So this (all those empty seats) is what it has come to. What would have been one of the most eagerly awaited matches of the season, played out in front of an almost two thirds empty stadium. And it was, of course, a total mis-match.
After the humiliating performance and result last Sunday at Wembley, the last team that Arsenal needed to be coming up against was the same opposition, but such are the vagaries of the fixture list. It would have been hard enough against Manchester City even if Arsenal were firing on all cylinders, but they've barely got any properly oiled working parts at the moment and it's all frankly rather embarrassing; and also rather sad.
I've been thinking about writing a new post for the past few weeks, but I've been suffering from Blog Apathy - I frankly haven't been able to muster up the enthusiasm to write. For all the madness of the January transfer window; and even after the pitiful defeats at Swansea, Tottenham and the three successive defeats of the past week, I hadn't been sufficiently motivated; until this morning.
Arsenal's WDL record in 13 matches so far in 2018 reads DLDLWWLWLWLLL, and includes no less than 7 matches which have been frankly shambolic. In fact, apart from the rearguard action at Stamford Bridge and a decent performance in the return leg, and two fairly scintillating first halves against extremely poor Palace and Everton sides, form has been utterly woeful. The team have hit new low after new low, and if asked to choose I'd put Ostersunds at home at the very bottom of the pile.
So last night - leaving aside the gulf in quality between the sides which has been so apparent in the last two games - around 25,000 Arsenal fans appear to have gone down with that same viral disease of apathy. There were maybe 30,000 people in the crowd last night - and let's not forget that despite the weather the City end was almost full! - yet the club had the audacity to announce a crowd of 58,420 (based on tickets sold, so 25,000 season ticket holders even had no takers on the Ticket Exchange). Against Manchester City, for goodness sake!
One or two friends of mine have been saying since 2010 that it was time for a new Manager, and it has taken the rest of us time to catch up with that way of thinking. I think that I came to that conclusion four or five seasons ago - FA Cup wins notwithstanding. The Wenger Out trickle has become a flood, and the dam finally burst over the past few days. I'd be surprised if 5% of Arsenal fans don't realise that change is essential.
But there really isn't much to say that I haven't said before, or that other people haven't said over the past few hours (days/weeks/months). Although I think that it's best summed up by this from Gunnerblog last night on Twitter: 'If you asked me to imagine the saddest possible expression of Arsene's demise, I would probably have said a half-empty stadium bearing witness to his lifeless team being battered by a side playing the kind of football he was once renowned for.'
We've been over the reasons for the state of the club and the team countless times. We all know how it has come to this, and that it is inexcusable negligence from both the Manager and the Board. We also know that there is no way that Wenger can possibly be in charge next season. He can no longer do anything for these - his - players; and most of them aren't good enough anyway.
Others are advocating that the Club should make an announcement to that effect as soon as possible, so that he can be remembered for the great things that the team achieved under him and for the legend that he will always be. I am in total agreement with that idea. Whilst the legend has tarnished over the past few years, Arsene will be more remembered in the future for the great things done in his name than what is going on now. Let's cling to that, and try to change the atmosphere by making these last few months a celebration and not a wake.
It was 20 years ago today that Fred Done paid out on Manchester United winning the league, so far were they ahead of Arsenal at that point. And then the Wenger legend began as Arsenal won 10 matches in a row (including that never to be forgotten 1-0 win at OT) to overtake them and win Arsene's first title (and then double). Unfortunately, he has now taken the team full circle and back to where he found it. It's fair to say that almost every one of the current squad are literally not fit to lace the boots of the Wenger sides of 1998-2004.
Despite the stadium move, and all it promised, this is the saddest thing of all. Fan expectations have been built up and dashed, year after year after year. For all that other supporters claim that we behave as if we are 'entitled', I feel that the promises on the back of the stadium move gave us that sense of entitlement. We're not Sunderland fans, or Leeds fans, or Leyton Orient fans thank goodness; you have to feel sorry for them (alright, perhaps not Leeds fans!). But something better change, and change is very much in the (freezing) air.
I'll just leave you with one highly amusing possibility. Statistically unlikely as it may be, if Tottenham finish 4th, and any of United, Liverpool or Chelsea finish 5th but win the Champions League and Arsenal win the Europa League, Tottenham will be playing in the Europa League next year and Arsenal in the Champions League. It's a million to one shot, but what else have we got to cling to?
