THE WENGER THREAD

[xisstential]

I can understand why one would want to refrain from supporting the club. I in particular invested heaps of emotional energy into the belief we would win the league this year, only to be let down spectacularly. The worst thing is, Wenger doesn't appreciate or acknowledge how much the fans feel betrayed and let down by this seasons failure - Wenger wont even use the word failure. He will make up some theory about how we have 'progressed' this year. Its impossible to support this type of regime. There are even some players I cant stand (Walcott, Arteta, Giroud, Mertesacker)

I also feel conflicted, by the fact we are starting to play well. Sure we are winning games, but all it does it give Wenger an opportunity to weasel his way out of the fact his inability to win the league this year should be seen as a spectacular failure. Its not a cliche to say Arsenal start winning when the season is gone and the pressure is off - it happens every year. Every year there is a stage we are somewhat in the title race, only to falter big time, and only once the chance is gone, we start performing again - and then Wenger uses the late season rally to justify his decision not to sign players. Part of me wanted the poor run to continue, and fall out of the top 4 just so Wenger would have absolutely no where to hide. Because like a cockroach, he can find shelter in the harshest of conditions.

I already know he wont spend in preparation for next season. I foresee that arrogant smile in pre-season, where he bats away fears and concern for this squads quality in preparation for the season ahead. Its a smile that suggests he knows something the critics dont, and he is almost laughing at the idea he is being questioned (even though every year for a decade that smile is turned upside down - yet he still is resolute in his belief of his own genius).

I can just about tolerate one more year (safe in the knowledge its almost over, and its just one more year). However, the idea of another contract is soul destroying. It would be even worse than the let down of this season. I cannot even begin to fathom how I would digest the news that Wenger has signed a contract extension.

I'm not saying it won't happen but I don't think it will be anytime soon. Even he cannot be that thick skinned, people, some of us anyway, will go ballistic. I think they will wait for the dust to settle, wait for the euphoria of Leicester winning the league to die down, maybe wait for the Euro's to kick off, then quickly put pen to paper before swanning off on holiday while the other challengers & favourites look to strengthen. Our returning injured (all 10 of them) will be the new signings.

[Redarmy]

I've already laid my cards on the table and stated that I am finished with the club if this w*nker gets a new contract My two sons were brought up as Gooners and were told in no uncertain terms that they had no choice in the matter - I announced to them a fortnight ago that if the arrogant c.unt gets a new contract then they will be free to support another club if they so wish, because I refuse to force them to support a club whose only ambition is financial profits and who continually shits on its fans and lets a senile old c.unt ruin the club in the process

Everyone to their own but that's too far for me. I'm at the most apathetic I've ever been towards the club at the moment and I will be devastated if (when) Wenger gets a new contract. But The Arsenal are in my blood too long now. I look on them as a gift from my old man who made me a Gooner as a kid - something I passed on to my son. When my dad died we placed an Arsenal tie pin on him in his coffin. He would have loved that. My mom will phone and ask how The Arsenal did. The woman has zero interest in football but her husband and 4 sons are all Gooners.

It's not something I can switch off. I've spent thousands and thousands supporting us, gave up so much time, lost girlfriends over it. Being a Gooner has been a part of my life for over 40 years now. I have some bad memories sure, but also so many fantastic memories of cup final piss ups, great games, great footy trips with the lads, celebrating things like Anfield 89 and The Invincibles. Being a fan is more than just what is currently happening at the club.

Things change. People come, people go. Wenger will leave at some point. So whilst I won't attend games until he's gone I'll still watch them on TV etc and will encourage my son to do the same. And if my boy really wants to go to a game I'll bring him and try and take my enjoyment from seeing him enjoy the game.

So I'll wait. That's all I can do. Try and wait Wenger out. And then hopefully I'll enjoy watching and supporting us again.

Yes sums it all up well, feel exactly the same, and totally relate to the reply....being a fan is something you are stuck with till you die, some people can never understand, often wish it was not like this
It really is in the blood and can never change, often put my safety and liberty on the line in days past

Remember a QPR fan mate saying that David Jensen used to write a column in the Rangers programme banging on about his love for QPR
Then he moved to South London and said that he was now supporting Palace as it was his local team....sorry mate it just don't work like that

UP THE ARSENAL...FUCK ALL THE REST

[amazonas]

Of course you will always be Arsenal at heart and I don't think anyone here in their most feverish dreams would support another English team instead. But someone who's been Arsenal all his life and turns in his badge cause of all the shit he's been forced to swallow over the last many years (be it the absurd theater of our own club or simply the state of modern football) might easily be in his legitimate right to do so in my book and still be more Arsenal than whoever plays for the team today or even many of the seat-fillers at Cashburtongrove.

[StuartL]

A few post that very accurately sum up my current feelings towards the club I love (did ?)

I have been in love with Arsenal since as long as I can remember ( about the age of 5) while my classmates mainly followed a successful Liverpool (it was the mid seventies in South West London)

I have spent countless hours as a youngster reading football books about our glorious history, title wins, Chapman, The double in 71 and was so envious of the fans that got to witness us making history.

