So, the first half is done and dusted and in a couple of weeks time our brave lads will look to beard the enemy in his lair. I for one fully expect a repeat of some of our most inspiring and courageous second leg performances. It was Bayern’s great good fortune to play us during a lull in our confidence and form, and also when we were without a left back. Congratulations to everyone who helped hound out Andre Santos. I have no doubt that a run of good results in the Premiership will help heal the pain of falling behind in the Champion’s League and not having to play in front of a mass of hate filled booing and groaning will obviously make it easier for our players to perform with the freedom and élan we have come to expect.
There is nothing we can do against the barrage of abuse and the systematic undermining of our manager however. Any result this team achieves will be done against far greater odds than those faced by any other British side. This was brought home to me by a couple of comments I heard yesterday from non football fans. When I say non football fans I mean to the level where they didn’t even know Arsene’s name. What interested me was when, upon discovering I supported Arsenal, both people independently of one another, dredged up the only things they knew about the club. This was that we have a failing manager who is hanging on by the skin of his teeth and about to be replaced due to a decade of abject failure. It seems the media, aided and abetted by twitter twats, bannerwankers and anti Arsenal non support everywhere has done it’s job. It’s the reason we have pulled up the drawbridge and barricaded ourselves here into the PA citadel, it simply isn’t safe out there and in any event there is no point in trying to engage in intelligent civilised conversation on the subject of The Arsenal because the tide of misinformation has already drowned the gullible and there’s hardly anyone left without its polluted water in their ears.
If this is how we feel then how must Arsene and his players be affected by the torrent of unfair criticism and abuse? It doesn’t bear thinking about. Bob Wilson, that fine elder statesman of the game has recently been quoted as saying
“he (Arsene) puts his heart & soul into this club. It may come a time where he doesn’t put up with, frankly, this disrespect”
and frankly who could blame him? I hear lots of talk suggesting the current maelstrom of revolting lies and undeserved opprobrium being heaped upon our great club, its leader and his players may serve to foster a bunker mentality. The theory being that this could be the silver lining which bonds them and helps them find the angry determination to succeed . I’m not too happy with the idea of a bunker mentality. It conjures images of The Führerbunker of the Reich Chancellery. The scenes of debauched excess and suicidal despair of those trapped with their crazed leaders is actually the fallacy being foisted on us by the press and their craven agents in the negative Arsenal blogosphere. I’d much prefer it if the team could adopt a siege mentality.
Surrounded, without hope of outside relief, the besieged members of Castle Arsenal must rally around their brave and visionary leader and look deep inside themselves and to their comrades and find their strength and mutual support they need to see them through. The barbarians gathered around the Arsenal island think that by infiltrating the minds of the most feeble elements of our support that they have successfully installed a fifth column inside the Emirates. But these people aren’t traitors they are merely weak and fickle. We all know that a run of good results (regardless of the performances) and maybe a bauble or two will have them singing the great man’s praises once again. As much I am galled at the thought of sharing our inevitable success with those who have booed our players for the crime of being unlucky (eg versus Blackburn) or daring to return from injury (Eboue, Santos, Ramsay) I’d rather have them cheering than moaning. They don’t deserve Arsenal and Arsene doesn’t deserve them but they are a fact that we must accept.
In any case, buck up and remember not all sieges end in disaster, starvation, surrender and defeat. In 1944 India was saved from falling to the Japanese advance thanks largely to the heroics of an outnumbered group of British and Indian troops. Surrounded and cut off from the outside world by a massive Japanese army, they held out until their besiegers were forced to withdraw and the words of one historian bear uncanny resemblance to our similarly beleaguered troops today
“The British, Indian and Ghurkha soldiers stood up to the heavy and incessant strain, largely due to the high standards of leadership, the mutual confidence and friendship between all races and creeds in the Indian divisions, the magnificent work of the medical authorities – and by no means least, to their innate sense of humour in the most adverse circumstances.”
So get your heads up people, if the team can lift themselves after falling behind I’m damn sure we can, after all; we’re not the ones in the firing line.
Positively Arsenal 
Haha Helm’s Deep it is Steww! Great article man.
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Nicely written sir. Well done. I second your call to buck up and not waver in your backing of this good and loyal man.
it is but a minor storm. Yet again we will come through with outstanding
Leadership. The vultures will have achieved nothing.
