The simple truth is that being a football fan is more about emotion than it is about logic. We want what we want and for most it matters not that what we want is a fantasy. We have a romantic notion of how our club should perform. We all think our club should be “taken to the next level”. This is not an Arsenal thing, you hear fans from most clubs saying the same thing. And when they don’t get this “next level” they blame others for failing to achieve their dreams for them.
It’s the players to blame, or the board, or the hapless manager. It’s never their lack of acceptance of reality or their unrealistic expectations. Oh no, and, as many fans feel the same and think the same, they have a consensus.
People seem prepared to ignore any reality that means that their happiness is unlikely to be realised for them by their club.
Let’s look at some of the things Arsenal fans are happy to dismiss in order for them to justify their demands, and let us consider whether these demands are reasonable or not.
We use history (we are the 3rd most successful team in history) yet ignore the recent history of how the game has changed. History is no more what happened in the thirties than it is what happened yesterday. It’s all history. But there are turning points and we are affected by recent turning points more than we are of ancient ones. And let’s be honest here, if it happened pre-war then in football terms, that’s ancient history, almost prehistoric.
In 1992 the advent of the Premier League changed the landscape. If you don’t believe me, ask any Liverpool fan. Their history had them as default league winners, they haven’t won it even once since and are hurtling farther away with each year and new signing. But they still benefit from that history in that they have a huge domestic and overseas fan base that brings in money through commercial deals. However, as each year passes this fan base will likely grow at a slower rate than their rivals and their historical advantage will diminish, much like that of Villa or Forest. So we can see that the further back in history we look, the less relevant it becomes. That’s why George Graham is more relevant than Herbert Chapman.
In 2003 Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea. Another turning point. A total game changer for teams like Arsenal and Liverpool who were hoping to challenge for honours. Rather than me trying to explain it, here is an article written and researched by a Liverpool fan:
Read it and weep.
In 2008 Sheikh Mansour bought Manchester City and brought with him the £500 billion sovereign spending power of Abu Dhabi.
Now in simple terms if you accept Manchester United were top dog and in a class of their own on spending power, then these other two bought into the top table. So all the history that Arsenal and Liverpool had was bulldozed out the way by huge wads of cash writing its own history.
The next bit of history that we have to consider is Arsenal’s move to the new stadium, with all the restrictions on team building and maintenance that brought. This subject has been done to death and if someone does not accept that in this period we were miles behind then I am not about to address their stupidity today.
Then recent history works in our favour for a change. Financial Fair Play had some effect and the long term commercial deals we were tied to ran out and we were able to make big strides. The short term loans on the stadium were repaid and we found ourselves more able to compete for top players.
Please note how I said “more able” because no matter that we are better off, if the others are still richer we are still at a disadvantage. All be it less so.
People who say we now have enough money to compete, ignore the fact that, actually, we don’t.
For example, let’s say Real Madrid buy Aguero and that frees up Benzema. First off all there will be an absolute bun fight for his signature and some of those fighting for it will be able to offer more in fees and wages than Arsenal. Now remember that he was sold because he is not Aguero, not Messi or Ronaldo, not Suárez or Neymar, but the level below that. So even if Arsenal got him we have not caught up, not by a long way. And yet people insist we should be competing with the teams that have the real top drawer players. I simply ask “why is that then?”
This is the argument I like best: “We should be better with scouting, fitness and tactics”.
These people seem to have forgotten that all these avenues for improvement are open to every club, and more open to clubs with more money.
So again I ask: “Why should Arsenal be the club that excels above others in these fields?”
Well I will tell you why. It is because we are unreasonable and illogical.
Recent history has made it very hard to catch, let alone pass three clubs in England. In Europe it’s just the same. Almost every year the richest clubs win the ECL.
It’s not a coincidence you know?
So ask yourselves: Are Arsenal failing to achieve, or are they just failing to achieve your unrealistic expectations?
If your argument is “we should be doing better” I will counter that with the suggestion that perhaps we are where we should be, given the history.
Now, having said all that, I expect us to compete with the very best next year, both domestically and in Europe.
The thing is though, I won’t be squealing and stamping my feet if we don’t and blaming others for not achieving my own personal expectations.
Pedantic George ( aka @Blackburngeorge )
Positively Arsenal 
Still no builder appointed to build the Tinies stadium but they’ve just announced that it will be used to host American Football matches.
Heh.
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Urm
Hang on. Before SF was recruited he was working for ze Gwrman national team, helping hem win the World Cup.
Recruited by Germany he was at the top of his game and he helped Germany rip their game too. And was then recruited by AFC. Definitely not industry standard. That’s for sure!
