Kevin Whitcher
(Ed’s note – I was unable to make the game yesterday, so my thanks to Charlie Ashmore for covering for me)
Was this the dawning of a new age of Arsenal FC as the media sought to portray in the build up? As I walked to the ground at around half an hour before kick off it certainly seemed to be a lot busier than recent games at a similar time and on arrival at my seat there seemed to be a general air of expectation with a hubbub around the ground again far in excess of the general torpor that had preceded recent games. Or was it my imagination? Sometimes the perception is influenced by the expectation but if there was any expectation of an uplift in performance from the team, the perception throughout a first half in which nothing much seemed to work was that this was very much a continuation of what has been going before it.
The stadium was not full but it was certainly fuller. It seemed as if the crowd wanted to be positive but, in keeping with the season so far, the players were doing their very best to squander that feeling. I don’t think there was any lack of effort but nothing seemed to be working – final balls just off, shots going wide rather than on target. Ramsey, who was involved in much of what was good about our play throughout the game, tried throughout the half to make things happen but appeared to be having one of those days where a lot of good work was undone by the quality of the final ball.
In fact West Ham had a number of good chances and that they did not score was down to their own profligacy, one extremely good recovery tackle by Mustafi and a good save by Ospina.
At half time the sense of frustration was palpable but unusually for the recent mood at the Emirates there was no booing as the players went off. The first half had seen a couple of renditions of “There’s Only One Arsene Wenger” which reflected the general positivity but if anyone expected a sudden outpouring of love for him after the toxic atmosphere of recent home games they were going to be sadly disappointed.
The second half was a much more sprightly affair. We seemed to take to the pitch with renewed energy and a desire to take the game to West Ham. A desperate tackle by Zabaleta on Welbeck only failed to see a red card produced because of the distance from goal.
Elneny’s injury looked nasty and when he was stretchered off I couldn’t help wondering what our midfield was going to look like at Old Trafford next week for a game which is sandwiched by the infinitely more important double header against Atletico - the outcome of which will dictate the manner of Wenger’s departure and the atmosphere at his last home game. I still have nightmares about results at Old Trafford with young teams being fielded.
Anyway the goal when it came was relatively simple but no less exciting to watch – a corner towards the penalty spot and a crisp clean strike from the ever dependable Monreal. A flurry of activity at the other end starting with a spectacular and entirely appropriate stretching punch clear from Ospina followed by a blocked shot eventually saw the ball fall to an unmarked Arnautovic (our next manager is going to have to address our propensity for leaving any opposition’s danger man unmarked in our own box!) and he slammed it home.
The rest of the game was largely one way traffic. Excellent saves by Hart from Xhaka and Welbeck kept them level before a piece of comedy defending saw their centre half Rice duck under a Ramsey cross completely taking Hart by surprise and leaving the ball to bounce into the far side of the goal.
A spring in the step now and West Ham’s defence was on the rack. Some lovely interplay involving Welbeck, Aubamayeng and Lacazette saw the latter thump home from a tight angle and he followed that up with a little turn away from the defender after Ramsey slid the ball back for him opening his body and the goal up for number four.
The crowd was noisy in the second half, dusting off a few highlights of the Wenger years – 49 undefeated, Sol Campbell’s double, Lasagne and winning the League at White Hart Lane got an airing and there was one especially rousing chorus of the manager’s name.
So a nice scoreline to start the Wenger farewell with. Six, maybe seven games to go. It is undoubtedly time that these players who have consistently let him down to turn up for him (though please do not take that as absolving him of blame – rather a correcting of the balance as to date he has taken all the blame and the players have had a free ride). An unbeaten finish to the season is unlikely given the focus on Europe and the effect that will have on selection, particularly next weekend. But if that focus delivers a trophy and Champions League football, then the players will reward his faith in them by allowing Wenger to leave on a high.
For my part, it has been an emotional couple of days. A long-time Wenger supporter, my turning point came in the Leicester title season. Since then I have accepted the need for change but have been unwilling to publicly demand his head. Others have done that and I do not criticise them for doing so. Fault lines have developed amongst the Arsenal support which at times appeared beyond repair. My feelings on Friday were part relief that necessary change was now coming and part sadness that a 22 year relationship was coming to an end.
I hope that the fault lines can now be repaired and that these coming weeks begin that process. I fear for the future because in the modern world where people are quick to anger, and tolerance is a dying attribute, I suspect that these fault lines are now going to reappear on a reasonably regular basis. There is a demand for instant success and many of those who have been vociferously demanding change may find that change does not bring the instant gratification they expect.
The squad needs an overhaul. That will take time especially if we are not in the Champions League and given we are not suddenly going to start competing for the biggest transfers. How patient will we all be? I can tell you right now if it’s Brendan Rodgers my patience will never begin but therein lies an issue. We are not all going to be happy with the choice of manager. 22 years ago it was a different world and we may have queried the appointment of a relative unknown but we did not take to the streets or the airwaves en masse to berate the club for its appointment. Nowadays the opportunities and the means by which to voice displeasure are many and too many of us have a default setting now of complaint which may be hard to shake off unless the new man starts exceptionally well.
Only time will tell but we approach the end of this season and the end of an era with hope for the future, and the inevitable anxiety that comes with uncertainty. One thing is for sure though, we need an early decision – the World Cup and the closing of the transfer window before the season starts will together reduce the time available for the necessary rebuild to start. Mind you improvement can be achieved simply by getting our existing players to perform to their best, something they have largely and miserably failed to do.
The king is dead. Long live the king (whoever he turns out to be)…
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