Kevin Whitcher
At 6pm this evening, supporters frustrated at the club’s lack of progress since the stadium move back in 2006 will hold a No New Contact march from the exterior of the East Stand of the old Highbury Stadium in Avenell Road to the area by the Two Cannons or ‘Bear’ Roundabout in Hornsey Road, outside the Armoury. The focus of their protest is the desire that Arsene Wenger should not extend his tenure as manager of the club past this summer.
I can understand the frustration of those that will be on the march, and I am sure none of those taking part ever wanted things to reach a level where they felt forced to protest against a man that gave the club ten glorious seasons before the departure from Highbury.
Ivan Gazidis told supporters in 2011, when asked who the manager was accountable to at an end of season Q&A event, that “Arsene is accountable to the fans – they ultimately make judgement. If you are seeing the relationship between the fans and the manager break down over time that is unsustainable”. Since then, the CEO has witnessed more punches thrown at home and away matches over the issue of whether or not the club should persist with Arsene as manager than he would care to remember.
Arsene has has three seasons with both Ozil and Sanchez in the team, and the money to build a strong group of players around these two world class performers. In the first season, he won the FA Cup and finished third. Last season, the improvement in the Premier League finishing position (due to a complete collapse by Spurs) was tempered by the fact that it was Leicester City that finished ten points above them. Significantly, all three of the clubs that had won the title since Arsenal’s last triumph in 2004 dispensed with their managers as a consequence of their allowing Leicester to win the league. Arsenal, with less evident ambition, stuck with their man. This season has seen the traditional last 16 exit in the Champions League and another failed title challenge from a promising position, in spite of spending over £90 million in last summer’s transfer window.
In fairness, it is the board that is to blame for this situation, as they should have put Arsene Wenger out of his misery long before it got to the stage that fans who love what he achieved in his better days now feel they are forced to take part in a march demanding change. However, taking Gazidis’ cue, such is their feeling of hopelessness at the situation, that they are compelled to do something they have no wish to do, the recent defeats to Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Liverpool being the catalyst as another season collapses in traditional fashion. Sure, the FA Cup is still a possibility, but instead of beating two from Wigan, Hull, Reading and Aston Villa, Arsenal will have to triumph twice at Wembley against – in all likelihood – two from Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Spurs. Optimism does not abound.
The intention of the march is to be respectful, but make the point. A flyer will be handed out to those taking part with a list of do’s and don'ts, which includes points such as
* Not reacting to any provocation
* Refraining from foul or abusive language
* No alcohol
The intention is that the march should make its point without the necessity for personal abuse or conflict. Freedom of speech.
We received an email from one of the organisers which read as follows…
If fans who want Wenger to leave and can't make game/protest/are overseas etc they are requested to do their bit and tweet the below text at kick off and at half time. Even if you are in or at the ground you can still do this.
@Arsenal @PUMA @emirates @Betfair @GatoradeUK @CitroenUK @CooperTire @Europcar @IndesitUK @Vitality_UK #NoNewContract #WengerOut
Or post the hashtags on the AFC Facebook page if you don't use Twitter.
If you want Wenger to leave, it's no good just moaning into an echo chamber! Here's your chance to do something direct.
Not related to the march, but equally pertinent was this email we received yesterday from a long term supporter…
For me the worst thing about Wenger and the way he’s managed the team is that he’s killed off all the emotion I’ve felt towards the club. I wish I still got angry and upset rather than feel immune from all things Arsenal.
I expect more from my club than having a manager that spends enough to get us in the Champions League every year. I can’t get emotional about my club when all it’s set up to do is make sure the team qualifies for the following year’s CL.
I don’t even bother watching the matches anymore. I’ve been completely turned off by the whole thing.
That’s the worst thing about this entire situation. I don’t care anymore. I don’t care about winning or losing. I don’t care about losing 5-1 in the CL, I don’t care about finishing above Spurs. I don’t care about finishing in the top 4. I don’t even care enough to be angry or vindictive towards Arsene Wenger.
Every season for the last 10 years he’s promised us a competitive team with a strong mental attitude. Every season we have known that that we lack both and it has been obvious to us that his actions on non-actions in the transfer market have failed to rectify these problems.
Surely the feeling of detachment is the worst thing he could have ever created.
Eight years ago, in May 2009, before the final home match of the season against Stoke, with rumours that Real Madrid were trying to tempt Wenger to Spain, supporters held a march of support for the manager, starting from The Rocket and ending at the Bear Roundabout. In the preceding six weeks, Arsenal had lost an FA Cup semi-final to Chelsea in which the best player had been left on the bench (Arshavin), been beaten 3-1 at home in the second leg of a Champions League semi-final against Manchester United (going two goals down within 11 minutes), and lost 4-1 at home to Chelsea. In spite of this, many fans wanted him to stay. I wonder how many on that march now feel the same now. I know of one who was on it that is travelling to the game tonight to take part in the No New Contract march even though they do not have a match ticket.
