Arsenal Fans: Be Careful What You Wish For

Through to the second phase of the Champions League for the 15th successive season, holders of the FA Cup, a new high-capacity stadium, entertaining and attractive football and financially balanced books to keep the club more stable than most – what exactly are Arsenal fans complaining about?

During Arsenal’s 1-0 win over West Brom last weekend, a section of their fans raised a banner urging Arsène Wenger to quit. The banner read, “Arsène, thanks for the memories but it’s time to say goodbye”.

Arsene Wenger claims he is not concerned by this criticism, “We live in a society of total opinion but we live off not what we say but what we do – and what we do is on the pitch,” said the Frenchman.

Wenger, the current longest serving manager in the league, has to handle this sort of unwanted appraisal on an almost annual basis. In recent years, since Arsenal have struggled to consistently achieve their full potential of winning trophies, Wenger has found himself under more frequent pressure.

Yes, one FA Cup in the last nine years is a disappointing turnover for a club of Arsenal’s stature. Yes, they have struggled to mount a serious title challenge in the past few seasons. And yes, many Arsenal fans feel their club should be achieving more.

Most recently, understandable frustration stems from Arsenal’s neglect to sign a world-class defensive midfielder and cover for the back four, which looks shaky once inevitable injuries become an issue.

But, Arsenal fans, be careful what you wish for.

Firstly, look at the shining light that is Alexis Sánchez; a world-class player that Wenger brought in for what appears to be a bargain at just over £30 million. He’s shown fans that he’s not scared to spend big money if the player is right. Perhaps Wenger just could not find the type of player he wanted for other vacant positions.

I sit here and struggle to think of another manager, currently available, who would do a better job than Wenger. Jürgen Klopp, I hear you shout. Klopp is a manager with a lot of respect from fans in England, including those of Arsenal. Yet Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund side are currently struggling in the Bundesliga. Is this the kind of success Arsenal fans are craving?

We learnt a lot from the situation at Manchester United after the hugely successful reign of Sir Alex Ferguson came to an end. Managers like Ferguson and Wenger build more than just a simple rapport with fans and players, but become a living embodiment of the clubs they serve. Replacing these sorts of figures is an almost impossible task and one that, as we have seen at United, can require a backwards step.

The Premier League has seen the growth of a ‘hire and fire’ culture of managers. Last Word on Sports writer, Daniel Siggins, writes about the worries this process poses for the modern game here. This trend is something Arsenal want to avoid.

Credit needs to be given to Chelsea and Manchester City who, quite frankly, have simply got much better whilst Wenger has been manager of Arsenal. Fans have every right to expect Arsenal to stay in touching distance of these teams, and Wenger believes in time they will.

Arsène signed a three-year contract this year and is determined that Arsenal can win the title during that time: “Of course. I think we have what is required to do it.”

Wenger’s reign should not be judged on one bad result, or even one bad campaign. His legacy at Arsenal will continue long after he has left the club as the man that brought a new style, thought process and structure to a club to keep it enduringly at the top of English football.

There is no crisis at Arsenal. There is, however, a club, a team and a manager that often goes through all the highs and lows that are commonplace in the world of football. There are supporters of clubs across the world that gaze enviously at Arsenal fans with the hope that someday they can relish in even a fragment of the footballing joy that the club has brought them.

Reality check: Arsenal, under the leadership of Wenger, are a club that enjoy the highs of football much more frequently than they have to bear the lows.

The Arsenal fans calling for Wenger’s departure would certainly regret doing so should he decide to leave.

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