Hopefully the team will be stronger for it and the strength of character
Will shin through.
we shall the doubters and the weak munch on their annual humble pie.
Alas we will never hear their apology. It is what it is.
UP THE GUNNERS OF. ARSENAL!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Excellent Stew.
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I give us a very good chance to beat the Germans on their home turf.
It is just so sad that we can’t count on home court advantage like
some other clubs do. Usmanof and deins paid agents in the media and the blogapheare have turned the new HIGHBURY into the house of ingrates.
The vocal minority. Even so they won’t achieve their aims in the board room.
FORWARDS
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Oh my good lord.
I dread to think what the spam bin will look like today.
What a glorious piece of writing.
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Righteous. Fine writing Steww. Enjoyed that.
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haha steww …great photo…defend from the orcs..hahaa
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There is nothing we can do against the barrage of abuse and the systematic undermining of our manager however.
perhaps no, ( even though i believe a set up of supporters club ala ultra style like in many continental clubs could do the trick ) but the journalists who also claim to be arsenal supporters should be ashamed of themselves for kicking the club and the manager when down, instead of rallying support….
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We will just have to do the rallying Hunter.
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let the boil !!!!
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I think letting some Gurkhas loose in the stadium on Saturday is a sound idea Steww
See who is booing then
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Stirring words Steww. That is what it means to be a supporter. We may be down but not out.
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Excellent piece!
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50 people , all together can do the difference..non stop support 90 mins ..the rest will follow… and if these 50 get booed they will run and punch the booers noone will dare say a word….
the booer is a coward who uses the anonimity of the crowd…..if an insulted fan like me starts searching for the booer trust me he will hide under his seat and try to avoid confrontation
when you swear at my father inside our house i will fucking kill you. 😉
you are wrong to swear and you know it and im right to defend…and when you believe in what you defend you are stronger.
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George – Pray tell us the size of the bin. It must be humongous.
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Great blog!! Nice and possitive!! We used to be called lucky arsenal. Over the past few years the important games have been lost mainly thro bad luck. Bir. Brad.and Black. We were far better but didn’t get any luck,I could go on. If you look back at this season the proof is there. Having said that the best bit of luck we have had is arsene . I hope he at least com pleats his contract ,!!
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Wow, what a fine speech/Post. [Stew?]
It has about it elements of a Shakespearean play, something of Henry V, and indeed in a macro sense our current situation reflects the portents of those 15th Century events.
The football world watches a tense Arsenal internecine struggle as restless and dissatisfied fans oppose each other, while, at the same time, Arsene attempts to steady the struggling team and to maintain the club’s place at the top table, as he approaches a key period in his managerial career.
Not only does Arsene have to win over the fans by setting the team on course to achieve a creditable fourth place in the EPL, and perhaps even to overturn a disappointing first leg defeat, he needs also to demand the respect of the media, many of whom are biased, seedy individuals with their own agenda.
Supported by the Arsenal Board who have declared their allegiance to him as well as promising to provide funds from their coffers, Arsene is gathering the faithful around him and will go to footballing war!
Indeed, even now, I can hear a great battle cry issuing from the sane Blogs;
“Once more unto the breach, Cry God for Arsene, Arsenal and The Fans!’
Wow, indeed, Stew!! 🙂
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and when we win the cups
dont celebrate with us
youve shown your colours
theres no turning back
we thank you for our stadium arsene
forever we;ll be greatfull to your name
your football is sublime
worth every fucking dime
AND JACK WILL BRING US TROPHIES IN HIS PRIME
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Fantastic Stew,I actually enjoy the backs against the wall stuff when it’s the media and outside agents volleying us but the insider judas mob with their stickers,banners and booing embarrass and anger me,I’ll be over there on Saturday cheering the Arsenal on,that’s what supporters do,right?
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Here here Mel. I expect nothing less from the media, who love to think they could help push Arsene out. What a scalp. The barrage of abuse from our own “supporters” is abhorrent and they should hang their heads in shame, each and every one of ’em. The ingrates deserve to lose him, but of course I hope that doesn’t materialises for the sake of Arsenal.
