After the debacle of no new goalkeeper arriving at Arsenal (or a holding midfielder), which almost certainly guarantees us as also ran status for yet another season, it is time to let Wenger and the spineless board know our true feelings. When everybody and his dog can observe a Kamikaze situation developing then surely it becomes a duty of supporters to let those whom have control, our immense dissatisfaction known. Currently the only way to let off steam is via supporters’ websites like the onlinegooner or individual abuse at players during a game, which is counter productive.

How and where we protest I don’t know, but it was very interesting to hear this week that Man U, for the first time in living memory, having not sold out all their season ticket allocation for this campaign. Was this solely due to the current economic climate, or has the very well orchestrated anti-Glazer lobby been successful again? I say successful simply because all you ever see now is green scarfed Manure fans and hence the publicity for the cause is very visual, and continues to show the average fan’s disapproval of the way their club is currently being run, and they deserve credit for that.

Obviously I realize that their campaign is of a much greater core issue than our frustrations regarding either of our Chuckle Brothers being in goal for a football game. However the board and Wenger seem to be completely isolated from the fans. I for one have had enough of supporting the best balance sheet club in world football today, and simply yearn for the focus of the club to go back to winning trophies by investing some (not all) of that profit into quality playing stock, to increase the probability of success on the football pitch, rather than inventing new ways of fleecing the fans to presumably line the board’s pockets. If there is no intention to ever spend any of the vast profits then stop pretending that we want to be no 1, and start refunding the fans for the over-priced tickets. We are happy to pay if we feel it is being used to give ourselves the best possible chance of winning trophies, but when we see this is not the case, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, and a sense of being fleeced as our loyalty is simply milked to ensure shareholders stakes become more valuable as the debt continues to fall on the new stadium.

Football is unlike any other business, and indeed I don’t wish to view my club as a business in the first place. However I accept that a responsible way of running the club must persist to ensure the long term future over the short term (e.g. Leeds and Portsmouth). However Arsenal and Wenger have now gone 100% in the opposite direction, where they fleece their customers, but categorically refuse to invest where glaring deficiencies are evident. The relationship between club and supporter I feel has been badly broken at Arsenal as the balance sheet is now undisputedly the no 1 priority, and indeed is today’s trophy for the exclusive joy of the board.

In a previous article I wrote about David Dein coming back, because at least he genuinely wanted Arsenal to be the number one club in the world for its achievements on the pitch, rather than as currently with results from the accountancy dept. As if evidence were needed how out of touch our pathetic board are, the sanctioning of a 3 year extension to Wenger’s contract takes some beating. Why when Wenger himself admitted it was now or never for this squad this season, would you rush out into offering a new long term contract? It’s a bit like Liverpool having given Benitez a new 5 year deal, only to discover 12 months later they wanted rid of him, and hence had to pay handsomely for that privilege. Another example is the FA with Capello, whom I bet they would love to sack right now, but simply can’t afford to because of his premature contract extension. The reason the board gave Wenger his new contract is because they are delighted with the way he runs the club, because it is lining their pockets, if not today then tomorrow as their individual shareholdings will be worth vastly more once the debt of the stadium has gone, and at this rate it will be gone by the time Wenger’s new contact expires.

So where does that leave us mere mortal supporters? Probably looking at 4 more years of winning nothing, other than plaudits and going greyer and angrier by the day as our club and in particular Wenger refuse to go the extra mile to tip us over a winning line. Fabregas wants out, as he can see what we can all see, and it’s only a matter of time before the clubs currently below us catch up, and hence I feel something needs to be done to alert the club of our deep dissatisfaction at the way it’s being run, like a championship club with very limited funds. I am not advocating the ridiculous transfer policies of Money City or Real Madrid last season, but is it too much to ask for a goalkeeper and a holding midfielder whom are competent, so we don’t have to have kittens every time we hear the names Almunia, Fabianski or Denilson on the team sheet?

Any suggestions out there, or is it me that’s lost the plot and is over-reacting?