Gasprom had or have facilities that AFC can’t afford, perhaps they’ve invested now that they have more wonga I don’t know. What we do know is that poor old Gooner Andy Murray had no option but to use Gazprom’s hydrotherapy facilities for rehab but why let such simple observations get in the way of a good self flagellating meme?
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Touchy Tom ? No that was dismissive sarcasm on my part – there are plenty of places that list what various Arsenal players earn, coaches, managers and even Doris the tea lady. PA is however not one of them hence my gentle indicator that you perhaps don’t talk out of your arse on the topic of individual earnings.
Fell free to give me your industry data though – I am all ears – not that I consider it is likely to be relevant – I just want to see whether you made it up.
I’m like that – awkward.
I can only wonder what planet you are on if you imagine that AFC and every other club do not put a massive amount of effort in trying to gain an incremental advantage in fitness nutrition tactics etcetera etcetera – they strive to improve, to be more efficient and effective all the time. And they succeed, a tiny % here, a fraction there, another goal scored or point earned more than last season.
But you Tom, you come along and tell them how to do it, you have noticed, the golden bullet, the holy grail, but they have not.
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well Tom, on Wilshere’s comments, the only time frame context I seen in his interview was that he referred to the difference in training from when he first trained with the first team, and how it is now, so 7 years, no where did he say when changes happened, or if it was bit by bit or all of a sudden. But you seem to be trying to imply that Jack has said it was only recently that these changes happened. And in fact jack said changes started with his training right from his first big injury, so not recent.
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Tom , you seem to be unable to understand what I trying to say. Why should we be better than other clubs in these fields? Why us? What makes us special?
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I see Roman has been cruising the Western Isles last week including Islay – I am impressed – he has at least some taste to back up that vast mound of cash
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Andy, I am sure Roaming on his bike, he needs the bodyguards to ward off the pesky midges?
Believe you me, set the midges on the anti-arsenal geezers.
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Michael Gooner @MickTheGooner 2m2 minutes ago
Crowley & Willock named in Arsenal’s pre-season tour squad. Čech also set to make his first appearance. (Guardian)
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Given the mortality rate of Russian oligarchs I’d probably have bodyguards NOTH – the midgies though !! Avon Oh So Soft is the killer lotion – no one knows why
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there is a a buddist retreat on holy island just off of Arran (where he walked his corgi) so maybe he was learning how to meditate.
A5, its really not worth trying to explain anything to someone who actually believes ARSENAL have only just started seperate training. I havnt been to colney while the first team train since I was a kid but I have been to hale end and there is all sorts of training going on.
On a more realistic note, which may not be that realistic , when I said there was a big rumour we were making a big signing it has come from agent Muzzi Ozcan. He represents Oliver Giroud many french players and also has big bundesliga conections he is based in hamburg. Cavani is one of the players he represents and I believe he has links with Benzema and Gotze although he is not their direct agent. So something big might be happening although as we have dicussed on here before what position the new signing will be is pure guesswork
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I had to look at this concert issue despite the fact I hate this sort of shite
As I understand it AFC had, and have, a licence for three concerts at the ems each year – and fair enough there have duly been three concerts each year since (I think) Bruce, Coldplay etc
In 2013 they applied to increase that to six per annum – on the grounds that their was a demand for more concerts and the club required greater income to compete in the PL
Eh ? We have three concerts a year guaranteed – what’s happened ?
Hmmmmm no idea why J Cranston said bollox – on a point of law admittedly – but the notion of AFC desperate for £ from 3v6 concerts is shite
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Every little helps Andrew
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We will be letting Spuds share next ?!?!
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I’ve been busy, but I’ve been reading.
Superb article, PG.
Fins,
From previous article, yes, I know what you mean, and thanks for having the sensitivity to know /feel where I’m coming from, on that front.
And your comments on here are just very good.
There are so many wonderful, inciteful comments here. Thank you all, and thanks to Santi Claws for posting that MA8 interview. I hadn’t seen it. I love every fking word he says, and I totally agree with those who suggest he should morph into coaching, etc.
Thanks Mikel.
Very off topic, I can’t help myself, I have to re-post this, as I remember seeing this series (after which, Diaby destroyed Liverfool at theirs), and I feel I know why Sterling doesn’t fancy working under da brodge:
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Eduardo
Wilshere’s use of “recently” in his interview might be open to debate as to when exactly those changes started , but Wenger’s interview for ” The Telegraph” last season , in which he talks about changing many things in his fitness program, clears up any confusion about the time line of those changes.
