One Last Goodbye…

Here we are, just a week after Martin said his goodbyes, and now I will be saying goodbye too. This will be my last post here at Arsenal Offside.

I almost don’t know what to say. I’m not very good with goodbyes, so I’ll try to keep things short. I basically came to this blog like the rest of you, as a fan and a frequent contributor to the comments section. I lurked around other blogs, but mostly I commented here and on LadyArse. I got to know LadyArse well enough that she asked me to fill in for her a couple of times when she was away. I guess that was around the same time that Martin was looking for someone to help him out here on Arsenal Offside. Readership was going up and he was moving and switching jobs, so he asked me if I’d like to come aboard. I wasn’t sure if I could do it at first, but I thought it might be interesting to take on the challenge. I don’t really consider myself a writer, but I thought maybe writing on this blog would help me open up more and express myself in a different way. Looking back, it’s been a really good experience for me overall, and I’m glad that I took the opportunity.

I realize it’s a bit much for both me and Martin to be leaving at the same time. I’m sorry the transition couldn’t have been more gradual. While Martin is off getting married and drowning in legal briefs (or whatever the hell lawyers do), I will be studying again. I had to leave University a while back because of health issues, so now that I have the chance again, I will be doing a course over the summer to gradually work my way back into school. Hopefully, I’ll complete my degree before I’ve turned completely gray.

I’d just like to say thank you to all of you who have read the blog, commented, emailed me, and told others to come visit here. Sometimes I forget that people actually read what we write here, so it’s nice to hear the feedback sometimes. I really appreciate all of the readers and people who follow us on twitter. Speaking of twitter, Martin and I will be keeping our @ArsenalOffside twitter running. We have over 4100 followers now, which just blows my mind. If I or Martin end up writing anywhere else, we’ll let you know through twitter. It’s great interacting with the gooner community on there. It is definitely the most active fanbase on twitter of all the clubs, as far as I know. So, again, thank you. Thank you, also, to LadyArse, who gave me that first break and encouraged me to take the opportunity to write on this blog. And, of course, thank you to Martin. He has been so great at running this blog and writing balanced and thoughtful posts that I always enjoy reading. It was Martin’s world, I was just living in it. He helped me whenever I needed it, and he was a pleasure to work with, sincerely.

That’s all from me. Luckily, you all don’t have to put up with my random ramblings and never-ending optimism. I also clearly jinxed the season since my writing here coincided with Arsenal’s worst season of the last few years. Hopefully that will end now and we’ll start winning trophies again! Keep the faith and keep loving the Arsenal. Remember why you started watching and why you love football. Tomorrow’s a new day, and soon we will be in the middle of another season. It’s all about sticking with the team during the ups and the downs. You can’t appreciate the highs if you haven’t truly experienced the lows. That is what I will keep in mind. I’ll see you again in the 2011/12 season.

Come on Arsenal!

Help keep alive the beast that is Theo van Nasregas. Coming up with that name shall be my legacy!

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Category: Arsenal News