Once the Arsenal team runs onto the pitch for any game of football it is up to the 11 players out there representing us all to perform and produce the right result, so we can see the logic in laying the blame with these players when things do not go exactly according to plan and the Arsenal suffer the sort of disappointment that has been all too prevalent this season.
In defence of his former boss Arsene Wenger, the former Brazil and Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva has done just that this week, suggesting in comments reported by Sky Sports, that it is the people selected by the long serving Frenchman and not the man himself who should bear the brunt of the fans’ frustrations. There is certainly plenty of that for us Gooners this year as we sit further than ever away from the Premier League summit, but is Silva right in what he says?
The Gunners great worked under Wenger for years and during a time of great glory for our club, most notbaly that amazing invincibles campaign of 2003-04, and he has drawn on his knowledge and respect for the man to offer a robust defence of Le Prof and his ongoing desire and commitment to do his best for Arsenal.
Gilberto said, “I worked with Wenger for such a long time. As I know him, he’s a person who loves the game and wants to win things. He sacrifices himself for the players and for the club.
“At the moment things are hard but he’s trying the best he can to handle the pressure and get the best out of his players. All the time the pressure is on him but there comes a time when you have to question what the players can bring back to him because he trusts them.
“It’s about somebody standing up and holding the pressure for somebody who believes in them. All the questions in the media talk about whether it’s time for Wenger to go or if he lost his appetite.
“It’s not about this, it’s about the players at the club supporting him as long as he stays in the club.”
What do we think Gooners? Is Silva right to shift the blame onto the players or should the man who trains, prepares and sends them out be the one to shoulder the fault and the frustration felt by us all?
Bob.