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by MATT TAYLOR Two points from a possible nine simply isn’t good enough. In a sickingly familiar fashion, Arsenal are having to deal with watching the final few weeks of the title race with muted interest. And so predictably, the onslaught upon Arsene Wenger’s philosophies has come thick and fast, with the increasingly riled manager replying in frustration and defiance. Despite his continued conviction in his young team, it appears that sections of the Arsenal crowd are finally beginning to lose faith.
If losing a 98th minute lead wasn’t enough, we preceded to lose a 3-1 lead at the hands of our bitter rivals and then crumble at Bolton, all at a time when we simply had to win. This was the best they could give us it seems. However, it appears that not only do the players lack the winning mentality that every Arsenal fan yearns for, Arsenal fans themselves seem to have forgotten the sensation of winning and indeed, echo this response onto the pitch. It is therefore not surprising when questioning why we are so good away from home, yet so shaky at home when the sea of red and white falls silent as soon as things appear to not be going our way.
Maintaining faith in players such as Eboue, Bendtner, Rosicky, Denilson and Almunia, despite their many diverse critics, only weakens Wenger’s stronghold of the support of the media and fans. There appears to be a gathering momentum behind the witch hunt of Arsene Wenger, previously celebrated the greatest footballing pioneer Arsenal had ever seen. But this unfortunately, is what the ‘Wenger Out’ movement is, an unfounded witch hunt.
Against the lack of funds, high-profile departures and board unrest Wenger has fought, maintaining his astonishing record as Arsenal manager of 14 consecutive qualifications for the Champions League, coming within touching distance of the artificial comfort of success. If we had won the League Cup but had 3 years out of the Champions League, would this really amount to a fair conclusion of success? Would the ‘Wenger Out’ supporters, who maintain that immediate success is much more important than a sustaining future, in fact be calling for our current status as a top 3 team, if we had slipped back into being a ‘good cup side’ as we were when under the management of George Graham?
The importance of winning a trophy is admittedly great, considering our 6 year drought, but is it really success to lift the League Cup and nothing else? The loss to Birmingham in a trophy we had previously christened as the ‘Micky Mouse Cup’ was a massive blow to the Arsenal team, so desperate for success, but we must be wary of adopting the small-time attitude of our friends from down the Seven Sisters Road.
It is apparent that they equate success to one year where they win 6 cup games, but fall horrifically short in the Premier League. This is success of the most irrelevant and insignificant. If we were to sack Wenger tomorrow and all the European giants were managerless, be it Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester United, they would be snapping at Wenger’s heels to bring him in and create success out of nothing, which people must realise, is what he has done at Arsenal.
I direct you all to the twitter of ‘thegoonblog’ who raises the point that the Arsenal fans appear to have been divided into two political parties, ‘Wenger Out’ and ‘In Arsene we trust’. It pains me to say, but when examining the different supporters up and down the country, ours appear to be amongst the worst in the league.
Having polarised fans does nothing for the players confidence, especially when in difficult situations as we have found ourselves in at the back end of this season. Though our away supporters are always fantastic, our matches at home are another matter all together. When assessing how we have fallen away so dramatically, Arsenal fans have to look at themselves, before jumping to rash conclusions about the demise of Arsene Wenger.
There are obviously factors outside of our control, i.e the corporate culture embedded into the Emirates Stadium, but there appears to be a negative etiquette within the ground in which you are given quizzical looks if you sing! The foundation of a rousing performance always comes from the terraces as came in our glorious victory over Barcelona. 85% of the time however, there is lacklustre singing, with large periods of near silence.
I look towards games against Sunderland, Blackburn and Liverpool, all draws that when turned into wins, would have seen us within touching distance of Man United. These games required a 12th man to spur the team on that extra yard. This man was non-existent. Whilst Wenger has to accept his mistakes, we also must accept that the fans simply aren’t vocal enough when it matters, partially resulting in us missing out on success.
Exhilarating football, a new stadium, an extremely young, talented team. Why is it then that some Arsenal fans feel that Wenger isn’t good enough? If Arsene Wenger isn’t good enough, who is? I hear Steve McClaren and Sam Allardyce are looking for work?! Almost every player who has worked with Wenger state with the utmost conviction that he is a brilliant manager. Scathing though I am, Arsenal fans, who write on the various forums that we need Darren Bent and an Italian keeper they’ve heard is good from a friend of a friend are quite simply clueless.
It is these fans, who boo at the end of matches and spread the propaganda of ill-feeling towards Wenger that will undermine him, and ultimately force him out. They will also be the ones who reminisce so fondly of the man who created teams who won 2 doubles and an unbeaten league triumph. The man who brought the Emirates Stadium to Arsenal. The man who, for a pennies cost of Fernando Torres, created a team that can, on its day, beat absolutely anybody.
Wenger not good enough? Be rational fellow Gooners, we have never had it so good.
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