One thing of Arsene Wenger is - for the Gooners who supported Arsenal prior to his arrival, I believe would appreicate more on what he has contributed to AFC.
I don’t care which country he’s coming from, or whether he loves to buy French or English players, the thing MATTERS to me is our performance on the pitch. Take away all the trophies he has won (it’s still been like a dream to me as when i started supporting Arsenal during the 80s, I could have never dreamed of all those trophies), just look at THE WAY we play on the pitch. At times our football could be breath-taking. Our football in recent years is definitely the BEST I have seen since started watching football.
My point is - AW has done so much for AFC, we can really be a bit more grateful on what he has done for us. As fans, particualr overseas fans like us, in compare to Wenger, what have we done to Arsenal FC despite our love to the club? Of course everyone is entitled to criticism, and every fan has his right to voice out his opinion. But while we are enjoying the modern technology which allowing us to watch more Arsenal games on TV than ever, and it coincident with the fact we are playing our best football in club history, we should at least bare in mind a bit more WHO’s the one who brought us all those enjoyment at the first place.
It’s too EASY for an armchair fan like us pointing out what and what is wrong with our club, manager, players. For example, when a player is struggling to perform, some fans’ wisdom would be “Get rid of him, buy ourselves another top player.” It’s easy isn’t it? Because they don’t need to worry about what the consequence and chain effect it may lead to from making a decision like that. They don’t have to worry of players’ morale, they don’t have to worry about the team chemistry, they don’t care whether we would have broken our bank. Unfortnately, as our club manager, Arsene Wenger has much more things to worry about to allow himself making such an EASY decision.
The fact is - we can never repaid Wenger of all the good work he has done for AFC, so if possible, why not giving our manager a little bit more of benefit of doubt when things go wrong? And have a little bit more faith?
15 Responses to “Be grateful”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
June 26th, 2005 at 1:12 pm
I agree with what you are saying Andez… but its not the nature of most fans to do so. The manager does not get the benefit of the doubt in any sport! Players don’t either.
The most popular player on a football team (American Football that is) is OFTEN the back-up quarterback. There is always someone else who people think is better when the performances don’t always go well.
Chemistry is HUGE in my opinion. And the manager has alot to do with that. The clubhouse atmosphere can have a BIG effect on the play on the field. The Boston RedSox showed that last season. Great chemistry, and a manager who embraced his players and fought FOR them, rather than with them… and the title was won.
Now was the Cole affair a negative impact on our locker room last year? I can’t see how it wouldn’t be. Ash will have to straighten stuff out with his team-mates. If he is OK with them, then he can still be an excellent player here. If he isn’t in well with them, he should just go.
Wenger is capable of adapting and changing to get to the next level, and get us back on top. If we lose the first match, he’ll need to be fired!! Thats the knee-jerk mentality. We can’t always follow that mode… we have to look a bit more long term. Arsenal and Arsene certainly have, especially with the stadium looming. He’s done an incredible job.
June 26th, 2005 at 1:13 pm
Yep, My thoughts exactly.
I have been an Arsenal fan since the 80’s too and for fans like us I believe th contrast is evident. Arsene Wenger has built us a team that is by far the best we have ever had, in England and in Europe. We have achieved far more than a club with a stadium capacity of only 38000 can realistically expect.
As you may remember from my previous posts I am a great believer in the factor of “LUCK” and the part that it plays in individual and collective success.
I believe that Arsenal’s success on the pitch is far more remarkable given the fact that we have had an inferior share of luck under Wenger than we did under George Graham. But that is ok because no one really knows how this mysterious force called luck/fortune distributes it favors. To some it gives a lot, to some it gives a little and to some none at all.
The reason to be positive about our clubs future is that at least the physical signs (New Stadium, Record high turnover) bode well and hopefully our luck will improve too.
So we have a lot of quality football to look forward to.
June 26th, 2005 at 2:13 pm
Andez, I don’t know a soul that would disagree with you on the basic premise that, for the most part, Arsenal are playing the game better and our manager is why.
Now, to bring that game against big opponents, deep into Europe, and when negative or other tactics have our big-money stars stymied, is where we need to do some evolving. I’m convinced Wenger knows exactly what to do, and is in the process of doing it. No manager is perfect, but for one who does as much as Wenger, he’s closer than the rest. Period.
And what should be tagged onto every Wenger comment is “all the while building a brand new stadium”. I’m just not sure the average footballhead appreciates how that particular variable weighs on on every decision. AFC are a process and an evolution, and rarely have I ever seen one so pleasing to the eye.
I didn’t see the Germany/Brazil game, but from what I’ve read, Robinho was making mazey runs from which Adriano took a host of chances. I also read that a deflection, a penalty, and a well-placed shot are what got by Lehmann. Anyone else see it to tell us how he played?
June 26th, 2005 at 3:31 pm
Andez,
You know I’m old school and care less who manage Arsenal or plays for Arsenal so far as he is clean and not a criminal because we have the greatest history and tradition as a club.
