So for a change, someone actually sent me an article over Twitter about the Arsenal, something usually not done. The article is from Talksport's Magazine section of its website and is about why us “spoilt” Gooner fans should support Wenger.
Firstly, I myself am an advocate of letting Wenger stay and do his job but not so blind as to see he's struggling to do it as well as seven years ago, which is why this article really has to be dissected and looked at properly, some of the points in the argument are absolutely valid, many of them really aren't.
To read beforehand: http://www.talksport.co.uk/magazine/features/2012-02-16/10-reasons-arsenal-fans-should-stop-whining-and-support-arsene-wenger
TOP FOUR IS ACCEPTABLE FOR ARSENAL
Perhaps Top Four is acceptable for the Arsenal board in their attempts to keep living off their nice corporate champagne, but for those in the stadium it isn't. When we moved to the Emirates Stadium in 2006, the fans were told it would take several years to bed in and pay off, meaning departures would be frequent and youth relied on heavily. Fair enough, no-one expected the success we had at Highbury to return overnight. It's now been six years, instead of improving, the team seems to have got worse, our best players like Fabregas and Nasri are leaving despite this so-called financial stability. In 2008 we lost the league by losing one of our better players that season in Eduardo, everyone agreed we would have won that title had the Birmingham incident never happened, we were unlucky. Yet how come four years on instead of cruising to titles we're somehow completely out of the race by November? Perhaps Wenger isn't entirely to blame for Arsenal's lack of competition in the league, the board should have invested money from transfers better in players rather than making up for lost time with the 'Arsenalisation' of the Emirates. However, I don't care if we don't make top four if we win a trophy instead. So why only when the pressure is mounting are the two domestic competitions being taken seriously?
WENGER HAS EARNED THE RIGHT TO LOSE 4-0 IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
This is arguably the most moronic statement to make, Wenger has “earned” the right to lose. Wenger is the manager, well done, he's made the Champions League, it's his job to be successful with this club. That's like Wenger telling an interviewer “Well I arrived at Old Trafford before four o'clock, so I have earned the right for the club to be embarrassed and lose 8-2.” It's moronic. Wenger is employed by the club to make sure the club is successful, if anything, he's employed by the fans who pay his wages, as they pay everyone affiliated with that club's wages. I don't think my boss would enjoy me turning up to work and saying “I arrived on time, I did all my work yesterday, so today I'm going to sit here on your money for eight hours and do nothing, because I did so well yesterday, I've earned it.” I do agree that the media over-rate Harry Redknapp and that Wenger is a far superior manager, but what do you expect there, Wenger's not English.
THE PREMIER LEAGUE'S FINANCIAL MODEL HURTS WENGER
A point I somewhat agree on, the rich do get successful and the poor don't. However, we are owned by our own billionaire owner and maybe even another one. Why aren't they pumping money in so we can be successful?
THE GUNNERS PLAY BEAUTIFUL FOOTBALL
We all realise we play better than we did in the 70s, 80s and the early parts of the 90s. However, just because our players play well doesn't mean we have no right to complain that we don't win anything and are far more concerned in finishing fourth and out of the medals than winning a Cup. If anything, we should be more irritated that this group of highly talented individuals aren't playing well and winning things.
LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE
So if Fabregas was going to leave, Nasri was being tempted by Manchester City and Wilshere got injured in pre-season, why didn't we take their money then and go out and spend money on replacements?! Instead of waiting until two days before the window closed after we were humiliated at Old Trafford? Where instead of us going out and getting Juan Mata, Mario Gotze or Eden Hazard, we instead got Park-Chu-Young and Yossi Benayoun! Wilshere has been a massive loss to this side, Frimpong MAY come good, at the moment his temper may let him down along with massive injury problems early on and Oxlade-Chamberlain will be ruthless, but Arsenal used to be a team full of world class talents in every position, not only in about four.
WHO'S THE ALTERNATIVE?
I agree, there isn't much alternative out there for us, I doubt Mourinho would come to us, we wont get Guardiola either. Which is why I agree we should stick with Wenger, but I am realistic. I don't hold Wenger bigger than the club and neither should you or anyone, he should be criticised the same as anyone.
WENGER'S NOW WILLING TO ADAPT
Yes, I am glad Wenger is willing to start having a moan at players in public. However, there has been too many occasions where he should be criticised players in public before and he only chooses now after we could be effectively out of the Champions League again.
BEATEN BY SUPERIOR OPPOSITION
It's no secret Milan are good, however, we have got as far as them in the competition and arguably have been better than them this season as we finished first in our group whilst they finished second (in fairness, their group did contain Barcelona), if we have both got as far as each-other we should be able to match each-other up not be humiliated. We have got further than Tottenham, Liverpool, United and City this season but if we are just going to be humiliated by AC Milan in the second season and probably have our morale ruined, we may as well have gone out in the first round like the others.
WENGER COULD HAVE JOINED A BIGGER CLUB IN 2009 - HE DESERVES LOYALTY IN RETURN
The final point (because ten is basically asking for people to support the Arsenal Ladies), one we can agree on, we need realistic fans at the club, one's who will criticise the great man together and praise him together. No fans who hold Wenger higher than Arsenal, none that want him to lose so they can be proven correct. Wenger is a victim of his successes, there's no escape from that.
Anyway, hopefully, I wont have to read too much from Talksport again, I understand there's a lot of overreaction towards our recent performances. Wenger deserves as much criticism as much as he deserves praise.
To listen to this week's edition of Will Sparks' podcast Stand Up For The Arsenal, featuring Dave Fitzpatrick, Ben Cole, Tom Acres' and myself click here: http://hw.libsyn.com/p/a/3/f/a3f2923cc8b5f6d0/2012-02-16_time_22_04_14_s_Conference.mp3?sid=4e5557c91113cfcc381c70dd63d5dca1&l_sid=33126&l_eid=&l_mid=2906258&expiration=1329490047&hwt=d91008c62a9ed3dd820f9ba589567e26
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