A Divorce Between the Fans and the Club

It seems ever since our move from Highbury to the Emirates, us loyal fans have had a slow divide between the board and manager. It seems the move to the Emirates just came before the economic crisis, which effectively made it more difficult for the fans to afford renewing their season tickets or memberships. The club however never decided to reduce the prices of their tickets for the economic downturn, only until VAT tax went down to 15% that they followed suit.


So the club kept on raking in large amounts of profit whilst loyal fans may not have afforded the price of a day out at their beloved team. In the 2008/09 season, people who had paid to see the likes of Denilson, Song (different player back then), Diaby, Bendtner, Eboue week in week out due to injuries and lack of investment, struggling for a win in every game in the winter period, fans started to raise their voices ever so slightly.


The cracks opened, and with cracks they'll always be more likely to get bigger and more noticeable. Back then we were in our 3rd season at the Emirates and we were expected to be settled by then after the year before we came close to winning the title before collapsing at the end (see a pattern?). The team needed investment for the new season and only Arshavin was brought in as a fix it, and that has been the only marquee signing in a while and he managed to help us secure a champions league spot.


The season after promised more yet again but we failed and the same last season. Every year passing by the team has been known to falter at the last hurdle and the opportunity of buying players with experience has arisen many times, yet Wenger is always after super quality.


What is super quality? The likes of Messi and Ronaldo are super quality. What Arsenal need is a just quality experienced players who know how to play their position and get stuck in. In other words a team player who will give their all. The fans know this and can see where we are going wrong with the players we have and ones we need.


This is why the fans moan and groan along with the ever increasing booing and demonstration/protests. It's not because they hate the club, it's because they care and the fans have become distanced with the disillusioned board and manager who aren't acting quick enough on transfers to secure the players we need. Peter Hill Wood isn't exactly helping matters between the relationship of the fans with the board by saying:




"As Arsene said, we are looking to buy some players but we are not going to do our business in public. They are going to have to be bloody patient – as we are."

“It is frustrating for both the fans and Arsene and the board."




Bloody patient? Manchester United have pretty much bought big signings this summer and they won the league last year with a not so great team and now they'll win it with the likes of De Gea and Ashley Young added.


The booing on Sunday just shows nothing has changed since last season apart from Gervinho giving us something to look forward to until he disappears to the African Cup of Nations. The chanting at Fulham away at the final game of last season, "Spend some f****** money!", shows what we haven't done this summer. All with below bar performances in all our pre-season matches this year, it shows no confidence for the season ahead.


Fans will start and most likely have started (like me) to wisely use their money for more useful purposes rather than on a club interested in making money and bringing in through kids. That project youth is now over and proven unsuccessful apart from Wilshere coming through and we should just go out and buy what we need.


Arsenal is just a frustrating club to support at the moment, and I believe we won't even make top 4 this season if we remain like this. Especially if Fabregas is sold, the last of our world class players would have left. The new Stadium has fed into greed from the board and left us fans separated, with us losing our club we used to love so dearly. Now I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes a club we love to hate.

REPORT: Malaysia XI 0-4 Arsenal

MALAYSIA XI 0 - 4 ARSENAL

Team Line-ups

Arsenal:

Szczesny, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen (c), Gibbs, Song, Wilshere, Ramsey, Walcott, Miyachi, Chamakh

Malaysia XI:

Nourdin, Jasuli, Purta, Zafuan, Rahim, Shas, Subramaniam, Talaha, Rohidan, Saarani, Zainal

Match Report

Pre-season Friendly

Bukit Jalil Stadium

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Kick-off: 13:45

I didn’t manage to catch the match; only through Twitter could I manage to get updates as I am involved in the working world. From what I heard or saw Arsenal looked in good shape in Malaysia showing that last season is almost out of their minds with a game they were always in control of. News boys Jenkinson and Miyachi both started, the rest had a familiar look to the team.

Arsenal came out of the traps quicker than their opponenets and got an early goal as Ramsey (5) dispatched a penalty after Wilshere’s movement was too quick for the Malaysian defence and was brought down in the area.

