Arsenal fans may have been a little more dramatic when some of them launched an online petition to stop the club from signing Noni Madueke, but it clearly demonstrates their passion and care for the team.
The winger emerged as an unexpected target for Arsenal, with supporters initially anticipating the club would prioritise adding a striker to their squad. Mikel Arteta is close to securing the striker he wants, and he has also been active in signing other players to strengthen the squad.
Fans often seek to have a say in key decisions affecting the club, and in today’s digital age, this sometimes means voicing their opinions online. However, the ultimate decisions lie with the club’s leadership, who are responsible for shaping the team’s future by making strategic calls.
The Balance Between Fans and Decision Makers
While the club’s decision makers may consider fans’ preferences, such as recognising the supporters’ desire for a new striker, it remains unlikely that protests alone can prevent a signing. The reality is that the final choices rest with those managing the club’s affairs, who weigh various factors beyond public opinion.
It is also worth noting that supporters who opposed the move for Madueke were probably equally reluctant to see previous signings such as Kai Havertz and Willian join the team. Despite initial resistance, Arsenal proceeded with those acquisitions and have now reached an agreement to add Madueke to the squad, regardless of the protests.
Fans’ Influence Is Limited
This sequence of events clearly indicates that fans’ opinions, while valued, do not always hold decisive weight in transfer decisions. The club prioritises its own strategic objectives and vision for success over the collective voice of its supporters. Ultimately, this dynamic highlights the often complex relationship between a club’s leadership and its fan base.
Arsenal’s recent transfer activities underline the reality that while fans are passionate and vocal, the power to shape the squad lies firmly in the hands of the club’s management.
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ADMIN COMMENT
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Whatever has Arteta done wrong? Remember Trust the proccess.
How longs the process ?
You’re joking…
It’s easier to list what hasn’t he done wrong because that list is not very long
Let fans stop talking about Willian, Sterling Havertz and so on. Many teams have experienced this but their supporters haven’t reacted to this far. How would you rate Man U signing Maguire, Hojland for hefty fees only to become flops! I don’t see anything wrong with Madueke and do believe that those fans with swallow their own vomit.
The problem is Kroenke has been signing too many underperforming and old Chelsea players since he bought the club
I’m sure Madueke will be a very good addition for our squad rotation and might replace one of our homegrown wingers, but his price tag is too much for a non key-player at Chelsea
If it was £30m or less, I think nobody would complain
Mr Kronkie hasn’t signed any player – he hires the likes of a sporting director ad club manager to spend his money wisely!!
Kroenke must’ve been making the final decisions as the person who spends a lot of money for the player transfers
I disagree!!
Mr Kronkie gives a certain amount of money to bring success to the club and expects it to be used appropriately.
Why would he employ so many managers etc at top dollar salaries, if he didn’t trust them to do their jobs?
But Arsenal have been signing too many Chelsea players since Kroenke came to the club, even though the directors and managers could’ve signed players from other clubs
Don’t you find it suspicious?
Gotanidea i support what you said. It looks suspicious. Honestly!
Yes, who knows what the financial departments of both clubs are up to ?
No he does not!!!!!
He pays peto do that.
People to do that.
Havertz has been a success ffs. His absence thru last part of season proved that. Madu has shown really good moments, and if anything b is true Arteta is good at improving wingers!
Martinelli?
Havertz has been a success?
We were in 2nd, he missed remainder of season, and we still finished 2nd.
In fact, Merino did as well as Havertz. So, is Havertz average, or is Merino really a striker?
Havertz has been so successful that Arsenal have been looking for a starting striker for a year or more.
Raya, Timber, Rice, Saliba, Gabriel, to name a few were “successful,” don’t see us lining up 50 million+ transfers in their positions.
Havertz works hard, team player, but his “successes” as striker are not enough, glad to see the club finally accept that and look for better players at striker.
I think some fans would say that the point here is that the players you mention are all from the same club, Chelsea, which is not the case for Maguire and Hojland, is it.
What fans do with their vomit is their own business of course.
Arsenal fans should allow the sleeping dog to rest, all those criticising Madueke will later start praising him when the league starts
I guess its a position where we dont need a 50 million back up so I guess its more about the fear of the usual excuses at the end of the window of not buying a striker.
If our budget allows to buy an unnecessary 50 million winger without comprimising our striker pursuit, I believe most fans are fine with it.
Bang on the money .
