On the one hand, all of our good players are leaving in the Summer on the other hand due to ticket price increases and a team that seems to collapse around this time every season, half the season ticket holders are not renewing.
Alledgedly.
So basically, if you believe all the rumours milling around, you’d think there wasn’t going to be an Arsenal next season.
Predictions for next season then? Well Arsenal to get relegated and Tottenham to win the league, of course.
Bullshit.
Rumours about our players leaving are already in full swing, as you’d expect. Firstly the Cesc to Barcelona rumour (fueled by his mistranslated comments) – but it’s hard to see. If he’s learned anything from Flamini & Hleb leaving, it’s that you can get mightily fed up sitting on the bench, as he would undoubtedly do at Barca. Some talk about Denilson and Eboue leaving due to being terminally crap – but Arsene regards them highly it seems and he isn’t going to listen to the likes of you about their usefulness in providing depth to the team.
Bendtner’s going because he’s frustrated with
not getting enough games, it seems, and Vela will go of course, getting no chance in the team. Nasri and Clichy haven’t signed contract extensions yet so of course they’re both going too, and good riddance to them (if you believe as some people do that either/both are not contributing enough to the team).
Essentially, and because there’s little other Arsenal news, and because of the mental problem the team seems to have – might as well throw out the baby with the bathwater and simply start again.
As to the manager – well – just because he’s won us things in the past doesn’t mean he will again, does it? Given that he doesn’t want to spend on new players, that means he’s not interested in building a winning team, doesn’t it?
Etc. And on and on. The bullshit keeps flowing.
Now, I’m not saying that one or two players won’t leave in the summer. Some may want a better contract or better weather. Some may want to win something and feel that this Arsenal team isn’t the team to do so. Some may be unable to motivate themselves and can’t understand why Arsene isn’t motiving them. One or two. Hardly the whole squad. Hardly breaking up the squad Arsene has worked hard to build.
Nobody’s saying one or two minor tweaks aren’t needed. Maybe some more depth to the squad. Maybe more work at set-pieces, or target practice. But it’s small – in comparison to what some people would have you believe.
As to the season ticket thing – well, some people (like myself) genuinely cannot afford to renew their tickets, so, yes, some people on the waiting list will get their chance. Will there be a mass exodus of ticket holders? No. For every one that drops out, there will be another who will gladly take his/her place. The stadium will never be very full – too many corporate seats for that, especially at Club Level. But the season ticket allocation will certainly be taken up.
It’s sad for those like me who cannot afford to renew, but hey, it gives someone else a chance (trying to look on the bright side).
Image via Wikipedia
What I’m saying is – there will be an Arsenal next season, and they will be fighting for the title, again. Some of the names will change, some tweaking will take place. But it’s hardly catastrophic.
Some would say attitude is harder to change than players, and they may be right – but attitude can be turned around. Eboue, much as he is a clown who should never be allowed near Right Back ever again (IMHO), has proved that hard work and perseverance can get you through.
So… the second this season finishes, I’m going into media lockdown. I’m not going to give any credence to any rumours of changes at the club until they’re officially announced. I’m certainly not going to join any protests, or writing snotty letters about ‘my right’ to anything. The club will go on, and I will continue supporting them – whoever the manager is, whoever the players are, and wherever I have to support them from. End of.
