Arsenal column: Why supporters questioning blind loyalty in Wenger may have a legitimate point

For about the fiftieth time in the last thirty day period, Arsene Wenger insisted on Wednesday night that Arsenal have sufficient in their squad already to finish in the top four.nnWenger has trotted out his line about locating it tough to indicator gamers in January who are better than they have presently got even far more moments recently.nnTaken in isolation, Wenger's responses really make a bit of sense. Why devote now on you next option when the initial option might be accessible in the summer time?nFurthermore, Arsenal have attained the Champions League in each and every complete time that Wenger has been in demand. So if any supervisor understands no matter whether a squad is great enough then definitely it is Wenger.nnThen you search at Arsenal's efficiency against Liverpool and all logic goes out of the window. The keeper carrying out Cruyff turns in his personal 6 property box, two international centre halves slipping apart and a right back again who was after the best in the Leading League now looking a weak hyperlink.nnAdd to that a circus act coming on at remaining again and you have Arsenal's defence. No surprise the enthusiasts are obtaining discouraged and Wenger's audio bites only appear to be producing it worse.nnWenger is an intelligent and educated manager.

He also defends his gamers to the final - even when he certainly understands some of them are not up to it.nBut there arrives a stage when that defence unnerves enthusiasts and leaves some pondering regardless of whether Wenger has dropped the plot totally.nThat is the danger he is operating by standing by players like Andre Santos, declaring there are none far better out there. By keeping up Gervinho as the star of the show at the Africa Cup of Nations. I can just see it now: "Gervinho will be like a new signing."nnThis, regrettably, is the reason why even the most faithful users of the Arsene Knows Ideal brigade are starting to question.nArsenal are conversing about big issues in the summer time. They'd fairly wait around. The trouble is, they want a new keeper, centre fifty percent, right back if Sagna goes, central midfielder, extensive guy and striker. (Follow our deadline day stay site to see if Arsenal do include to their squad)nnThe squad has been allowed to decay and slide into slow, constant drop. It is a disgrace because some of the gamers in that squad have looked fantastic at instances this time and they are getting let down by some of their crew mates.nJust search at Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs. They have had impressive seasons. Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud, Lukas Podolski can construct on impressive begins. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has a large future forward.nnBut the defence has fallen apart, a reliance on the injuries-vulnerable Abou Diaby and a failure to replenish a squad has uncovered the back again four and shattered their self-assurance which can also be stated for the likes of Aaron Ramsey. Hugely gifted but in want of belief.nWhen you have a team likely backwards - just appear at any graph of Wenger's reign and the line is going down - the fans get anxious and switch on the manager.nnFurthermore, they get irritated and upset when they're paying out top dollar prices - and receiving B Listing signings.nMaybe that will alter this summer time. The club has already frozen ticket rates. That's a good go. But what takes place if Arsenal only make the Europa League? It's anything that's experienced to be mentioned. After all, new contracts have been budgeted for lacking out on the Champions League.nnnCuriously, the absent followers - some already upset at spending �62 for a category A sport - could end up becoming charged more next season if they are moved upstairs which is a single remedy in a ticketing shake-up which is presently getting debated.nBut enthusiasts will quit stressing about ticket charges when the club begin purchasing leading high quality again. That is the only way to appease the supporters.nnThey want prime signings. The likes of Cavani, Villa, Fellaini, Baines and so on. The income is there. They have signed a wonderful sponsorship with Emirates. The problem now is to get Wenger to spend it.nIt is these frustrations which has induced a break up amongst Arsenal supporters who have been warring with each other - each home and absent.nnFaith in his players: Wenger says his squad is very good adequate to safe a top 4 spot John Powell/Getty  nIt kicked off again at Brighton very last Saturday. The unfurling of a banner - Many thanks For The Recollections But It's Time To Say Goodbye - wasn't the only cause for a row which turned horrible and actual physical.nSome followers cheered sarcastically when Santos was