Okay, so a new season and a time for hope and optimism?? Well not, if you’re an Arsenal fan. Two games in and there’s an inescapable feeling that we’ve been here before. That we know what’s ahead of us. No real prospect of any signings in the transfer window, players falling down injured, Wenger being at his obstinate worst and a general feeling of apathy engulfs any conversation between Arsenal fans.
Okay, I guess things are not that bleak. But I’m concerned. Increasingly concerned. Perversely, I’m stick backing Wenger. You can just hear the howls of disgust from the small, yet vocal and increasingly prominent ‘Wenger Out’ brigade. I actually sympathise with a lot of their gripes. It’s groundhog day, a feeling of stagnation.
However, it’s the vitriolic abuse which is directed at Wenger which causes me to instinctively back him and fight his corner. No one else is at the moment. He’s stubborn, dogmatic and has a unquenched zeal that he’s going to do it his way in his attempt for a fourth PL win. I’m desperate to see him succeed. The criticism he gets from the media is often a disgrace. His unrivalled consistency is ignored and his achievement in securing CL football year in, year out is ridiculed when he should be praised. The Arsenal fans who run to appear on ArsenalFan TV every time we lose to berate and vilify Wenger have long passed the point of being a caricature of themselves. Have they any self-awareness of how they are perceived?? Ranting, raving, swearing. Seemingly demented.
I’m desperate for us to enjoy some success. I have happy memories of memorable trips to Paris, Madrid, Wembley, Old Trafford and White Hart Lane. Sharing special moments with family, friends and other nameless fans who I’ll never see again. But I’m a little old in the tooth to completely lose all perspective. Losing to Spurs is an awful experience (not that it happens that often) and seeing Jose get the better of Wenger yet again, just kills me. But I’m never going to let my disappointment and suffering lead me to launch a tirade of expletives against our manager or players. I want us to compete, I want us to play great football and I want us to sign top players. Wenger has achieved this year in, year out.
Wenger’s given us wonderful memories and given the club a foundation which is the envy of the vast majority of clubs worldwide. And ultimately, he has assembled a squad which I feel can go on and win the title, with one or two additions. Yet his real achievements are being lost as an influential small number of our fans and a prejudiced media focus on our managers’ shortcomings. Will Wenger leave the club in a mess just as Fergie did?? Or has Wenger hopped from club to club and bailed out at the first sign of a looming crisis as Jose systemically has?? Nope.
No, I support Wenger. Just let’s see us have a fully fit squad, even for a few months and the belated signing of those final two players to supplement our squad. Then all will be well with the world.
