Civil War

Jumpers For Goalposts · Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:39 am

My biggest fear for this coming season is not dropping out of the Top 4; nor is it failing to win silverware - our expectations have been lowered so I won't be surprised if either of those things happen. No - my biggest fear for this coming season is a Civil War amongst Arsenal fans.

In one camp are the Wenger supporters and in the other camp are those that want him gone, with the two opinions becoming so polarised that there is little common ground left. This would be a tragedy but from the atmosphere in the ground for the last few matches and from reading the comments in the main Gooner website, I think the seeds have already been sown and that is the direction we are heading.

We've all heard reports of heated arguments in the ground and some of these turning into physical confrontation - all from fans that support the same team. I never thought I'd see this inside what I've always found to be a friendly, knowledgeable and welcoming crowd.

I am seriously worried as to how this season will develop as there doesn't seem to be anything or anyone on the horizon that will re-unite all of us. I sincerely hope I'm wrong but I believe that this could be a really ugly season, both on and off the pitch.

Post by **REB** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:43 am

i agree its sad but i cant understand why people are still defending him after all the lies he has told the last few years about buying players ,
if its civil war then im on the side that wants him to go.

i would spend 40mill on a player

Rugby Gooner · Post by **Rugby Gooner** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:44 am

I was at the game Saturday,and all I saw in the way of "trouble" was a guy having a row with a steward,but some guy phoned Five Live to say that he had been in the family area with his son,and had witnessed arguements and a bit of "handbags" in there.

1989 · Post by **1989** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:47 am

There will be no civil war. More and more people are joining the Wenger out camp now. In two months time (if he's still here) there will be no one left (apart from piresistable and demun).

Post by **flash gunner** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:47 am

Didnt Mikey do a runner last season when someone confronted him about his anti-Wenger rants???

rigsby · Post by **rigsby** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:54 am

I thought the fans were first rate on Saturday. Especially the singing as the team went off. No matter your opinion, it seems everyone is behind the team.

Rugby Gooner · Post by **Rugby Gooner** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:59 am

rigsby wrote:I thought the fans were first rate on Saturday. Especially the singing as the team went off. No matter your opinion, it seems everyone is behind the team.

Didn't you hear the boos?!!

Dan_85 · Post by **Dan_85** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 10:00 am

Rugby Gooner wrote:I was at the game Saturday,and all I saw in the way of "trouble" was a guy having a row with a steward,but some guy phoned Five Live to say that he had been in the family area with his son,and had witnessed arguements and a bit of "handbags" in there.

Was definitely heated in block 6 at times on Saturday...

selsdon · Post by **selsdon** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 10:01 am

rigsby wrote:I thought the fans were first rate on Saturday. Especially the singing as the team went off. No matter your opinion, it seems everyone is behind the team.

My TV must be knackered in that case. All I heard were boos.

Dan_85 · Post by **Dan_85** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 10:03 am

Rugby Gooner wrote:
rigsby wrote:I thought the fans were first rate on Saturday. Especially the singing as the team went off. No matter your opinion, it seems everyone is behind the team.
Didn't you hear the boos?!!

The boos were aimed more at the management than the team I think. There was definitely a feeling that people know the team ain't good enough but they'll get behind them anyway. The frustration is aimed at those who have the power to change things but won't...

augie · Post by **augie** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 10:18 am

[quote="Rugby Gooner"]I was at the game Saturday,and all I saw in the way of "trouble" was a guy having a row with a steward,but some guy phoned Five Live to say that he had been in the family area with his son,and had witnessed arguements and a bit of "handbags" in there.[/quote]

I heard that sat night when I was driving home from the airport too - found it rather embarassing tbh as he came out with all the usual claptrap about "who is else out there that can replace wenger with" and how we should "give wenger more time"

To me he stood out as a jcl (first year season ticket in family enclosure) cos imo older fans will be well aware that nobody had heard of wenger before he arrived so we dont necessarily need to have an automatic stand out guy for replacement for it to be a success.

Another point I would make re the jcl label I am putting on this guy.......why would any right minded supporter go on national radio and state that our fans are fighting amongst themselves ?

Surely this is something that should be kept "in house" ?

Herd · Post by **Herd** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 10:19 am

Who cares 90 percent of post Hornby Arsenal fans are *word censored* !

Whats going to happen latte's at 20 paces ?

More chance of the crowd being bled to death by the management !

rigsby · Post by **rigsby** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 10:24 am

The boos turned to chanting, not sure why anyone who was there didn't hear this. The fans were behind the team, which was important. We all know the threadbare nature of the team, but its not necessarily the players on the pitch fault. Plus when you have someone like TV clearing everything, you can't slam the effort. Nasri didn't get booed, which would have been counter productive. I thought the fans did their part.

Boomer · Post by **Boomer** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 10:26 am

The boo's rang out at the whistle.
"We love you Arsenal" was chanted as the players left the field.

What I though was odd was after the 2nd goal went in a section started "Spend some Fucking Money" but was then drowned out by another section (I'm guessing RA for supporting the team/manager etc...) with "One Arsene Wenger!".

I've said repeatedly that things are turning nasty.....it will be even worse if we don't get through on Wednesday.

TheCook · Post by **TheCook** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 10:29 am

I was pleasantly surpised by the way the fans (mostly) stuck with the team during the match ; there were a few arguments breaking out across Block six, but it was nowhere near as poisonous an atmosphere as at the Villa game last season.

One song which repeatedly took hold, was one that I think sums up the situation well :'YOU ARE MY ARSENAL....'

Many even stayed behind at the final whistle for a few renditions ; can't remember the last time we did that after a home defeat.