Is the end nigh?

Alas, allow me to sulk while the scoreline sinks in... West Bromwich Albion 3 - Arsenal 1.

I'm a competitive person. Hate losing. If I'm not winning, I will find ways to change the methods I play with to ensure I will win.

Yet, at Arsenal, we seem to have accepted a losing mentality and that everything is rosy as long as we finish in the top four and finish above Tottenham. The Board does not give a shit about the latter. They are merely puppets employed to run the club as a play thing for a billionaire in Texas. Arsenal Football Club is his Doll house. And because it's his doll house, he's not gonna abandon it or sell it. So the Board and Kroenke, even though they are part of the problem, we will just have to accept them for the time being.

Our focus should be on the third leg of the stool, Arsene Wenger. It was amazing to see the plane with the Wenger Out banner fly out today. Funnily enough, the Wenger In plane flew longer and I reckon was trying to make a point. Not sure what that point was for that banner. What has Wenger exactly done for me to trust him anymore? Has he addressed the issues he so much talks about? We haven't got leaders on the pitch, has he signed one? We haven't got a solid defence in our team for years, has he resolved this issue? We have not got a striker who can guarantee you 20+ league goals every year, has we bought one yet? Nothing, No, No, No and NO. We have made the same mistakes year in year out, season after season, for the last 5 years at least.

I don't like to see us lose. I'd never wish for us to lose. I knew people who were fans of Man Utd and they went to a similar phase with David Moyes and LvG. When they said I hope we lose tonight just because it gets us closer to the manager getting sacked, I looked at them disappointed. But now I see their club with new manager, improving the squad, it burns my heart. Simply because, we should be doing the same. A modern football manager has a life of 5 years at a club, max. Anything more than that, he's overstayed. We looked completely clueless today. That third West brom goal? My god shocking defending. These are professional players we are talking about. Basic defending skills that you need to be a pro footballer. We can blame the players for poor positioning, but the coaching staff and manager will need to be held responsible too. They are the ones that drill the players for defensive positioning on the training pitch. Analyse patterns and prepare for set piece scenarios. It''s almost as if they were not drilled properly.

Pic: SkySports. Seriously, are we all here to watch someone practice heading into the goal?

However, I do not believe that to be the case. It's feels like the players have lost faith in the manager. He cannot motivate them anymore. The players cannot make their voice heard, because of the whole support Arsene Wenger PR. They have to pretend all is rosy while Wenger takes his merry time to decide what he wishes to do. It almost, dare I suggest, players deliberately sabotaging results to prove a point to Wenger and showing the world that they are not happy with him.

In any case, it should not be Wenger's decision anymore. That time as come and gone for him. Yes he's been at the club for 21 years and yes the sentiment would say he deserves to leave on his own terms,  But that sentiment is moral when he has achieved success. You would grant him that sentiment if he chose to leave after the Invincible period. Not after 13 years of abject failures. I'm sorry, I am being harsh. I'll excuse him the first 6 years of his 13 year failure. The last 5 years does not warrant him that sentiment. He is an EMPLOYEE of the club. Nothing more just an employee. An employee who has been handsomely paid a good part of £8m a year for achieving absolutely nothing in terms of success and not held accountable and responsible for his failures. Easy ride.

Wenger after the press conference said, he has made his decision and we will know very soon. What is that even suppose to mean? It's almost as if he is acting arrogantly to suggest who are we to even question him and his authority. To be honest, he looked absolutely clueless and has no idea how to rectify the situation. By his own admission, we play the same system. Every team know how we play now because there is no plan B. His tactics are if you score one, we will score 2. Problem is that we concede more than 1 and even bigger problem is that we cannot score more than 1. Everything unravels in front of him on match day and he is too busy fumbling with his zipper.

But the time has come for the Board to grow a pair. Ivan Gazidis, if you are reading this (chances are that are not reading this) Act now. Show the fans's you're worth your £3m a year. Grow a pair and call Wenger out. Grow a pair and make a statement of intent. Announce on Wenger's behalf that he is done as the manager and give the club to a young manager with new and fresh ideas. Listen to the fans and stop Arsenal FC snowballing into mediocrity.

It is ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB and NOT ARSENE FOOTBALL CLUB.

#NoNewContract #WengerOUT

The voice of a fan

By way of introduction, this is my very first blog. I've always been fascinated by the aspect of blogging, but never had a strong reason to start blogging. Though now I feel the time has come. 

I've been an Arsenal supporter since the summer of 2004. I grew up in India, at a time where the country was cricket mad. My first real taste of football was when i moved to the UK in the summer of 2004, Euro 2004, England vs France. Ahh the French squad was full of Arsenal players, (I didn't know at the time that you got called to play international matches, so I assumed the french players got called to play for arsenal, silly I know). Anyway I quickly fell in love with Arsenal, not because they were unbeaten and Invincible (Honestly, I did not even know they had won the league unbeaten at that point in time) but because they played the beautiful game as we love. Pace, Physical and Stay out of my way attitude. 

