Negativity Reigns

theres talk of Nasri leaving, always the same old story, sell established good players, replace them with unknowns or youngsters, train and build them up and do the same again.

whats the point moving to a new 60k stadium with highest ticket prices, arsenal have sold a dream that if they do this then they will not be a selling club and compete against manu,chelsea etc and buy great players, seems like lies, daylight robbery and fraud to me.

Talk about jumping the gun. You hear a rumour and all of a sudden we've sold Nasri and will sell all of our best players. Anyway, I thought everyone wanted the entire squad replenished because they aren't good enough.

I think Arsenal shouldn't just clean house, but maybe it should also switch sports? With Arsene's budget, he could build the best ice hockey team in England. Hands down.

LMAO!

Just like everyone jumped down Wenger's throat last January (2009) because he wouldn't pay the couple of million it would have taken to get Chamakh out of the last 6 months of his contract, because Chamakh was a high-quality player who could have led us to the title. The same people are now critizing Wenger for signing Chamakh on a free because he sucks and he's not good enough and Wenger should have got someone better....

Also, it seems that many are ruing the idea of placing 2nd (I mean Arsenal finishing 2nd! What a disgrace!) because we should be winning the title even though at the beginning of the season these same people were predicting we would finish out of the top 4.

It's depressing to say the least that there is no solidarity in the Arsenal support. It is the bottom line that as gooners we must stick together in good times and bad times. Sure it's frustrating at the moment but recriminations have to be left until the end of the season.
I'm an admirer of Arsene Wenger but things seem to have come to an head this past week which may herald the end of his tenure and, although I'll be sad to see him go, perhaps the end of this campaign is the right time for him to go. I understand that rumours abound regarding Andre Villas Boas who seems the right type of guy to carry on Arsene's work.

Its always tough to swallow when you realize that the team you support is not going to achieve to your expectations in a given season. At this point, Arsenal sit 2nd in the league, where they will likely finish, perhaps 3rd if the late season malaise continues. I'm not sure that Arsenal have a title winning side this season. They were clearly second best against United in both games so far this season, and, have not played with the kind of defensive consistency a champion should have. A nil nil home draw to Blackburn is the kind of result that good teams have over long seasons. Maybe not great teams, but this is not a great team. A great team actually clears the ball in the Carling Cup Final and in the last minutes against Sunderland.

No need to fret though. I have loved the tough road performances this season. There have been bright spots and there is a lot more to like than dislike about this team. There are a lot of fans that are very wrapped up in Arsenal. Perhaps too much, but that's the beauty of it too. Its never fun to be a fan when your team is going through a tough time. The misery is part of the bargain, however, to experience the joy. Its part of the deal.

Everything is so bizarre since the defeat... and then I come across the report saying Eboueman is leaving us for the fraking Spurs... what the f is going on...

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.u...

Nice post, Martin. I had to throw up something similar over at the Barca blog, when a lot of the same stuff was happening on the board (and it ain't like we aren't having success this season).

But we are going to lose. Again. And probably again. This season. And people are going to lose their minds, and turn on Guardiola, and each other. And it's posts such as this one that remind us all that this is a game. Yes it SEEMS like it's life and death as you're sitting on the sofa, sweating, trying to physically will your beloved team into a goal or two or twelve, and panicking every time the other team crosses into your half of the pitch.

It's still just a game. What unites us all, no matter what team we hail for and from, is our love for this crazy-ass sport.

Wenger has built a nucleus of success for Arsenal that needs a few pieces, just a few, to become exceptional. I don't know what's going to happen to the side if no silver is garnered this season, but I'd say that folks shouldn't panic. We have a saying: In Guardiola We Trust. And it isn't because we want to, it's because we HAVE to. He's the coach. We can analyze and criticize, but at the end of the day we're sitting in our living rooms watching our club, while folks with the real power make the decisions, rather than us. And we should probably be thankful for that. :D

Martin, Sairax -- I know we are being positive :). However, was wondering who you would like to see arrive at the Emirates this summer. Are there 1 or 2 players you would like Arsene to make a move for? I know he might do nothing, but I would guess he makes a couple moves.

In dream land, or real life?
Dream land, David Luiz, David Villa, Ibrhaim Afellay and Mikel Essien.
Real-life? Does anyone have a clue, other than Wenger? Highly doubtful.

I mean real-life. I would vote for Hazard. Could be a long-shot given his rising value, but he has expressed admiration for Wenger/Arsenal before -- and Wenger has said he will try to get him if he can.

