Evening all,
As the dust settles and the fallout continues from yesterday’s
game, I find myself in a weird place. I am filled with disappointment yet relief;
I am in some ways proud of the team and at the same time left frustrated by
them. Football is a funny game and it never ceases to amaze but yesterday at
times it was flabbergasting. The game had the good, the bad and the ugly of
Arsenal Football Club yesterday.
We started off well and seemed to control the game for the
first 10 to 15 minutes with some slick passing and movement. Chamberlain
impressed early on with some great direct and skilful play and had the upper
hand against a world class left back in the early exchanges. Following an injury to
Phil Jones, where the game was broken up, Manchester United composed themselves
and began to settle. It took them some time to get going but they had a clear
plan to exploit our weakness and exploit it they did.
Throughout the remaining 70 minutes, balls were sprayed at
our right back with precision, consistency and in abundance which both Evra and
Nani took delight in. They exposed and capitalised on our weakest link and
effectively cost us the game. So much was his discomfort, he had to be replaced by the 18 year old, Yennaris at half time.
The second half was a different story and I felt that we had
for the most part played well and done enough to get something out of the game.
In fact when we scored the equaliser, it felt like there was only one team that
could possibly win it the way the match was panning out.
That was, until the manager, inexplicably to some, decided
to take off our most effective player and replace him with someone who is not everyone’s
cup of tea at the moment. Now here is where the aforementioned ugliness took
place. Following the announcement of Chamberlains departure many fans erupted
into choruses of boos which although understandable, it was nonetheless a
little embarrassing and I don’t think it helped the team at all.
Now there are various rumours and theories ranging from tiredness,
to Chamberlain asking to come off, apparent cramps/injuries to just Wenger lost
the plot and decided to take him off.
I am not going to delve into any of these issues for many
reasons but most importantly because it is pointless. The decision was made and
whatever the reason, it is clear that it had a negative impact to us which
contributed to us losing the game.
I understand the reason for the response but it left me
quite sad yesterday. Here is a man, Wenger, who not only changed Arsenal
Football Club for the better but all of English football. I think it would not
be too controversial to say that the evolution of English football has been
exponentially sped up by Wenger and he has arguably had the biggest influence on
English football in modern times.
That is not to diminish the importance of people like Sir
Alex Ferguson, but only to highlight the dramatic effect Wenger has had on
diet, training methods, technology and footballing philosophy in the English
game. To see this man get booed at a level I haven’t seen at any club over an
in game decision, no matter how bad a decision is something that is deeply
disappointing. Please don’t misunderstand me though, I completely sympathise
and empathise with the supporters that booed and I myself was screaming
obscenities.
I would like to think Wenger, when he left would have been
able to leave on his terms, with his head held high and that all supporters
would hail him as a true legend. Whilst there is no doubt that he is clearly
already a legend I fear yesterday’s booing will have far reaching consequences
beyond that of just the failure yesterday. From my knowledge on Wenger, I would
predict that he would be immeasurably offended and upset by the booing and this
could have a bearing on his future, not because of the booing but because of
the line that has been drawn. There are now clearly large factions of the fans
that are dissatisfied and there is no covering it up.
It has been clear for some time that there is a growing
feeling of discontent amongst fans at the handling of the club. The club who
have been mismanaged for a while now on many different levels, whether it be
recruitment, contract renewals, the commercial side of things or just the
Public Relations. This however, is the first time it was Wenger getting booed
by the majority of the fans and that over a decision in game. Even Van Persie
could not believe the decision and showed dissent towards Wenger. Something the
media have been quick to highlight.
All of the discontent at everything that has gone on at the
club in recent years manifested itself in the supporters hitting out at a
manager and that is something you could have never imagined not too long ago.
The worst part of the whole incident for me though is none
of the above. It is the fact that it detracts from the main point: we lost
another game and are five points behind Chelsea. We find ourselves in a
position where it is more likely than not that we will miss out on Champions
League football.
I was concerned a few days ago that history might repeat
itself and that we were in line for a bad loss but thankfully I was very wrong
and the team a few players aside performed admirably in parts. It is a shame
that it wasn’t consistent throughout the team and we still find ourselves
pointless in the league this calendar year.
The main job of the manager is not to now answer questions about
whatever madness is going on around him but to pick up the players he has and
ensures that, regardless of who plays in what position, they win.
It’s plain and simple, every game is a must win and I expect
every player to demonstrate that attitude. If they don’t then Wenger has not
done the job that he now needs to do.
Until next time.
GoonerVerse.