Wenger talks about bringing in Shad and changing the existing fitness program into a more personalized one.
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Pedantic George
It seams I’m not the only one who has missed the point of your article then.
I don’t think Arsenal are special or have a divine right to success , but I certainly believe they can and should compete with the best and most forward thinking clubs in fitness, among many other things.
Imagine if the director of Southampton’s youth academy , which is widely regarded as the best in the league, had the same approach and attitude .
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” I certainly believe they can and should compete with the best and most forward thinking clubs in fitness, among many other things.”
What a good idea!
” Imagine if the director of Southampton’s youth academy , which is widely regarded as the best in the league, had the same approach and attitude .”
Isn’t that the point though – he has got the “same approach and attitude”, as has every other “director” of every youth academy in the world ?
Or do you imagine these chaps just sit about with their thumb up their arse all year waiting for someone to come along to tell them what to do. In this case you apparently ?
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Gooners, be afraid, be really afraid…..
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/11728286/Eight-reasons-Tottenhams-new-stadium-will-make-them-bigger-and-better-than-Arsenal.html
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Most of AFCs serious injuries that have adversely affected the squad have been a result of impact injuries. Like, wait for it,are you ready,like Wilshere last season.
The would be the very same Wilshere refereed to above.
We have just exposed this agenda that “Tom” was referring to above. A dishonest one.
#the(mythical)oliphauntjustdroppedagiantturdintheroom
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Arsenal’s squad (subject to change) for the Asia Cup
Chuba Akpom
Mikel Arteta
Hector Bellerin
Santi Cazorla
Petr Cech
Calum Chambers
Francis Coquelin
Dan Crowley
Mathieu Debuchy
Mathieu Flamini
Gabriel
Kieran Gibbs
Olivier Giroud
Alex Iwobi
Laurent Koscielny
Emiliano Martinez
Per Mertesacker
Nacho Monreal
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Mesut Ozil
Aaron Ramsey
Jeff Reine-Adelaide
Wojciech Szczesny
Theo Walcott
Chris Willock
Jack Wilshere
Gedion Zelalem
Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150708/arsenal-announce-singapore-tour-squad#qLuJwFudVtftw20I.99
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“Masterminded by Daniel Levy…”
Top, top quality comedy writing
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Wenger mentioned the holidaying trio of Alexis, Ospina, Gnabry, and the injured duo of Welbeck and Rosicky as missing out, no mention of Campbell, Jenkinson or Sanogo(who was in training this week), seems like all 3 will be heading out of the club in one way or another this season
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not looking good for Wellington’s future at AFC as he is not included either.
Good to see that Chambers shortened his holiday so he could make the squad
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Wellinton, Hayden and Toral will need to impress big time in U21 friendlies if they are to force their way into first team contention
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They are being saved for the big clash with Bristol Rovers on the 18th (?)
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anyone in need of a good old laugh read this, its ever so funny, only think more funny than the article is that someone got paid for writing it
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/tottenham-hotspur/11728286/Eight-reasons-Tottenhams-new-stadium-will-make-them-bigger-and-better-than-Arsenal.html
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eddy, that is the Telegraph article G-P directed us to at 11.06 !!
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Eduardo 12:01pm
……….as does every single Arsenal player.
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Eddy
as per Wellington – considering that he’s just arrived at Colney – I’m sure the staff want to have a good look at what he can do and how fit a condition he s in and see what we can use him for.
Tomas Eisfeld went on various tours – it didn’t work out for him, you never can tell.
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What certain agenda, Tom?
Spit it out.
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What Sterling is up to is not great. Liverpool messed about with Suarez and now they are getting messed around. Suarez didn’t play the Webster Rule card as his real goal was to move to his wife’s home town but Sterling has no such qualms.
Still. It’s no where near as bad as what the F Word did. Not even close!
The inability of the hack dwarves to even refer to the Webster Rule in their click baiting coverage is effing hilarious.
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On fitness, Arsenal, and friends of the Special Agent (Gazprom):
The rehab of Walcott when compared to the special agent’s mule Falcao tells us all that we need to know. There’s no need to add anymore but if you inisist:
No World Class player has ever left AFC whilst being critical of a title winning manager’s attitude towards his players sorry I mean mules, I need mention no names such as Arjen Robben or Duff who left Gazprom for those very reasons which led to Mourinho losing his job…
I suppose this record doesn’t fit the aforementioned “Agenda”. Heh.
And the recent comments from Cech whilst not relative to fitness and care they did fit the pattern. Who can forget how Gazprom treated a key title winning player in Malouda. Class! Then there was the unwell dude they took to court, even more class!
