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couldnt agree more, excellent article, surfacing thoughts that , i hope, many other arsenal fans are having
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Written by Wenger Boy on Saturday, 09 July 2011 10:27
Greetings all.
I would, as is tradition, like to offer my customary warm and hearty welcome to all fans of Arsenal football club.
I hope you are well.
Now, this is going to be quite a difficult article to write for me because normally my brain works faster than my hands and ideas appear on the page before I consciously realise that I think them. Not today. Today I am planning to tread as carefully as possible.
Before I tell you why, however, I am going to ask you all for a favour.
It’s not a big favour. Not at all. In fact it’s something that you may very well have done without being asked.
If you can say to yourself, genuinely and honestly, that you love Arsenal Football Club then I ask you to lend me your ears - or, more accurately, eyes - for the duration of this article. I would like you to promise that you will give time and consideration to the words of another Arsenal fan who also loves this glorious club. That is all I ask.
In return, and to prove to you that we begin this venture on equal footing, I promise to give the same time and consideration to the words I write so that I do not unintentionally anger or insult any one of you who have so kindly taken the effort to listen to my thoughts. And if you feel that this is not a fair deal then there is a fully functioning and well-worn comments section below where I would be happy to talk with you when we are done.
The reason I am treading so carefully is because there is, in my opinion, a worrying trend amongst supporters of Arsenal Football Club. I am sure that this trend is far from unique to our club but as I have not and will never give even one, tiny piece of my heart to any other, it is Arsenal I am concerned with and Arsenal alone. I’m sure you understand.
The trend is not new, and has been touched on countless times before in an almost certainly more articulate manner than here. So I apologise if I am covering old ground, this is not likely to be revolutionary.
The trend I refer to is a very definite move away from civil and respectful debate and towards anger, abuse and disrespect. From pubs to Twitter, from stadia to comments sections you will find countless examples of fans of Arsenal Football Club at each others’ throats over almost every, single contentious, or even non-contentious, issue.
Now, just to clarify, I am not condemning those who either praise or criticise our team. I am a firm believer in the right to speak your mind, I cherish a debate and if you knew me personally you would know that I love to put forward strong opinions. It is very constructive when done properly.
So if the team, manager or board is or is not performing to your liking then please, please, please feel free to say so. I would absolutely love to find out why you think what you do and if we agree then great and if not then let’s talk about it. Debate, even. I’m incredibly passionate and I’m hoping you are too.
If nobody disagreed and debated then we wouldn’t move forward. Discussion and debate are the pillar stones of progress.
But all too often these days we find that when someone disagrees with you then they just criticise you personally, insult you and your views and call you a prick. I cannot claim to understand it.
I know from firsthand experience that nearly everything that appears on this site – balanced as it tries to be – attracts the most vicious comments from those who claim to want to the very same thing as us - to see Arsenal win. Just this week a number of balanced and thoughtful articles have been met with just this level of abuse. But why?
Do we not both want Arsenal to succeed? Does giving an opinion on the best way for Arsenal to achieve that success really give you cause to insult someone on a personal level?
The answer - in my humble opinion, mind - is that it does and should not. Again, feel free to disagree with me on this or indeed any point I have made but if you plan to do so then please take a second or more to consider a) my point of view and b) why you believe it to be wrong and then tell me in the clearest and most reasonable way what your opinion is. I would appreciate that.
Let me approach this another way.
At this present point in time Arsenal FC are at something of a crossroads. Given the past few trophy-less years you may still believe in Wenger and his ideas or you may not - I have mixed opinions on our current situation but on the whole I would say that Wenger is a highly intelligent man who loves this club and I believe he has what it takes to get us back to winning ways.
But even if we disagree about whether Wenger is the right man for the job or not I do not think you can possibly - as someone who loves Arsenal Football Club - want Arsenal to fail. Sure if Arsenal fail then Wenger may lose his job and another, better manager may come in. But anyone who hopes that Arsenal lose cannot, in my eyes, be called a true supporter of this team.
If Wenger succeeds – truly succeeds - then AFC succeeds and we all get the result that we want. It may not be the way we all expected it to happen but the end point is the same.
And that is the key.
The starting point for any debate on Arsenal should be that you and whoever you are talking to both share the same end point. We may disagree about the journey but our target is the same and we should therefore appreciate that there is a common ground beneath us that unites us all.
We all – every single, last one of us – want Arsenal to succeed. Don’t forget that.
Imagine if the person you called a prick was standing next to you the day that Robin van Persie swung a beautiful left-foot volley into the back of the net at White Hart Lane to secure the Premiership for Arsenal. What would you do? You would probably throw you arms around them, have a drink with them and sing together long into the night.
So why insult them today, knowing that you can and will share so much joy with them in the future?
We are not so different after all. We are supporters of the most amazing team to ever grace the English league and we should all be proud of that fact.
So if I promise here and now to give your opinions the time and consideration that, as genuine Arsenal supporters, they are due then I hope in my heart – Arsenal red as it is – that you can find it within you to do the same for me.
Thank you for your time, the floor is yours.
WB
Follow Wenger Boy on Twitter: @WengerBoy1
Fancy writing your own articles for fellow Gooners to read? Click Your Vision section.
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09-Jul-2011 11:01 | | Goona-peteTop man, top article. I too am fed up with reading abusive comments on many constructive blogs.
