After 20 years at the helm of affairs at Arsenal, is the cry from a large section of the fans for a change in manager justified or is it emotions spiraling out of control?
Since becoming the manager in 1996 of the club, Arsene Wenger has enjoyed extremely mixed fortunes from the years of “The double” in 1998, “The invincibles” in 2003/04, Champions league final in 2006 and then, almost a decade without a trophy thereafter.
As an Arsenal fan, the apparent decline in success is truly hard to swallow as within that barren period, rival clubs had stocked their cabinets with glittering trophies and even new challengers had emerged.
The likes of big spending Chelsea and Man City had carted away more than 5 league titles within that period.
Chelsea had even gone on to win the prestigious yet elusive Champions league crown in a bid to stake a valid claim to being the most successful London club.
Despite these painful realities, The Arsenal faithful have stuck to their manager with undying devotion and reverence.
So what is the reason behind the call for him to be axed, so loud this time around? Your guess is probably one of the many that exist.
Before the pitchforks are drawn out, let me declare that my personal opinion on this subject remains subject to review.
Ever since the project to build The Emirates stadium was undertaken, there was always a lingering feeling that the financial state of affairs would take a big hit albeit temporary.
With this in mind, the management considered everything at the club as a liquid asset. This simply means, if the money was right, anything be it player, structure, shares, and even the fan base was sellable.
Most Real Madrid and Barcelona fans from the year 2008 that have been following football around me were former Arsenal fans who just couldn’t take the disappointments anymore.
Incredible and talented players were allowed to leave to strengthen rivals to achieve goals that we set for ourselves.
I am not referring to money huggers like the likes of Nasri and Adebayo at this point but players like Flamini and Hleb in 2008, Alex Song even RVP to an extent.
A sense of financial gains over pitch success became an eerie feeling amongst the Gunners’ faithful.
This even became a source of constant jibes from rival fans who were enjoying success and spanking our team irrespective of the squad any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
It must be acknowledged that making back what was spent to build that edifice of a stadium was a necessity. However, to ignore the fact that the people who bring in the money i.e, the fans were being robbed of satisfactory service.
Even the blue-chip companies that sign endorsement deals with the club, do so because of the fans as they hope such partnership would increase patronage of their services from the club’s pool of fans and attachments.
That said, to keep a team constantly in the top 4 of the English Premier League isn’t a feat easily achieved. Man United and the likes will bear me witness.
Qualifying non-stop for the Champions league tournaments consistently is another highly commendable feat by Le Prof.
However, as impressive as the above two paragraphs are, Arsenal fans do not believe nor even remotely accept that we are a team that makes up the numbers in a competition irrespective of whichever tournament or challenges it may be.
Being constantly in the top 4 or to borrow Wenger’s words, or seeing being in the top 4 as a trophy is unacceptable.
Qualifying year after year for the Champions league and not progress beyond the 2nd round for 5 straight seasons let alone win it isn’t acceptable either.
With ticket sales towering above rivals due to its cost, expectations should be earnestly worked towards not a celebration of mediocrity thriving.
Most of the above stated are being used as justifications for Wenger’s shortcomings but truth be told, the boss himself has a penchant for self-sabotage.
Mistakes are understandable based on human errors platform but there are some decisions Arsene Wenger makes that leaves one scratching his/her head.
I remember the game against Manchester United at the Emirates were RVP’s reaction echoed fans’ sentiment as Oxlade-Chamberlain was subbed off for Andre Arshavin.
This is a typical example of the kinds of what I am truly concerned about as regards Wenger’s in-game tactical decisions.
We had gone behind courtesy of an Antonio Valencia strike earlier on in the match, Oxlade-Chamberlain on his first start was rampant in the game and causing Fergie and United all sorts of problems.
His influence led to an equalizer by RVP. Less than 3 mins after, Wenger decides to sub Ox off for Arshavin who was at that time having somewhat of a performance glitch.
To make matters worse, he directly contributed to United scoring the winning goal by switching off.
I personally couldn’t believe we lost the match considering United were on the back foot until that substitution.
Wenger’s defense was plausible but irrelevant as common sense didn’t prevail in that circumstance.
There exists an air of tactical arrogance that accompanies his team’s displays. It almost seems like he just prepares his approach to every game without paying any attention to the opponent he is about to take on.
Let’s consider a scenario much more recent. The game against Man City at the Etihad was particularly painful.
Having watched Leicester dismantle City a week earlier, one would safely presume at the very least Wenger would do his homework but on the Contrary, my suspicion gained justification.
The idea was quite straightforward. Man City are undergoing a change in football mentality which was they had to build from the back. Leicester pressed high up the pitch, made Bravo uncomfortable and second 2 goals in 6 mins.
What was Arsene Wenger’s approach to the same opponent? Yes….same old same old tactics. Players like Özil, Ramsey etc that don’t close down shouldn’t have started.
Anyway, I still think his contract should be extended as I suffer from atheophobia like most Arsenal fans.
Till the next thought…..
