Kevin Whitcher
It was a no win afternoon for Arsenal in yesterday’s FA Cup quarter final replay. The best they could do – which they did – was put their non-league opponents away by a decent margin, and keep a clean sheet. Whether or not this will be the start of a recovery after the recent reverses against Liverpool and Bayern remains to be seen.
Before the match, there was a further #NoNewContract protest march from the old stadium. The numbers were double than before the Bayern game. I did a head count in Gillespie Road that put it around 450. There are plans to fly a banner over the Hawthorns next weekend and a crowdfunding appeal to raise funds for the campaign (although the two do not seem to be related). Significantly, during the 5-0 win, there were no chants of ‘One Arsene Wenger’. How many of the thousands of season ticket holders who did not attend, with swathes of empty seats visible in the home sections, would have added to the numbers on the march I cannot say, but they voted with their feet as far as this game was concerned.
Incidentally, if those planning to fly the plane with the banner at the West Brom game wish to get in touch via the editorial email address, I have been contacted by a group of Russian Gooners who are keen to contribute to costs.
As for the football, all credit to Lincoln and their marvelous fans. The latter were an example of a crowd supporting their team. Due to the gentrification via high prices, the obsession with making fans sit down in the early seasons at the new stadium, and the gradual dissipation of any genuine enthusiasm for the team, this kind of support is a distant memory from the home support at Arsenal. If you need any confirmation of this, just remember all the recent appearances at Wembley and the lack of any concerted singing by Arsenal supporters. Gooners only create an atmosphere at away matches these days, with the hardcore of away regulars that will get behind the team.
On the pitch, Lincoln gave it a very decent shot in the first half, and at times, it wasn’t obvious which were the Premier League team. They has one very decent chance to go one up after Nathan Arnold cut through the Arsenal back line as if he were Lionel Messi, forcing an excellent save from Cech. Cup keeper David Ospina was injured, because Arsene never drops his keepers. Remember Almunia’s sprained wrist that lasted about six months?
Lincoln’s team was stuffed with real football names. What a roll call. Farman, Wood, Waterfall, Raggett, Habergham, Arnold, Woodyard, Power, Hawkridge, Rhead, Muldoon. It brought memories back of Barnstoneworth United from Michael Palin’s ‘Ripping Yarns’. Their combined annual wages are probably less than Arsenal’s first eleven make in half a day, but I know who I’d rather have alongside me in the trenches.
The Gunners nabbed a goal through Theo in injury time of the first half, and the second half turned into a procession, most of the scorers having enough about them not to celebrate extravagantly. Fitness and technique told, aided by the size of the pitch. Lincoln gave it their best shot, but this was not to be a repeat of their incredible victory at Burnley. More than one Gooner was tempted by odds of 33-1 on an away win, given the nature of Arsenal’s recent performances, but even those odds were ungenerous given the reality of the situation. If the game were at Sincil Bank, then maybe, but never at the Grove.
Arsenal have 12 remaining Premier League matches this season, and one or two FA Cup games. Assuming Spurs take care of Millwall at the Lane today, they will have to beat two from Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham to win the trophy.
As for whether the manager’s future has already been determined, there are two ways of interpreting Sir Chips Keswick’s rather surprising statement in midweek -
1 – We are aware people are unhappy, but we are not going to sack the manager mid-season, but would prefer simply to part ways at the end of his contract
or 2 – He’s already signed a two year extension but we haven’t got the balls to admit it, we’ll choose when the moment is right (probably when Arsene is on holiday in June and the season ticket renewal deadline has passed).
However, there is some hope. The club have at least been sounding out other managers, and stories that Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri needs a decision will hopefully mean that the board do the best thing for Arsenal’s future prospects and take the decision to move on from the current stasis.
The thought of two more seasons of toxicity and delaying the rebuilding job that will be required to bring the club’s footballing structure (currently, Arsene takes all the decisions) into the current millennium, are bad enough. But can you imagine the abuse that will be hurled Arsene Wenger’s way next season when his team – by then minus Sanchez and Ozil – do their habitual thing of ending their title chances before Easter and get humiliated in Europe because there are is no tactical preparation?
There aren’t too many left who can produce any credible arguments as to exactly how Arsene Wenger can bring back the glory days to Arsenal. The win the FA Cup escape route looks a long shot this season, and a Champions League spot is in the balance, heavily dependent of getting results against the two Manchester clubs and Tottenham. ‘Judge me in May’, Arsene says, but we have enough evidence already. Well done on giving a non-league team a hiding, but it’s time to ring the changes.
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