Frustration Vs. Optimism: Which Side Are You On as a Gunners Fan?

Note: The following interview was not carried out in reality.

F = Frustrated Fan   O = Optimistic Fan

What do you think of the Gunner's Season so far?

F: Poor, really poor. I have been watching the gunners for 12 years and I have not seen them poorer than this. We have won nothing since 2005—nearly four years now—and we are supposed to be one the biggest teams in the world, nevermind in the UK.

Why are we falling behind Villa and perhaps even Everton now? Why do we need transitions which takes us five steps back without even stepping forward? Losing out on a Champions League spot will see Wenger getting sacked I think, the board must surely realise he is past it.

O: We haven't been consistent that's true, but we have shown so much potential. Against Man Utd we won with a first team average age of 21. How many teams in the world can do that? Won against Chelsea also, and Roma. With all the players coming back, and all the youngsters gaining experience, we should get to fourth spot no problem. Our defence has been solid since December and I hope this continues.

Do you think Wenger should've bought a defensive midfielder last summer or this January?

F: Of course, Denilson is failing to dominate the midfield for us. At first I thought he was a fantastic talent—in a Fabregas mould—but now all he seems to do is run around like a headless chicken. He has passed the ball more times than anyone else in the EPL, yet all his successful passes go sideways or backwards, whenever he does a forward pass, it goes wrong.

I actually think we should buy a defender for defending against targetmen such as Drogba and Zamora. A midfielder like Flamini to compliment Cesc and a striker who can finish, unlike Adebayor and Bendtner! We are lacking in every department.

O: We would definitely have welcomed one but I think there wasn't anyone available at the right price. Wenger is not going to overpay for a player. I think this team is still strong enough though, look at the Carling cup performances, no one was complaining there.

I think the squad is great really, we have the right blend of experience now, Rosicky in midfield would be key with his experience, he is 29 next season. Toure and Gallas at the back, and undoubtedly Van Persie is the most experienced striker we have. We have the right blend I think.

What has been the reason for Arsenal's poor form this season?

F: A lot of reasons—Eboue, Bendtner, Denilson, Song are clearly not good enough for the team. They are young but so what? If you are good enough then you play, if not, then you are out. Simple.

But the biggest blame goes to the manager who keeps playing these rubbish players. We have injury problems yes, but why didn't Wenger buy more in the summer to prevent this? We should have invested while we had the money on a DM, simple as that. Now it is coming back to haunt us.

O: We have been unlucky with injuries. We really needed Fabregas, Rosicky, Eduardo and Walcott this season yet they were all out for 3-plus months. Wenger couldn't have prepared for this, no one can predict injuries, especially when it is all in one particular position, midfield. Even if they can, where can you find a better player than Fabregas and Walcott for a reasonable price?

Also the Gallas outburst obviously didn't help team morale.

Do you still think the future is bright for Arsenal?

F: Not exactly. We won't qualify for CL now we are so far behind and have the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd to play.

We fail, then Wenger will leave probably after messing things up. Fabregas will follow him since the only reason why he is still here is because he wants to repay Wenger.

Adebayor will go to whichever club which pays him high enough wage for his designer clothes and flashy cars. Van Persie will leave after the club turned him into a world class player, just as so many before did, Hleb, Flamini for example just used us as a stepping stone to become a world class player.

O: Of course! Look at our young players. Flamini was 24 last season, Denilson is still 20, who is to say Denilson won't be as good or better? Flamini remember was not setting the world alight when he first joined. 

Hleb was 26 last season, Nasri is 21, yet already showing he has even more potential than Hleb. Also we have Ramsey, Wilkshere, Vela, Simpson, etc. coming through. They will be great players.

The future will be all ours I think.

Do you think Arsenal are well equipped to win trophies now? Or the future?

F: Nope, we already messed it up. As I said, we won't qualify, and then we are doomed for the rest of the decade. So many players will leave and we will have to use players like Merida and Song in midfield or something.

When is the boss going to realise we can't win things with kids, which has been proven after four trophy-less seasons and also three seasons where we competed for nothing but fourth place.

O: Yes, next season already we have a great team. Almunia is improving all the time, Toure and Gallas looking a good unit again, Clichy and Sagna are the two best full backs in the EPL, Fabregas will be back and will have a proper pre season under his belt, Arshavin would have adapted to the EPL playing style by then. Nasri would have had a season under his belt, the strikers will benefit from the midfield's extra experience. All the youngsters will get better.

So I think we have a big chance for next season. If we can't win next season, it is OK, we can fight for the one after next. As long as the team sticks together.

Do you think the team has been given too much pressure from the fans? Should'nt us as fans be more supportive?

F: Why? We have not won anything for years and we are right to expect more! This is Arsenal and we are supposed to be a big team, otherwise what's the point of wasting so much money on such a great stadium if we are just planning to play in the UEFA cup?

We support them yet they are failing to repay us. It is not fun to pay 40 odd quid to watch an average arsenal side being beaten by a mediocre side like Hull.

O: I think so, afterall the team is so young. We should give them confidence and encouragement instead of stepping on them while they are down already. We give them so much pressure that they are failing to score even at their own home.

The above interview is just fantasy, both views were created by me, since I have been thinking, neither of them are wrong. All are facts and all are valid points. Yet, whichever side we are on, we are Arsenal supporters, and we should be proud. Which side are you on though?