I’ve read a lot of criticism of the club lately especially on the Yahoo Fantasy Soccer message board supposedly for Arsenal Fans. Over and over I read comments about how Henry shouldn’t be captain, how we need to buy bigger players, how Arsene doesnt have the touch any more, and how we have no way of winning the league this year. I really can’t understand the negativity I hear from supporters. Although we didn’t win the Premiership last year, it was still a thrilling year. Henry led the league in goals, we won the FA cup, and most of all we played some beautiful football. Chelsea won the league after 50 years. It took them a long time and a whole lot of money to do it. But all of a sudden everyone is critical of Arsene and the club.
Why is it that when we are unbeaten we are the greatest club in the world, but 2 games into the season some supporters are claiming the club has no hope this year. Perhaps we were just spoiled by a record setting season. I have faith in the club that they will play exciting and successful footbal this year. So what if Chelsea won. It doesnt mean we need to adopt their style of play and their off-pitch tactics. Arsene is not Mourinho ( Thank God) and Arsenal is not Chelsea. We are Arsenal. Go Gunners!
38 Responses to “Faithless Fans”
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August 24th, 2005 at 1:26 pm
Like you said, these people are only “so called fans”. We are a team in transition and even without that fact some defeats are ineviatable. The negativity has soared on this site too and I have a few ideas as to why that is. Certain people (love_gunners and DannyT among others) who inhabit this site, seem to believe that they are the only people on gods green earth who are in posession of all the facts and all universal laws. They manifest their negative opinions and criticisms of the club as plain fact and feign righteous indignation at any and all criticism that comes their way.
I agree with you that Arsenal are Arsenal and we need to do things our way and not Chelsea’s. I have faith in Arsene Wenger’s ability to rectifywhatever shortcomings we may have. I think also, that as fans we owe Wenger “AS MUCH TIME AS HE NEEDS” to rebuild the team.
August 24th, 2005 at 1:40 pm
I have a question for the Highbury regulars (kelvin, Danny, love_gunners, etc.). What is the state of hooliganism around Highbury, and amongst Arsenal supporters in general? Do you see or hear of much matchday violence anymore?
August 24th, 2005 at 2:20 pm
Clarkey, I have a feeling in a few years’ time the word hooliganism would become history…. ‘cos the way things going, sooner or later they can’t afford to go to the live match anymore! Unless there are hooligans among the phawnsandwiches eatters!
August 24th, 2005 at 3:01 pm
I disagree, Andez, for a number of reasons. First is the explosion of hooligan literature and entertainment in recent times. Films such as The Football Factory, and the upcoming picture starring Frodo, Green Street, are glamourizing and popularizing football violence. As well, the decline in violence in stadia does not mean football violence on the whole is declining. Instead, hooligans have just moved their fights to other prearranged areas.
And in any case, this is only England we’re talking about. Hooliganism is rampant in other parts of the world. Look at the (ironic) violent treatment meted out to Millwall supporters last season in their away leg to Ferencvaros of Hungary.
August 24th, 2005 at 3:05 pm
I’m not really inclined to believe that Millwall supporters were completely innocent in that encounter you tlk about. The Millwall fan base in my opinion is one of the most, violent, aggressive and neanderthal as you are likely to find anywhere in the world. Therefore it should not be a surprise if fans from opposing teams greet them prepared for a brawl.
August 24th, 2005 at 3:07 pm
Oh neither am I, floridagunner. But my point was that hooliganism still exists, with a vengeance in some cases.
August 24th, 2005 at 3:28 pm
Wow, Pascal Cygan equalises for Arsenal. definately, not the guy I would have picked to score our first goal. This is getting interesting.
August 24th, 2005 at 3:30 pm
Yeh, it exists. Most of the time it keeps boiling under the surface until one matchday it erupts. If my my memory serves me correctly the last time a major incident involving Arsenal fans was at the UEFA cup final in 2000. There have been smaller sporadic instances since then though.
August 24th, 2005 at 3:35 pm
I have never thought that fahkin donkey would ever do anything half useful. Ironic it’s under Faithless Fans eh.
August 24th, 2005 at 3:36 pm
Ever seen something go off yourself?
