Booing off Bellerin, who came to clap the fans was wrong. by Konstantin Mitov
I’d like to talk a little bit about the fans behaviour after the Palace game. There was a little throw-in scene where Bellerin wasn’t given the ball by our own fans and the chant was “you’re not fit to wear the shirt”. After the game Bellerin came to clap over and he was booed.
This is terrible. This is unacceptable from the fans. To boo off one of the few players who actually have the courage to come over and say “I’m sorry” and clap us for the support is not cool. He’s been in terrible form, but it’s been the whole team. And if he’s playing bad, it’s the managers job, to get him fired up or replace him – and Wenger can’t motivate anybody anymore.
The players are just as disappointed. You could see it on their faces. They don’t want to play for the manager and abusing them would only turn things worse in an already terrible season. If Wenger and the players came out to apologise after the game and sat by our fans to greet us, I’d somehow take some pride in defeat.
They way they hurry to the tunnel and hide is embarrassing. Dortmund always greets their fans. Good or bad, I remember Hummels (back when he was captain there) going to the fans after a defeat to say sorry. And the whole team and the manager always cheers the fans after the game at Dortmund. This is the kind of commitment I want to see. This builds a connection between the players and the fans.
We’re disjointed. The fans, the players and the board are like three different layers, completely disconnected between themselves! Bellerin said after one of our many bad results he is hurt by seeing fans leaving early. He said he cares and he clearly is affected. Now I do believe he wasn’t targeted, but he was just the nearest player there, but the fans need to look at themselves on this one big time.
If Wenger goes and a new manager comes in, these players will look different, I am certain of that, or at least I’m willing to risk it, because with Arsene, look at what it’s like? If we want change, the protests and the banners do a good job. They are just not big enough to feel accountable. If out of 60 thousand people at the emirates, 5 put a Wenger out banner, this isn’t a reason for concern.
If 20 thousand do it, it kinda proves a point. But lastly, I’ll finish with the fans, because we’re a part of the problem. Think for yourself what is important for you. The past, the present or the future. Think if you want to support one man or a football club. Think of the next 10 years and what you want to see, the same thing you’ve seen 10 years or something new?
Pick an opinion and stick with it. Don’t hide like Arsene and most of the players. Don’t run into the tunnel when we lose and hit yourself in the chest when we beat West Ham. Be a man and act like one. Put reasonable arguments as to why you want Arsene in or out.
Don’t abuse the players. This is weak and makes them care as little as possible. I applaud the Ox and Bellerin for coming out to greet us. I encourage the rest of the flops to do it too. Show us some respect and we’ll really appreciate it. I don’t want it from Arsene. He spat in our faces enough times. Some of these players have the quality to be future Arsenal stars under a decent manager.
Abuse is weak. This means you feel powerless to do anything other than curse. This will never get us back to winning ways. In no way does that mean I think we should shut up! We should protest and keep asking for Wenger to be sacked. Not with abuse though. Especially to the few who showed at least a little care for the fans.
The board and Arsene don’t care for us, have a go at them, not the players who come to applaud us after the game!
Konstantin