Train booing

When I first started writing about Arsenal, the club and the manager were only a few years removed from an unbeaten season followed by an FA Cup. Despite my frustrations with players like Denilson and Adebayor, and despite my reservations about Wenger's transfer policy, and despite the impact of the move to the Grove, I was largely positive. 

I actually enjoyed writing about Arsenal. There was the fair share of heartbreak and of course there was the horrible 2008-2009 team along the way, but my feelings were largely positive. Sadly, those days are gone.

I used to get so upset when Arsenal lost that I wouldn't want to watch anything else related to sport for days. I'd be a bit melancholic and say "meh" to everything else. 

Now it's the opposite. Arsenal lose and I say "meh" and go on to everything else in sport. I can't even understand the people who took the time to go hoot at Wenger as he got on the train. Every time you do that, he'll just deepen his resolve to buy some injured bloke you've never heard of in January just to piss you off more.

Thank you, Arsene and Stan. You've killed my spirit. You've removed my passion for Arsenal. I no longer am upset when Arsenal lose. Lose? Whatever. Ok then. 

And not just lose, but lose in a disappointing, dispiriting fashion. Capitulate. Play poorly. Make stupid, senseless errors that ought to have been eliminated years ago. 

And not just play poor, stupid football, but also fail to employ tactics that could at least give the side a chance in difficult matches. 

And not just play poor, stupid football and fail to employ the proper tactics, but completely ignore the team's pressing needs during multiple transfer windows. 

Yeah, that stuff doesn't bother me anymore. It really doesn't. I just shrug my shoulders and walk away. 

I shrug my shoulders at the following, too.

So far this season, the following managers have taken league points off Arsene Wenger:

Roberto Martinez

Nigel Pearson
Manuel Pellegrini

Mauricio Pochettino

Jose Mourinho

Steve Bruce

Garry Monk

Louis van Gaal
Mark Hughes

Nigel Pearson, whose team sit bottom of the league and have managed only 10 points from 15 fixtures, took a point off Arsene Wenger. Garry Monk, who has been managing for less than a year, took the full 3 off Wenger. Steve Bruce, whose side have managed 13 points all season, took a point off Arsene Wenger at Ashburton Grove. Mark Hughes, who lost to relegation fodder Burnley AT HOME, took the full 3 points off Arsene Wenger. 

Now, I ask you, when you read the preceding paragraph, how do you feel? 

Do you blame the gods? Do you blame the referees? Do you blame yourself? 

You may, and by all means, go ahead and do so. I know the famous Irish blogger always says "we" when he could easily say "Arsene Fucking Wenger" but then again, he's paid by the club so I suppose he has no choice. I don't say "we" didn't buy the right players, nor do I say "we" set the team out with fuck all tactics. 

Arsenal are no longer the football club I began following in 1996. Arsenal are now an Arsene Wenger vanity project. That project, by the way, is failing. 

I never thought I'd see the club I love held hostage to the ego and intransigence of one person, and that situation made possible by one other person. You don't need a doctorate in business to know how Silent Stan Cranky operates. He could give two severed rat testicles about Arsenal winning a trophy, but that might take away from his son's millions he's being paid for "consulting services."

Maybe those services involve elaborate powerpoint presentations on "how to sell players and not replace them," or "the tactical genius of the high defensive line." I don't really know. But based on the results, i.e. losing to Garry Monk and drawing with Leicester City's Nigel Pearson, I'd say FUCK YOU STAN CRANKY AND FUCK YOUR SON AND FUCK YOUR CONSULTING SERVICES UP THE FUCKING ARSEHOLE. 

But hey, that's just me. I could be wrong.

The point is, I just don't give a toss about Arsenal anymore. Lost to Stoke by surrendering three goals? Oh well. That's that. Drawn with the absolute worst team in the league? Meh. Ok. So what? 

Thanks, Arsene and Stan. You've killed my joy for this club. Maybe the two of you can go build a Walmart shopping centre somewhere when this is all over, you fucking cunts.