I've seen quite a lot of comments from rival fans (and some Arsenal fans) either not understanding why the majority of our fans have lost it recently, or warning that we should be careful what you wish for in terms of our manager, and how can we possibly complain when we're consistently in the champions league etc.
Well my response, and take on the issue would be that, any football fan at any level wants to see their side progressing, and improving - be it at the top of the premier league, or the bottom of the Isthmian league (for arguments sake). Well, Arsenal have seen 10 years of regression, false dawns, and ultimately stagnation. There have been some great moments and some fantastic sides in that time, and we have been lucky with the entertainment we've witnessed but ultimately it's groundhog day again.
This has been bought into sharper focus by Leicester's success (as almost happened with Liverpool a couple of seasons ago) when there was a prime opportunity for Arsenal going into the season to capitalise on the instability and uncertainty at clubs that would be expected to challenge for the title, and a club has proved it is possible to compete without the financial resource a club like Arsenal has. And it would appear that yet again we have failed in the most predictable way possible.
Then there are numerous humiliating results we've experience over the last few seasons:
15-16
- 4-0 defeat to Southampton
- 3-2 defeat to Olympiakos
- 2-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb
14-15
- 3-1 loss to Monaco in the CL
- 3-3 draw from 3-0 up vs Anderlecht
- 3-2 loss to Stoke where we should have been 4-0 down at half time
13-14
- 6-0 defeat to Chelsea
- 5-1 defeat to Liverpool
- 6-3 defeat to Man City
12-13
- Loss to Bradford on penalties in the league cup
- Loss to Championship Blackburn Rovers at home in the FA Cup
11-12
- 4-0 loss to Milan in the CL
- 8-2 loss to Manchester United
10-11
- 4-4 draw with Newcastle
- 2-1 loss to Birmingham in the league cup final
- 2-0 loss to Manchester United side with 7 defenders in the starting line-up
That's just a sample and those that immediately spring to mind as there have been plenty of other. And there is only one factor that connect all these problems - the manager. I felt that it would have been a good time for him to step down after winning the FA cup in 13-14, when he could leave on a high. It's deeply saddening to see where we are at this stage of the season, because I don't want this to be the lasting memory of a great man, and great manager, but it's evident that he is lacking on several fronts - tactically, motivationally and in the transfer market.
Because as long as we carry on with Wenger, as much as it pains me to say it, I cannot see us showing that progress that gives all football fans the hope anticipation and excitement that keeps us turning up and filling stadiums.
Why Arsenal fans have gone into meltdown...
posted on 14/3/16
What a stupid article
What is the point listing every bad result and using that as a stick to bash Wenger and the team You could pick any team in football baring Barcelona and come up with a similar list.
10 years of stagnation? We have been improving for a long time now could you have seen 4 years ago players like sanchez ozil and Cech
Its like everyone has suddenly lost their minds. What the hell is going on?
If Arsenal win the league after the biggest meltdowns ive ever seen in world football the scenes will be absolutely hilarious.
posted on 14/3/16
comment by MaineGunner (U10130)
posted 15 minutes ago
The issue is the stagnation. We are always 2-3 players away from having a well balanced and strong squad (not just first 11).
And the other is the performances. Why do we gear up and raise the tempo for Barca, man city and other "big names" but will barely muster much effort against the rest and play like we expect them to roll over?
The injuries are not bad luck (Wenger would have to walk under a load off ladders, while stepping on cracks and having black cats cross his path as he breaks mirror after mirror to get this amount of "bad luck".
We are just tired of the same formula while expecting different results. Alex Ferguson (may he grow boils on his back) could take crap players and win the league. Wenger takes the likes of Carzorla, Arshavin and Sanchez and stops what made them unique into sideways passing can't shoot on target robots.
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more stupidity. sanchez has never played better in his career than his first season at arsenal. Carzola is probably the best midfielder in the league.
posted on 14/3/16
10yrs of improvement to see us get knocked out of the FA cup by the mighty Watford and loose out on the league to Leicester/Spuds.
