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: FC Cologne or is it FC Köln? - Gervinho!

FC COLOGNE 1-2 ARSENAL

Arsenal

Szczesny, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Song, Wilshere, Ramsey, Gervinho, Walcott, Chamakh

FC Cologne

Rensing, Brecko, Mohamad, Riether, Podolski, Novakovic, Andrezinho, Lanig, Jajalo, Chihi, Geromel

Match Report

Rhein Energie Stadion

Pre-season Friendly

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Kick-off: 14:30

So Arsenal have made it two wins out of three. This win was the most impressive with the first half creating many chances and had a real intent on winning the game with good creative ability. The most stand out player who only played  thirty minutes was Gervinho who grabbed a brace on his first appearance for The Gunners.

Gervinho scored with his first touch of the game early on into his Arsenal career with a brilliant chipped through ball by Wilshere, which saw Gervinho burst through onto and lobbed the keeper with no hesitation first time. Remind of of anyone? I'll come back to that.

Gervinho didn't have to wait too long for his second goal in an Arsenal shirt (albeit uncompetitive). Walcott got free on the right and slotted it into the middle of the six yard area for Gervinho to show a strikers instinct an slot it away.

This was now the Gervinho show. Gervinho nearly set up Vermaelen (remember him?... you know... the one who used to score all them crackers for Arsenal?), which the defender just got to in time.

FC Cologne or is it FC Köln, I'm not too sure. Anyway, they got back into the game by the freakiest of own goals. I actually chuckled at this own goal when it flew into the net (only because it was a friendly). Unfortunately for the victim, Jenkinson, unlike like Gervinho, his Arsenal career won't be remembered for a great start. Jenkinson has a bright future as he looked good and composed running down the right but also in defense and at 19 he shouldn't have a problem. Just ask Lee Dixon who famously chipped David Seaman from no pressure whatsoever.

Lee Dixon lobbing David Seaman against Coventry City in 1991

Compare that own goal by Carl Jenkinson:

Which own goal wins? I'm going for Carl Jenkinson because it could have gone anywhere.

Back to the match and the second half dragged on a bit and didn't offer the same excitement or any goals that we saw in the first. But it was all about fitness, and the constant changing of players didn't help the flow of the game. FC Cologne came close a few times, but nothing came of it.

It was another good run out for the players and good to see Gervinho have a good impact into his Arsenal career. I said I'd come back to him and he impressed me a lot. He was likened to Henry as an auxiliary striker, he can pop in the right position, give assists and score plenty goals and has a quick turn of pace. I'm really looking forward to him playing in the new season.

Match Highlights:

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:

PREVIEW: Malaysia XI v Arsenal

First things first, before I get on to any kind of match pre-match build up. Arsenal have finally confirmed the capture of Gervinho, subject to a regulatory process. So we get another striker/winger who has plenty of pace and tricky. If anything this is a boost to the squad as it brings a new exciting face to the changing room. It should also push Theo Walcott to perform at an even greater level. I’m tempted to leave it at that for Gervinho as he hasn’t been fully unveiled yet on Arsenal.com. When the player does sign, I’ll be sure to write about him.

Match Preview

Malaysia XI v Arsenal
Pre-season Friendly

Bukit Jalil Stadium

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Kick-off: 13:45

So Arsenal have headed out to Malaysia to kick off their pre-season matches. They have been training out in Malaysia in temperatures of 30’C, along with humidity of 80%. That is sure to help make the players even fitter than their previous outings in pre-season in Austria.

The team that has flown out to Malaysia is quite a strong squad, although on a competitive scale this match isn’t important at all. It’s all about fitness first as becoming match fit is vital in order for the squad to maintain an extended good run of form into a long hard season in the Barclays Premier League.

There are a few big names in the squad with the following to choose from:

Goalkeepers:

Wojciech Szczesny, Vito Mannone

Defenders:

Sebastien Squillaci, Johan Djourou, Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson , Laurent Koscielny , Armand Traore, Thomas Vermaelen, Bacary Sagna

Midfielders:

Samir Nasri, Alex Song, Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, Denilson, Aaron Ramsey, Emmanuel Frimpong

Forwards:

Robin van Persie, Andrey Arshavin, Theo Walcott, Marouane Chamakh, Ryo Miyaichi, Carlos Vela

What of the opponent, you may be asking? Well it’s a national side we’re playing and it’s going to be a select eleven or squad for Malaysia. They haven’t got many well-known football stars, however the East Asian national teams tend to have a high work ethic and I’m sure that our players will be given the run around.

As it’s our first game the players will be rotated quite a bit and we may see a strong team first half and more squad players in the second. It could also be as mixture of first teamers with squad players. Personally Arsene should try and start with his strongest team possible and even try out Ryo Miyachi, who is a very promising youngster that we all wish can stay with Arsenal for the upcoming season.

So to keep things short, here is the team I would like to see start the match tomorrow:

Arsenal

Szczesny

Sagna           Djourou         Vermaelen     Gibbs

Song             Wilshere

Walcott         Nasri            Miyachi

van Persie

Prediction

Malaysia XI 1-4 Arsenal




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