Tag Archives: Wenger

Arsenal Fans – A Shift in Dynamic?

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Before I start, allow me to nail my colours firmly to the mast;

I am a fully paid up member of the BSM – I have questions over the way the club is managed, from the very top – all the way down. I question ticket prices, in fact I question the price of everything at the stadium – how is this the working man’s game anymore? How does this game belong to the fans? Fact is, it doesn’t, however this is going a little off topic.

Now, where do I stand with Arsene Wenger? These must be treated as two very separate things. My membership of the BSM has zero correlation to my feelings toward our long standing manager. There is no association whatsoever, those of you reading this that are bright enough will completely understand this, those less so, you need to do some research.

I have been a long-time admirer of the man – who couldn’t have been? He has delivered success, he has brought some outstanding players to the club and transformed the way we played. Not only did he oversee a complete change in our training structure and facilities, he was instrumental in our move to the Emirates. Don’t get me wrong here, I’d rather be at Highbury, where there was deep soul, history – it was ‘The Home of Football’ – actually it was ‘Our Home of Football’, but the game was changing, we had to move to a bigger stadium in order to compete, in order to attract the best players in the game – or so we were told. So, I have held a lot of respect for Wenger for everything he did for this club since he came to us 1996.

However, that started to wain several years back – continually selling our best players, not replacing or replacing with inferior players & poor tactical decisions – during all of which I listened to his apologists in an intelligent and fair way, with decent debate. I was clearly in a minority, a small number of fans that were starting to see the cracks appearing. I had been criticised, castigated and outcast – being regularly told to ‘Go and support Spurs’ – okay so when I said there was decent debate, there are exceptions to every rule and nobody can legislate for idiots, right?

I am guessing I’m lining myself up for a lot of criticism about me only being in this for the trophies, you are wrong! Of course I want pots, but more importantly, infact much more importantly, I want a team that is ambitious enough to compete. A team that has the desire and ability to win. Led by a manager that motivates and drives the team on. A manager that will recognise where the team need help and go out and find that support. A manager that isn’t happy to finish 4th – The third worst of the runners up. A manager and a board, that doesn’t continually lie. I’m not going to go into the comments Ivan Gazidis made in June about our financial fire power, you’ve all seen them and if you haven’t it won’t take much to find them.

The reason I started writing this article was about my experience at the game yesterday and what I witnessed on my journey home. The inspiration was about seeing, first hand, a shift in the dynamic of the fan base. I’ve hinted above about how I was one in a small minority of fans that were starting to question Wenger many years back – but now that’s different I feel.

There was a strange atmosphere in the ground yesterday, it was tangible. Giroud’s early goal simmered the tension for a while, but once Villa equalised, then took the lead you could feel it changing into a poisonous place. Once the third went in, there was an immediate response – the mass exodus of fans, clearly demonstrating, with their feet, their displeasure at what they were watching, was matched by the chorus of ‘Spend some fucking money’. For the very first time, one of my lads suggested we leave early and head home – A shift in dynamic.

As a father, and supporter of Arsenal, it was my duty to keep him there until the final whistle, but I could totally understand his motives. At the final whistle, the boos started to ring out, quickly replaced by the clapping of the team off the pitch – this is not their fault. It is not their fault they play for a manager who demonstrates ineptitude at any opportunity and I’m convinced they feel as frustrated as us fans a lot of the time. Then the ‘Spend some fucking money’ chants echoed around a half empty ground.

As I left, even the stewards were bemoaning what they had just seen – a shift in dynamic.

But, the most startling thing for me, was sitting on the train on the way home. I was with my two kids, and around us were another 7 fans. A conversation soon started. A lad of, I’m guessing 15, started talking about Wenger, then voices came from behind a seat, almost anonymous contributing to the topic, then out of nowhere an elderly lady, who must have been 70 if she was a day appeared. She was very well spoken, clearly educated and obviously a life-long supporter. Very open in her criticism of Wenger, she was suggesting he has ‘lost it’, doesn’t know what he’s doing or saying anymore, how we should all get together and demonstrate against the man.

Never had I experienced a journey like it – a definite shift in dynamic.

Finally, two more things…

I did hear a startling revelation, which I wanted to share with you, it could be hear-say, I wish to emphasise this is nothing more than rumour and there is nothing upon which to substantiate this, but I heard Wenger simply refuses to have any player at the club who earns more than he does – if this is true, it is slightly ironic as he earns more than his CEO – Ivan Gazidis, but more so is extremely concerning considering the way players remuneration has increased over the past few years. We are getting left behind.

Listening to his post-match comments were interesting too. He mentioned it was not possible to buy 6 players at five to three – I don’t know how everybody else felt about this, but I thought it was slightly rubbing our faces in it – the transfer window has been open since July 1st!! But to suggest there were positives to draw from the game is infuriating to say the least. The only positive I could draw, was that yesterday I lost my Piebury Corner virginity. If you have never visited these guys on Holloway Road – you need to make a point of it next time you go past. A great pie and fantastic hospitality – give them a follow on twitter to

Onwards we go, onto Wednesday’s vital game, even more threadbare than we were on Saturday.

Whatever my thoughts on the club and Wenger, I always get behind the boys…Up the Arsenal.

DH

10 Reasons Why We Will Beat Aston Villa

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1.. All our new signing’s (ONE) have bedded in well after a good pre-season and I can’t wait to see him supporting us from the stands.

2.. We have a settled back 4, not that we have much choice, but they did finish last season up well.