From my first visit to the Emirates

Fast forward 13 years and here we are today. People sometimes accuse me of being a glory hunter because I coincidentally started supporting Arsenal around the time there were winners. But like I said, I did not even know how many trophies the gooners had won under Wenger. My first triumph was the 2005 FA cup final and I honestly do not count that as my trophy. Simply because I did not count myself as a full on arsenal fan like others. I would say I became one when I cried at the final whistle in Paris 2006.

I've been a massive supporter of Wenger over those years and greatly appreciate the things he has achieved at our great club. He has given us a brand new image around the world, His visions has resulted in a magnificent stadium we call our home. But my opinion of him has dramatically changed over the last few years. So far to a point where I feel the need to voice my opinion out there because things need to change at our club.

Watching the humbling and humiliating defeat against Bayern Munich, there was at a point where I was actually laughing in disgust when their last goal when in. It was very sad to see a man with great vision fall to such lows.

For me change is needed. A fresh approach, a new young manager to take us forward and to the heights that we were promised 12 years ago.

The Chairman issued the following statement.

“We are fully aware of the attention currently focused on the club and understand the debate. We respect that fans are entitled to their different individual opinions but we will always run this great football club with its best long-term interests at heart.

“Arsène has a contract until the end of the season. Any decisions will be made by us mutually and communicated at the right time in the right way.”

That statement to me is very worrying. It looks as if the board do not want to make a decision that is best for the club but act on sentiment on continue on the same path we have for the last few odd years. When I add this to the rumours that AW personally blocked Pep’s appointment to see out his contract, it leads me to believe that he’s staying. To me if he says he loves the club so much, he would've issued a heart held apology to the fans after Tuesday's match in the press conference, because over two legs against Bayern, we were outclassed, outplayed and outsmarted. Last three games against Bayern have finished 5-1 to the german giants and it seriously raises the questions if we really are good enough to compete with Europe's Elite. If you lose one game 5-1, its acceptable as long as you learn and rectify the situation. We haven't, hence the 15-3 aggregate score over last three games against them. It just looks really poor. 

Personally, I do not think we're good enough to be in Europe. I genuinely believe we have regressed over the last three years under his management, Our results against top teams, not just in the league but in Europe provide a far bleak picture than three 5-1 thrashings against the same side in 2 years.

If he cared one iota about the fans, he would have the decency to announce in his press conference that he will leave at the end of the season. Doing so, allows the club to plan ahead. We can start looking at potential manger targets. People say, who would I hire? There are loads of candidates out there. Massimiliano Allegri, is the first name that jumps to my mind. Sure there are other candidates as well, Jardim from Monaco or Sampaoli from Sevilla are also respectable candidates. It will be up to the board to decide. I don't think they have the expertise to make such a decision, however you have to trust what you have. Point is we need a young manager who has new vision and a new brand of football to advertise. Motivate the players. Even by simply saying you wish to leave will galvanise the players to give him a positive send off and the fans will thank him for his achievements. The mood will improve in the stadium which will also motivate the players to do better. As it stands, he's lost the dressing room. He's lost a vast amount of fans' support. He will deny it of course, but the performances on the field do not lie.

The whole situation at Arsenal as it stands is just so horribly wrong. Any other club, the Board would be considering and evaluating things. Our performances over the last three years alone do not remit him a new contract. I am thankful that our Board is not trigger happy because at other clubs, Wenger would've been fired long ago. they do not operate with sentiment. We have sentiment for the longest serving manager of our club but sometimes you come to a point where you have to stop. Like one of the banners say, "Every story has an ending". Unfortunately for Wenger, its a sad sad end. 

Other clubs have already started planning for next season. Started the pursuit of their transfer targets (Man Utd with Griezmann, City with Isco, etc, etc), or their managerial targets. Here, the board is trying to rely on making Wenger to decide. The whole sad state of affairs is that Wenger still believes that the club is in a great shape and that our Financial model is the best out there. Give him a deadline. If he cannot decide, act in the best interest of the club and make the decision for him. He is an employee of the club. Granted one that has stayed on for 20 years, but an employee none the less. Treat him as such and let go some of the sentimentality and come to a swift and proper decision so that every one can move on.

We’re miles behind everyone above us in terms of commercial revenue. Clubs like Chelsea and Spurs will catch up to us and better us in a matter of few years once they have their 60k stadiums get ready. Everton with their new owners are looking good and could have a new stadium of their own (5-10 years possibly?). Man United will improve under Mourinho. And if Klopp's work at Liverpool comes true, they will be on the up as well. How can Gazidis and Co sit on their laurels and not realise that success brings in more commercial revenue which in turn, if re-invested into the squad and on translated to more success on the pitch brings in more commercial revenue. Achieving top 4 and getting humiliated every year doesn’t do that. Seriously what must Puma be thinking. They have Usain Bolt, triple-triple Olympic champion as their brand ambassador and then us as complete jokers and opposite to that winning philosophy.

