Joe's Reaction of the Week: What Chris Drury Can Learn From Arsenal
Arsenal ended a two-decade title drought by trusting a plan and refusing to rush it. The parallels to the Rangers are hard to ignore, and they make the case for why Drury is right not to put a timeline on the retool—and what he needs to get right to make it pay off.
When I was a young teenager my parents took my cousins and I on a trip to Italy.
Born in New Jersey but transplanted to Seattle at an early age, my two cousins were soccer fanatics long before it was mainstream here in the United States. In an effort to accelerate my soccer timeline both tried to get me to become a fan of their respective teams (Liverpool and Newcastle). While mulling over such difficult decisions, it happened. Sitting there in a street stall selling soccer jerseys was a maroon kit with a golden cannon on the front. The ADD in me exploded. On the back of the jersey was some guy named "Henry." None of that mattered. I liked the logo.
I picked Arsenal.
That some guy named Thierry Henry happened to be one of the greatest soccer players to grace the pitch. And I fell in love with the logo of Arsenal right as he rose to the height of his powers in London. Because of this, Arsenal was on TV anytime soccer was actually airing. I watched games. I saw him play.
They call soccer the beautiful game. If you ever saw prime Henry play, you can believe it. The ball flowed from his foot like an extension of his body. He was elusive, fast, unbelievably smart, and saw the pitch ten steps ahead of any opponent. In all the ways that 123-point Jaromir Jagr year in 2005-06 (which was happening at the same time as Henry's Arsenal dominance) made you sit at the edge of your seat any time was near the puck, Henry was capable of making something out of nothing.
It solidified my love for the team.
The title in 2004 meant little to me, regardless of how historic it was (and still is today). I wasn't enough of a true fan to appreciate it. Arsenal was still really only accessible in the few moments it was on TV. It wasn't mine to enjoy.
Fast forward 21 years. Last summer Eric was talking with me about his desire to get into the Premier League. He needed a team. I suggested Arsenal, not just because I love them, but because they are such a comparable to the team we all love and the reason you're reading this article. Arsenal—like the Rangers—are an original member of the Premier League. They have never been relegated in their history. They are steeped in the deep and long history of the league. And at the time Eric asked me that question, they were two decades removed from their last victory over the league.
What better comparison than to the New York Rangers?
Tuesday night, Manchester City and Eden "Stay Humble" Hazard drew with Bournemouth. The two points dropped made it statistically impossible for City to reach Arsenal.
The league was ours.
So, how does this tie into the Rangers? Good question.
The Athletic published a brilliant article about how Arsenal literally mapped out a four year window where the Premier League monsters would start dropping off and they could capitalize on that power vacuum.
