Have the chickens come home to roost at the Arsenal? Have we let the foxes in the Henhouse too often? Are we simply the headless chickens of the football world?
How we came to be in our current predicament is a complex issue and much like the chicken and the egg conundrum, it is hard to explain.
Management
Under Wenger things began to deteriorate some years ago. A combination of stagnation in the management and coaching positions along with a culture where accountability was seldom at the forefront of thinking. An atmosphere where underachievement was not only tolerated but often celebrated. Unfathomable signings and offloading decent players either too early or on the cheap also punctuated the dark days of Wenger’s decline.
Unai Emery was given something of a pig’s ear of a squad and was clearly employed based on his Europa League record. It was clear that once the fans turned against him his days were numbered. This wasn’t helped by his poor communications and erratic selections. He just wasn’t up to the job of repairing a crumbling mansion from the foundations.
Arteta’s honeymoon period was based on a triumphant FA Cup campaign: and rightly so. But now serious questions are being asked. Not least of which is the wisdom of making an inexperienced appointment in the first place.
We have picked up FA Cups and of course that is not to be sneezed at but that was not the target when the club moved to the Emirates; it was being competitive in the Premier League and Champions League: certainly ticket prices are those of a club who do this, not one that wins an FA Cup here and there.
The Board
A toothless organisation full of self-interest, bold statements, unfulfilled promises and disconnection with the fans. A board that perceive that the imbeciles on Arsenal's excruciating media channels represent the majority and responds accordingly with distain. Gazidis; the carpetbagger with lower scruples than a rattlesnakes belly was allowed to wield irrational power (more self interest) before he left.
The Owner
An asset striper of an absent owner who was help bent on gaining total control of the club, not as a project based on sporting achievement, more a case of him seeing the Emirates as a foothold in one of the world’s major cities. An organisation that comfortably gives him annual dividends.
Cuckoos in the nest
The club attracted parasitic agents and other business style appointments. The agents saw the club as a means by which they could offload average players for high commissions; players that the club felt were needed to sustain an idea that Arsenal were a top team. Bizarre signings with high wages and long terms that do not live up to scrutiny. Signings of players that other clubs weren't interested in. Give Sanllehi his credit: he’s a great parasite and has made a tidy sum by suckling on the teat of the club with his charges joining the Arsenal gravy train.
The Players
Perhaps the elephant in the room is the players. A set of players who, by and large have simply either not been good enough, past their best, or lacking in the required personality. How many of the Arsenal squad of recent times can realistically be referred to as elite? The perception is that Arsenal have elite status but the types of acquisitions do not support this perception. We make average acquisitions that unaccountably are first team regulars. Often at the expense of promising young players. We play Xhaka and make him captain, we stick with Mustaphi after regular catastrophes. We ignore younger players who perform when called upon. We let good players leave on a free or for half a dozen eggs and put other club’s cast offs on long contracts.
What Now?
What are we then left with? A club that is dysfunctional. A club without a clear vision. A club that seems vulnerable time after time to opportunists. A club where certain players know they can go to and earn good wages, swan around Hampstead and be accommodated weekly in the starting line up regardless of form; oh, and not have too much pressure on them in regards to winning games.
We are a soft touch now both on and off the pitch and in order to make significant changes we need to maximise what we have (a good set of younger players and a couple of astute recent purchases), change the culture from top to bottom and have a clear vision. Unfortunately those charged with the stewardship of this great club are still on that treadmill of dysfunction, because its an earner, and are as disconnected now as they were when we sold our soul and moved to the Emirates for a pot of gold that has gone in the pockets of those whose motivation is not the success of the club
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so I said...