August 24th, 2005 at 3:40 pm
actually i dont think he (Cygan)’s that bad.. just that he’s consistently inconsistent!
August 24th, 2005 at 3:56 pm
Never seen anything major, just rival fans abusing each other on the street, with mounted police quickly riding in to get in between the affected parties.
August 24th, 2005 at 3:58 pm
Do I dare hope that Cygan may finally be finding his feet?
August 24th, 2005 at 4:05 pm
I’ve been to around 200 Arsenal games, and only once or twice have I ever seen organised violence at a game - one was Tottenham vs Arsenal.
You met get the odd flashpoint in a certain area of the crowd, but generally nothing - it’s simply not a part of Arsenal supporter’s psyche, unlike some other clubs. And in truth, it never really has been.
August 24th, 2005 at 4:11 pm
Unfortunately you simply dislike anyone saying anything negative about Arsenal, whatever it is. Your not a fan, you’re a sheep.
If Wenger put his granny in the team you’d support him. You also have a bad habit of draining everything positive people say about Arsenal out of their posts and only concentrating on the negative. Your behaviour verges on the psycopathic.
I have faith in Arsene Wenger’s ability to rectify the situation domestically, and I have said time and time again I am happy to see him stay for as long as he wants. In Europe, I have no faith whatsoever, because our record is quite simply crap - what do you expect me to think when we fail to get past the quarter finals 9 years running? You want me to be like you? Ignore what’s staring me in the face and just hoping everything will be alright?
You’re barking mad.
August 24th, 2005 at 4:13 pm
same thing isn’t it?
August 24th, 2005 at 4:14 pm
It’s a tragic goal, it means that Wenger might have renewed faith in him. As the old saying goes, you can’t polish a turd.
August 24th, 2005 at 4:39 pm
Bloody hell, there’s the second…
August 24th, 2005 at 4:41 pm
LoveG, you seem to be right on the 4 goals scored…
Cygan with 2??? What’s going on?
August 24th, 2005 at 4:43 pm
I remember reading Hunter Davies tell how, at the “home” leg of Arsenal v Barcelona a few years back, he was beaten up in the toilets at Wembley by some Arsenal supporters who recognized him as a Spurs fan. Nothing major, just got a bit roughed up. Of course you’ll find scuffles here and there, happens in Canada too. I was just wondering how extensive “organized” hooliganism was nowadays around the Arsenal.
August 24th, 2005 at 4:43 pm
Cygan scored 2?! See, I told u he’s not that bad haha!
August 24th, 2005 at 4:46 pm
Cygan scores a hat trick!!. (Actually a brace)
He’s not that bad, we’ve won some tough games with him, I just think his errors are microscopized, and some say when he plays long enough results start to suffer, but for the odd game or so he is okay. Not sure if I agree.
Hope fully with four in store we can have some peace on this forum and the swords can return to their sheaths.
August 24th, 2005 at 4:47 pm
btw, Kolo should be credited with an assist (on Cygan’s 2nd goal), had him jumped a little bit lower, it probably would have been a “painful” experience for Kolo! watch again, can u believe how high Kolo jumped?!
August 24th, 2005 at 5:24 pm
Championship or not… Don’t u just love to watch that kind of football?!
If u want to watch effective, tactical, 4-5-1, diamond, X’mas Tree, tune into every football club from Juventus to AC Milan to Valencia to Bayern Munich to Porto to Cashsea to Liverpool to Bolton to… virtually every football club nearby…
If you want to watch one-touch attacking football, ONLY AT ARSENAL!! Ok, or Barcelona. Or… maybe u would have travel to Brazil!
August 24th, 2005 at 5:42 pm
Well but you dont even have anything positive to say at all. What do you regard as “staring you in the face” anyway. Do you honestly expect me to believe your tripe about “Arsenal’s dire situatuation”. I have no rspect for your deduction about Arsenal’s performances in Europe. The CL is a cup competition and our lack of a trophy there has nothing to do with Wenger’s shortcomings.
I like how before you reared your pathetic skull in indignation everytime someone criticised you, yet you seem okay with name calling on your own part. That’s fine with me, I enjoy spicing up conversations with expletives. However its a little hypocritical on your part.
August 24th, 2005 at 5:48 pm
Wow Pascal Cygan finally emerges from the ashes.
