We need to change our behaviour. The Arsenal fans, players, and the manager. By Galen
I know everyone is still super excited about yesterday’s demolition of Manchester United. I also understand that Arsenal fans will be disappointed with me writing such an article after a very impressive performance. But our culture as a football club is shocking and it annoys me.
The fans are meant to be the 12th man. But at Arsenal it’s a completely different story. The fans come to the Emirates hoping to see a spectacle and forget about their duty to support the team. We just cannot choose what games to support our boys. We cannot only wait for Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern to visit the Emirates before we actually support the team.
West Ham was the perfect example. The fans acted as if they came to watch Romeo and Juliet at the Cinema. We need to change such a culture going forward. Against Manchester United the fans could smell blood. The atmosphere was incredible. The Manchester United players must have been asking themselves at the tunnel,’What is going on at the Emirates today?’ But should it just be when we play Manchester United? How about when we Sunderland and Newcastle at home for example. At the end of the day its 3 points. We need to carry this spirit of supporting our team regardless of the opponents we are facing. We cannot hand pick what games to support and what games to chill. Its very embarrassing.
The players are the next group of people to take huge responsibility as well. Arsene Wenger said: “We lost on Tuesday night, the performance was not disciplined enough. We acknowledged that and responded today,
“It’s about focus. Subconsciously we think we can just turn up in the Champions League… while in the Premier League we are on our toes and know it will be difficult.
“Maybe that’s where we have to make a step up, but it will not be the same against Bayern of course!”
That for me is a very serious problem. When professional footballers look at fixtures and see Zagreb and Olympiakos and subconsciously think it is going to be a very easy game… I understand the honesty of the manager, but at the same time I am disappointed that the manager has let complacency settle into the team. The players – just like the fans – are capable of picking what game they need to turn up for.
I think going forward we need to take every fixture seriously, and fans need to support the team regardless of the opponent we are facing. We need to make the Emirates our home fortress. Every team in Europe need to be scared of the Emirates.
Have a great week.
By Galen Sona