Don't spend the season obsessing about Wenger

If you are reading this then the chances are that you are an Arsenal fan and that you read other new sources, blogs and forums about Arsenal. That means you are probably reading fierce debates about Wenger and Arsenal's chances while he is in charge.

I have been reading them with interest and I understand that fans are divided. I understand that fans are frustrated. I understand those who think Wenger is stuck in his ways and times have overtaken him. Those who think that his failure to sign a keeper confirmed everything that they think is wrong with him. I understand that who don't want to raise their hopes again this year because there is no change from last year that warrants any higher hopes. Those who think the squad is not a winning squad.

I understand those who want to believe because they think the team is older, that our rivals have not got any stronger. I understand those that think we have been close over the past years so there is no reason why we should not be competitive when the team is older with one or two players back from injury and the additions at the back. I understand those who feel a consistent approach is the most reliable long-term thing to do for a football club. I understand those who think that we are in a balance between financial stability and winning – a balance that is altogether more important for the club than just winning one trophy and then getting into trouble.

Every fan from both sides of the divide wants one thing in the short-term – Trophies. Every fan from both sides of the divide wants one thing in the long-term – Trophies.

The above paragraph is important to point out. Those who support Wenger are not prioritising Wenger over trophies. They want trophies too. Those who do not support Wenger at all and want him out or want him to change some of his ways immediately do so because they too want Trophies.

We all want the same thing.

But we are on opposite ends. So here's what I have decided for myself. There is nothing new to add to this debate - It has been raging all summer. The window is now closed. We have the centre backs we have. We have the wing backs we have. Diaby still plays and will continue to play. Song is the defensive midfielder with no backup and it will be like that till January at least. Arshavin has "lost his sparkle" in his own words – that may change but that's how it is now. van Persie still gets injured often and that's what we've got. We still can't play fluently or win easily without Fabregas. Almunia (Arsenal's best keeper) will be in goal. That is what we have till January at least. In January, you will still have no power to decide what happens and then you will have what you have then too (whatever the club and Wenger decides for January).

Of course, as fans, we are not completely powerless. You can show your support or protest on match days. You can go to the AGM and demand answers or go there to congratulate the custodians of the club – whichever one corresponds to your view. You can refuse to go to games or choose to go to more games and cheer the team on. We have choices but most of those choices will not change anything between now and January. One or two might.

One choice is that you create a movement of protest to get Arsène Wenger sacked. That could change something. The second is that you go out and support the team with vigour. That could change something; it may positively influence the team to deliver what you so dearly want.

My own choice is much simpler. I will support the team as normal and hope for the best during the season. I will not get obsessed with Arsène Wenger. I will not attribute all the success or failure of every game to him. I will not get obsessed about Wenger. I will hope, like every other fan of every other club that my club does as well as possible this season. I sincerely hope other fans don't get drawn into this massively divisive internal war. That's no way to spend an entire season. It is certainly nothing that will positively affect the team. There may be a time when we have to. My view is that it is not this year.

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