Tom Spencer
I haven’t been pressed into writing a defence of the team for the last three years but I think it is time. The ‘sack Arsene’ brigade seem to have woken up again, having gone quiet a couple of months ago when things were looking good, and are ready to chuck everything out that has been achieved in the vain belief that Arsenal should be winning things year in year out. Our fans are starting to sound like Scousers or Geordies, worrying times and worst of all can’t see their own faults, the accusation most used against Le Boss.
I share a season ticket with my parents but I am currently working in India which makes attending games a little tricky. It means I spend more time following the Arsenal online than in person, which is somewhat frustrating as you have to spend a lot of time listening to Arsenal fans with no mental strength and a lack of quality. It isn’t just Arsene or the boys at fault here it’s all those people that gave up weeks, months or years ago. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
On Saturday I had a note from my parents to say they weren’t going to the Blackburn game because they couldn’t face the seven hour round trip (that they have to make now they have retired to the countryside) and wanted to watch the cricket world cup final. I was disgusted. Was this not a great chance for Arsenal to bounce back? An opportunity to get our title challenge to get back on track? For most clubs this would be a huge game. It was a huge game for Arsenal but I bet it didn’t feel like it when people arrived at the ground. Arsenal fans had given up, were feeling sorry for themselves and moping. Could you imagine the reaction if one of the players came out and said “we’ll never win anything so what is the point in trying?” This is exactly what our fans are doing.
By popular consensus we have the worst atmosphere of pretty much any stadium in the country and the most empty seats by the final whistle. It is an embarrassment. How many people remained to cheer on the boys against Blackburn at the end? 40,000? Maybe even less. Where were they!? How many important late goals have we seen at the Arsenal over the years? I for one like to think that the fans play a big part in driving the team to deliver performances and get goals. If the fans can’t show passion and commitment to the last minute why should the players? Apart from the odd game against United or the Spuds the stadium is still a library. The away fans on the other hand are amazing and our away record reflects that. You will say that the lack of passion comes from the players or the manager but maybe it’s time to take a long look at yourselves and just get behind the team. I like to believe that when Arsenal have won, I played my part with my support. It seems now people just want to be able to say, “I told you so”. You should never do ironic cheers when our own keeper catches a cross, whoever he may be and however much you think he shouldn’t play for Arsenal.
Things aren’t perfect and I’m not pretending that they are. They aren’t perfect at United either, or Chelsea or Liverpool or anywhere! I would love us to have had a world class keeper for the last three years. A fit Thomas Vermaelen at centre back would be good too. It isn’t going to change before the end of the season so let’s just get behind the team. You can be a miserable and pessimistic as you like at the end of the season but just keep your head up for a few weeks and maybe, just maybe you might enjoy yourself!
Let us see whether some unbridled support for the team over the coming weeks can win us the league! Strange things happen in football and with your support (and United in the CL semi finals) we can still win the league! I believe and you should too, for the good of the team.