The pressure continued, but it took till eight minutes before half time for Walcott (37) doubled Arsenal’s tally. It was the best goal of the game as Ramsey assisted from the middle of the pitch, in what you would call Cesc like. The vision and execution was sublime. (If Fabregas were to leave, I think Aaron can step up). The ball split the Malaysian defence and Walcott lobbed the keeper into an empty net. The finish did somewhat look like Theo shinned or hit it with his calf, still a neat finish.

Arsenal went into half-time with a lead at 2-0. I had predicted a score line of 4-1 to Arsenal; the match did finish 4-0 so I was close enough. Maybe if Almunia was on tour we would’ve conceded that one goal. Vela (58) got Arsenal’s third goal to put the game beyond doubt. It was Déjà vu all over again, with Carlos deciding to chip the keeper who was still standing. It was a great finish but when will Vela learn that sometimes scoring the simple goal is much more effective. One day we’ll play a big side or a match the has a lot riding on it and he’ll turn up in a position to give us the win and he’d decide to chip and miss ,when the direct shot would’ve been far more the better option. This is a make or break year for Vela I feel, with Bendtner looking on his way out, he needs to impress, but down the middle.


Another positive was to see Nasri coming on to play for the side off the bench, I hope this tour is a good bonding session to keep players together, especially for Samir. A low point was Denilson coming off after twenty minutes on the pitch after coming on as a substitute himself. The Brazilian stormed down the tunnel, clearly unhappy. The substitute was covered up by saying he was injured. But news is that he's actually close to a loan deal to Sao Paulo.

Finally our fourth goal came late on with Arshavin coming on to dart past his man to the by-line to cross with a deflection for Rosicky (90) (seems like he never scores) to nod home from close range.

All in all a good first win with a good run out in hot weather, where they would’ve sweated loads and improved their fitness, which is all that matters at this stage. Next up in Arsenal’s Asia tour is Chinese outfit Hangzhou Greentown.

Match Highlights:

Possible Signings This Summer?

I'm sure every 'Arsenal' website has mentioned about who we should sign in this years summer transfer window. Well who we'd like and who we're likely to get are completely different. Unless you do want the players we're linked with, then that's fine.

At Our Arsenal, we believe there will be several ins and outs for the squad this summer (if you can call it that with all this rain!). Two players most likely to go, although it seems there's not a huge demand for them, are Brazilian Denilson and Denmark's number one striker Niklas Bendtner.

But what us Arsenal fans want to see after a huge downward slope to the end of the season are new signings who will give us that extra push. The players Wenger and the backroom staff believe to be are these three:

• Gervinho (Lille - Auxiliary Striker)
• Christopher Samba (Blackburn Rovers - Central Defender)
• Gary Cahill (Bolton - Central Defender)

I would go as far as saying Gervinho is a quick nippy player who Arsenal could benefit from as he had success playing in the right of a front 3 this past season. But as we all know we need that big, strong no nonsense defender like we had in Sol Campbell (who made a difference for half a season in 2010).

This is where the news that Samba could be close to signing for Arsenal is a sweet melody to the to ears. He has tonnes of Premier League experience for a team that, with due respect, probably gets their defense tested all the time. Standing at 6 ft 4 inc, that is one hell of a player to try and out jump. Also his age of 27 years is probably right as he could easily last a few years at Arsenal to a high standard. Did anyone also mention he's a beast! That physical presence is vital to Arsenal.

Wearing an Arsenal shirt this upcoming season?

Cahill of Bolton has been linked with our club for as long as I can remember now. Whispers are flying through the air that we'll be also signing him along with Samba. Where would this leave Koscielny and Djourou? Two players who have had there mistakes, but have been solid for the most part, especially Arsenal's number 20. Could this mean a move for Vermaelen to left back with Clichy on his way out? We will have to wait and see.

So if the Gervinho transfer doesn't go through, there isn't much to get upset about, as we have a lot of attacking players already. However if a defender (a position we know is all but strong) is not brought with the calibre and assets someone like Samba has, just call it another season of fustration.. in defense and lack of trophies.