Mark Halfpenny
There is an old, old saying in football – “Nobody is bigger than the club”. At Arsenal that is being tested to the absolute limit, as Arsene Wenger seems to be making it all about him, to the detriment of everything else.
Over the past few weeks, there has only been one discussion point concerning Arsenal – the future of our long serving manager. However, we are still waiting for any announcement and in the absence of clarity from the majority shareholder or the manager, rumours fill the void. Take your pick from any of these:-
• He has been offered a 2 year extension, which he has already signed.
• The 2 year offer is waiting to be signed.
• He will sign for 1 more year and see what happens in May 2018.
• He will manage elsewhere next season.
• A director of football is going to be appointed.
• Thomas Tuchel has been approached to be our manager next season.
• Max Allegri is waiting in the wings.
What benefit is there in delaying the decision, or in delaying the announcement of his decision? Anyone unaware of Wenger’s record would be forgiven for thinking that he had presided single handedly over unbridled success; that his departure would signal Arsenal’s certain departure from the top of our sport. Well – he hasn’t and it won’t!!
Since 2004, (that’s 13 long seasons) Arsenal have not spent a single day at the top of the Premier League in April or May, when it really matters. Since 2010, Arsenal have not gone beyond the last 16 of the Champions League. In fact, Wenger has shown 19 times in a row that he cannot win any European competitions.
In our last 21 away matches against the current top six, we have drawn 7 and lost 14, gaining 7 points out of a possible 63. In our last 9 matches we have beaten only Hull and two non League teams; we have lost all of the other six, conceding 21 goals. Looking at stats like that, the question has to be asked – why is a new contract even an option?? Why offer even one more month to a man in terminal decline? Why aren’t England’s third most successful club looking for an innovative new manager like Diego Simeone?
If Wenger won’t make the decision to leave, or Kroenke won’t make it for him, our protests will continue unabated until one of them does.
Our next match is on Sunday 2nd April, at home to Manchester City. Significant plans are already in place but we will not reveal exact details, after “somebody” copied our plans and paid for a 2nd plane to fly over The Hawthorns.
There will not be a march together from Highbury this time, as the Man City match coincides with the 16th anniversary of the untimely passing of one of our finest ever players - David Rocastle. We have agreed that no march will take place until the Rocky Remembered walk (from the Eaglet pub) and memorial at the Two Cannons roundabout have finished at around 3.20pm.
If you wish to join us for the protest and make your voice heard, we will be gathering from 2.50 onwards opposite the box office in Drayton Park, on the Arsenal tube station side of the stadium, near the steps to the North Bank aka Ken Friar Bridge (so well away from the Rocky Memorial at the Two Cannons roundabout). From there, we will march the short distance to the Directors’ entrance, where we will be calling for Arsene Wenger to stand down, or for Stan Kroenke to put him out of our misery. Those who attend the Rocky memorial but wish to add their voices can meet us at the Directors entrance as we should not arrive there until 3.25pm, by which time the Rocky event is scheduled to have concluded. We would like to stress that we would not like to see the Rocky march from the Eaglet to the Two Cannons Roundabout used for any anti-manager or board chanting. That march is about the memory of an Arsenal legend and anything else would not be deemed appropriate.
Two more years of Wenger is unthinkable. It will be two more years of collapses, excuses, thrashings, keystone cops defending, pointless sideways passing, sub standard transfers, scrapping for 4th place and no trophies. Please join us and help to make the message – it’s Time for Change!
For updates on our activity, and ways to join in, even if you cannot get to the ground, follow us on Twitter@NoNewContract. On occasion, details of our activities will be revealed late, to ensure the club do not try to arrange anything to counter them, such as the hire of the second plane at West Brom. After Sunday, we will be getting close to having spent all the funds raised through our JustGiving page. For us to continue hammering home the message to the club in fresh and innovative ways, more financial support will be needed, so if you want change and understand that it has to be forced through protest rather than left to an unambitious and complacent board, please chip in.
