Our lengthy trophy drought from 2005 to 2014 has been well documented in the media. This was a period marked by austerity, a playing staff rife with absolute dross, tactical naïveté, the humiliation of losing our best players to rival clubs year after year, the disgraceful 8-2 ransack by Man U, and the debacle of the Cup Final in 2011. But this era also witnessed some great moments and achievements: the 2-1 defeat of Barcelona, Arshavin’s 4 against Liverpool, van Persie’s heroics in the 2011-12 season, Wilshere’s perfect Wengerball goal against Norwich, and, dare I say it, finishing in the top 4 every season despite the superior resources of our rivals.
Having brought in players of the calibre of Alexis and Ozil, and won back-to back FA cups, it seems safe to say we have left the “Banter Era” behind, and are entering a new period in the club’s history. So, now that the pain of the so-called Banter Era is receding into hindsight, I would be interested to hear your thoughts on this period: what sticks in your mind the most, what was our worst moment, what are your best memories, which player encapsulates the era best (Squillaci? Bendtner? Fabregas?), has your opinion of what was going on at the club changed now that your perspective of the period is different?