Arsenal’s disappearing support

[bookanengineer]

It seems the fans are constantly under attack .. from the fans. We've always got the worst fans for some reason or another.

There were plenty of empty seats because the fans are sick of watching crap football. We've barely put on one entertaining performance all season, the "Arsenal fans are spoilt" rubbish is a dream created and continuously spun by the media, the same media that say we haven't a hope of winning anything. The glorious football is well and truly gone. Still, Premiership games at least mean something, the FA Cup is worthless. We're happy to watch crap football that means something, crap football that means nothing is pushing the loyalty factor. If Denilson was playing right-wing over your local park, you wouldn't get out of bed.

So you're looking at Season Ticket holders that have already paid their money, are already feeling ripped off by the club, and now have to decide whether they're willing to shell out yet more cash travelling to a worthless match and abandoning their families.

The fans want entertainment, they want excitement. The Coca-Cola cup provided that this season, we got to see players with potential, we got to see exciting football, that the cup is less worthwhile than the FA CUP was irrelevant, there was something exciting to go and watch. That unfortunately is not provided by our extremely stale first team. If Wenger had promised Vela and Wilshire playing, there would have been considerably fewer empty seats.

Finally, leaving-early, before complaining about all fans who do this, they should perhaps be made to sit on a cold Euston station for 8 hours, and then asked whether some supporter's hastened departure and subsequent sprint to Finsbury Park might indeed be warranted.

[essex womble]

I'm a Red Member and I've got to all midweek games and some weekend games this season. The Plymouth was advertised as Sold Out during the week, what i don't understand is why some of the absent ticket holders don't put the tickets on Ticket Exchange. You'd have thought that the money might have come in handy.

What I noticed from a good view in Orange Quadrant Block 95 was that the areas behind the goal was nearly full to capacity, the seats along the side had many more gaps. Its hard to believe that people not coming to the game, wouldn't offer their tickets to someone at work, their friends, family, the bloke next door and his kid. Why leave the seats empty ?

[QuartzGooner]

Arsenal’s disappearing support
The bigs gaps in the seats won’t help the team, even if they have been paid for

By Mike Paterno

7 January 2009

http://www.onlinegooner.com/exclusive/index.php?id=948

I thin the recent games are atypical, because peopel are on holiday this time of year, plus there has been flu outbreak too.

Best to judge the attendance from games now on.

Empty seats also reflect the corporate fans who come for the good times, which is by no means all the corporate fans.

Just hope they offer their seats for the club's official exchange programme, so red members who want to attend can make use of the empty seats.

[barnetgooner]

Finally, leaving-early, before complaining about all fans who do this, they should perhaps be made to sit on a cold Euston station for 8 hours, and then asked whether some supporter's hastened departure and subsequent sprint to Finsbury Park might indeed be warranted.

oh yeah because you always have to wait 8 hours for a train at Finsbury Park...
Apart from a small proportion of people who have to get back up north or have a pressing engagement after games, early-leavers are a disgrace to the club and should give their ticket to a proper fan who'll support the team til the end

[Tommym]

"Finally, leaving-early, before complaining about all fans who do this, they should perhaps be made to sit on a cold Euston station for 8 hours, and then asked whether some supporter's hastened departure and subsequent sprint to Finsbury Park might indeed be warranted."

These early-leavers are a disgrace and really give real Arsenal fans (ones who can actually be bothered to watch the game from start to finish, for example) a bad name. Because of them Arsenal fans are seen as a laughing stock by all and sundry and they do nothing for the atmosphere of the team isn't winning by 3 or 4 goals. They are detrimental to the club's reputation and potentially the confidence of the team. If they dont want to be on crowded public transport or have to wait a while longer for a train/bus then they shouldn't go to any football match- it's as simple as that. I know fans who travel miles and miles to watch their teams and never leave early. If people such as me who do complain about the early leavers are made to wait in Euston station for 8 hours (a little exaggerated, maybe?) then in return early-leavers should be made to give up their memberships for fans who dont mind getting a bit vocal and staying until the end. Deal?

[Shellshock]

I first saw Arsenal in 1959 and I've never left a game early since so I can't offer an explanation of why people do it. Can only assume that getting 20 yards further down the queue for the tube station is more important than supporting your club.



Dave

[Squiffie]

I'm a Red member and I'm usually found in either Block 125 (because that's all that's left) or Block 24 when the away fans don't take their full allocation. Wherever I sit, whatever the score I ALWAYS stay until the bitter end - I might have only paid £32.50 for the privilage to watch the Arsenal but it's £32.50 that I can't really afford.

I agree it was freezing cold on Saturday and I did join in with the jumping up and down and I must admit with the whole of the lower stand bouncing around and making a noise it looked quite good - maybe this is the way forward?

[Dangooner]

It's like paying £10 to see a film in the West End, then leaving 5 - 10 minutes before the film ends; you wouldn't do it would you?!

So why do people think it's different for football, when you've paid at least 4 times that amount, and the result hands in the balance?

As for people not going to games, I remember a League Cup game some years back against Preston and just over 15,000 of us bothered to turn up. Yet no one said a word. Now, we don't get over 60,000 and you would think it's the end judging by some of the comments. But at least then it wasn't a case of people already having the seats and not bothering to turn up - I really can't understand that at all.

It's a shame we can't get the whole stadium cheering and singing, as when we're on form it sends shivers down your spine. Not that it's happened much this season...!

Never happy are we?!!