The first thing that this adventure has taught is that our DNA as Arsenal fans must dictate that we attack each other incessantly, Twitterly disputing each and every individual, minute, tiny little atomic piece of information, news, gossip and/or complete and utter tripe. Every time a story is released –  accurate or not – it is effectively thrown to the lions as literally thousands of Arsenal followers rip every aspect of its content to shreds before leaving the decaying carcass of a valid argument to turn on each

Good afternoon Arsenal chappies and chapettes. I trust you are all at each other’s throats? Superb.

I myself am doing quite splendidly, thanks. I’m off to God’s green land of freedom next week to visit my family in California and that thought is making my working day travel a whole lot quicker. I am also enjoying my first week’s foray into the sacred Twitter kingdom (@WengerBoy1 in case you’re interested – given my relative ‘yoof’ and inexperience in this field I feel I’m still allowed at least…er… seven more shameless plugs of this) and swimming through an endless stream of collective Gooner consciousness has been a learning experience for sure. 

The first thing that this adventure has taught is that our DNA as Arsenal fans must dictate that we attack each other incessantly, Twitterly disputing each and every individual, minute, tiny little atomic piece of information, news, gossip and/or complete and utter tripe.

Every time a story is released –  accurate or not – it is effectively thrown to the lions as literally thousands of Arsenal followers rip every aspect of its content to shreds before leaving the decaying carcass of a valid argument to turn on each other and do the same. It’s carnage.

The second thing that wading through this forum has taught me is that Arsene Wenger, our esteemed manager and winner of several if not all of our most recent trophies, is never, ever, ever, EVER right. About anything. Ever. EVER.

Arsene Wenger has managed to get into the entirely awkward position where no matter what he does he is criticised. Tell me the following isn’t true. I triple Denilson dare you:

He signs a player – he’s criticised.

He doesn’t sign a player –  he’s criticised.

He improves someone’s wages –  he’s criticised.

He doesn’t improve someone’s wages – he’s criticised.

He ties down potential on a long term contract – he’s criticised.

He doesn’t tie down potential on a long term contract – he’s criticised.

He promotes from within – he’s criticised.

He doesn’t promote from within –  he’s criticised. 

That list could go on and on and on and vary so much to the point where it becomes pointless to specify anything other than the criticism. It is absolutely, 100%, ridiculous.

And at no time has this been more true than this week.

We signed Jenkins – he was criticised. What about if we’d missed out on Jenkins to Man U? What do you think would have happened then?

We didn’t sign Jones – he was criticised. What if he’d spent £16m on an unproven CB? What would you have said?

We haven’t met Nasri’s wage demands – he was criticised. What if we’d rewarded a player who has helped us to win jack shit to the power of sod all? You would have been happy would you?

Come on.

It’s this nonsense that lead me to run with this headline in a tweet earlier in the week:

“BREAKING NEWS: Arsenal sign/do not sign experienced/young goalkeeper/defender/midfielder/striker. Fans outraged.”

That sums up the Arsenal fan mentality perfectly in my mind.

I suspect that with all of this ill feeling even if Wenger were now to win the Carling Cup, the FA Cup, the Premiership, the Champion’s League and the Eurovision Song Contest there would still be some sections of our support clamouring for his head to be clumsily severed from his body and placed on a spike at Traitor’s Gate.

Some Arsenal fans ACTIVELY HOPE THAT WE LOSE just so they can be proven right about Wenger’s ineptitude! It’s that bad!

I think people need to calm down and try to take a more balanced view of our affairs. Wenger isn’t  perfect but but he has a history of getting a lot of things right. He makes mistakes – who doesn’t? – but he loves the club and his attempts to buy Jones at least show that he is not afraid to spend to bring in the players he wants in this transfer market. 

Bearing in mind that it is the 9th of June – the 9th of June! – I don’t think there is really any room to criticise Wenger’s transfer activity this season. We won’t have any real understanding of what he is able to do or what he wants to do for at least a month or more. Then can we judge him.

And in the meantime if you want to criticise Wenger for something just think this: would I be happy either way? 

If your answer is no then what chance does he have.

Gooner4Life

Thank you,

WB

@WengerBoy1 (shameless plug no. 2)