I can see why Tom is such a clear and unashamed fan of Gazprom.
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Its football holidays so we can’t be serious, eh Tom:
“Imagine if the director of Southampton’s youth academy , which is widely regarded as the best in the league, had the same approach and attitude .”
….its another tequila sunrise…stirring slowly ‘cross the sky…said goodbye….
….he was just a disgenous bastard, working on his bullshit…[cue to the guitar]
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It’s not very classy. But I can’t help myself:
“Save this interview” Ok…
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That link to the Telegraph piece above reminded me of this:
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Andy, the planning application for the extra non- matchday events, was revealing!
I quote – Proof of Evidence by Ken Friar.
2.23 To provide an indication of the level of resourcing that goes into brand monitoring, and promotion, at Appendix 3 I attach a copy of the Club’s Media Summary from September 2013. I have chosen to attach the September issue because it picks up the recent transfer activity and shows the impact a world class players arrival at Arsenal can have in terms of the brand’s profile, with the Club featuring in over 230,000 articles world wide in September alone.
I rest my case…..
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Ladies and Gentlemen,
Autumn 2015 – submission of a new planning application to Haringey Council.
Ladies and Gentlemen, all of good standing, please note!
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Hmmm. NOTH has a point there. One big signing per year keeps the sponsors happy and gay. Madrid and Barca have perfected the art.
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more bullshite from main AAA cheerleader Myles Palmer at ANR,
“Fact: Arsenal sacked their goalkeeping coach Tony Roberts weeks ago.”
just some of the things wrong with this
Tony Roberts was not our goalkeeping coach, that would be Gerry Payton, the role Tony Roberts had was Youth Team goalkeeping coach
Arsenal’s Head of Academy Andries Jonker had brought in a new youth team goalkeeping coach in the middle of last season
Arsenal did not sack him, they allowed him to take up the post of first team goalkeeping coach at Swansea
I also see pyles continued with his lies that Bould is not allowed to take training sessions.
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Eddy
Please restrain yourself and do not copy and past any comments from that source.
No one here gives (delete as appropriate)
Thank you.
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now Arsene should listen to this guy he really knows what Arsenal need, ha ha ha. a CB, 3 MF, 2 ST and maybe Reus too, he sounds like the sort of guy ArsenalFanTV would love.
Stanley
@mostanley29
@SkyFootball Arsenal need Hummels Vidal Carvalho Bender Benzema Lacazette and if Rosicky leaves then Reus should replace him.
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Eddy
The cricket’s about to start
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Just went through all the comments.
I can’t really understand Tom’s argument. I am very sure most people who talk about d club’s effort or lack of it into fitness issues or tactics are only talking based on their personal reasoning and or opinion rather from any know how. ‘Recently’ is a relative word that can be interpreted either in a short term or long term definition. I believe a club of Arsenal’s standard and magnitude have a clear vision of all these things which they may change as circumstances afford them to.
I don’t want to delve into the injury situation at the club ditto its causes as it has been discussed enough.
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I thought I would trawl through Hammersmith and Fulham planning applications.
You know they have 3 (three) ((as in 1,2 and 3)) in Chelsea, Fulham and QPR!
…We believe that provision of this information would place a substantial
and unreasonable burden on our resources. The reason for this is that the
information is contained in over 1500 emails and 98 paper claim files. We
approximate that it would take 1 minute at the very least per email and 30
minutes per paper file to analyse and extract the relevant data totalling
74 hours. We maintain that for council officers to devote their time to
carrying out this work to the detriment of other priorities is clearly
unreasonable, and the exception under Regulation 12(4)(b) therefore
applies.
Tottenham Regeneration Plan, would be given priority.
Roman, I would suggest did not waste his time at the distillery?
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It’s great to see that AD is gone but not forgotten
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150710/ox-it-s-so-sad-to-see-abou-go
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http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150708/wenger-i-am-very-sad-for-diaby
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http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/news/giroud-ozil-and-cech-help-launch-arsenal-away-kit-singapore
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A hard weekend for a football fan but a fair weekend for the sports lover. Valencia v Saints I see for those who like a friendly but not really much incentive.
England at the Australian throats in Cardiff, although a sound start for the second wicket is proving a roadblock. Will the weather save the visitors ??
And both Wimbledon finals, today maybe just could be a surprise but tomorrow I expect to be very, very close.
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anyone know what youth and reserve friendlies arsenal have lined up
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Next two are here eddy
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150623/arsenal-xi-pre-season-schedule-confirmed
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