3.. We always win the first game of he season..well after checking we have drawn the last 3 opening games, so if you have a punt get on the draw.

4.. A few positives, Ramsey, Theo, The Ox and Jack have all looked good in pre-season and did well on the pre-season international break.

5.. It’s great to see Jack looking fully fit, this is a big season for him, I’m sure I am not the only one who really wants him to have a whole season without interruptions and go on and drive us to success, then see him go on and do it at the World Cup for Engerland

6…Diaby is out, which is slightly better than him being fit, apart from the fact he still draws wages

7..The main talking point on the morning of the game is as always who will Wenger pick to play upfront, Olivier or Giroud, I’m sure whoever plays we wont notice the difference…

8.. Our Captain, Vermaelen, out injured, I have no idea why Wenger hasn’t put Mertesacker as captain this year, he is the leader on the pitch.

9.. Villa, will not come for the draw, Lambert has not had a 0-0 away from home for over 2 seasons with Villa and Norwich, they will line up much the same as us,4-3-3 but with 2 holding midfielders to our 1, so will try hitting us on the break with pace, will be a case of whose defence copes the best.

10.. Arsene Knows Best….£100 million to spend, loads of money freed up in wages, but he has faith in our wafer thin squad, yes on our day we should have too much for a Villa side that may struggle to get top 10, but still we have the highest match day income in the UK and with increased TV and sponsorship deals we should by now by waxing lyrical about a few new superstars in the team….

Prediction The Arsenal 3 – Villa 1

Likely Line-up:

Szczesny
Jenkinson Koscielny Mertersacker Gibbs
Wilshere Ramsay Oxlade-Chamberlain
Walcott Giroud Podolski

GC

Lack of Spending Putting Fans in a Negative Mindset?

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I don’t know about you, but once the pre-season friendlies are over and we have less than a week until the kick off of a new season, I get the warm glow of anticipation. It’s usually nervous anticipation, granted, but it’s there all the same. This year feels different though. I wouldn’t say it is apathy as I have done my usual check of the fixture list, carefully trying to work out how many points we will pick up in the first five games. I’m sure most of you have a similar ritual? I think the transfer sagas are taking their toll on me!!

Perhaps it all stems from the complete lack of spending. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to see a big name star arrive and I guess it could still happen, but it isn’t just that. It is deeper, I am concerned that unless we bring in some reinforcements that we could find ourselves in real trouble with only a couple of injures in key positions. Our first team squad, according to our official website, says we have twenty five players. Of those, Chamakh has left yesterday, Bendtner, it can safely be assumed, will never play for us again, Park similarly. That leaves twenty two players. Our midfield includes Frimpong and Ryo Miyaichi who are unproven plus Rosicky and Diaby, who with Frimpong have spent more time injured whilst on our books than playing. We have seven defenders, four full backs and three centre backs. We start the season with Vermaelen injured and we all know that an Arsenal six weeks is often code for six months. Our goal keeping situation has also got a similar thin edge to it with just the two options. I am glad we shipped out some of the deadwood but you can not expect to improve by making the squad lighter. As it stands, a couple of injuries and suspensions, especially in central defence, would be disastrous and we all know that Wenger does not panic buy well.

Maybe it is the feeling of being strung along by the club that is tempering my anticipation? Those early days of the transfer window where we were assured that funds were available and led to believe that some top players were coming in to help us push on. The big names mentioned just before season ticket renewal deadline day were so blatantly planted in the media by a PR company it’s a wonder there hasn’t been more uproar. We have been fed years of nonsense from the big stadium – big revenue lie to the current favourite of, I am happy to go into the new season with our existing squad. Along the way we have been assured that certain players wont be sold, that big teams don’t sell their best players and the old classic, when FFP kicks in we will be in a good position.

I read lots of articles on various internet outlets and talk to lots of fellow Arsenal fans in person. Opinions on the manager and board vary, some see all the Champions League qualifications as a success worthy of celebration but most just look at the last eight years and see it as failure. I know some readers will suggest that Wenger has had his hands tied and perhaps to a certain extent he has, but, that doesn’t excuse being knocked out of domestic cups by lower league opposition? I suggest even the most devoted Wenger fans take a step back and ask themselves a few questions. Are you happy with finishing fourth place in the league and barely making an impression in any of the cup competitions or would you prefer to see us challenging for everything we enter? Are you happy for our manager to sanction the sale of our top stars to rivals who go on to win the title? Most importantly, are you happy to watch us slide backwards every year?

The hierarchical nature of football dictates that clubs at the top take players from below – eg – Arsenal will always take from Everton and Everton will in turn take from the next level, perhaps Sunderland or Stoke. If we are now happy to sell to United and City it tells me that the club is resigning itself to the second tier rather than investing to cement a place at the top table. This is shameful and completely undermines the legacy created by Herbert Chapman, who was in fact our greatest ever manager. His vision saw us at the top in terms of football, finance and general standing within the game. We were, and have been until recently, the snobs of football. We were a rich club with a rich history. We had a grand stadium and an aloof attitude that would have precluded selling our biggest star to a rival unless it was felt it was in our best interests. Everything was done on our terms. Other clubs didn’t bully us. We wanted players who wanted us and although we were welcoming, we called the shots. It is time we got back to some of these common values and put ourselves back where we belong. We have the money, the stadium, which although it may a monstrosity, is certainly imposing and we have passionate fans. The longer we let ourselves rot in mediocrity, the further we will fall. I, for one hope I never see us fall in the way Liverpool or heaven forbid Leeds have.

Darren Malone