"I think it suggests something about the duality of man."
I have said it before, but since I'm a repetitive bore I think it bears repeating. I did not choose Arsenal Football Club, the Club chose me. I didn't follow the Arsenal because of trophies. I didn't follow the Arsenal because of players. It was never a question of glory.
Thus I was never spoilt by wild, early success that led me to believe that the path would only lead to glory and my heart would never be broken. Have I been upset at times? I have been. Don't talk to me about Ray Kennedy. Don't speak to me of Frank Stapleton. Don't show me Liam Brady in a Juve strip. I won't have it.
Did 1971 make us think we'd be covered in glory for ever and ever Amen? We see how that worked out.
There is a truth about the Arsenal Football Club that most of the newcomers can't admit--for a club that sees itself (and for a group of supporters who seem to share the same delusion) as one of the biggest and best in history, the truth is that the story of Arsenal is EQUAL parts sunlight and shadow. For every 79 FA Cup final, there's losing to West Ham the following season. Look up the records and see how true it is.
If you want to be honest about our Club, then you must admit that Arsene Wenger's trophies were an anomaly, and that coming close is more the norm.
Ahh, but that doesn't sit well with those who seek the reflected glory that comes with supporting a trophy-claiming side. No, for them, what matters most is the puffing of the chest and the bellowing that accompanies seeing the captain hoist that silverware. Never mind that they only know the heartache of losing to Barca in the Big Cup final--the heroic comeback in the Fairs Cup means nothing. But for me, it's the opposite way 'round--the glory of the Fairs Cup is fleeting, whilst the loss in Copenhagen to the Turks still hurts. STILL HURTS.
You can't scream your lungs out for Wenger to "go" (what does that even mean?) without knowing what it means to be an Arsenal supporter. You can't, because you don't understand the pain of all the losses in big matches. Don't you understand WHY the win at Anfield still dominates discussion? Don't you know why we need to fall asleep at night seeing Steve McMahon embarrassing himself with his ridiculous index finger aloft? It's because we don't get to enjoy those moments as often as our rivals. It doesn't matter what you tell yourself about how being an Arsenal supporter covers you in glory--because if you believe that, you don't know this club.
I'm sure that these musings are neither very well constructed nor satisfactory. I apologise profusely for that. But the truth of the matter is, Liam Brady won one major honour at Arsenal. How many medals does John O'Shea have? It's bloody nonsense. Brady played with some of the greatest players Arsenal have ever produced, and he won ONE BLOODY MAJOR TROPHY. You can argue which is the greatest Arsenal player ever--and I'll let you go all the way back to the Chapman era--and mention players of more recent vintage like Dennis or TH14 or Patty, but if you want to start that discussion and leave out players like McLintock or (yes, I hate to say it) David O'Leary, then what's your point, exactly? That you're under 30 and hate yourself?
I get physically ill when Arsenal don't get a result. I refuse to read anything about sport of any kind when Arsenal lose. I get angry and don't talk to people. I believe my watching causes undue harm on the players. I am convinced that wearing Arsenal colours on matchday is a curse and I bear shame for it. You don't need to question my "fan credentials."
I just feel as though, given all the other options--and I've tweeted quite a list of them (and don't give me Frank Rijkaard, please)--Arsenal already have a great manager. Is he perfect? No. Is the Arsenal Football Club? No. Are you? No.
There are players from our past who sincerely annoy me, or have, at least--Kevin Campbell and Luis Boa Morte chief among them--and not one of them will ever annoy me as much as Denilson. I loathe him as a footballer. How did Arsenal manage to cop the only shite Brazilian footballer? I also weep every time I see Diaby. But what can be done? Do you remember Cygan? Stepanovs? I used to call Grimandi "Grab Man-di" for his excellent defending. For years I screamed "And on today's programme, why Matthieu Flamini is pretending to be a football player."
My point, dear reader, from all this nonsense, is that nobody is perfect, and neither are you. Screaming for Arsene to be fired won't change the fact that George Graham managed Spurs. Which he did.
And if you can't sleep at night, just tell yourself this--what if Joe Royle had managed Arsenal?
