Monsieur Arsene WENGER,
For years you have delighted us with the manifestation and exemplification of what the beautiful game should be. While the majority of the teams throughout Europe took part in kick-and-rush, counter-attacking or even sit-back-and-wait defensive antics, you emphasized the importance of touch and go, knock about and run for your mates football. For this, us Arsenal fans will forever be thankful. A true supporter fuels its relationship with its club by offering support through the good and the bad times. As a leader of our Gunners you[and your management team] have brought many of good days, many more than bad ones. It is unfortunate however to see a lack of reaction to some of the on going issues. Today's embarrassing display is weighing heavily in all of our Gooner hearts.
It has been far too long since our favorite London team has tasted success, and the weight of silverware continues to be foreign and maybe too heavy for the Arsenal we adore. The issues in the club have been growing since the closure of Highbury. Since then, it is as if the new stadium has become an impediment in the progress of our club. As fans we have enthusiastically anticipated every game, dawning the Arsenal crest on as much paraphernalia as we could possibly afford, trusting that your talent and wizardry would suffice in bringing domestic[Premiership, FA cup and Carling Cup] and international[Champion's league] success. Unfortunately our efforts as a club have become synonymous to short-comings.
The current state of football has deteriorated due to capitalistic influence. Teams now try to buy success rather then build it, you however have remained in a class of your own, one of the few coaches who focuses on tactical football and talent at its raw form. This particular fact is the reason why the clashes with FC Barcelona prove to be classic bouts. Still we struggle to dominated as our Catalan counter parts do.
Arsene, our shortcomings can not possibly be classified under one category, so many factors have their impact. As the manager and leader of our team it is your role to decipher them and overcome them. It is difficult to bare that some of the reoccurring frustrations remain unnoticed.
This letter will attempt to address some of these concerns. Since the departure of Thierry HENRY, Arsenal fans have bee seeing their opponents fortify their rosters one by one. With the number of games in each season increasing, and the physical toll on players becoming more grave, teams have focused on the expansion of their rosters. Most top-tier teams now have the ability to line-up at least two competitive line-ups, doubling up the majority of the of the positions on the pitch. We the gunners however have been struggling. The depth of our roster has been an issue for our team which so frequently deals with reoccurring injuries. Though those injuries often times are the result of aggresivity and retaliation from our opponents, we prove to be unable to provide top level replacement. This fact has resulted in our being paralleled to youth program, where youth and potential has established a longing for what to come.
The roster issue brings up two other points, lack of adequate transfers and player selection. Arsenal fans have eagerly anticipated the opening of each and every single transfer windows. Though it is true that the patience philosophy you have exhibited has produced some gems, the squad is in dire needs of Henry-esque super stars with experience and leadership. Your incessant preference to invest in the future has disappointed fans at the closing of every transfer window. The arrivals of NASRI, CHAMAKH and VERMAELEN should serve as example that reinforcement are not only needed but successful! We hope for more to come.
As a coach, Arsene, you have been strategically consistent,maybe a bit too much at times. Fans have been forces to watch as you unfolded your plan according to the pre-game sheets, often times dsregarding the state of the game. Substitutions not effected in due time, wrong players being brought in. This frustrating point leaves us fans in anguish, often wondering if the stubborn attachment to the plan can still bring us success as it in did in the past. The success of current leading coaches often come from their ability to oversee and adapt to the game. This criticism is in no way a blow to your coaching capacity but merely reflects a perhaps aging philosophy which we yearn to see mature.
In terms of player choice, past rosters demonstrate your ability to pick out the right players. The Arsenal jersey has been worn by amazing, outstanding, talented individuals which made us, Gunner fans, dream! Not many teams have had the pleasure to view such players assembled on one pitch, combined with your tactical pro-es, Arsenal gear has been worn with great pride. However, a stain on our roster, which has been polluting and infecting our game experience has grown to be a nuisance. It has become difficult to understand managements constant, idiotic confidence in the Danish disaster known as Nicklas BENDTNER. It proves to be puzzling that such a talentless player has made is so far in the team we cherish. BENDTNER is the antonym to what an arsenal player is; slow, lacking in skills, selfish, and flat out terrible. One has to wonder how such an expert in talent seeking can go so wrong with a player like him. Along with new recruits, Arsenal fans have been awaiting the departure of this 'tache' since the first day he set foot on our pitch. Please rectify this unfair and shameful atrocity.
The only possible assumption for his presence in the first team relies on a fabulation that he was physically dominant as a youth, paid his dues by scoring in the youth program and is thus now owed a spot on the team. This attempt at an explanation does not in any way, shape or form explain why he would enter matches ahead of the likes of CHAMAKH, Van PERSIE or WALCOTT. Fans can suspect that his presence on the team maybe a ruse aimed a making us think that anything is possible and that regardless of talent of skill we too can play professional football. What a joke. The sad part of BENDTNER's story is that with every days that passes, he actually believes that he is deserving of his spot and that he is one of the top forwards of the moment. The farce has gone as far as offering him national caps. The LAUDRUP brothers must be eating their Danish shirts as we speak.
The question of our Keeper has to be addressed as well. ALMUNIA should be the obvious choice, experience being the primary determinant but somehow we end up with a Birmingham disaster that literally throws the hope of our first trophy in a while out of the window. The bitter taste of defeat partially fueled this letter.
In conclusion, as an a Fan of Arsenal [and partial Man City supporter when BENDTNER is playing or when hoping for Man U to lose] so many games have come and gone and resulted in a disappointment. Many of my fellow fans have opted not to buy anymore Gunners gear in hope that our dawning of the jersey was somehow bad-luck. Anything to help, as a fan will do. We fans will do all we can to support but certain things have to change. Please consider this letter and reinstate faith in the team we all love.
Thank you for your time we look forward to cheering and celebrating your future exploits.
Sincerely,
aKobi, A true Arsenal Fan
Carling Cup Final: Arseanl vs. Birmingham City
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