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09-Jul-2011 11:02 | | rosolin - arsenal fcthere are problems at arsenal fc no question about it but i just cannot c how it can take so long to sign one player man utd did about 3 in two days so if they can do it why can we he, we seriously need to improve the defence which he hasnt done and it wld be nice to c a couple of new faces at the emirates cup which looks unlikely now. We could even risk loosing out on our champions league spot next year to liverpool cos theyre buying a lot of good players unlike us. Ive beeen a life long arsenal fan but cant stay positive for tooo long and we need to stop selling our best players and start buying top quality players and if it means getting rid of wenger so be it .
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09-Jul-2011 11:03 | | Maurice Johnson - FrustrationThe title above is what supporting the Gooners is all about,we all want our beloved Arsenal to succeed but we must realise that with the present policies in place we cannot.Man U,Chavs,Citeh and Pool have all got stronger through buying and we have not.It really is as simple as that.Tell us the truth,ARE WE NOW THE POOR BUGGERS THAT CAN NO LONGER COMPETE FOR PLAYERS OR IS IT THAT MR WENGER NO LONGER HAS ANY CLOUT AT THE CLUB?Please tell us the truth please,please.
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09-Jul-2011 11:03 | | Fanagooner - RespectTotally Agree, if we have to show respect to our opponents then our fellow fans, even with different opinions, deserve much more than respect!
They deserve love!
The Gunners + The Gooners = 1 Family
Love u all gunners!
I will promote this article
Respect mate... Love
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09-Jul-2011 11:05 | | DannyboyYes I totally agree.
I have faith in Wenger and believe we will still be at least top 4 next year.
If Fab and Nasri go, someone will step up.
Gervinho looks like a really good prospect as well. Gibbs can fill in at the left with Verm as cover if/when he gets injured.
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09-Jul-2011 11:05 | | Bala - Keep it GoonerishReally good article WB. As ML Tweeted yesterday, I wish Twitter makes a change to their site and add 'Think before Tweeting'. Of course we all support Arsenal and we all want it to be successful in one way or the other , but the problem appears when someone say their point without any logical reason to back it up. If we think a bit before what we say, it will be good for one and all and there wont be any fight amongst Gooners
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09-Jul-2011 11:07 | | davidwhat do you make off this?
Doesn't sound like a pissed off player trying to get out.
cesc4official Im sorry to all the fans in Asia that I wont be on the tour. After just returning from Indonesia I know how special u all r. Ill make it up.
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09-Jul-2011 11:09 | | MeanLean
Great work WB,
I totally agree with you. It seems now that the debates have been slowly dying while being replaced by insults, regardless of the content of the article.
It is like when you split a room of strangers into two groups and then give both sides different roles. Over time, they start to go to war and side with each other regardless.
The Arsenal fan base has split in half and it is not very nice. Abuse and insults should be directed towards our rivals and we as fans should be more united. Not united but erm.. you know what I mean.
The last time everyone got together it took the breaking of a young lads leg. It shouldn't have to go to that extreme to get Gooners to unite.
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09-Jul-2011 11:10 | | Tricky - Fully agreeAll this crazy talk about the board and wenger, does anyone seriously think that they are not doing their best?
I have to admit that I dislike the way that we are so slow with transfers, even with gervinho - a player that wants to join the club at a club that wats to sell, we seem to take an age haggling about things, whereas the other top clubs just get it done.
Am I happy about the current situation, definitely not, but I do trust that the guys are working on things (very slowly!!!!) definitely yes. Not happy about how every other team is talking about additions and we are talking about players leaving, but with the ownership situation there are a couple of people with alot at stake! I know usmanov isn't involved officially! but still.
Hypothetically, if given, Cahill, samba and even Joey Barton (I hate him too, but we need some steel) came in, even someone like Bellamy, we would be in a better position than last year. Even brown and o'shea would be better than cozzer and squishy.
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09-Jul-2011 11:10 | | GazYour quite right, i am astounded at the amount of language and abuse that the club and supporters have been getting from other supporters! its time to calm down!! we are all brothers and sisters here!!
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09-Jul-2011 11:13 | | gunner forever - time to back the teamAbsolutely..........I just can't understand the mentality of the fans who in some insane way wan't the team to not do so well so that Wenger faces the music!!!! Brainless stuff that goes around these days!!!
And given such a thin line that Le Prof is treading with his almost impossible to follow philosophy in today's times of inflated prices and dearth of quality - please excuse me for the pun:
"If you live by the gun, prepare to die by the gun"
Still anyone - no matter how anti-Wenger he might be - has to acknowledge how close to success he has been with meagre spendings and almost no star players whatsoever. We were closer than ever last season and hopefully we can convert that to success this season. All that this team needs is full backing of its fans especially during home games so that Emirates becomes a fortress similar to what Highbury used to be.
So lets back this young team, no matter what happens in the transfer window.....
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09-Jul-2011 11:17 | | grufwenger is great manager an wile i hope he stays im conviniced as all of us are, that 4-5 signings are a critical.non of witch can be "players 4 the future".we need realy good established players 4 the comming season an the club cant be miserable with the cash in persuite of new payers. cahill-mata-bemzema-to start us all off..fabregas nasri an thats £50million at least to spend..the cash is the to buy.so lets get to it.arsenal the fans an success truely need it
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09-Jul-2011 11:19 | | ritxi88Well written WB. Sad but true, I never thought that we such big percentage of pessimism amongst us.