substituted, the banner was also unfurled and punches had been thrown. Stewards moved in and 1 admirer was ejected from the ground.nnIt's transpired on a number of events this year. It happened at Wigan in December. And the rows have occurred on many instances at the Emirates.nThe fans driving the banner insist they will not unfurl it at the Emirates and say acknowledge the atmosphere has become "poisonous" at online games.nApparently, the loyalist fans chant "1 Arsene Wenger" when items go terribly to wind up the supporters who are against the supervisor. That has sparked rows, fisticuffs and bust-ups on celebration.nnThat possibly shows you just how on edge this total state of affairs is. The club will definitely listen and surprise just how long this can go on.nIf Wenger does not win a trophy before the finish of his agreement in 2014, can Arsenal truly stomach another a few several years of this unsightly infighting? Probably some significant signings this summer time will appease the enthusiasts. But Wenger would have to split the routine of a lifetime to make individuals bargains.nnnOne enthusiast who saw the incident at Brighton, time ticket holder Mike Barnett, has been heading for more than 20 years and believes sufficient is enough - until Wenger modifications.nBarnett mentioned: "I consider the division of view is so sturdy now it's extremely challenging to be united as followers. With no any doubt the principal cause of the divide is the manager and this has constructed up in excess of the very last three seasons.nn"There is no improper or proper particular person as we are all Arsenal supporters, nevertheless the distinction in sights has developed up so significantly this has triggered a huge us towards them mentality.n"Wenger spinning out the exact same old lines triggers yet a lot more friction. Then this leads to arguments on Twitter. Usually this ends up with insults, threats and normally a sour romantic relationship amongst enthusiasts.nn"For case in point, his comments have angered men and women so considerably they will stop getting this disappointment to the ground. 'We don't require mores strikers', 'there isn't any individual available that can boost us.' Does he say these  beats by dre factors with out considering?n"If we ended up to lose on Saturday the 1st thing that it receives blamed on, is Wenger not spending and also him declaring we don't require anyone. Then the AKBs are waiting like a time bomb to hear the initial negative shout during the match and then the rows unfold.nn"The residence environment this period has with out doubt been the worse ever at the Emirates. It is tense and so tense it's difficult to loosen up.n"It's not good to fight with your own variety, or for arguments to get so undesirable, folks have to pull every single other back again all due to the fact we dare concern the supervisor who is obviously not doing his work effectively.nn"Again the aggravation is constructed up on the web and it seems like each and every time Arsene speaks or states some thing (specially about transfers) it provides to the frustration.n"This divide will get worse and even worse if items stay the exact same. Far more and more folks are turning every working day and this will also develop and grow until finally the club do some thing about this. It's not good to have initial match goers witness enormous heated rows and fights in the stands.nn"We want what's ideal for the club so demonstrating the banner in our eyes is what's essential to deliver a concept throughout that we want adjust. We help the team and a number of of the people guiding the banner go every one house and absent match and all the European online games.nn"These are loud followers that sing for ninety minutes so to issue the support of these men and women is insanity. I see why it triggers friction as it is in real truth alienating people that do agree with the concept on the banner but sit on the fence with the debate.nn"The club need to have to reunite the followers, give us one thing to be pleased about. Set force on the manager to invest the cash, compete for a cup and let us be sincere: 'shut us angry realists up.'n"We don't revel in currently being proper all the time, we desperately want our phrases to be shoved down our necks. Sadly this has never transpired as the identical troubles keep on and are getting even worse not much better.nn"I truthfully feel no other top 4 clubs supporters would acknowledge what's took place the final number of years. It really is both we have fantastic set of enthusiasts or a supporter foundation so deep in denial they hate hearing the truth."nArsenal can get delight in being a top 4 club year right after calendar year. The enthusiasts want to stay there. And also go on up once more. That's the challenge to Arsene Wenger.nnGot a comment? Share your views beneath