Date: 26th February 2015 at 6:42pm
Written by:

I will never forget it.

I was six-years-old, and my Father had a drunk friend called Dave who was thee biggest Arsenal fan probably in the history of the world; he showed up to my house one evening after him and the old man went out for a few after work. Legend has it that Dave only ever owned two neckties, a black one, and a red one with the Arsenal crest splattered all over it, like most days, this happened to be his choice of tie for this particular historical night.

In his natural, alcoholic ways, he stumbles into the house, and with the undeniable aroma (or stench) of Tennent’s on his breath demands that I must “pledge alliance to the Arsenal” and kiss his tie. As my lips touched his dirty, inky, ketchupy, toothpasty piece his cloth that draped around his neck for 90% of the year, an Arsenal fan was born.

Dave somewhat embodied George Graham’s Arsenal at that time, and I guess that was where the attraction was for me, not very glamorous, did just enough, but knew how to have a good time.
And then comes along Arsene. I do love me some Arsene, but I hate him for who he has turned me in to.

I was recently asked the question “just what do you make of modern day Arsenal?” I deliberated in my mind for what felt like an eternity, never finding the words, then in a true, post year 2005 Arsenal fan style, I threw my hands in the air and uttered, “I dunno”.

Under Wenger, AFC has hit heights we couldn’t have ever fathomed, playing the type of football that the world envied. these heights are the reason loyalties are split between Arsenal fans when it comes to the great ‘should he stay, should he go’ debate.

The taste of the champagne only the winners taste was so sweet, so fizzy, and so brief. It was taken away from us. We caught a whiff of the good stuff in 2006, but that’s long in the memory bank now.

Now, we have become satiated on Shloer. Arsene took us to the top, but we’ve lost our way. Football has changed since the arrival of the professor, and the signings of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil proves he is somewhat adapting for the first time in his managerial career. Ever the trendsetter, Wenger hates the idea of being told how to do his job. His defiance and loyalty to his craft is why he is one of the few, true managers left in our modern game. I for one wishes the bloke remains and takes us to the top one last time, and hand on heart, I believe thats the desire of most of us who are infatuated with this great club. But at what cost will the fairytale end come?

Arsene Wenger truly is the gift that keeps on giving, but do we show the respect to the clubs greatest ever boss and let him decide when he’s given all he can, or should the club take the ‘nothing personal’ route, and make the decision for him?

I dunno.

Driving Arsenal to success?

Europcar

 

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