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09-Jul-2011 11:20 | | howling wolf - The stingy toad out!!!Wenger is like a junky and stress is his fix.i feel sorry for my fellow gooners who's wallets are being snatched by wenger.arsenal is like an expensive migrane!!
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09-Jul-2011 11:20 | | ZamaVery well put together. But the impatience of some fans is fuelled by the hysteria drummed up by the media, they never have a good thing to say about us. Of course the ribbing some of us suffer at the hands of the Manc, Chelsea & Barfa fans adds to it too. After all as they say - we usually empty our frustrations on the people we love the most
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09-Jul-2011 11:28 | | goonergal - agree but with reservationsI click here because I truly love Arsenal football club,I only respond to positive posts now as i have enough to contend with listening to talkshite ripping our team apart on a daily basis, I cannot imagine supporting any other club, but I fear your eloquence will fall on some deaf ears.
I am totally depressed by some of our fans who listen and respond to the gutter press in this country, thankfully one of who's number is closing down, only I am sure to replaced by something probably even worse.
I have no problem with what Arsenal are trying to acheive and I have no choice but to trust the club to provide what we need to acheive the ultimate success for our wonderful club, All I ever want is to see players give their all for the club on the pitch and our fans to give there all supporting them, I have heard some vile things written by True Arsenal supporters which in the real world would find them in court for slander and or libel, which comes under the heading being passionate.
I look forward with interest (sorry replace interest with desperation) to see who our new signings will be and what they will add to the team regardless of hairsyles, knobbly knees etc, etc, etc,
As for the wenger out brigade, I think he suffered just as much as us, as the team fell apart again last season, I spend my hard earned money on Arsenal just as much as any other fan, that is my choice and I will continue to do so ad infinitum there is no team greater in my eyes than the Gunners. Form is temporar
y ~ class is perminent.
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09-Jul-2011 11:28 | | JedWe are going through difficult times and this does tend to make people more impatient. I agree with the post that we should all debate things in a thoughtful and courteous manner.
My perspective on our troubles is as follows.
Wenger is bonkers. If by the end of August he hasn't got rid of the spineless losers in the squad and replaced them with players who possess the necessary winning mentality then he should be fired.
Thank you for reading.
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09-Jul-2011 11:33 | | PhilbetGood article, it seems what most fans want is the board to discover the odd £200million laid about doing nothing and for it to be spent on players and wages immiediatley,well Arsenal have never operated in this way and niether does any well run business..
Realistically there are 100's of managers who could improve the side given unlimited funds to spend but working to the current business plan AW is by far and away the best man for the job.
The disconted fans who want to see the club face financial ruin for there short term pleasure should reassess there loyalty.
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09-Jul-2011 11:33 | | keyo - frustretingI agree with z points in the artcl. but how long cld we stay frustrated when we are losing the big gooners and no body is gooning in. It is I think, the policy, Wenger's policy, that has to be changed or himself changed. All that big money should be spent buying big ones and we have to keep the big names we have. Cesc, actually had enough and wont be successful if stays at emerets. but nasri should stay so that he cld show that talent along with RVP, Grv,kot and other new signings. the leaking back should be kept firm with the likes of the man from Rovers and Bolton. B/n the posts, we have an excellent and reliable WC. so we don't need more but get rid of Aluminia.
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09-Jul-2011 11:33 | | Enyie - GunnersIs not we fans blem wenger, but this man is not mking us happy why so slow am crying right now.
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09-Jul-2011 11:33 | | Judith Le'Strange - TransfersThe reason we take so long to seal deals for players is Wenger tries to haggle the asking price down that is the reason we have such crap players over the last few years, because other clubs want rid of their rubbish players & know that Wenger will jump in because they're cheap, and I believe that is one of the reasons we're loosing ground on our rivals.
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09-Jul-2011 11:35 | | Dave - Spot onAt last someone has the clarity of thought to to put into words what I have been thinking for quite a while now. Have been a gooner for 40 years or so and have never heard such vitriolic insults directed at our own by so called supporters as I hear now on every blog out there. We all want the same thing surely and pulling together is the best way of achieving our aims. I dont personally believe that Arsene Wenger is any longer the right man to manage AFC but accept the fact that other gooners have different opinions and every right to to express them.
Top article Wenger Boy.
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09-Jul-2011 11:36 | | Anonymous - What a lot of senseMy freind you talk sense, we can all have opposing opinions, but at the end of the day we all love Arsenal. Arsenal will survive and go on, it has in the past, and will in the future. Come on you Gunners
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09-Jul-2011 11:38 | | DeeDubs - AgreeVery good article, and i must agree with you on several parts. We are at a crossroads, however i still feel Wenger is the one to bring through this difficult....long period of frustration and usher in a new era of Arsenal dominance; having said that, i feel he can only do this if he takes one step back in admitting that actually needs to (and will) bring in defensive players with real bite in their game. I won't bore you with the lists we have all seen over and over and over etc again, but these are the players we need.
I've seen it mentioned somewhere amongst the many blogs out there and it gave me food for thought; image a back our including from right to left: Sagna Samba Cahill Verminator?? With this back four the current crop of attackers would have a field day. i genuinely think that those two signings would send a huge statement of intent to the rest of the premier league and also put the fear factor (Adams Keown etc) into the oppositions mind. This also gives the younger guns and opportunity to grown and learn from some outstanding defensive players......of course, this is my opinion!
