So the media have written Arsenal off again. At the start of this season we have been facing an injury crisis. We have 7 senior players missing and 9 players in total are not available

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR VISION ARTICLES ARE SENT IN BY READERS AND ARE NOT WRITTEN BY ARSENAL VISION WRITERS.

By Ole Gunner

I always believed sporting journalists are the least talented professional group with a prominent position in society. They tend to be failed sportsmen, and/or poor writers. One thing they do have in abundance is ego, attachment to cliches and a crippling dependence on conventional wisdom.

You can see the media’s egoistical determination to beat down Arsene Wenger. “How dare he not buy into our cliched worldview”! “Strength in depth”! “wanting to score the perfect goal”. “He hasn’t won trophies”.

You can tell they take Wenger personally.

But in this collective hissy-fit, can the media please leave Arsenal fans out of it? Some poor soul might be driven to contemplate suicide if we continue to be subjected to poorly-reasoned, repetitive attacks all season.

So the media have written Arsenal off again. At the start of this season we have been facing an injury crisis. We have 7 senior players missing and 9 players in total are not available. The media see this as evidence of lacking “strength in depth”.

Last Wednesday we went to Enschende and FC Twente and came back with a 2-nil victory won on nothing but sweat and desire. We beat West Brom with a lone goal even though it could have been 4-nil if Adebayor had taken his chances. In the middle of an injury crisis, our squad has come through.

Can somebody explain to me why when Chelsea or United win with many players missing, that’s a mark of “strength in depth” but when we do, it is a sign that we lack “strength in depth”? How stupid do the media get?

If Arsene had spent £30 million on Nasri (if Bentley’s worth £17m, he’s worth £30m), £15m on Vela, £20 million on our expected new signing, the press might be writing about our strength in depth.

Look at how they now tell us the miserable Spuds have strength in depth. Just because they bought Do Santos, Bentley, Modric, Gomes while simultaneously losing so many players. None of the Spud first 11 is better than the comparable Arsenal player. Not to talk of their pathetic squad.

I like the fact that the press write us off. That’s certainly an advantage. But it is not an advantage that they keep ridiculing the team and its success. For a young team that affects confidence.

I personally believe that press reaction after the Birmingham game did a lot to do us in last season. After Eduardo’s leg was chopped off, the press blamed Wenger and stopped just short of blaming Eduardo for being so quick. Not a few pundits said Arsenal had cracked. One draw! And the press said Arsenal had cracked. They ripped up Gallas for his silly tantrum after the same game.

If you’re a young player, you have to be very strong to get over the entire world (or so the media would seem to be) telling you that you don’t have the quality.

Look at how this stupid concept of “strength in depth” is now the most important factor that determines success in football. At least according to the media.

They actively want to undermine Arsenal and they do.

Really, I am starting to wonder if Arsene shouldn’t go. I deeply deeply believe in Arsene, his football, his methods, his principles and everything he stands for. But the media will make sure they kill everything he’s trying to do at Arsenal.

Think of how important it is for a value-hunter like Arsenal to have quiet unfussy dealings in the transfer market. The press does a lot of damage to Arsenal by;

1. Making it seem like Arsene doesn’t want to buy players. Some fans think this too but this is obviously daft. Arsene has strengthened his team every season. He just makes sure he gets it right, and is patient to find the right player at the right time for the right price.