Written by Lindsay Melrose Thursday, 02 September 2010 19:44

GunnerTalk Blog

By Lindsay Sheehan

So it’s all gone off amongst us Gooners huh? Reports of doom and gloom over the red side of Norf London are coming in thick and fast. As far as I can see there are 3 different factions within the Arsenal community. The “Bring Me The Head of Arsene Wenger” crew, the “Wenger STILL knows Best” massive and the nervous, undecided masses. The Gooner forums and blogs are buzzing with  fans who believe our manger has dropped a few sandwiches out of his picnic box and the Its up For Grabs facebook page is frequented by the more optimistic chap who thinks it will all come out in the wash. Merson, Graham, Parlour and Wrighty have all had their say. And me? Well I have a foot firmly in both camps and my (ample) arse is on the fence right now.

In my final blog of last season “Fuck Off 2009-2010” I bemoaned the lack of support we gave our team and our manager during the ‘lap of appreciation.’ Although I understood and shared some of the frustration, I felt there were those who truly deserved our support and that, at the end of the day, we are all fans aren’t we? We do actually support the Arsenal, thick and thin, til we die as the song goes, so surely we should show that or is it just lip service? I mean it’s not as if the home support exhaust ourselves with this during the season so surely we had a bit of energy left to cheer Cesc and the gang before the break.

I mentioned that I felt 2010-2011 was crunch time and that the divisions between us would either be healed by a wild summer spend or widened by the lack of it. Over the break our manager has made 3 additional first team signings. One was the forward Chamakh whom we all knew was coming. He arrived with nada outlay and with RVP and Bendtner already nestled back in the comfort of the sick bay the position is now covered with a little more strength and depth than last year. We lost 3 veterans from our defence and with a spend way less than 1 James Milner we got 2 new strong and experienced players in the shape of Koscielny and Squillaci. So far no complaints although it would be nice to have a player with a name I can easily pronounce or bloody spell.

Arguably Arsene Wenger completed the most important bit of business this summer. Forget Fanny Fart to the Lane for £2.50 or whatever, he kept Cesc Fabregas.  Anyone doubting that it was Wenger that kept him in an Arsenal shirt is blinded by negativity.  Our captain’s summer interviews were full of support, love and respect for Le Boss while, for once, not full of his desire to stay with the Arsenal. Cesc could have done a Mascherano, could have stropped, could have moaned, could have pushed for the move publicly and I feel that Barcelona would have absolutely loved him to do it. He was under great pressure from their payers, their hierarchy and even his family but he stood firm. Why? One word. Wenger.

So fucking massive crisis avoided and again we were happy campers eagerly awaiting the arrival of the one signing we had all DEMANDED (Episodes Keepers Weepers and Wenger Please Spend Some Money). We had 3 months to identify and sign a new goalkeeper. And that’s where it all falls apart. We didn’t. I don’t know why. Nobody seems to be sure. Arseblog, Arsenal Mania, community forums, blogs and podcasts are all united in their complete bafflement on the issue. Theories have been raised. We have heard that Manchester City were possibly playing silly buggers with us. Your choice of conspiracy could be that they held up the loan deal of Given to Fulham so we could not get Schwarzer in return or they pretended we could have Given ourselves and then bunged him 45 million quid a week to stay just before the transfer window slammed shut. Mark Hughes has also been nominated as pantomime villain yet again and we do know he is a cunt. The old trusty ‘finances’ have been also been mooted as the motive along with Arsene’s sheer bloody mindedness. Whatever the reason – bottom line is nothing materialised.

And so I’m angry. Firstly I think we all would have accepted Schwarzer as a short-term fix not THE solution. Secondly we had 3 months to look at other strong candidates and not get trapped with all our eggs in one Australian basket.  We know the other contenders as we have spent all summer long dreaming and arguing over their merits and price. We felt that with what feels like a decade of prudence in the transfer market would justify a proper blow out on a decent solid Keeper with no shopper’s guilt afterwards. There was certainly life outside the Premier League and that is usually where our signings come from so why we would get stuck in the PL politics with our rivals bemuses me.

As the consequence, never before have I felt Wenger’s position to be under such threat. If we again fall short and our goalkeeping is an reason why, I just cannot see the “get him out” section taking it. And they would have a complete and utter fair point. All of us Gooners, young, old, black, white, rich, poor, male, female, Cockney, Essex, Irish, tall, short, fat, thin, bald whatever have all been united with this one point. That, as experts in all things Arsenal, altogether now “We need a keeper!!” Yet Mr Arsenal, our governor, didn’t deliver.

I feel sad and pensive that this is going to be a horrible epitaph for a manager who I believe has revolutionised, modernised, and future proofed our club while providing a spectacle of breath taking football enjoyed throughout the world. The worst thing of all is -  I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND IT!!!!  Everyone around us have strengthened and bought pretty well. We face a long season including a Carling Cup tie away at Spurs and Chelsea home on Boxing day to prove to us that one away win at Blackburn is by no means a revolution.

So what to do? Cross your fingers I guess. Hope the bolstered defence breeds more confidence in Almunia. Trust he returns to the form that had papers and pundits touting him as a potential number 1 for England. Believe that Arsenal will score more than they concede for the whole season. Enjoy the emergence of Theo and the resurgence of Rosicky. Be confident that Nasri will show more of the excellent performances he illustrated against Porto and pre season. Expect Cesc to prove his class again. Wish that Song continues his growth and takes Diaby along for the ride. Pray that the word “injuries” becomes as alien a phrase to us as “Spurs and success.” 

Lastly, be the 12^th man. Getting on anyone’s back is not going to help, especially a keeper with confidence as a spiders snatch, who is the best we have and that we are stuck with until at least January.  (And probably after – who am I kidding?)

Clench your bum cheeks babe, it’s gonna be quite a ride. Again.