As Anger turns to Apathy is the ‘Long Wait’ for Arsenal without Wenger nearly over?

We wait

WE WAIT

The one thing you cannot accuse any Arsenal fan of is impatience. I told a friend that I am an Arsenal fan and the first thing she said was that “I guess you are used to heartbreaks then”. I think that is the narrative among non-Arsenal football fans. But the reality is that we know what Arsenal are capable of, once we get a world class tactician and manager. That is what we are patiently waiting for. “The Long Wait”, that is what some have chosen to churn it; the day Arsene Wenger no longer manages Arsenal, the day a marriage, which has lasted for more than two roller coaster decades, comes to end; a day “Arsene’s Arsenal” would be a quondam statement; the day there would no longer be AKBs and WOBs, I mean the day our fan base would be undivided.

I listened to Josh Kroenke on the Wojpodcast and he mentioned something on how he learned about “Victory through Harmony” at Arsenal, and how it has helped his other sports teams in the US. But the irony here was that, there is no longer harmony at Arsenal, honestly. Even though that is one of the biggest value of the club, if not the most supreme.

Is been long overdue. Don’t get me wrong, I share the conviction that history would judge Arsene Wenger favorably. I believe he is second only to Herbert Chapman as the most influential people in the history of the club. I have followed and known only Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal. In fact, he and Thierry Henry were the reasons I fell in love with Arsenal. I adored him, he inspired me in so many different ways, not just in football, but also in life. He had the charisma that very people in the game could boast of. Without reservation the only and first Arsenal individual song I could sing is “Arsene Wenger’s Magic Hat”. There would no doubt be an endless parade of eulogies when Arsene finally leaves Arsenal.

No more Magic hat

However recent episodes of the current season would suggest that the praise singers of these eulogies would jump shifts if Arsene Wenger fails to act like the smart and intelligent human we all know him to be. We all know that he can be tough and unwavering when it comes to criticisms, but come on……can it get any tougher than this? It would be very painful to see Arsene’s own arrogance destroy the reputation and legacy he has built.

I don’t think he is blind to the fact that, fans have turn on him, we no longer play the beautiful football he so much ideologized and indoctrinated at Arsenal and that he is been left behind by other managers. The most tragic of all these is that the charisma he had is visibly waning. It is not surprising to see that his players no longer play for him or trust in his methods. He is completely devoid of ideas on how to turn this around even though he would not admit it, as he is addicted to the managing Arsenal. He once said that “It is a drug that gives you highs and naturally brings you back down again, but you want to come back into it all the same”

I just hope Arsene does not remain at Arsenal long enough to watch himself become the villain. As Shakespeare would say “no legacy is so rich as honesty” Someone at the club has to step in. his addiction cannot be allowed to stand in the way of the club’s progress.

The club is gradually and quietly sliding down into mediocrity, at least recent outings suggest that. Fans re constantly served boring, uninspiring and timid football by the team each day. It has been so consistent that, we have accepted that as the norm at Arsenal these days. Good football now comes once is a blue moon. They are now regarded as blips rather than regular occurrences. I mean, you no longer go to watch an Arsenal game and expect a win, because this has now turn to be something that is too hard to ask for. Anger gradually changed to apathy which is suddenly replaced by a feeling of resignation. We have resigned ourselves to faith, waiting for the day to come; the day Wenger says cheerio; the day we would feel entitled to a win on a matchday again; the day our football would be the envy of the rest of the league once again; the day we would be feared again; the day a sleeping giant would roar to the hysteria of the rest in the League.

Sulemana Baako

Arsenal enthusiast and writer from Ghana. Love all things Arsenal and football. Sharing is caring. This is an opportunity to share my opinion about the game with the rest of the world. Please would you spare some time and read what I have written and also feel free to comment what you think about it. Thanks!

---

Follow @ArsenalHassan

---

Follow @GunnersTown