Wear the red and white, and stand up for the Arsenal

If you're reading these words on this page, the odds are you're an Arsenal supporter. You sport the red and white with pride, and you've been deeply wounded by the final scoreline at Stamford Bridge just hours ago. A Drogba-inflicted wound that festers still, reminding you that yet again, our team has come off second best against our neighbours in blue.

I mentioned in my last column that I hoped that if Arsenal were three goals down at half-time, that they'd find it in them the will to haul the team back into contention. The team did go into the break in arrears, but unfortunately appeared bereft of ideas. The setup play was over elaborate, the confidence to shoot on sight sadly lacking and the necessary willingness to put the body on the line missing... I can go on and on but I will leave that for another time.

Of more pressing concerns here are the emotions stirred up by my last article. Disgust and anger, vitriol and sarcasm... There were some sensible words in between, but most of them were swept away in a tide of fury which seemed to engulf the page the moment the final whistle went at Stamford Bridge. Most seemed to be directed at Arsène Wenger, at how deluded his post match excuses would surely be, of how he has failed the club over the past few seasons (and transfer windows, come to that). Some were of the opinion that I was a paid employee of Arsenal F.C (I wish) or even that I was Wenger Incarnate himself. Surely a real Arsenal fan wouldn't still be talking about belief and patience in these horrible times, the consensus went.

I'd like to take a break from all this at the moment and make you ponder this question. When did you start to support the Arsenal? When did you first start announcing to all that would listen that you were an Arsenal fan? There are probably some of you who remember as clear as day Michael Thomas' winning goal against Liverpool on the Friday night of 26th May 1989. I didn't, for I was barely 2 years of age and probably still in nappies. Maybe some of you were entranced by the Invincibles of the 03/04 season, when not one team managed to beat Arsenal away or at home. As for me, I started taking a closer interest in Arsenal and football in general during Arsenal's double winning season of 97/98. Ian Wright was on his way out and Fredrik Ljungberg and Thierry Henry were just getting into stride.

A successful season invariably lures new supporters. There usually is much grumbling about people who jump on the bandwagon, mostly from older supporters who feel that they have earned more of a right to revel in their team's success. We've done the hard time, they reason, we've paid for every bit of this with our blood and sweat and tears (be it in the stands or from home, rather than on the pitch). Just wait till we hit a barren patch... how many of you will still be around?

Which brings me back to my point. The Arsenal have now lost two on the trot, to two of our major rivals this season. Any hopes of a league title are slipping away into the distance. Criticism is all very good, but when simply pointing out our deficiencies turns into outright abuse against certain players or the manager, it's time to ask the vital question.

The old-timers used to say that what would differentiate the fair-weather fans from real supporters would be a bad run of form. We've hit a terrible patch of late, and a real slog is ahead. If there was any a time to take out the ole Arsenal jersey, put it on with pride and reaffirm your allegiance to Arsenal FC, this would be it. Wear the red and white, and stand up for the Arsenal.

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