Why isn’t someone at the club coming out and saying we want Jardim or Allegri as our next manager? Why isn't someone addressing the transfers and targeting players to improve the squad. Joe Hart is potentially available. Not world class at 28 years old, but still a very good keeper. Better than our current options. Why isn't there any transfer activity that brings a positive outlook to next year and persuades the like of Alexis and Ozil that things are improving and getting better.

All because, there is one man and only ONE MAN, that so blindly believes that the Club is in great shape. He blindly believes that the the performance against Bayern was good enough to merit a plaudit and that his philosophy works.

He blindly believes this so much that he has this accepted this as reality and therefore he has no other alternative but to carry on despite being wrong. Therefore this is a man that is unfit to lead a club to glory again. We as fans must make our voices heard. Peaceful protests before the match, peaceful protests during the match, and protest after the match, no matter what the results. The next 2 months to the end of the season will make or break Arsenal for the next 5 years. This is our tipping point. 

I was watching Barca v PSG highlights and my god what a comeback. Yes they had a bit of a luck (poor refereeing), but that is all part of the game. You cannot point out referee decisions as the sole reason for an outcome. Wenger blames the referee and thinks it changed the game. We might have gotten a couple more goals sure, but we definitely were not going through. 

It irks me when “fans” say we are not Barca and we wouldn’t have been able to make such a comeback. Bullshit. We moved to the Emirates to compete with them clubs. Be on equal terms with them. Why do we not have a Suarez upfront, why do we not have a Pique in the defence, Why do we not have a Neuer in goals, why do we not have a Kroos in midfield? We have the resources and finances to attract these type of players. However we don't, simply because we have a gained a mentality as a club that its not necessary. We will get top 4 and that is all we aim for. Hence we have Giroud leading our attack, hence we have Coquelin in midfield, hence we have the likes of Monreal in our defence and hence we have Ospina in goals. They will only perform to their best ability and their best ability does not match the ambitions of a club like Arsenal. Sure these players will do well for other clubs, but they are not the calibre of players Arsenal should be having. The likes of Alexis see that and want to leave, You blame them? I don't because I would do exactly what he is doing if it was me. I don’t blame Ox either if he chooses to leave. He's best position is CM, play him centre midfield. Stop yo-yoing him around the team and hampering his development. He is very committed to becoming a better player, he will get better under a more competitive environment and a better coach and training methods, Our environment is one where we accept mediocre players as world class.

Robin van Persie highlighted this in his statement way back in 2012. Many fans still call him names and act as if he betrayed the club. Truth is he was betrayed by Wenger and his philosophy of not trying to compete, philosophy of rewarding mediocre players big payrises, when equally those wages could have been paid to these players and keeping the squad very competitive. This was the day I lost faith in Wenger. Because it was clear as day-light, he refused to acknowledge he was wrong and refused to remedy the situation. Until that point, I accepted that we had to sell our best players to stay in the black (despite being profitable without the need to do so). I believed in Wenger's philosophy. However, when arguably your best player comes out and releases that statement, he says this because he wants to compete and not be mediocre. That is the reason I do not believe in what Wenger says anymore. Because he contradicts himself every time and frankly looks like an idiot at every press conference.

It also irks me when people say, "Oh Liverpool and Man Utd spend loads of money and still don't make it to the champions league". Champions League is for clubs who deserves to be in there. We Do Not, certainly not on the way we have performed over the last 7 years (7 consecutive last 16 exits, humiliated by Barca, Bayern, Milan and even Monaco). We have achieved top 4 finishes because other teams have slipped up. This year will be difficult. Our run in consists of Spurs team on a high and chasing Chelsea down, Man Utd who are quietly racking up points and against teams who's premier league status depends on every point. Tough games and we will have to do very very well to get that top 4 spot this year. With the current form and situation, I do not see that happening. We also have been very lucky with our FA Cup draws, two non league teams letting us in to the semi-finals (yes i'm hoping we beat Lincoln City) should not mask the fact that this has been another season full of promise but no result. Another season where we have just gone through the routine and done enough to finish in the top four and nothing more.

For me its clear, regardless of where we finish this year, Arsene Wenger has to go. Its a sad ending however, if he is not willing to decide himself, its up to us fans to unite and make our voice heard. 

Anyone who abuses those who voice their Wenger out protest is also very pathetic. Just as you are entitled to your opinion, I am too. We disagree of course, but as I have pointed out above, the facts do not lie. The stats alone will say Wenger's time is up. I proudly stand along with those who hold the banners up asking him to leave. We are not being disrespectful, we are making sure our voices are heard.

I will do my bit by tagging all the sponsors in a tweet before and after the match because I want this man out. I WILL MAKE MY VOICE HEARD EVERY SINGLE GAME.

Thank you Arsene, but our patience has run out

Enough is Enough. I will not allow my club to be hold ransom by the will of a mad man. I WANT MY ARSENAL BACK.

@arsenal @pumafootball @emirates @Betfair @Gatorade @CitroenUK @CooperTire @Europcar @IndesitUK @Vitality_UK #WENGEROUT #NONEWCONTRACT