I went to my first game at Highbury aged 10, and will forever be grateful to my dad for taking me, despite him being a closet Spud fan !

Since the age of 14, I went regularly on my own or occasionally with casual supporting friends and at age 17, when in my first job got a season ticket, writing out my very first cheque to Arsenal football club for the princely sum of £60 !

Home matches, away matches, Europe - over land and sea (but strangely not Leicester) I have spent thousands, took days off work, stood in the wind and the rain and the cold, missed birthdays, parties, prioritized Arsenal over everything in my late teens and early twenties.

I have made great Gooner friends, shared wonderful memories of Anfield 89, Copenhagen 94 many trips to Wembley and plenty of the 92 league grounds watching, supporting and cheering in the face of adversity and hostility.

Nowadays, although Arsenal still have a place in my heart, I am disconnected from them, or rather they have disconnected themselves from me with their outrageous prices, ( in my view a deliberate attempt to create a newer breed of commercial fan) and in particular the current manager, who treats the fans with contempt, and doesn't even bother to hide it.

So I have decided to not renew my membership (which I haven't used for 2/3 seasons) and will forfeit the wonderful opportunity to pay £30 for the pleasure of being occasionally able to book the priciest tickets in England and beyond, coupled with an exorbitant booking fee on top to watch players earning sums that their performance and talent does not justify and the entertainment value of the match very rarely reflects

Have I grown up ? - spending large amounts of time and money watching men kick around a ball does seem rather childish in the cold light of day.

Have I changed ? - my life priorities are my personal happiness, my wonderful kids, a fantastic girlfriend whom I love very much and have created many memories of trips and days out.

or has football itself moved into such a money making business that it no longer has a place for the old breed like me ?

Thanks for the memories Arsenal, but I fear it may well be time to say goodbye.

[OneBardGooner]

We have a disease at Arsenal it's called Wenger.

[Blade]

bullied by 17y/o Rasford,by one leg buffalo Carroll(zero games 3 months).

Players never scored will score against us.

[DB10GOONER]

Just had my 10 year old son try calm me down with "it's not too bad, dad - we got the draw". This after he watched me yelling and swearing at the TV all the way through that 2nd half. I'm as detached from Arsenal more now than I've ever been but still can't help caring. It's like a fucking disease sometimes...

[arseofacrow]

Just had my 10 year old son try calm me down with "it's not too bad, dad - we got the draw". This after he watched me yelling and swearing at the TV all the way through that 2nd half. I'm as detached from Arsenal more now than I've ever been but still can't help caring. It's like a fucking disease sometimes...

Feel the same.

[Perryashburtongroves]

The only common denominator in Arsenal's annual title fuck-ups is Wanker. Just lmget him out and let's at least try someone else. This was the year he chose to do it all his way and he has proven yet again that he's a completely shit manager and must pay the price. Just fuck off.

[xisstential]

Just had my 10 year old son try calm me down with "it's not too bad, dad - we got the draw". This after he watched me yelling and swearing at the TV all the way through that 2nd half. I'm as detached from Arsenal more now than I've ever been but still can't help caring. It's like a fucking disease sometimes...

Wenger said at his post match that the team also showed "quality & resistance". So even though you might not have seen it (after all you haven't managed for 30 years), you can console yourself that it was there. It stands us in good stead for next season

[xisstential]

Wenger actually admitted at his post match that we have been poor defensively in the air the entire season and it has cost us in some big games. When asked if it was a mistake not to play Cech he said again we are poor in the air,it doesn't matter who plays in goal. Don't do anything about it, just acknowledge it. WAY to go Arsene

Btw I couldn't see the interviewer but I think he was doing the interview on his knees.

[augie]

I think that most of us accept that we are now THE team to gives opposition players/teams a welcome boost if they are in need of goals/wins, but surely we wont be the one's to give crystal palace their first league win of 2016 ? Will we ??

[xisstential]

I was so surprised to hear Wenger admit so openly, not once but twice, how poor we have been in the air defensively this season...... WH said after the game that Caroll was chosen specifically for that reason and they targeted us there. So Wenger, choosing the lesser of the embarrassments, and not wanting to be shown up as tactically inept by the opposition manager, chose rather to admit we have been weak there the entire season. So basically he wasn't caught out you see, because he knew about it. What a fraud.... a fraudulent tactician. Or rather a tactician of fraud.

Of course if the interviewer had any balls he would have asked Wenger, if you knew about it why didn't you do something about it???

[casgooner]

Wenger actually admitted at his post match that we have been poor defensively in the air the entire season and it has cost us in some big games. When asked if it was a mistake not to play Cech he said again we are poor in the air,it doesn't matter who plays in goal. Don't do anything about it, just acknowledge it. WAY to go Arsene

Btw I couldn't see the interviewer but I think he was doing the interview on his knees.

If he knew we were poor in the air defensively all season, that means he knew this by January, but chose no to address the issue. I love Wenger, he is a great manager and he really has his finger on the pulse.

[OneBardGooner]

On The Pulse of something that is slowly, slowly, slowly dying and taking all our hearts with it...

WENGER IS A *word censored*