As for the issue concerning us all (abusiveness), i can only put this down to a lack of intellect, resulting in frustration as they aren't able to get their point across as they would like and are dumbfounded when posed an argument, which has both objectivity, reason and thought; meaning that unless we have some kind of radical national reform starting with our educational system, our political system and our judicial system i, sad as though it is, think this problem is here to stay and will only get worse. This isn't to say i am above any of this, i struggle hugely with objectivity and rationale, so i am the same as the next average Joe.
Sorry it ended up being a lengthy response, but as you will know, sometimes the passion just takes over.
Good luck all us Gooners!
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09-Jul-2011 11:40 | | PTangYangKipperBang - Vic con CrescBeautiful, articulate and bloody well said! Personally, I think that the club could do better with regards to frustrating the fans. We have got to be the most frustrating team to support surely? The opaqueness, the brinksmanship, the corporate speak, the dressing up of 4th place equalling success, the promises to buy and then promoting the development of the team to bring improvement, the ill timed ticket price increase, the constant preference for flair above strength, the failure to address obvious weaknesses in the team defensively and the almost constant selling of our best players every summer and the excuses and talk of 'mental strength' when we lose having shown very little. These things among others have turned us into a fanbase at war and the present heir achy have caused it largely. I am extremely loyal and proud of Arsenal and could never support anyone else obviously but the way things have been for a few years have made me feel kinda mugged off and lied to. Life has been very cruel to Gooners for quite a while now and it has taken its toll. Especially as we were riding so high just before. We seemed ready to really elevate and could have dominated Europe with the invincibles + 1 or 2 additions but instead we get rid of the old guard virtually in 1 foul swoop and replace them with inexperienced, unknown foreigners in the main. Imo Arsenal have ONLY thought about the financial side and neglected other important areas. Trouble is those areas are the ones that make their supporters happy. Sad to see Gunners fighting and sad to see an expensive to see, over paid, impotent team. Respectfully a Gooner.
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09-Jul-2011 11:47 | | GABRIEL - ReplyAll of us are true aresnal fans, but it ought to reach a climiax when this club will be at the maximum of -0(or minus zero) Over trust has killed our beloved ARSENAL FC. FANS should call for wenger's head. Unless he is sacked this club will not smell top 4 again. It will be a history.Now it is a history they won the league unbeaten many years ago.
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09-Jul-2011 11:48 | | Pr24s - ArsenalGood job WB for reminding people what the 'debate' actually means..top notch article.
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09-Jul-2011 11:50 | | John Adams - GeronimoThanks for this article. We need more like this!
Love to all fellow supporters. My personal belief, and that of some of my friends is that Wenger will have the last laugh. We have let 1 player go. We all love Clichy and how great it was to hear him praise us fans. But he needed a change and Wenger obviously saw that over the last 2 seasons Clichy has probably been the single most unsuccessfull player of the normal starting 11. I expect that we wish him well at City. He neded a change and he wasn't developing as we had thought. Perhaps another manager can bring him back on track.
So, 1 player dropped. 1 player brought in in Jenkinson. He looks like he will be an understudy to the great Sagna, who has been immense this last season. What a role model. The best Right Back in the League? I think yes, without any shadow of a doubt. We have all but completed the signing of Gervinho. Having read a lot about this guy, I think he may well become a legend. In fact in my heart I can feel something great is about to happen with his arrival. So, 2 in and 1 out. Not bad. One established player gone, 1 coming in and one understudy (and a die-hard gooner) in.
I suspect Nasri will stay, and moreover, I think he is trying to help Wenger make up his mind that he needs 2 more big signings. If he turned his back on us it would to me be a betrayel of epic proportions. BUT, and it is a big BUT, there is no reason to believe that he will go, he has already stated that we played the best football last year. If he thinks he can win titles with us then he will stay, the money being a secondary thought - and that staright from the horses mouth.
I also believe that Fabregas may stay. I would like to see him move and I expect a lot of fans share my view. He has been great but he needs to move on for the sake of the team, unless he can somehow state that he wants to stay and win things here and perhaps go to Barca when he is a few years older. Otherwise there will always be that feeling that he isn't quite 100% commited. We will be healthy enough without him though. We have more excellent attacking midfielders than any other team around by a country mile. Seeing 1 or 2 of these leave and 1 or two top, top defenders come in would probably be a positive move. Attack wise we are way ahead of the competition.
I am sure that like me, most of you would like to see 1 massive signing, like Benzema at least. That is probably why Nasri is dragging his feet. He wants to be playing alongside the world's best. We are very close. Do not forget that at our best, we can put ourselves just behind Barcelona as the 2nd best team in the world. Yes, in the world. The Premiership skews the truth because there is so much physicality that talent and skill is not as decisive as it is in all the other leagues, all of which are far less brutal.
The big question is, can Barcelona beat us with 11 players? They have yet to prove it!
This is the way we should be thinking: How long will it take us to become the very best? It took Barcelona many, many years.
You know that we aren't far away. Hats off to Barca, they have raised the bar just as Wenger did with the invincibles. Bu massive hats off to Wenger for sticking to his guns and following the model of how a club should be run.
If fans of other clubs can be happy supporting teams that have buy titles then let those teams keep those fans. This is a difficult road but it is the right and honourable road. Do not forget that when Wenger did splash the cash, we had the most exciting team to ever play in this country. He has the cash to splash. Do not doubt that he will not do everything in his power to make us not equally as good as last year but that bit better. All that is lacking is that extra bit of gumption to actually cross the finishing line.
