Yanto
(Ed’s note, this one submitted on the Monday between the Liverpool defeat and the win at Udinese. Still clearing the backlog at Gooner Towers, see…)
I’ve been a Gooner for more than 40 years now, and have seen the Bad (No! I Mean BAD Times). I say this because I might be accused of being a JCL/AKB for some of the things I am about to say.
Firstly, I believe Arsene Wenger needs to buy players, at least one CB (two would be heaven) a (proper) holding/ defensive midfielder and a truly world class striker… I would have said a goalie, but if we did buy a goalie, it would need to be someone who would be willing to be number 2 to Shez, but good enough to challenge him and keep him on his toes… at least till Shez is finished article. We still need a capable No 2 and Fabianski has yet to come close. I also want to see some of our players played in their best positions… maybe then Arshavin and Walcott can indeed fulfil their potential.
Like you, all I have heard and read these past couple of months in the sports news etc, is the media criticising, attacking, insulting (basically doing all they can to destroy) Wenger, and at present they are on target to achieving that aim.
Already they have succeeded in whipping up such a feeding frenzy, that even when reporting or discussing other teams’ managers etc – Wenger is brought into the ‘discussion’ at some point. In doing so they have succeeded in widening the gap that exists between Arsenal fans. At the Liverpool game, I witnessed arguments between fellow Gooners that threatened to boil over into violence… WTF!!?
For every single Arsenal fan you will find a different and unique opinion (on the present situation). There may be similarities, but this polarising is something else, and the reason for that IMO is that the media have done a real hatchet job, not just on Wenger but on everyone and anyone connected with Arsenal FC.
We need to remember the long standing tradition of the British Press: They build someone up – so they can sell papers – make headlines… the bigger and more sensational the better… so they can then ‘bring them down and destroy them’ the lower and more nasty the better… to make even bigger headlines and sell more papers. There are plenty of hacks/journos who have an axe to grind with Wenger/Arsenal for a million reasons, and now they see their chance to do some damage, but they are not just damaging Wenger and the club & team, but Arsenal supporters. And it is not (simply) Wenger’s fault… if any are to blame it is the board – who have constantly misinformed (I think some people call it lying!?) us while Wenger has carried the can.
And we fellow Gooners have not only fallen for it ‘hook line and sinker’ – but we have now become total participants in destroying someone who does NOT deserve it. Of course we can and should voice our opinions! Protest if need be, BUT the things I have heard Gooners say, that I have read on OnlineGooner’ on other websites and in the papers has caused me to re-evaluate this whole scenario. Surely it would be more effective to contact the club, write to Wenger and the Board, rather than just sit on my behind and whinge, moan and throw insult after insult. Okay, some might say ‘fat chance of my letter actually getting through him’, but that surely has got to be worth a try, if I care as I say I do, and better than allowing myself to be a (passive) part of the hatchet job that is being done on Wenger, the club and Arsenal supporters.
It’s even got to the point where ex-manager George Graham is going out of his way to criticise Wenger in public. Why does he feel the need to do so ‘publicly’ – surely he has access to Wenger and can do so privately, perhaps he’s doing so because he too is caught up in this feeding frenzy. Mind you criticism from someone found guilty of taking backhanders… my how low can you get!?... perhaps managing Sp**s!???
Every Gooner/Arsenal Fan has a right to their opinion and to voice it to the manager, club, players etc… BUT that is “WE” – what right do the media have, and why do you think they’re doing this? It isn’t because they care, or because they have the best interests of the fans at heart – No! they are doing this because it makes headlines, and sells papers. How many times have we witnessed the public execution of a celebrity by the media!? Exactly!
No matter what, we need to remember that Arsene Wenger has been a “Hero” for us…a “Legend”, why should we be ‘cajoled and coerced’ into (publicly) turning on one of our own. HE is Arsenal – WE are Arsenal, and for me it is like seeing a family member being attacked. And that truly makes me angry and sad – we all know it is okay for families to argue amongst themselves, but it is NOT acceptable for outsiders (the scum media especially) to interfere.
No! I am not a Rosetinter, or one of those blinkered JCL’s who thinks AKB. But I am aware of the truly sublime times he has brought me/us, and maybe he can again. But not if we let the media machine ‘persuade’ us to change what’s in our hearts – because that is what they do best – divide and rule – and so sell even more papers! Of course they’re going to ‘report’ on it no matter what we do, but we don’t have to contribute to their feeding frenzy. Then maybe, just maybe “we” all can get through this most challenging and difficult of times…WE ARE THE ARSENAL… nothing else matters.
