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- Written by Ben Simpson
There are certain games every fan looks forward to in the season. Spurs, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, even Liverpool.
You know these games aren’t your average BPL games. You can feel it when you see players like Rooney and Agüero warming up less than 50m away from you.
There’s an air of excitement around, the fans thinking their team can win it. The fans are pumped, the players get pumped, the stadium fills with noise and you know a great spectacle is about to begin.
However, what is the point of these teams playing such a great match if the people who care most about it aren’t there?
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- Written by Will O'Doherty
Fleet Street’s favourite Gooner, Amy Lawrence ran an interview with Arsene Wenger last Sunday that basically dredged up stuff we were already aware but in which one word stood out: Arsenal’s “socialist” model of paying players.
Don’t worry, this blog isn’t going to be about the whys and wherefores of left-wing politics, but in a world where most managers and players would struggle to spell the word let alone implement something akin to it, it serves to highlight how unique the manager is, and how unique the fans’ predicament is too.
It is somewhat of a red herring – paying a teenager £50,000+ a week wouldn’t win Hugo Chavez’s approval – but there’s no question the club runs with a flatter wage structure, where the gap between youngsters and experienced, proven pros is far narrower than any rival. It’s the reason Arsenal has the fourth-highest wages in the league, yet struggle to offer £100,000 a week.
And, quite frankly, it’s time for revolution.
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- Written by Morgan Rubes
What makes Theo Walcott so valuable to Arsenal? He’s not the finished product, but he has good value on the transfer block and lots of people want him.
It’s perplexing that a player who, up until last year, seemed like he was destined to be a “Super Sub.” Now Theo is one of the first names on the match sheet.
Theo, we all know, is blessed with pace. His dribbling was always suspect and at times his crossing was non-existent. Around the time of Chelsea away last season you really felt as if things had changed for the better. Walcott was no longer sending in floaters, but crossing with pace on the floor and with flat crosses full of pace in the air.
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- Written by Will O'Doherty
Arsenal is a club under the microscope. The media loves to paint us as a club in crisis, and while that might be a bit strong, there is no question we have experienced serious difficulties and doubt.
The board, manager and players have all contributed to that, but the fans are by no means without blame. So there’s something that all connected with the club can do to help make 2013 and beyond a much happier year to be a Gooner.
The Board: change priorities
The contentious Arsenal AGM was yet another indication that the board has very little time for the opinion and wishes of fans, even those who own a stake in the business.
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- Written by Will O'Doherty
The Guardian’s Richard Williams was the first to flinch. Not much more than an hour after Arsenal sealed a 5-2 victory at the league’s worst side, one of the more cerebral sports hacks was christening Theo Walcott as a striker.
Walcott was good against the Royals, using his mobility to stretch their defence and create space for the midfielders who were, to a man, excellent. He capped his performance with the type of goal that has become a trademark – make room with the first touch and finish with a placed effort.
So does that mean his transition is complete? You’ll excuse me if I want to see him play against a defence that’s worthy of Premier League status before I change my mind.
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