Richard S
I have procrastinated over how to start this article. Following another desperately poor performance at ManUre, I was tempted to let forth all the venom and frustration that have been building in me for what seems like forever (seven years at least).
However, it is not as simple as that.
I am confused and desperately torn between the divided loyalties of our great supporters. I read every article on onlinegooner and the comments that others write. Some are good, some less so, but all are written from the heart, as well as the head. The last few years, in particular, have seen an increasing negativity towards the team and Wenger. The financial side of the game has become as prominent as the football itself, and the conundrum is whether Wenger has achieved good results with the money at his disposal, or actually mismanaged the whole project. This drives so much of the negativity.
There appears to be an overwhelming majority of contributors who want Wenger out, with the occasional more positive responses by people like Mandy D or Chris. For the record, I think that Mandy's comments are balanced and well thought through. Some of these comments are met with vitriol, which I believe is unfair and unnecessary. Is this negativity reflected in the wider supporter base? You cannot help be influenced by the thoughts of others, but I am trying to form my own opinion on the demise of our football club.
I do not want to dismiss the financial implications or indeed the acrimonious issues at board level. Far from it. My only comment on board issues is that PHW must resign following his disgraceful performance at the recent AGM. I read a full transcript of this meeting and I am struggling to remember an individual at his level who behaved in such a condescending, patronising and abrupt manner. I'm sure that he has done much for Arsenal over the years, but his current attitude towards the fans is totally unacceptable. But I want to focus on the management and leadership of our team.
Since the Norwich game, it is very clear to me that Wenger has 'lost the dressing room'. As a manager and leader of people for most of my career to date, I know that once this happens, it is over. You can regain it... with another team and a fresh start, but not with the current group. I have watched as Podolski, Cazorla, Tommy V and even Arteta, to some extent, have lost drive, motivation and passion to win. These are very good players and they are struggling because of poor tactics, poor motivation and an unwillingness to adapt to a game as it progresses.
These issues lie solely at the feet of one man, Arsène Wenger. This lack of leadership has been apparent to me for some while. The capitulation to Man Utd in the champions league semi at home, the Carling Cup final against Birmingham... the list is fairly long.
I do not buy into the argument that he has bought poorly in recent years. Nasri, Fabregas, Podolski, Cazorla, TV, Koscielny, Sagna, the Ox, Arteta, Jenkinson, Giroud... are good players. There are some mistakes in there... Chamakh, Santos. I do not include Ramsey... yet. He is played out of position and would play much better in a 4-4-2. The jury is still out on Gervinho.
Wenger seems unable to adapt his tactics, employ players in positions to get the best from them and seems steadfastly stubborn in his approach to the formation. Why will he not consider playing 4-4-2? Giroud and Walcott as a partnership have great potential, for example. Of course, he knows more than me, but why will he not at least try some different formations? These issues have little to do with money, or intervention at board level.
I am desperately sad to come to this conclusion. Wenger has provided some of the best football I have witnessed since supporting Arsenal since the early 70s. My father (god rest his soul) bought me my first season ticket in 1979. My dad was a Gooner, my brother is a Gooner and my Mum just suffered! Having watched the tedium of 1980 to 85, I am used to suffering, but it never felt that bad. I feel worse now for some reason. Maybe it is because expectations are so much higher, thanks to Wenger's success from 1998 to 2004. Sometimes I feel like a spoilt child, just because we are not winning.
Some argue that the only way to drive change is to boycott games. I can't do this. Arsenal are in my blood. I have a ticket for Fulham and Montpellier. Why am I wasting money on this? I can't answer that question. There is no logical reason for continuing to shell out lots of money to watch a team which I believe has lost its leader. But there is always that glimmer of hope that things may turn around. Unfortunately, it is not Wenger who will provide this. Fresh leadership is needed to maximize the quality that this team has to offer.
I read an article by Peter Le Beau on onlinegooner a week or two ago. I had the good fortune to meet Peter for the first time a few months back. He is a respected figure within his industry, a real gentleman and an avid Gooner. Peter regularly contributes to The Gooner and his articles are balanced and generally provide some positive outcome. His last article struck me cold. I think for the first time I felt that he could see no positive immediate future for Arsenal, with the analogy of 'groundhog day'.
I hope he is wrong, but my heart tells me he is not.