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Oh my goodness, thanks for that Steww I was getting so down with all the doom elsewhere it’s pleasing to hear fellow supporters again rather than some twats arguing the ins & outs of arsenals spreadsheets. I admit I’m a numerical philistine but that’s not what I want from football talk I want passion & belief & fellow appreciation of Arsenal’s style. Thanks george et al.
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Bad news really sells. Just take a pop over to NewsNow Arsenal. What a fine way to make money from the unsuspecting and gullible.
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You’re welcome Leon. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. And Red Arse – never been compared to any writer before never mind the Bard!
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anicol do me a favour please and go tell coward phil that the real imbeciles are all those english experts in the media and our stands and their football subculture …. thank you!
oh and if he wants to refer to me he might as well tell yogi to let me in 🙂 ….instead of talking about me and insulting me like A COWARD behind his screen without giving me the option to reply to him.
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and yes he is right we wont remain silent watching the barbarians and uncivilised booing and abusing THIS manager.
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Hunter ,stop reading it.I did and I have found it to be no loss at all
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Stirring stuff, Steww, and the current situation referred to in your fine Post instantly recalled to mind all the attributes included in Henry V.
Not a bad lad to be associated with! 🙂
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Pedantic George,
Your advice is sound.
I have no idea who Hunter and Anicol are referring to, [and it is not my business] but rather than responding to a wind up — a little bored indifference works a treat! 🙂
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lol at phil…i wonder if he has a copy of the contract him and wenger signed together saying that by year so and so we will have won x amount of trophies…
deceived? ahahahha.. i take it phil has the intelligence of a 5 yearold and cant seperate comments made with diplomacy in mind…
yes phil the club should have come out and tell you : “forget about titles till we repay our stadium, our emphasis is repayment and forming nucleus of players from academies, not purchasing world class players to help us win titles, titles can wait for another decade”
yes phil that would fill up the new stadium wouldnt it ? …
or maybe you think that the fans wont chip in for the stadium huh? …after all it wasnt built for them was it?…it was built so that wenger lines his pockets huh… u ignorant stupid cunt.
sorry george… 😦
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Yes, siege mentality, not bunker mentality. Good point, steww. Can I be Legolas? Or whatsherface who kills the Witch King of Angmar?
@ Mel at 10:54 am
Me, too.
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@ hunter13
Calm down and walk away.
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fungunner im just here supporting my team ..its some other coward cunt talking behind my back and insulting without offering me the option to a reply …but yes you are right..no point wasting time with the savage idiots…again george i apologise for raising tensions…. ill take a leaf from steww’s book in such occasions ….cycling… 🙂
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In case anyone missed this.And its a request .NOT an instruction.People are free to do what they want btw
” pedantic george February 19, 2013 at 6:33 pm Edit
Can we please not discuss ACLF.
Lets remember that were it not for Yogi and ACLF,most of us would not have met,and we would not have understood what a good blog and a good comment section could be.
Yesterday i said
” pedantic george February 18, 2013 at 1:48 pm
Hunter
Yogi has lost the plot,he has failed to adapt to new blogging methods and there is no one to help him .He is living on past glories of ACLF.I will always love him for what he has done ,but it feels like the end of an era for him
He needs David Dein”
This was intended as humour.Mirroring what people are saying about Arsene .
Yet today I am told the people are saying that I am accusing Yogi of losing it.
Either they are stupid or shit stirrers.I suspect it is both.”
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George – he is an intelligent man and I’m certain doesn’t listen to gossip. This is a public forum and he can read what you said, the humour was obvious.
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harry = friend!
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henry winter;s letter to stan ….. ( ahahahha)
“This is about winning, about the law of the jungle.”
henry, listen up kid…….go tell these things to your english fa academies since theyve been mesmerising the world with their football and youth set up… spain, deutchland italy france and holland cant wait to learn football from the english and their “law of the jungle” mentality on sports……. you lost cricket, you lost football, stick to what you know best ….critisising capello wenger errickson and hailing the wollies with their brollies, the lepricons, the sams and the tough scotsmen….
dont forget to kiss mourinho’s @ss for his wonderful tactics while at the same time branding otto rehaggel’s triumph in protugal2004 as the “death of football” ….
footballcorrespondant ..lmao… get a real job
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If Ribery commenting on how easy it was to beat us, does not fire the lads up I don’t know what will. It’s never over until the fat lady sings. As for AW, he’s damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t. I have always supported him & will continue to do so.