August 24th, 2005 at 5:49 pm
I doubt it, the naysayers will complain in victory and in defeat.
August 24th, 2005 at 6:16 pm
Cygan has had it with the negative comments he has received. So he is starting his own French Revolution!!
I am not being mean there. I am genuinely thrilled. I have been very nasty to this guy over the last little while, so I am glad he scored a couple.
What makes me even more happy is that we got couple via indirect free kicks, and a headed goal for a change. We have to start somewhere…
I read the following commentary on eurosport about one of the goals…At eurosport, they don’t hide their feelings about certain players
“
GOAL!!! And it’s gone to Arsenal, who have really taken a grip on this game since the break. Reyes put Henry through with a weighted ball, the Frenchman controlled it with the type of first touch that Didier Drogba could only dream of, then slammed a right-footed shot past Warner from a tight angle on the right. 2-1 and that’s Henry’s first goal from open play this season!
“
August 24th, 2005 at 6:20 pm
Best game by Reyes in a while. Value of what I call BENCH THERAPY!!
Worked wonders for Lehmman, hopefully can do the same for Senderos.
August 24th, 2005 at 6:48 pm
Danny T,
As I was told let it go. If someone is going to argue with me with any points or facts but just cheap shots and name calling what is the point.
You should know the wise folks on this site that you can talk to them about football even if you don’t agree it them. I called those fans
August 24th, 2005 at 6:50 pm
Clarkey,
Hooligans are a thing of the past because they have been kick out by club. Now most of them can be seen on web sites.
August 24th, 2005 at 6:52 pm
I bet 2 goals on Helb. Cygan killed my dreams off..lol
August 24th, 2005 at 8:54 pm
We have Pascal Cy-gan!
We have Pascal Cy-gan!
Very nice win. Fulham actually came to play football. I think they were INSANE to do so, but I am happy that it occurred. Perhaps them scoring the first goal gave them courage?
So Cygan has been SLATED on this site (and others) and he really stepped up tonite with a headed goal… to tie the match… and added some gloss at the end to make the scoreline prettier!
Way to go Pascal. I don’t think he’s as horrible as everyone likes to make out. He distributes the ball well from the back, and I think thats why LeBoss keeps him.
Thierry being Thierry tonite.
I guess he isn’t a bad captain today?
We don’t want the arm band taken from him today?
Yeah, I think that crap will be silenced for a while. We can go back to realizing that he is one of the best players in the WORLD.
Very well done Arsenal. Bergy and Reyes back in… and it made a big difference. We played a good match. ALL HAPPY GUNNERS TONITE!
August 24th, 2005 at 10:16 pm
So Cygan scores a couple and all of sudden he is a hero?!? Did anybody remember how badly he was exposed and struggled for pace in the 42 min when a defence splitting pass was made by BoaMorte and Mcbride shooted wide when he was one on one with Lehmann. That would surely be a goal if we are playing top teams.
Anyway, it was a good game because Fulham came to play football as they mostly do. Otherwise Henry would ‘ve never got the space that he had for the 2nd and 3rd goal. And one more interesting fact about our captain fantastic: 33 of his last 37 premiership goals have been scored at highbury!!!
August 24th, 2005 at 11:29 pm
I remember one home game against Spurs in the early 80`s when the Old Bill had to seperate us on the North Bank before kick off, then after 15 minutes or so they walked out! Massive ruck, cops came back in swinging and seperated us again! They all had massive grins and plenty of mouth, remember the fight, forgot the score…The good old days!
August 25th, 2005 at 3:01 am
I don’t think that we need to be personal about anyones opinion. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and their love of the can be expressed how they want. If they didnt care about the club they wouldn’t be critical. I posted this message after not being on the site a while and posted it as soon as I logged on not having read the previous discussion about negativity. A lot has been said on this site about it in the last week. The facts are this its a somewhat uncertain time for the Gunners and everyone is just expressing their response to our current situation.
August 25th, 2005 at 5:11 am
LOL
August 25th, 2005 at 5:16 am
I agree very interesting. Although most of us agree about the uncertainty of this season, I think it is going to be full of ( I hope) pleasant surprises. Lets hope Cygan stepping up is the first of many.