He finished season on left wing. And a big failing for us has been our back ups off the bench have just been way off required quality
There should be nothing forcing said fans to have anything to do with the club whether monetarily or otherwise if they do not approve of decision(s) made by the owners (or their management proxies). Fans also have the right to express their disapproval or approval of said decision(s) in any legal way. We have the right to decide and show whether we are fans of and support the club’s actions or not.
Agree. One thing to mention though is that the fan opinion affects the level of pressure on the player. It’s not fair on madueke, but unfortunately that’s how it goes. I understand he’s got a lot of confidence, so hopefully he’ll be ok
In all of my years of first being a fan of The Arsenal and then becoming a supporter, the only time I can recall the fans/supporters having a successful say was when they protested about the Super League.
Maybe Ken knows of any other times ?
We await Ken’s reply, but I think you’re right and that was because the fans of ALL the clubs concerned protested in unison. Had it been Arsenal fans alone protesting, I’m pretty sure Arsenal would have been in the Super League.
I’m told that fans were instrumental in getting Mr Wenger out of the club HD, while it was hinted that the support for Wrighty from the supporters versus Bruce Rioch helped the positive outcome.
I find your words about being a fan and then a supporter interesting – perhaps you could explain what you mean, as I have tried and fellow Gooners such as DK can’t seem to grasp what I’m saying (my fault DK, as I obviously haven’t been clear enough).
Ken, when I was about 13, a man who worked with my dad asked me which was my team. I replied that I supported The Arsenal. He then asked if I went to the games. I said no and he then said I was a fan, as a supporter was someone who went to the games and therefore put money into the club. I officially became a supporter on the 20/9/75 when we drew 2-2 against Everton at Highbury.
Regarding the fans getting Wenger the sack, nah. If that was the case, he would’ve been gone a few years earlier. He was sacked as he wouldn’t agree to the new way the club was going to be run, with a DoF/SD.
Herr Drier,
Just to put my two pennies worth in regarding why Wenger left. I believe that David Dein left because he wasn’t happy with the direction the club was going to be taken.
No doubt you’ll be able to set me straight, if I’ve gone wrong again.
Essentially mate he couldn’t agree with the rest of the board regarding the direction of the club
He wanted a direct buy out from a huge financial backer like a Koronke or Usmanov who would directly pay the debt for the stadium , invest in the market
The majority of the board didn’t want to sell shared and believed in the self sustained model so took out loans to pay off the stadium
Derek, he was sacked from the BoD, and was escorted out of the ground by Danny Fizsman. He even had his phone confiscated iirc. It was all down to him wanting a big investor on the Board who would eventually own the club.
Thank you Herr Drier,
What with you, Dan and Ken1945 educating me on all things Arsenal. I can keep going to the well of all your knowledge, when and if needed. 🤷♂️👍
Derek, no problems fella, always here to help if I can 👍
Supporter / fan?
I agree, but I always take into consideration those millions of people around the world who aren’t able to travel, get tickets and experience what it’s like to be there.
My support extends to not buying anything outside the ground, unless it’s official Arsenal stuff…. except for that marvellous cafe opposite the Armoury that Phil (PAL) introduced me too.
Arsene? I agree the fans had no influence on him resigning, but when he left, the jubilation from the Arsene out brigade knew no bounds!!
A certain Kostantine even said he could finally breathe again and, since then, has been hammering Arteta as well!!
My first game was in 1952, when I couldn’t see a damn thing, can’t remember who we played, think we drew or lost, but the atmosphere was something that has stayed with me for nearly 73 wonderful years.
Derek, DD wanted the club to move permanently to Wembley and, later, backed Usmanov over Kronkie.
His autobiography makes for a fascinating read and opens up some of the infighting that was going on within the club at that time.
I seem to remember the board saying something about not wanting that kind of man within our club, referring to Mr Kronkie, only to sell all their shares months later and selling the club and it’s fans /supporters down the river!!
Thank you Dan and Ken1945,
For enlightening me further in my education on all things Arsenal.
You never stop learning, every days a school day as they saying goes.👍
Ken1945
Is it Little Wonder by any chance? I was looking for a decent place to go with my brother and grandsons prior to the stadium tour. I’ve been back since and it’s terrific every time
Yes, I think that’s what it’s called SueP.
It’s right on the corner, always packed and the food is excellent.
Doesn’t look much from the outside I have to say, but never judge a book by it’s cover!!
Ken, I hear what you’re saying about overseas fans. I know a few who regularly come over from continental Europe that go to the games.