Be positive and stick together gunners, the future is ours and we can sleep soundly in the knowldedge that this club is in it for the long term. There will be many many years of glory and trophies ahead. Everything the media says to slag us off only proves that they know it in their heart of hearts. They saw it last year and some of them after a few pints just show their true colours by continuing to throw bile at the team they know to be the one for the future, as well as the recent past.
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09-Jul-2011 11:51 | | DaveI would be happy if we signed Gary Cahill but am not convinced about Samba, I know the argument is that his strength would add some much needed steel to our backline and agree with that somewhat, however I personally think he is to slow and ponderous for our style of play. At Blackburn, with all due respect, the defence are used to soaking up pressure for long periods in most matches and Samba stands up facing their opponents, with AFC we spend most time attacking and tend to get caught on the break these days and I dont feel Samba is mobile enough to nullify that sort of threat.
Personally Cahill is a better option for me.
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09-Jul-2011 11:52 | | asaph - arsenalour patience has been tested time n again buh i think its time for arsenal to prove we dnt flatter to deceive!
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09-Jul-2011 12:01 | | Petercwelch22 - I hear your point &......... very eloquently put.
However, this I am affraid is Twitter. Sometimes ridiculous & bizarre to the extreme. It gives people an free abusive licence, that sadly some choose to use. Not sure they'd be so forthcoming out of twitersphere.
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09-Jul-2011 12:08 | | AnonI don't get why everyone is trippin on the lack of transfer activity. It'd be cool signing a beast like samba to fuck up some stoke players, but no way is he on the level of TV, kosci or dj, plus some of the young defenders look pretty good. We have tons of attacking players. OK, we probably need another holding mid because of the african cup. We probably should get rid of the wack players like squillaci denny and benny. But other than that we pretty aight.
Look at it this way - we can start the team that beat barca (with vermaelen and gibbs), but on the bench instead of almunia squillaci diaby/denilson and bendtner we have fabianski djourou frimpong ramsey and gervinho. I call that a step up
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09-Jul-2011 12:09 | | ketheesI was a big fan of AW until the middle of last season and i will be if he adjusts his policies & to be true to the fans.
1) He is more concern about his policy & financial side than winning somethings.
2) He overestimates his players & underestimates other leaque teams
3) In the tranfer market, He looks for cheap & low wage players ahead of quality required but says the otherway
"We are at the top level and therefore need exceptional quality to strengthen our side.we want to find the quality we need." Arsene said the same last season then bought squillaci, koscielny,chamakh(free) and failed to buy cahill,samba & schwarzer ( to save few hundred thousand pounds) but brought back lehmann
4) It's not acceptable for a club that charges the highest ticket price & almost double greater than man utd (champion) to go six years without trophy.
Mr Wenger has been giving some deceiving statements to protect his policy, save money.
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09-Jul-2011 12:11 | | LittleJohnA very good article. I have been an Gooner since the age of 5 when my father first took me to Highbury, 60 years ago. I never miss a match. But what's happening now at the Emirates breaks my heart. Wengers method, though entertaining, has not, and I think will not, win trophies. His stubbornness has blinded him to the necessity of bringing in experienced top class players and I am pessimistic about the coming season. I told my fellow gooners that I will not be watching games this coming season, however, in the end, I suppose I will. But unless things change I see us finishing below the top 4 and continuing on a slow decline as the years pass.
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09-Jul-2011 12:13 | | meCloser than ever? have you checked the stats of our last 11 games? Worst run of Wengers tenure
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09-Jul-2011 12:40 | | Jack - Do you only want trophies?And here is where our views differ. You say all Arsenal fans want success, well I'm not one of those. I love Arsenal, but do I want them to win by spending 100 million on players and playing a long ball game? No. I want Arsenal to show the world there is still a team that plays by the rules, that builds players, not buy them, and plays amazing football. And that keeps to it's traditions and keeps Wenger, the man who made Arsenal what they are today, in the job. Of course, I'm desperate for Arsenal to win a trophy, and my heart sinks with each season, but thats nothing compared to how ashamed I'd feel if we took the Man City approach. A team is not defined by it's victories, but how it recovers from it's defeats.
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09-Jul-2011 12:52 | | RockaIf people don't believe in Wenger but want to see arsenal win, then it is fair that they want to see the team fail. We have to reach the bottom before we can go up.
Wenger failing will mean change will happen. Whether change proves successful is another matter altogether. But it simply can't go on like it is.
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09-Jul-2011 13:01 | | MeanLeanErr wouldn't you just want to see the man in charge win? Or is it personal?
The team comes before all else yet you would want the team to fail just to lose the manager?
Help me out with that one.
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09-Jul-2011 13:07 | | LJ83Very good article, i feel that most AFC fans are now turning on the club that we love and was unbeaten for 49 successive games i think all that is forgotten, but I know how the sour tongue fans feel as we are being left behind and if Arsenal don't respond soon will not finish in the top four next season. Man UTD are supposed to be in so much debt yet they have spent nearly £50million and spending more why haven't we I just hope AW knows what he is doing. Arsene was moulding a junior team together just as Barca has done from their academy but the difference is every year 2 or 3 players want to leave Arsenal unlike Barca who have over 7 academy players in their first team. And i feel the reason AW wont buy is because whats the point in buying a new left back when there isnt anyone on the market that is better than Gibbs theirs no point leave baines at Everton he aint exactly dani Alves is he or Maicon and i think we will see Walcott in a more central role next season just as Henry did start from the right then went central gerv is the signing that will take place on the right mata and cahill and i think we have a very good chance of challenging.
