us the opportunity to see what our players can do for their country. It makes us dream again. When Adebayor scores the winning goal against Cameroon, it means very little to us compared to say Togo fans. However in the larger scheme of things, we began to think that Ade is back to his best, making himself a nuisance for the opposition as opposed to Arsenal FC itself. Of course injuries are a concern, always is that someone gets injured. This time it was Bendtner. However to use the cliche, what doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger.

Just 4 more days or so and then its back to business for the Arsenal players and fans.

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