This allows Nasri to move into the central role (when Fabregas leaves) and you would have Hazard and Walcott out wide. Hazard is an exceptional talent who can create goals and start moves out of nothing. Despite all the skilled players, Arsenal still lacks someone like him.

Isn't Wilshere suppose to replace Cesc when he leaves, i agree with the hazard move but we have Arshavin so unless we get ride of him well that a no go. i would like someone to create plays especially if Cesc is injured hope Wilshere can do that job next year cause Rosicky seems to have lost that touch

Just because we have Arshavin doesn't mean its a no go. You're forgetting, we lack QUALITY depth in so many areas, that being one of them. I'm speaking to the choir here, but might as well say it again, any time one of our key players goes down with injury, we rarely have a player who we can call on to replace him at will. We need strong performers that can be used as a starter, a backup, or a rotation fill. Imagine if RVP or Arshavin were out for these past 2-3 months, where would we be? This is why we need another quality or 2 pure strikers in this squad...I've said it forever, but everyone seems to believe we don't need it (I get told, we have this player and that player...). Well, the lack of goal scoring over the past month is proof in itself that we just don't have an out-and-out goal scorer outside of RVP. I'm just replying to your comment, but not to argue with you, just making my point in relevance to yours.

Are there really two sides still? I think everyone is kinda in the same boat, more or less, right now. Some choose to act without thinking, and some choose to get prespective, and that's where the issues are coming from imo.
I think everyone says Wenger has failings, and the players themselves are not good enough, by and large. Some just freak out because they are on the wrong side of the 50% intellegence lever, thats all :)

Good comments, the Martin. I love the pic of that cat. He/she looks so sad. Is that your cat this time?
I've said the same things on here before - about it just being a game, and for our entertainment, etc etc. Usually I get shouted down. But you're viewed as having much more gravitas than me.
It's been a bad sports month or so for me. Not only has Arsenal gone in the tank, but my stinking Panthers lost a ridiculous game to a team that's now playing for the national title tonight. Ugh. WE could have been there. WE should have been there. Ugh. Anyway, I don't want to bore the non-Americans with such things. Well, at least I'm not in the same sports purgatory that our commenters from Cleveland live in.

As bad as any Cleveland team has been lately(or forever) fans haven't turned on each other like Arsenal fans have. And it might only be a game but a bad Arsenal performance ruins my day.

Not my cat -- my cats aren't quite that morose. Most of the time, anyway.

I did think of you when Pitt went down, that was a rough loss. Heck of a way to spend your birthday, between Arsenal crapping the bed and then that.

I do think following other sports helps us realize how lucky Arsenal fans are. This is the part where I usually complain about the New York Mets and University of South Carolina football team, but I've done it before and I'm already bummed out enough.

Shit haha try being a Raiders fan lol

watched that game. i picked raiders cause of the fact that no team from the sun shine coast had ever beaten you guys at home lol
try being a bulldogs supporter and watch benny barba throw the ball back in with no back up and having a legit try taken off you.

the fact that you compare arsenal to a bunch of millionaires that kick a football around a greasy pitch was hilarious and shows how much you care indeed

You have just been owned by The Martin. You can leave the room now, knowing that what he has just told you is indisputable. Or you can continue your invalid argument and risk facing the wrath of the loyal Gooners who side with the all-knowing blogger.

Hint: The first option would be much better for all of us.

I don't think that word "compare" means what you think it means. Arsenal are, factually, a bunch of millionaires that kick a football around a grassy pitch.

And yeah, you got me -- I don't really care. I just watch every single match and then spend 1.5-2 hours writing detailed write-ups and player ratings, plus a couple of hours per week on various "news update" posts, because I don't care. Certainly not as much as an internet commenter who leaves a 2-line comment insulting me and directly proving the point I made in the post about how Arsenal supporters are willing to turn on each other at the drop of a dime.

It is good to gain some perspective in the matter. There is not much you are going to achieve by cribbing about a loss than just make yourself feel worse. The passion of an Arsenal fan is not judged by how long he sulks after a victory but how quickly he is back up supporting his team after a bad performance.....not just calling for everyone's head.....

Correction....make that sulks after a loss...lol

Great article Martin. There are reasons to be frustrated and embarrassed as fans (and I am sure the players are as well). But, this year has still been impressive, heart-wrenching, and, at times, amazing (will never forget Barca 1st leg). We need to take the long-term approach. It is our duty to make our voices heard as fans -- hopefully placing pressure for one big buy this summer -- but taking a rational view towards Arsene and the team. They are great. Could be better, but they are great. And I couldn't be prouder everyday to be a Gooner.

mike you are easily pleased!!! have been way more lows than highs this year.

