Arsenal fans must step back and reflect after recent Arsene Wenger antics

Wenger won’t be pushed into paying over the odds

Yes, it’s bloody frustrating supporting Arsenal, but hey, at least it’s not boring. Over the last few weeks, the vitriol between the pro and anti Arsene Wenger camps has reached fever pitch and Twitter has gone into melt down.

I think we should take a step back and reflect.

Arsene deserves the utmost respect and credit for everything Arsenal have achieved over the past 17 years, in the face of the constant spending of the Sheiks and the Oligarchs, Arsenal have competed every season, built state of the art facilities and have a realistic financial model, so that when the money men have gotten bored of their play things, Arsenal will be left standing as the model of how to run a football club

Yes, we’ve been the nearly men for 10 years, but we were nowhere men for many years in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.

Yes, Arsene has stuffed up some key signings, but at least we haven’t done a Manchester United, stuffed up the whole team and missed out totally.

Yes, we’ve let some big names go, but do you really want to be held to ransom and pay ludicrous wages (£200k a week) to players after ONE good season?

No, I’m not happy that we’ve only won one trophy in ten years, but I’m content that we are in the mix.

And, yes, it’s time to be a realist, we are in an enviable position that most clubs would snap your hand off to be in.

We all need to take a chill pill, relax and remember why we support The Arsenal and SUPPORT The Arsenal, win, lose or draw.

Just remember;

IF…

If you can keep your head when the faint hearted around you

Are losing theirs’ and cursing you know who,

If you trust in Arsenal when those around doubt you,

But you can understand why they are doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

And believe and just ignore the lies,

Or live with hatred and don’t give way to hating,

And see the truth behind all those lying eyes:

If you can dream—then dream that we will conquer;

If you can think—and then make victory your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

Do not listen to the ‘truth’ tabloid spoken

Twisted by them to make the doubters fools,

Do not watch as they try to bring it down, broken,

Claiming Arsenal don’t have the ability or the tools:

If you bask in glory when we are winning

Then you must accept the defeats and the loss,

When we lose, we start at the beginning

To strive again, to show them who is boss;

Use your heart, your nerve and your sinew

To support them for now and on and on and on,

And hold the faith when there is nothing in you

Except the will inside that says ‘be strong’

If you can watch the bad games and keep your virtue,

And watch the fickle lose faith and then lose touch,

If neither foes or unbelievers hurt you,

Because you know deep down it means too much;

If you can wait for that one magic moment

Within all the 90 minutes that are run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

And—which is more—you’ll be a GOONER, my son!

From father to son a Gooner

Steve Wellman

Steve Wellman

English by birth, Australian by choice. Traffic Engineer, Arsenal ST Holder, Sun DreamTeam Winner, Writer on @GunnersTown, Depeche Mode, Welcome to my world…