Yeah some of the Wenger Out Brigade went over the top with their celebration when Wenger was sacked. I saw a video of a small group of WOBs at the Bear roundabout singing a song where they had changed the last line to ” We’d be happy if you died in May” 😡. While I was happy that he was going, to sing that was bang out of order !
👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
Herr Drier.
Good company you grew up with.
At the end of the day it’s not Maduekes fault. We should support him and hopes he does well. His first 6 months are critical for him, if he doesn’t do well or MA misuses him position wise I think he will be in for a bad time at the Emirates
I do not support the signing while low balling on strikers (MA doesn’t actually want a striker hence why we’re offering so low) but he needs to act like he’s finally woken up after all these years of inaction and wants one.
So now that it appears there is a breakthrough with Gyokeres, do you still think that Arteta doesn’t want a striker?
SueP,
I’m happy that Arteta looks to have finally got a striker.
But there’s a tinge of sadness that we never explored signing Calvert Lewin or Andy Carrol. Both free transfers. OH well, maybe next year. 😂🤣🙄👍
Based on the last 4-5 years of facts, yes I still belieive that…or maybe becasue Pep got a proper striker now he wants one too
I think Arteta failed with the squad he built and now he is having to do a rebuild. The pressure over the past 4 years to get a real striker has caught up with him and with Berta showing him the way too, I don’t think he’s left with any other option but to finally learn
Based on the last few years? Do you live in the real world? Do you stop to consider how challenging it is to get a top class striker that would consistently guarantee goals in the PL?
Where are these strikers that you suggest Arteta doesn’t want? The striker that Pep got is one of only a handful of top level strikers that have emerged in the last few years.
It really isn’t about how good or bad Madueke is, he found end up winning Ballon D’or next season for all I care.
It’s about the financial corruption going on at this club.
In what sane world is he worth more money than Michael Olise or Rayan Cherki?
I’ll tell you, in a world where a bunch of corrupt American billionaires need to cook some books…
Where is your proof?, such a lame statement
My fear is Arsenal have got into a spate of buying back ups. When we are not good enough with the shoe ins to win anything. BUY TO GET BETTER!!!!!! Not back up. We will never win anything doing that. Its stupid.
You know players also have a say right? No elite player will realistically join another team which already has an elite player in their position. For instance, I don’t see a player like Mbeumo joining Liverpool or Arsenal- he knows Salah and Saka will play pretty much all the time.
Another example is Alvarez at City. He left because it’s tough to get ahead Haaland. No good striker would want to join City for this reason. I’m sure most clubs would want to have great players as alternatives but the fact is,no great player wants to sit on the bench.
But you wouldn’t buy to replace Salah or Haarland???????? Why buy someone to sit on the bench?
As far as we are concerned, we bought a back up keeper, a back up midfielder and very much looking like a back up Winger. Buy better, not back up.
Plus like I said Salah and Haarland were good enough to win the league and CL. Why replace them?
Because those players were bought in positions where we already have very good players. I don’t know if you’re aware, but in Norgaard’s position, we also bought a better player in Zubimendi. Madueke is Saka backup. Realistically, who is better than Saka and can we get them? You expected the club to sign Salah ? Because that’s the only right winger I can think of who is better. As for goalkeeper,we already have Raya, the guy who’s won the golden glove two years back to back.
When you put your someone in a position of trust, you have to let them do their job. This doesn’t mean they don’t get it wrong, but they tend to get it right a lot more often than fans who don’t have any professional experience in the game.
Most fans were against the signings of Ben White and Ramsdale. They turned out to be fan favourites. Most fans wanted Xhaka gone at some point. Barely months later nobody wanted him to leave for Germany. There are also players like Buendia that fans wanted over Odegaard and we know how that turned out.
All four of the ones you have named have failed to bring a title to Arsenal?
Saliba, Rice, Gabriel, Trossard, Partey etc have also failed to bring a title to the Arsenal. What’s your point?
You can have your say as customer;
I will have my way as owner.
That’s it illustrated with Madueke’s signing.
Noise vs substance.
Who wins?
BOSS.
I don’t believe even the ones that petitioned hates Noni, everyone is just scared of Arsenal not signing a striker cos of cash strap as a result of spending on backup players.
ONCE BEATING TWICE SHY
The so called armchair Arsenal fans are to be ignored, the rest will be Rival fans signing the petition, such a lame story