I wouldn't say easily pleased. There have been a lot of lows this year -- I can still feel the pit in my stomach from the CC final. But, this has still been a great year to be an Arsenal fan. That Chelsea game at home was sublime, and showed what this team is capable of. I still watch Nasri's two goals against Fulham. And I don't need to expand on how amazing that 1st Barca game was. At our best this year, Arsenal have been fantastic to watch. We will likely look back at this season with regrets as we'll probably see no trophies again. Still, I think it is important to take a positive approach. In large part because -- amplified with the wide use of twitter -- it doesn't help to have Arsenal players berated constantly. We want players to come here, stay here, and grow here. We certainly do not help the team when we irrationally criticize Wenger and the players, calling for a different person's head every week.

the reality is, it is always the same problems, same issues and no solutions, and the problems are so blindingly obvious that you get to the point where you just can't stand it anymore, you know what's coming, it comes and you end up getting more and more frustrated. whatever side of the argument one may be, i think to a person everyone knows what needs to be done, there is no magic required here and yet it never gets done. i really don't think the complaints are irational in any shape or form. NO other manager in world football would have been allowed to do what wenger has done, been given so much freedom, been set such modest goals and been held so unaccountable for real results. the fans have largely gone along with it, but you reach a point where you say enough is enough, and we have now reached that point, especially when you announce increased tix prices and so much money in the bank gathereing interest.

Champions League at a reasonable price isn't a modest goal.

Just ask Liverpool or Juventus.

Or Man City for that matter...

I certainly understand the frustration over tickets prices. It is tough to justify to fans who spend their hard-earned money on games, that you can't/won't buy established players. Moreover, I think the CC final is especially grating because 1) Wembley tickets are very expensive and 2) it at least offered fans some return on their money in the form of a trophy.

However, seems to me Arsene is (slowly) realizing his flaws. He appears to be giving in regarding a game in Malaysia this summer which will raise extra funds for the club. This is a huge concession for Arsene to make and will only help Arsenal in the short and long-term.

Also, I think he will do some summer cleaning this year and offload Almunia and Denilson. Wenger is never going to make wholesale changes and ship out 5-6 players in the off-season. However, he is figuring out who he can go to battle with (see: Wilshere) and who can be sent packing.

But, as Wenger right points out, every time he buys an established star a younger player's growth is hindered. Our goalie situation is close to resolved despite continual fan uproar. Aside from the CC blunder, Wojo and Flaps were having great seasons until they were injured. There is nothing Wenger could do to prevent injuries to his number 1 and 2 keepers. Nothing. No team would want to play their number 3.

Also, the CB situation is much better than last season. If TV5 wasn't injured all year, Arsenal would have had 3 top quality CBs in Djourou, Kos, Vermalean. Bartley looks to be a future stud and could move into the #4 CB role next year. For all the complaints about Wenger's unwillingness to buy last summer, Arsenal's defense (when Wojo, Djourou, and Kos start) has been very solid.

Wenger is still proving stubborn, but he is building a strong foundation which looks much tougher than last year. Who could have guessed last summer that the reason we would drop crucial points (Sunderland, Blackburn) would be because we couldn't score. Don't forget that in both we had clean sheets.

This team is not the finished article, but it is improving.

we are ALL on the same side, ultimately.

Great post!

And the cat is like the cutest evah.

i think people have just had it and saturday was the last straw especially as we basically had a good teamout, useless opponents and a real opportunity to shwo that we were going to fight for the league. certainly the most disappointing performance of the season.

hard to see any silver linings from saturday, the last month has sucked out all the possible posivity out of people.

Couldn't agree more

I regularly visit and post on LA's excellent site but am thinking of abandoning ship (sorry Ms.Hurley) because of the droids brigade of Wenger haters that seems to wait in ambush for anyone with a marginally positive outlook and loves to spread Gloom and Doom well before the ship hits the iceberg (like when its still docked!). They also spout vile and vitrolic abuse at anyone who challenges them and its getting a bit tiresome to hear this crap after every non-victory! Nice article on your site Martin and the bloggers seem balanced and respectful, like it used to be on LA's site. Once that opprobrium returns, I will as well.

Traitor!

How can you abandon me over there?

I want my blog back from the doomers....time for a revolution, or something

The worst part was hearing about the fights that broke out after the game on Saturday at the Emirates. That really just makes me sad.

I'll just say that the comments on here have generally been good and not really vitriolic. I hope we can all keep it that way even if we disagree on things.