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09-Jul-2011 13:09 | | paul hughes - irish gooneri really think cesc04 will be us next season, nasri off hazard on way keep the faith
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09-Jul-2011 13:16 | | Wenger BoyBut is that not your definition of success? Can you honestly say that you would be content for Arsenal never to win a trophy ever again? Or would you be happy just to have the right approach without ever winning?
I agree with you on the path I would like us to take but my ultimate aim is for us to win something, using that method.
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09-Jul-2011 13:31 | | JonnTotally agree with you.
It would be shameful to adopt such an approach by Man City.
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09-Jul-2011 13:38 | | olamilekan - i need trophyAm a true gunners fan,all i need is addition of mature and quality player.centre back,defensive mildfider,goal keeper,left back defender and all d trouphys wil b ours.1love.
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09-Jul-2011 15:07 | | tear da pitch up thugzI like it, barton bellamy, get maybe pepe, de jong or shawcross. won't nobody be steppin to arsenal
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09-Jul-2011 15:12 | | oyelowo Isaac - Gooners will rise againThis article is right one at this momemt, when there is a lot of disagreement among arsenal fans. I personally believe AW is still the right man for the job. He knows what to do to achieve success. I believe very soon with two or three additions arsenal will be force in the world again. He has done it before and can stil do it again
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09-Jul-2011 15:24 | | OmglolFantastic article and well written. The negative clash of fans is realy exhausting and repulsive. I aways hope for good article that can be refreshing.
Ty
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09-Jul-2011 15:27 | | togbas - well saidI am deeply concerned about the plight my great arsenal is going, regardless of the profane words some arsenal fans use in address fellow supporter. I'm surely shock to hear the kind of words been used by fans as i just came across the just gunnerz blogs just a month or two ago and i am so shock to learn the kind of word been use as if the site were a p**no site regarding the type of profane words being used by fellow gunnerz and i say thank for your well written article. And let me say this is my first contribution ever towards articles being written on this blog. In so doing i want to emphasize that arsen though one of the best couches in the world but he seems to have lost it somewhere. With all respect to the man who i think is coursing all these frustration among the great gunner fans that led to these insult nd abuses among us. as good as i knw arsen is but i still find it hard to believe how this wonderful arsen continually to make or put the supporters of arsenal in pressure every season including those he won trophies. i can still remember PASKER CYGAN, LAUREN, ND AVERAGE GRIMADN these players gave us pressing time but for the better players we had with them we were able to overcame these terrible players even though some are been called legend or one of the best RB in arsenal histry. NOW, 1, DIABY=BENTNER=DENILSON=OH AMUNIA=? These are players who stil show the arsene EVERLASTING tolerances of mediocrity in his managerial attributes. arsene is been reason on mine opinion seem like a dictator who inspite of the hate nd lack of love for citizenry still found or give likeness nd love to his family i.e talk of silvetrae, WHY french? henry being one i personally will call the best gunnerz've seen, still lack loyalty to arsenal, if not how come arsenal lost the cl., to barca. That i still lay on the feet of king henry who i luv nd blive all Gunnerz luv so much this we all never mentioned another french? anelka=? wiltord? flamini ND VIARA CAPTAIN FANTASTIC OF ALL PEOPLE?thought all French? Why French THIS I THINK IS A FRENCH THING? arsene forced Gilberto out with all his loyalty kanu lehman nd other not mentioned these were players with love of the club but force out by arsen bcoz lack of luv nd intolerance he have for those that are not his. 90%+, of players who left arsenal with questions are all French others left either through force or the Denis Berkam way thanks sir retired GEN! also i was disappointed when MY FATHER CAME OUT to tell all that BARCA IS THE BEST FATHER AS A TEAM i.e. that Barcelona is the best team in the world i felt bad nd slited whereas i was feeling arsenal is the best team in the world hence i'v been supporting them even when the great one Maradona stated on his sick bed that the only thing that kept him awake is arsenal fc. so why wenger telling me that barca is the best that not motivation to the young lad he is leading like a father nd the fans also if u could go back nd read all he said prior to the Birmingham march follow his comment non-encouraging to the lads he leads nd i as i nonprofessional was out-rightly saw the defeat coming that march was 1 arsenal marches i claimed defeat before it even came not the barca march no!!! Poor motivational attitudes you never see fegi say such things b4 a march no ur team is never better to mine no! let me close by saying that arsenal soiled the seed of disloyalty in arsenal with the French players emulating every step of his but my fear nd prays are that players such as Welshere, RVP, Ramsey Wilcoth nd upcoming beloved arsenal players not follow suit as i say if you ever go my captain CECs Fab the most loyal player i'd ever came across who first call for the resolution/revolution in arsenal by stating it clear as it the " TROPHIES WINNING TEAM OR A SELLING CLUB THANK YOU SKIPPO IF YOU EVER LIVE MY LOVE WITH YOU NOT nasri.
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09-Jul-2011 15:45 | | PodgeYes the Worst run of his tenure is what it took to for Arsenal to finish 4th.Go back a bit further and it's 3 wins in 15 which is relegation form whatever the reason for that shocking form and it cant have been a weak defense because the same defense got us to the position of even the anti-Arsenal media speaking of a quadruple in not so far-fetched terms.The Carling cup final conceding last minute of 90, Very close to knocking out Barcelona of the Champions league had Bendtner scored or had Cesc not played that stupid back-heel we would have.
