JFK 1960 U.S. Presidential Inaugural Address: “Ask NOT what your Country can do for YOU – Ask what YOU can do for your Country’ Paraphrased as: ‘Ask NOT what ARSENAL can do for YOU – Ask what YOU can do for ARSENAL’ by Chris Scannell
This is Directed at the Board, The Manager and the Players….
Since the Financial Constraints of the Emirates Stadium Project eased off in 2013, Arsenal have invested in 2 Marquee Signings – Ozil and Sanchez – Top Class Talented/Skilled Players? – Yes. Inspirational Team Leaders? – No
Ozil goes Missing in Crunch Games against the BIG Teams – His Head Drops – He doesen’t Track Back and defend when the Team is Under Pressure. That’s NOT Leadership
Sanchez gives his all on the Pitch – Every Game – but if the game is hard, is not going Arsenal’s way, or he feels that other players are not putting in their shift, His Head Drops – He regularly goes into a Public Sulk. That’s NOT Leadership. This Sulking is terrible for the Public Image of the Club that pays his Salary – Almost £7 Million Pounds a Year – Arsenal Employed a MAN – Not a Child.
6. Buy Leaders – Proven Winners right across the Team – George Graham had that – Arsene Wenger Inherited it. Arsene Wenger had it with the Invincibles. We haven’t had that since the 2004 -2005 -2006 Seasons. That was the last time Arsenal fans had a Team they could be truly PROUD OF – A Team that, Win Lose Or Draw, EVERY PLAYER would leave Heart Body and Soul on the Pitch.
7. Every Season, without fail, Arsene Wenger has identified Top World Class Players he COULD have Signed or Nearly Did Sign – BEFORE they all went on to become Top Class/World Class Players for the Clubs that Did Sign Them. Van Nistelroy / Ronaldo – Went to Manchester United. Cech / Drogba – Went to Chelsea. Ibrahimovich – Went Everywhere – now Winning Trophies at age 36 with Manchester United. Suarez – Went to Liverpool – then when Suarez was looking to leave Liverpool – the £45,000,001 Fiasco, Mahrez – Went to Leicester City – Ho Hum. Now Mbappe – who knows where he’ll go – but you can bet your life – he WON’T be coming to Arsenal.
Can you Imagine where Arsenal would be today if we had signed ANY of these Players – adding them to Bergkamp, Henry, Vieira, Pires, Wright, Adams, Seaman – AND in Later Teams – Campbell, Van Persie, Fabregas and so on.
Now whether these problems Stemmed from Mistakes by Arsene Wenger or Lack of support from the Board – If signing all, or even ONE of these Players were genuine and realistic transfer opportunities – Arsenal should have nailed their Signature – The Club WOULD NOT be in the Position it is in today if the board and Manager had put the Good of Arsenal Football Club BEFORE their OWN Personal & Commercial Self Interests. The Same goes for the Current Crop of so called ‘Professional Footballers’ who ply their trade at Arsenal Football Club.
I’ve seen stronger Backbones in Jellyfish.
Chris S