Others can do what they like. There is too much judgement made by supporters, who
spend too much presenting their position, taking the moral high ground and forgetting that we are all here because of AFC, anything else is frankly unimportant.
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No worries Hunter. Best to try and nip it in the bud before it get’s out of hand. Ban ki-moon eat your heart out (insert obligatory smiley here).
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If I owned a Junk yard/scrap yard ,I would have Hunter tethered to a chain at the entrance
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for our friend red arse
“The stock answer is that football fans are not like ‘ordinary’ customers and they cannot reject the ‘product’ because they sign up as fans for life. If that is true, and it is for most, then the analogy is flawed.”
Football is a sport, the fact that fans are emotionally attached to their football clubs to the point of psychological breakdowns is a social matter and a matter of prioritising in one;s life. players fans and managers come and go..the club will always remain. A proper fan to me is someone who follows his football because first he likes the sport itslef and secondly follows his team with which he/she have this emotional/psychological relationship.
However….being psychologically dependant on the results of your football team and whether it wins trophies or not is something that only psychotics do…or people who have abdandoned the priorities of their lives in order to be identified with a winning group ( if its wins, if not they start the abuse).
a proper fan is more interested in the longeivity of his club rather than the titles. and when it comes to thsi particular club, arsenal, a real fan feels security that wenger is in charge. with wenger we dont have to worry about much. we know what he represents and we know he is doing the best for the club for the long term. As such, the psychological outburts which are born out of the frustration of poor results HAVE NO PLACE in our club or our support, unless they are fucking idiots who would rather listen to the media and rivals taunting.
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“If I owned a Junk yard/scrap yard ,I would have Hunter tethered to a chain at the entrance”
Kaboooom !
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thank you george ..i am honoured…eveb though i dont believe in violence unless its about defending our homes, beliefs, etc.. 🙂
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i mean …stan came to the uk ..and usma with dave faxed amy henry john and the rest to up the ante ..everyone is writting a letter to him..how cute…
argghhhhhh release the chain george…. 🙂
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Hunter is barking mad. Tie him up George. *smiley*
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Hunter is rabid, again. Tie him up George. *smiley*
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Hunter,
Not too sure why you are addressing that comment to me, to be honest.
You must have read my comment on ACLF and transferred it here without the relevant preceding paragraph, so to avoid misunderstanding; I was addressing a number of visitors who were demanding the club treat them as if the were customers buying washing machines — but then saying that as fans they were not the same as customers buying products. Confused thinking, perhaps.
— “As to companies having to satisfy their customers (fans) that their product is of the required standard/value, and that this should be true of football clubs too, irrespective of the strictly subjective judgement as to what that entails, (when) as far as I know, the ultimate customer sanction is not to buy the product.
The stock answer is that football fans are not like ‘ordinary’ customers and they cannot reject the ‘product’ because they sign up as fans for life. If that is true, and it is for most, then the analogy is flawed.”
I think it is called having your cake and eating it. 🙂
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You cant buy a Ford ,then complain it wont go round corners like a Ferrari.
And you cant buy a Ferrari if you cant afford to maintain it.
And if you cant even drive,why the fuck are you buying a car at all?
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red arse i am actually agreeing with you that fans shouldnt view themselves as customers and that even those who do complain like customers under the premise of not getting satisfaction out of their expenditure on the product “arsenal, are essentially wrong and their psychological/emotional attachement is not a pancea for their behaviour …
a fan who loves his club and what it stands for does not use the “im a customer and i can demand trophies since i pay” excuse nor can he demand to have first hand knowledge of the clubs private and confidential matters….
i jsut like to remind the psychotic batsrads who want to scrutinise every detail in wenger;s ethos and work that fans dont do such things and customers can fuck off if they dont like what they see.
they can not hide behind the attachement on arsenal as a fan and then come out attacking the club as customers …..
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yes exactyly ..they want the whole cake and eat it too …exactly!!!!
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hunter,
I thought you were agreeing but I just wanted to clarify.
I have just been over on ACLF and trying to give another interpretation of some of the things that have been mistakenly paraded as ‘facts’.
Not sure anyone is listening, tho’. 🙂
Off for a while, now.
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