That said - Anyone who says we should get rid of Wenger needs help but at the same time he is not God and not prefect. No one is prefect and if he leave fine with me. We will support the next manager and that is the Arsenal way.
But as I always say there was Arsenal before Wenger and the players and they will all leave one day but I will still be a Gunner till I die.
June 26th, 2005 at 4:10 pm
I agree with you say about Arsene. As fans, we all moan . As we get more, we want more. Arsene is doing a terrific job but I have to disagree about Europe where we continue to disappoint. I dont expect us to win the Champs League but we have only been to the last 8 twice in 8 seasons. We should be doing better. I also strongly disagree with the “luck” theory. I have attended hundreds of Arsenal performances and I cannot think of single unlucky defeat. I really cant. The only luck in football are outrageous refereeing decisions and perhaps the odd deflection. That we continue to fail to progress in Europe some fans will put down to bad luck. Arsene will know better and hopefully will aim to correct.
June 26th, 2005 at 4:14 pm
By the way, I watched the Germany Brazil game yesterday. Jens cannot be blamed for any of the goals and made a few decent stops late on as the game got stretched. Germany have leaked a lot of goals in this tournament and have defended poorly. Although Jens is rightly annoyed about leaking three goals I dont think he can blame himself.
June 26th, 2005 at 4:21 pm
Thanks for that, RomfordPele. This was an excellent opportunity for Jens to prove himself to be our number 1. Save a few basic style differences, few Premiership clubs will test him as much as the Brazilian international squad.
June 26th, 2005 at 6:03 pm
floridaG, i agree luck is an element in football, therefore I’m not taking the CL exit too downhearted. but i don’t agree GG’s teams got any more luck than Wenger’s. The “lucky lucky Arsenal” tab on GG’s Arsenal was an unfair statement made up by the media and opposite fans likewise. The thing is - GG’s team played with a lot of HEART, they NEVER GAVE UP. As long as a team never stops trying, luck will come.
June 26th, 2005 at 6:06 pm
Great point of the “back up quarter back theory!” likewise, the most popular Arsenal player seems to be the one who hasn’t arrived, or put it exactly - our transfer targets, so fans could only dream of how wonderful it would be… after they arrived, a few below par performance, then they would be as popular as Reyes!
June 26th, 2005 at 8:10 pm
Andez,
I’m a Brit who lives in the UK and has followed Arsenal home and away for almost 30 years (first game was as a 3 year old - don’t remember **** all of it!) and if it’s any consolation we have just as many armchair “experts” here. However, I believe most Gooners appreciate what Wenger has done for us. You have to say that, whatever you think of him, George Graham dragged us back into the “trophy winning” era and Arsene has developed and cultured our expectations from then. Having said that, in 10 years time, we will have a different manager and Arsene will be part of Highbury/Ashburton folklore for ever more. I suppose what I’m trying to say is that nobody (player, manager, coach, director, chairman) is bigger than the club - but lets all enjoy the many trophies that Arsene will bring us over the next few seasons before he hangs up his beret. And as for the armchair experts - well let them have their whinge. We know what it’s really about don’t we!
NorthBank
P.S. - As it seems that the Hleb deal is all but done, can anybody tell me anything about him? I’ve never heard of him…..
June 26th, 2005 at 11:09 pm
Hleb (I think it’s pronounced with a ‘K,’ like ‘Kleb’).
Anyway, he’s supposed to be two footed & is more of a passer, supplier. He plays (from what I’ve heard) wide midfield at his club but centrally for the Belarussian national team.
Other than that, I don’t know much.
June 27th, 2005 at 12:56 am
My definition of luck also states that it is important to also not be unlucky or misfortunate. I completely agree that GG’s men played with a lot of heart and commitment but it also seems that back then a lot more of our good chances resulted in goals as opposed to today. Plus, unless my memory is wrong, it also seems that injuries back then were less frequent and impacting than those of today. These two things I attribute to having either “good luck” or in the very least “neutral luck”.
June 27th, 2005 at 1:07 am
I can think of a few instances where luck was a factor, at least where Europe is concerned. UEFA Cup Final 2000, Valencia vs Arsenal 2001, The 2002 CL exit was in a small part down to Deportivo throwing the final game of 2nd round to Bayer Leverkusen.
From this season however the one game that sticks out the most is Chelsea vs Barcelona. This is the best example of a superior team in every department “unluckily ” losing to the inferior team.
June 27th, 2005 at 2:10 am
I also never heard of him or saw him play. at first i thought he’s German, yet it turned out he’s from East Europe (forgot which country). i took it like another Freddie, to be honest when Freddie first arrived, i had zero idea who he was!
July 2nd, 2005 at 2:23 pm
I can remember Billy Wright. We are so lucky to have AW and, I believe, Dein and the board who must have some credit for going along with AW’s vision.