Rocky the King
Well I have decided to break my self imposed silence since my last blog, Three months on from “Hell hath no fury like a Gooner scorned” where I urged the club to make a statement in the winter transfer window and get us over the line. I pointed out the stat that only Liverpool and Arsenal managed to break the trend that whosoever is top at Xmas tends to go on and win the league. I also said in January that I wanted to see the back of Arsene Wenger EVEN IF we win the league. Perhaps those who castigated me then will apologise now, as their blinded support of failure is now the only barrier to a consensus opposition to the status quo being voiced.
Yes I TOLD YOU SO…
The problems at Arsenal have been repeated ad nauseam, the club is truly broken. A dysfunctional board, a Manager incapable of seeing that he has damaged his legacy, and even winning the FA Cup cannot be taken for granted. Arsene Wenger cannot sack himself, and only his conscience is left. He was always a man of honour. He never betrayed any contract that he signed, a man of the utmost integrity. He remains so doesn’t he? Private life indiscretions aside, what has gone wrong with Arsene Wenger’s reign?
The appointment of Ivan Gazidis is partly to blame. Gazidis has increased the commercial revenues at the club, but he has let down fans by not having any influence on curbing the micro management of Le Boss. His admission that he knew nothing of the values of players during his first Q&A at the club should have warned us of the nightmares to come. Gazidis and Kroenke will not lead the club to greatness. The praise of ex Arsenal Legends is also to blame. I love Titi Henry, but it is a bit rich to laud praises on Arsene Wenger, after you left us for Barcelona. In fact this is now the reality, top players now have to leave Arsenal to guarantee trophies and even have a real chance of winning the Champions League, something that I have repeatedly said will never happen at Arsenal whilst Arsene Wenger is in charge.
Even as we approach the 13th anniversary of the death of the late David Rocky Rocastle, one wonders what he would have said had he seen what is now happening under Arsene Wenger. The lack of fight in our current squad is related to the comfort zone of their salaries and the ignorance of our heritage. Rocky once said “Remember who you are and who you represent”. If only some of the players who currently have the privilege of wearing the red and white shirt would heed this quote. Rocky was a true servant of the club. His infectious smile and get up and at ‘em ethic was what motivated the likes of Ian Wright. His dislike for Spurs among his many triumphs whilst at the club was what made Rocky a true Gunner Legend in all our hearts.
Arsene Wenger believed in his judgement absolutely, even when it failed, there were other scapegoats to let him off. From the farce of letting players contracts run down so leaving the club powerless, to the repeated high score humiliations. 8-2 against Man United? I dread this weekend as Man City might equal that score-line given our crop of injuries. Arsene Wenger is tactically incapable of meeting the new challenges of clubs who bankroll their way to fortune. Rip Van Wenger as I nicknamed him in one blog is a man of the past living in the present, not knowing how to adapt. His biggest mistake for me was to sell Robin Van Persie to Man Utd, and gift them another title. I turned my back on Arsene Wenger then. His role was to strengthen Arsenal Football Club, not strengthen our rivals. The failure of Arsenal Football Club to replace past World Class players is solely Wenger’s fault.
Support of your club comes in different ways.
I chose to support the club over recent months by remaining silent. By refusing to add negative blog after negative blog. I want to write something positive for a change. Perhaps I will get the chance after April 12th if we beat Wigan. The 3% season ticket price increase whilst holding the largest amount of cash ever in its accounts is proof that the club holds its fans in contempt. They will profit from your undying loyalty to the badge. The faith that you hold, the hope that beats in your heart, that maybe, just maybe something will change is futile. For our Club is stagnating, and failure is on the horizon. We can change this if we oppose the status quo with a united voice. But for that to happen, even the most diehard of Wenger supporting Arsenal fans will have to have had enough.
So how much more humiliation and failure can you stomach? Yes losing the first spot and now fighting with Everton and Spurs for fourth place IS a failure. Never being seriously considered as title contenders in December was insulting but now the pundits can laugh behind their hands. I want Arsenal to be back where it deserves to be. I want Arsenal to win the Champions League. For that to happen requires change at the club from the Board down. Bring in the Klopp, bring in the Martinez. But do not allow Wenger to choose our next Manager, or trust me, what is now happening at Old Trafford will happen at Arsenal. So the only question to ask you, is…
Have you had enough yet?
In memory of the great David Rocky Rocastle 2 May 1967 – 31 March 2001.
