ARSENALISM©

There are 3 trophies to play for each season, 4 if a team are in Europe; For the Arsenal, since our last trophy, we have had 28 opportunities to win a trophy. We have failed on each of those 28 occasions. This season we are currently in the running (theoretically) for another 4 trophies. The argument that Qualification for the Champions League is like a trophy is spurious. Even if it is thought of as ‘like a trophy’ the key word is ‘like. It is not a trophy. The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has achieved the ‘like a trophy’ trophy on seven occasions during this time period. Yes consistent Champions League Qualification is a splendid achievement, no one can deny that but for some this is an achievement that offsets the 28 failures. If it is fair to praise Arsene Wenger for our ECL qualification record is it not fair to question Arsene Wenger regarding the 28 failures? I think it is and I think that respect is warranted but deference isn’t. It is reasonable that acco...

As we travel up to the Midlands to play Aston Villa I am reminded of what a great traditional ground Villa Park is. It's probably been the away ground I have visited most. Seen a good few important victories as well. Let's hope today we bring home the bacon.

Arsenal v Chelsea on a level playing field Chelsea, 10 Trophies since 2005.  Arsenal, 0 trophies since 2005. That’s a statistic that has resonance at a time when Chelsea sack another manager. To many Chelsea are the enemies of football with their condoning of racism, taping up of players and allegations against referees. Arsenal are viewed as doing things the right way due to our financial prudence and the touches of class that we still adhere to as a club. If one man who demands success and has put millions into that endeavour owns a club he can do what he likes to achieve it. Abramovitch doesn’t give a monkeys what outsiders think. When you look at the statistic, 10-0, you begin to realise that for some Chelsea fans that’s all that matters. Winning. Winning at any cost? It would appear so. Modern football, and in particular English football sold its soul ages ago and the sense of shock regarding Di Matteo’s sacking is a naive response. Ultim...

I think its fair to say that most, if not all, Arsenal supporters would concur that there is something not right with the Arsenal. A lot of conjecture and discussion centres on our current manager Arsene Wenger. There are those who strongly advocate that he is the man to bring back former glory, there are those who feel that he is the problem and those that base their argument around who would replace him.  Strong arguments are made that the Board is responsible for financial constraints that have been holding us back, and others still, put forward the opinion that the club is doing well ‘under the circumstances’. It's true to say that the football landscape has changed during Arsene Wenger's tenure and many clubs could not have foreseen the true impact of first Abramovitch and then Sheik Mansur. Competing in an unfair market place is the reality though. Reasons are debated, argued and batted back and forth to explain our decline. Arguments and abuse are ...

Anhedonia /ˌænhiˈdoʊniə/ an-hee-doh-nee-ə; Greek: ἀν- an-, "without" + ἡδονή hēdonē, "pleasure") is defined as the inability to experience pleasure from activities usually found enjoyable Victory can be sweet sometimes. An opportunity to momentarily place deeper issues to one side and enjoy the moment. Victory over Sp*rs: a team that sat above us in the League table prior to kick off contained all the elements that caused glee. The pantomime villain was represented by the interminable Adebayor. Not content with scoring early on he felt the need to hurdle the pitch side hoardings to gloat. He then changed the course of the game by giving the referees no option but to issue a red card for a ridiculous Kung-fu challenge on Carzola We saw scrappy goals and at 4-1, Hollywood balls from the Arsenal and, despite Bale's strike, Sp*rs where well and truly dismantled.   What the result means in the bigger picture is up for debate, but in beating the annoy...

Arsenal During these dark days it behoves me to inject a smidgeon of humour into proceedings. Here's some fun ahead of Saturday's fixture. Let's face it "if you can't laugh at yourself etc..."   Sp*rs Arsenal Sp*rs Arsenal Liverpool v Sp*rs Sp*rs "Oh, look at me! I'm making people happy! I'm the Magical Man from Happy-Land, in a gumdrop house on Lollipop Lane!" [leaves the room, slamming the door, then pokes his head back in] "Oh, by the way, I was being sarcastic." - Homer Simpson 

The Arsenal were winning a lack lustre game 2-0, which Fulham overturned to make 2-3. The final score 3-3 was probably a fair reflection of the merits of each teams performance and added a point to our mediocre tally. Later the same day Manchester United were losing 2-0 and they managed to turn things around making it a 2-3 victory to maintain their position at the top of the league. These two games are a microcosm of how things have changed in the standing of the top clubs that used to battle it out for domestic supremacy. The next fixture in the League is a home game against the team currently sitting above us in the table and that is all the game is (on paper): an opportunity to climb the table. However, everyone knows that the game is an important fixture on a deeper level as it is against a team who are obsessed with the Arsenal. With the negativity currently swirling around the Emirates a defeat would increase the levels of dissatisfaction that are on the in...