By Tony Alvarez
More increasingly recently there has been a section of Arsenal fans calling for the sacking of Arsene Wenger, and it seems the number of people supporting a Wenger out campaign are growing.
At half time in Arsenal’s 3-2 FA Cup win over Villa, while the side were 2-0 down phone in shows, social networks and even inside the ground itself were inundated with people who believed Arsenal were better off without Wenger.
Needless to say that number was greatly reduced upon the final whistle. However, there are still a large number of Arsenal fans who no longer want to see Wenger in the dugout at the Emirates.
For those who don’t know, I am an Arsenal season ticket holder and have passionately followed the club for as long as I remember.
I am not part of the ‘Wenger out’ brigade and to be honest I don’t think Arsenal could find a better option, this isn’t to say that I agree with every decision Wenger makes, and he clearly made a gaffe when replacing Oxlade-Chamberlain with Arshavin against Manchester United last week.
It must be remembered he has done more positive for the club than any other man in its history. People talk about the brand of football Arsenal play and some of the players who have worn the cannon on their chest, many of them signed for Wenger not Arsenal.
Besides the club not winning a trophy since 2005, which is obviously the fans’ biggest gripe with the Frenchman, the other main problem that tends to crop up in their arguments is about his refusal to spend money.
I have two major gripes with this: 1) There is no guarantee the money is there to spend – the club tells us it is but they have to, otherwise it would knock money off the value of the players and make us an even bigger target for big spenders. 2) The names that are brought up on fans wishlists such as Hazard, Goetze and Benzema to name a few would not go near Arsenal if it wasn’t for Arsene.
Earlier in the season I had a moan about Blackburn fans for not supporting their club, embarrassingly I am finding myself feeling this about Arsenal fans.
If some of the fans put the same energy into supporting the club that they did to moaning everyone would be better off. I don’t think booing has ever helped anyone in a Football match.
I personally think it’s too late for Wenger with a large section of the Arsenal fans, they may cheer when the side do well however as soon as something goes wrong they will be on Wenger’s back.
As I’ve stated, I hold Wenger in high regard and the only way I see Arsenal progressing once Wenger is no longer the manager is for him to move upstairs in an administrative role.
The name Wenger is held in high regard, Arsenal would be stupid to throw that away. I’m sure many Arsenal fans will disagree with me but who is going to attract the calibree of player Wenger can, probably only Mourinho, Guardiola and Ferguson.
In reality none of those three will become Arsenal manager. Could you really see the likes of Eden Hazard playing under a coach who isn’t known worldwide as one of the best? I cannot.
What are your thoughts? Are you an Anti Wenger Arsenal fan? If so who would you have replace Wenger? Do you feel Arsenal fans are correct to be calling for Wenger’s head? If you are on Twitter please follow us @sfts1