The only improvement has been the bank balance.
posted on 14/3/16
comment by Arseology (U17185)
posted 38 seconds ago
10yrs of improvement to see us get knocked out of the FA cup by the mighty Watford and loose out on the league to Leicester/Spuds.
The only improvement has been the bank balance.
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how dare we lose a game and get knocked out. BTW the season is nowhere near over
posted on 14/3/16
comment by The Godfather (U10154)
posted 23 minutes ago
What a stupid article
What is the point listing every bad result and using that as a stick to bash Wenger and the teamYou could pick any team in football baring Barcelona and come up with a similar list.
10 years of stagnation? We have been improving for a long time now could you have seen 4 years ago players like sanchez ozil and Cech
Its like everyone has suddenly lost their minds. What the hell is going on?
If Arsenal win the league after the biggest meltdowns ive ever seen in world football the scenes will be absolutely hilarious.
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The thing is, Godfather, you're proving my point and you don't even realise it. Agreed that 4 years ago, we would have given so much for players of the quality of Cech, Ozil and Sanchez. And yet, now we have them and we aren't performing any better.
And I haven't just listed every bad result. I've listed the worst of a litany of poor and embarrassing results that we've had to sit through as fans. The loss to Watford doesn't even register compared to most of those. And there are factors I didn't even broach in my article such as injuries and ticket prices (i.e. shelling out £60 for yesterday's match).
I admire you unerring committment to Wenger, but please, don't tell me how I feel about the situation we are in. And if, by some chance we do win the league this season, I will be delighted but I will still believe the points I made.
posted on 14/3/16
comment by The Godfather (U10154)
posted 15 minutes ago
comment by Arseology (U17185)
posted 38 seconds ago
10yrs of improvement to see us get knocked out of the FA cup by the mighty Watford and loose out on the league to Leicester/Spuds.
The only improvement has been the bank balance.
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how dare we lose a game and get knocked out. BTW the season is nowhere near over
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its not that we lost a game... It's the predictable groundhog way that we sheet the bed at this time of year that's infuriating especially considering that this is an entirely different squad from the rvp/cesc days yet we still sheet the bed the same way - Wenger remains the only constant.
posted on 14/3/16
comment by Chris H (U15205)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
Top article, Someday
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Cheers, Chris. Would rather have not felt the need to write it though.
posted on 14/3/16
Good article
The real frustration comes from the fact we are in such a great position to progress and are almost choosing not to through under investment and a failure to identify/address very obvious weaknesses.
posted on 14/3/16
Fcuck off Godfather. 10 years off 3rd and 4th is not stagnation? That is progress to you? Injuries every year? Pattern of either starting well then collapsing at the end or having a terrible start before we "make progress" to 4th!!!
You talk rubbish mate. Even our fabled great play has been poor since 2011 and completely an anomaly this year
posted on 14/3/16
comment by Sömeday_693 - Elneny will be our salvation (U8892)
posted 1 hour, 13 minutes ago
comment by The Godfather (U10154)
posted 23 minutes ago
What a stupid article
What is the point listing every bad result and using that as a stick to bash Wenger and the teamYou could pick any team in football baring Barcelona and come up with a similar list.
10 years of stagnation? We have been improving for a long time now could you have seen 4 years ago players like sanchez ozil and Cech
Its like everyone has suddenly lost their minds. What the hell is going on?
If Arsenal win the league after the biggest meltdowns ive ever seen in world football the scenes will be absolutely hilarious.
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The thing is, Godfather, you're proving my point and you don't even realise it. Agreed that 4 years ago, we would have given so much for players of the quality of Cech, Ozil and Sanchez. And yet, now we have them and we aren't performing any better.
And I haven't just listed every bad result. I've listed the worst of a litany of poor and embarrassing results that we've had to sit through as fans. The loss to Watford doesn't even register compared to most of those. And there are factors I didn't even broach in my article such as injuries and ticket prices (i.e. shelling out £60 for yesterday's match).
I admire you unerring committment to Wenger, but please, don't tell me how I feel about the situation we are in. And if, by some chance we do win the league this season, I will be delighted but I will still believe the points I made.
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You give Godfather too much respect!