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09-Jul-2011 15:48 | | Podge4-5 is excessive I think the current squad needs 2 new signings a new left back and a new left winger to give us back the left flank threat we once had so much of with Pires and Cole then Rsicky and Clichy(the 07/08 version)
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09-Jul-2011 15:53 | | Arsenal Supporter1st of all Iam a HUGE Arsenal Fan, And wish icould follow all of the Arsenal fans on twitter so can all the Arsenal fans follow me @DavidTorres23 I will follow you all back!
This article is great iagree with all of it, people need to stop overeacting like for example people have abused Samir Nasri's twitter and he's still an Arsenal player, that is not a true Gooner. We show more respect..
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09-Jul-2011 16:02 | | PodgeWhile that's widely believed it's likely not true.ManU were able to sign 3 players quite quickly but Liverpool while signing some quickly took 7 months to sign Charlie Adam they all but wrapper it up in Jan but it wasn't signed on June1st or even July1st. PSG were trying to sign Gervinho Lille took time to weigh up their offer and ours then identify a replacement Paphic who PSG were also trying to sign so all that took time and he had a medical on Weds Arsenal are much more stringent on medicals than other clubs he probably had blood tests which would take a few days to get the results maybe until Monday a lot of people don't like to work weekends maybe he,his agent, Lille or even the FA are holding things up until Monday. It's all boring stuff which is why it isn't reported. We don't sign nothing but crap players over the last few years Sagna,Vermealen and Chamakh are quality players the first 2 would start for any prem team and Chamakh would at least make the bench.
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09-Jul-2011 16:20 | | PodgeDis Schwarzer perform better than Fabinaski or Szczesney last season no he didn't. I'm paraphrasing here but Wenger said about Veiria recently "it's like when you think your wife is pretty if you tell her she will feel pretty but if you tell her she isn't she wont feel pretty and soon become not so pretty" This is something he has done his whole managerial career he tells the players they are great and how to be great and a lot of them became great players because of that.It doesn't always work on every player but if he can produce players like Henry, Pires, Vieira, Cole, Weah, Fabregas, Van Persie and the greatest player ever Niklas Bendtner then it cant be long until another player responds to his coaching like those great names
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09-Jul-2011 21:50 | | ManiWHAT, PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED OPINIONS THAT AREN'T THE SAME AS MINE?!?? YOUR (sic) AN IDIOT.
*/sarc101*
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10-Jul-2011 00:36 | | kalu - save the clubMr. Arsène Wenger please give smair Nasri £100,000-a-week. befoe is too late , we fans need him . Wenger stop waste time and no time for us.
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10-Jul-2011 01:57 | | richie - long term perspectivesFor the last 4 years (last year especially) we have been told by the pundits and journalists than we wouldn't qualify for the CL. Factual news we did!
Now I agree the EPL isn't getting any easier, in fact first with the Abromovic money and next with the Sheikh's Billions its become inherently more difficult.
If there are any Gooners out there who are students of history they'll know that the thing about Arsenal is that we are always there. A bit like a bloody cold sore, we always show up.
Manu'er were not our main rivals in the old days. Because things were on a far more even level back then. When we won the double in 70-71 we were top dogs having captured a grand total of 8 top flight titles. But 2 years later the Pool equalised our 8 and by the later 70's they kicked us into touch by winning a further 10 taking them on to 18 titles. When we beat the Pool at Anfield in 91 we finally broke their strangle hold. (We showed up again)
The 90's were all Manu'ers with the advent of the prem in 92 out of the 19 premier titles up for grabs Taggarts boys have nicked 12.
Why? Well because when the Hillborough stadium tradegy happened,that caused the Taylor report, that caused all seater stadiums, Manu'er were best placed to take advantage by squeezing in 75000 seats. Therefor they had the biggest income and so with the 1995 bosman ruling they could take the most advantage as they had the biggest budget.
Who since that time have broken Manu'er strangle hold? Only Blackburn Rovers 1 (Because of Jack Walkers millions)
Chelski 3 times (Because of Abromovich's billions)
And us Arsenal 3 times (Because of Arsene Wengers Genious)
For all the myopic Gooners out there please, please, please wise up! We can't end up in a bidding war for players with Real Madrid, Barcalona, Chelski, Man City and a number of other clubs that don't have any financial restrictions either because they have sugar daddy backers or are willing to jeopardise their very excistance with reckless debt.
Not only that but we are now competing not only against Manu'er but against Chalski's financial might and against the richest club in the world.
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10-Jul-2011 02:02 | | richie - Great stuff WBI just hope some of our own read and understand where your coming from.
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10-Jul-2011 02:18 | | richie - Buying power?Yeah clubs want to get rid of their rubbish players and we buy their crap players like RvP AA Cesc Nasri and Vermaeling. We are losing out on signing players because the markets are now obscured by the Russian and Arab Billions.
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10-Jul-2011 02:33 | | richie - Music Jack Music to my ears!I guess its my age and my memory that sets me on the same path as you. I recall "old big head" Clough winning the CL twice for Forest with a bunch of nobodies. I had nothing but respect. Then I remember Belescony buying the CL for Milan and it left me flat. I want to win something but only playing our own way. I don't want Arsene to spend £100 mil and buy the title I want us to build and develope players and win on our own terms.
