http://www.onlinegooner.com/exclusive/index.php?id=832
usual thread starter… in truth, this is the kind of thing that makes me sit up and pay attention. It’s an opinion without bias, and let’s face it, there aren’t many of those on the Arsenal websites. In a sense, we are lucky to have had what we have enjoyed since 1996. But the standards of those years are so high, we fail to appreciate the good things about Arsenal when things do dip a bit. We have been spoilt, although fans have every right to point out where things are not going right. Tricky one, but I enjoyed reading this. The writer is an Ipswich fan by the way.
There's so much more to come from this exciting group -10/11
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Sammy Mooner
- Posts: 203
- Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:23 pm
- Location: The superior end of 7 Sisters
Great article from Tim.
Not all Arsenal fans are doom and gloom merchants. Not all Arsenal fans believe the shite they read in the papers or the dross that comes out on Sky or even many of the Arsenal dedicated websites.
We are by all accounts a 'big four club' whatever that means. But whenever a 'big four club' faces the odd set back the glee from almost every other fan in the country is apparent. As is the joy it gives to journos who relish any bad news for any big names. It's the price we pay for having a great team and supporting a great club. But the whole thing is an illusion. Arsenal are no bigger than Villa, Everton, Man City, Spurs, Leeds, Newcastle, Sunderland or other big city clubs. It is just that we've had an incredible manager for a decade or so who has managed to keep us at the top by staying in the Champions League every year. Year after year. Yet many don't appreciate his genius or this simple fact.
If any of the Clubs I've named above had Wenger or Ferguson as a manager or Abramovich as an owner then they would be a top four club. But they don't and we do - so why do so many fail to appreciate this simple fact or enjoy it while it lasts?
Not all Arsenal fans are doom and gloom merchants. Not all Arsenal fans believe the shite they read in the papers or the dross that comes out on Sky or even many of the Arsenal dedicated websites.
We are by all accounts a 'big four club' whatever that means. But whenever a 'big four club' faces the odd set back the glee from almost every other fan in the country is apparent. As is the joy it gives to journos who relish any bad news for any big names. It's the price we pay for having a great team and supporting a great club. But the whole thing is an illusion. Arsenal are no bigger than Villa, Everton, Man City, Spurs, Leeds, Newcastle, Sunderland or other big city clubs. It is just that we've had an incredible manager for a decade or so who has managed to keep us at the top by staying in the Champions League every year. Year after year. Yet many don't appreciate his genius or this simple fact.
If any of the Clubs I've named above had Wenger or Ferguson as a manager or Abramovich as an owner then they would be a top four club. But they don't and we do - so why do so many fail to appreciate this simple fact or enjoy it while it lasts?
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QuartzGooner
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- Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:49 pm
- Location: London
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SPUDMASHER
- Posts: 10739
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- Location: London Euston
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Good to read a neutral opinion, however....
Perhaps being a neutral, means he hasn't followed the fortunes of the club in every home & away game, and therefore isn't aware of the performances that saw us unstuck at Stoke, Sunderland, Fulham, and home to Hull. Even the Everton first half, and the West Brom game would leave you wondering what's so special about this Arsenal team?
It's easy to sit and watch Arsenal beat ManUre in a thriller, and dismiss any suggestion of a crisis.. and perhaps "crisis" is a strong word, but all is not well at Arsenal.
The author should consider that only a week before he saw Arsenal's swashbucking display against ManUre, we left the Britannia Stadium in disarray.. an insipid performances, that was nothing short of pathetic.
The fact that we are capable of such contrasting performances and results in the space of a week says everything you need to know about Arsenal.. and why many Arsenal fans aren't getting carried away with Saturday's result.
The balance of the team isn't right, and we all know which positions need addressing.
Lets hope that the ManUre result will give our players some much needed self belief, and that this turns out to be the spring board onwhich to build our season..
Lets hope.
Perhaps being a neutral, means he hasn't followed the fortunes of the club in every home & away game, and therefore isn't aware of the performances that saw us unstuck at Stoke, Sunderland, Fulham, and home to Hull. Even the Everton first half, and the West Brom game would leave you wondering what's so special about this Arsenal team?
It's easy to sit and watch Arsenal beat ManUre in a thriller, and dismiss any suggestion of a crisis.. and perhaps "crisis" is a strong word, but all is not well at Arsenal.
The author should consider that only a week before he saw Arsenal's swashbucking display against ManUre, we left the Britannia Stadium in disarray.. an insipid performances, that was nothing short of pathetic.
The fact that we are capable of such contrasting performances and results in the space of a week says everything you need to know about Arsenal.. and why many Arsenal fans aren't getting carried away with Saturday's result.
The balance of the team isn't right, and we all know which positions need addressing.
Lets hope that the ManUre result will give our players some much needed self belief, and that this turns out to be the spring board onwhich to build our season..
Lets hope.
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Redexpress
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2007 2:09 pm
in terms of the balance between appreciating what we have and where we should be is not just a question of being fickle.
what scares me is that we are possibly missing a chance to cement ourselves as a real force for years to come.
Wenger said a few years ago that there was a "power shift" in English football after we won the championship (I must admit I cringed when he said it), and that clearly hasnt been the case, not in our favour anyway.
If Wenger leaves behind a group of players which are "nearly good enough" when he leaves, then we might be in for a bit of a slide, under a different manager.
Big Phil has inherited a strong squad and has only had to make one or 2 changes, to turn Chelsea into a different type of machine than the last couple of seasons.
My basic point is that we maybe havent maximised our success under Wenger. His legacy deserves to be even greater than it might be when he finally steps aside. Unfortunately stats tables dont have a column for "beautiful football".
what scares me is that we are possibly missing a chance to cement ourselves as a real force for years to come.
Wenger said a few years ago that there was a "power shift" in English football after we won the championship (I must admit I cringed when he said it), and that clearly hasnt been the case, not in our favour anyway.
If Wenger leaves behind a group of players which are "nearly good enough" when he leaves, then we might be in for a bit of a slide, under a different manager.
Big Phil has inherited a strong squad and has only had to make one or 2 changes, to turn Chelsea into a different type of machine than the last couple of seasons.
My basic point is that we maybe havent maximised our success under Wenger. His legacy deserves to be even greater than it might be when he finally steps aside. Unfortunately stats tables dont have a column for "beautiful football".
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Seven Kings Gooner 1
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 7:02 am
The cover of the current Gooner magazine speaks volumes, we are a Jekyll and Hyde team and when we start games with that "off the pace" possession football (a la Stoke City) you know that Mr Hyde will be representing Arsenal for the duration of the 90 minutes. When Silvestre gave that back pass I thought we were going to pick up from last week but we shrugged it off to give a great display. How many points from our next three games? I'm going for 5 and if we are true to form we will draw with Villa and City and beat Chelsea!
