There is still a lot of anger among some Arsenal fans, even though the planned protest against Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal board at the home game against Norwich City last weekend seemed to show more support for the beleaguered boss than a united determination to see him replaced as manager.
Despite the fact that I see myself on the side that supports him, I have been frustrated with Wenger this season, or more accurately I have been dismayed at seeing yet another, and arguably the best, chance of a Premier League title slip away. I also think that some perspective is required, though.
The fact of the matter is that the Gunners are on course to keep up our amazing record of qualifying for the Champions League and that is something that not one of our big Premier League rivals can match. A lot of Arsenal fans seem to think that this is not really an achievement at all and when Wenger points to his record he receives more scorn than praise from certain sections of the Arsenal fanbase and the football media.
But if you want to see what it really means then perhaps you should look at how other clubs see a top four finish. Louis van Gaal would give his right arm to achieve it this season but probably won’t and the spuds have been trying and failing season after season. Just check out the words Manuel Pellegrini reported by Sky Sports this week.
The Man City manager said, “If you are not in the top four and in the Champions League the next year, to demonstrate you are one of the best teams in England, then for me it’s a disaster of a season.
“That’s why I always said last year, when we didn’t win any titles, that it was not a disaster. It was not a good season but a disaster is when you are not involved in the next season’s Champions League. That is a disaster for all the big teams.
“I always think in a positive way, so I hope that we are going to be in that top four position.”
If Arsenal avoid defeat at the Etihad tomorrow we are in and if not we are likely to seal the deal next week against Aston Villa. I know it is hard to get past the disappointment of missing the title but have we really become so demanding and complacent that we cannot see that a top four finish is actually worth getting?