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10-Jul-2011 02:43 | | richie - What? RockaSorry but how can that be the view of a Gooner? You want us to reach the bottom? Why when we finish top 4 can't we continue. If we were bottom or fighting relegation I could understand your statement "it simply can't go on like this" But currently there's no logic in your statement Gooner.
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10-Jul-2011 03:20 | | jgunz - false argumentsi find it odd and a bit stupid that people belive spending ten's of millions on players this summer would put us in financial ruin considering fabregas will go to barca 35-45 million, chlicy 7mill? added to our usual 15 million summer budget .
But i can see all the same excuses being used about players demanding to much money or clubs want too much money so we couldnt come to an agreement but the facts are these players are important to the teams so they want compensation, i dont see us taking 27 millon for cesc we want 40 even though we are to stingy to pay that for a player of equal quality to improve our team.
i find it hard to go along with this rubbish the club is feeding us if we are having trouble paying off the stadium loan and cant afford players tell us,
if we our rich and the board members are finding ways to pocket the excess that would also be nice to know.
i used to trust in wenger but the lies and excuses season after season have ruined my opinion of him.
i dont know if he is scared of buying big players and cant manage that type of personality but that does seem to be a problem his weak behaviour of giving the captains arm band to keep players from leaving has to stop, it sends the wrong message.
take away the armband from cesc and give it to vanpersie,vermealen, or sagna.
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10-Jul-2011 06:08 | | ARSENAL - SAVE THE CLUBARSENE WENGER SHOULD NOT BUY ANY PLAYER THE SQUAD IS OKAY IDIOt.
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10-Jul-2011 11:11 | | Wenger BoyDisagree as I might your tone is entirely appreciated.
Who would you prefer to see in charge if not Wenger? Who do you think could do better in his position?
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10-Jul-2011 11:41 | | richie - WB you should know betterFor sure that won't be answered, so many just want to slate our manager, they don't and won't engage in a sensible debate on a possible replacement. I still think that debate is premature and slightly disrespectful. I'll have my short list ready the day Arsene desides he's had enough, until then I'll only engage in talk about the type of manager I think would be best for our club. i.e. a player developing type, who plays attacking entertaining football, doesn't spend millions on players unless they are exceptional talents. Maybe a cultured type
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10-Jul-2011 12:59 | | Wenger BoyPremature as it might seem to you and me the aim of my piece was to encourage Arsenal fans to ensure that whatever views they hold they present them in a respectful way.
The above p
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10-Jul-2011 13:03 | | Wenger BoyPremature as it might seem to you and me the aim of my piece was to encourage Arsenal fans to ensure that whatever views they hold they present them in a respectful way.
The above point of view was aired in a respectful manner so no matter how inconsistent with my own line of thinking it's only fair to show it the same level of respect.
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11-Jul-2011 15:56 | | Den - We are all responsibleGreat article did exactly what you wanted reasoned debate with little or no insults. Consider this I believe every section of the club has it's responsibilities.
1. The directors should run the club in a responsible manner ensuring the future security of the club whilst trying to be successful on the pitch - 8/10
2. The manager must achieve maximum success with the resources given to him. 8/10
3. The players must fight for the cause 100% to achieve success for the club. 5/10
4. The fans must support the club as vociferously as possible during matches. 5/10
The above marks out of ten are purely my opinion as someone who's watched arsenal for 46 years through good (I call these relatively good although frustrating) and bad (I' ve seen plenty of those) years.
You can also see where I lay the blame, if indeed there is any blame.
We are all after the same thing sorts try and stick together and save our vitriol for our rivals.
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12-Jul-2011 11:18 | | John - 2 billionairesIm fed up reading the crap and excuses that we cant compete with chelsea,utd and citeh. Oh yes we can, and all you apologists for wenger our glorious loser take your head out of the sand for once. Kroenke is a billionaire and usmanov is aswell. We can buy anyone we want, but wont. But i hear you losers shouting, we have to stick to the self sustaining model otherwise we will end up like united and barca with big debt. We dont care if they win trophies all the time and recoup money from merchandise and commercial dealings because they are winners. We are happy that our financial model keeps us in top 4 every year. This is your only ambition. What a crowd of pathetic losers with no ambition. Shame on you.
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14-Jul-2011 13:11 | | richie - Shame you didn't do your research JohnUsmanov the Manu'er fan has only invested in our shares to make a profit! If he wanted to buy us players he could, Eden Hazard is about £30mil which is nothing to him with his billions, so if he wanted to invest in players that would benifit the club why doesn't he buy EH and present him to the club gift wrapped like Abromovich does at Chelski?
Well its "simples" that would be a gift and it wouldn't earn him money, it would lose him money. Abromovich is prepared to lose his money at Chavski. Usmanov's investment in our shares has only ever made him money he's never lost investing in our shares. Abromovich has lost millions in lavishing player gifts on Chavski.
Kroenke is as you rightly say also a billionaire, but his money isn't cash money like the oil money of the others, his wealth is in the property's and company's he owns. He's a long term sports buisness investor. His money didn't come quick like Usmanov & Abromovich's through knowing a dictator and a few dodgy deals.
So its not surprising that he's not the "sugar daddy" type that so many of our own want.
You know the type of fan that wanted a "sugar daddy" the type that really secretly wants to support the Chav's. But finds the switch hard to make having declared their undying love for Arsenal when Wenger was winning titles with some of the best and most stylish football the country had ever seen.
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