10 Rules All Gooners Should Follow

The time has come for Gooners everywhere to find a common code of behaviour and conduct when blogging and speaking about the Arsenal or Wenger. 

Why would we need to have such a code you ask?

The answer is simple, its absence in so many discussions and monologues written by very angry and agitated fans implies the need.  Here are my suggested parameters to respect when referring to or judging our Club.

That Wenger IS on His Own, Without Support or Resources to Set Things Right

Many critics of this man make some flawed assumptions, such as him having ¨lost the plot,¨ being ¨desperate,¨ having lost the will to manage, hopelessly confused and without focus or in decline.  However the facts prove to the contrary that he is;

1) On top of what's happening but not always able to influence the speed, direction or final outcomes as much as he'd like to be able to.  He is the manager but there is the Board and the players agents, both of whom can derail the best laid plans of mice or men,

2) That he is depressed and despairing, and devoid of hope.  That is the biggest crock the media have happily tried to sell us. 

He is doing his job in the same steady, silent and fairly clandestine way he has done since he arrived in 1998, with the same energy and commitment.  He is getting older and is under a lot more stress lately and therefore showing it but he is as strong and determined as ever.

3)Wenger has the support and advice David Dean still provides him, he has an excellent supporter in Ivan Gazidis, he has the support of the board despite rumours saying he doesn't, and the vast majority of True Gooners want him to succeed, like he always done in the past.

4) He has funds to buy players, an excellent scouting system to vet them and a clear idea what he wants and the team needs, regardless of the whiners who say he is ignoring our glaring team weaknesses.  It is curious that so many who moaned about our defensive weakness are now changing their tune and saying we need more strikers.

What We Read in the Tabloids and Hear/see on the Media IS the Absolute Truth

It is amazing how credulous and gullible many of the gloomy fans are when reading or listening to the media monkeys. 

I could fill 100 pages with Arsenal-targeting false rumours, innuendo, outright lies, biased reporting, absolute crap commentary, pitifully pedantic punditry and invented stories that have been vomited out on the net or in the media by unscrupulous writers and journalists desperate to create a pseudo-headline at all costs.  Here are a few rules to follow when dealing with this excrement:

a) Only believe it if its on the official Arsenal website.

b) Before opening your mouth, make sure your brain is in gear.

c) Ask yourself, if it sounds too good or too bad to be true, maybe it is?

d) When the reporter/writer says his information is from unnamed sources, that is news-speak for , ¨I made it up.¨

e) Remember that most of the press and media are NOT our friends and have no interest in the Truth.

That He Has No Clue What to Do

One thing for sure, he has been there and done that more times than most Gooners have watched an Arsenal game.

Wenger has built up 3 clubs in his 33 year career and has success in all of them.  He has done more to transform the Arsenal than any other manager since Herbert Chapman.  He is far from a spent force. 

In fact he may be coming into the apex of his career, despite all the bad press his media enemies spew out and mindless criticism a small minority of whiny, want-away fan-boys have heaped on him.  Be absolutely sure of the following:

1) He know more than any of us about everything Football and all things Arsenal,

2) He is very clear about what he wants and where he wants to go.

That He Doesn’t Want to Win Things and Is Happy with the Status Quo

This is the hardest to prove since we can't get inside his head to know the truth but he has always maintained that he has the same drive for silverware he had when he came to AFC in 1998.  He has always pushed his players to the limit in the Champion's League and took them to the Final in 2008. He also got them to the CC final last season so for someone who is supposed to be satisfied with the status quo, he doesn't seem to be lacking motivation. Perhaps the gloomy crowd are confusing his continental sangfroid and cosmopolitan elegance with someone who doesn't care.

That Nothing Will Happen Between Now and the Close of the Window Next Week

This nihilistic viewpoint, supported by nothing concrete, is expressed by the crybaby fanboys on almost every blog and website.  Since they have no more information or access to AW than any of us do, where does this false perception come from.  Many claim that it is from past ¨experience.¨

1) Wenger never buys big name players or expensive stars. 

Reyes, Nasri, Bergkamp, Henry, Arshavin, Lehman,Campbell, Gervinho, Wallcott, may not have been Internationally known stars when they came to AFC but they became so while at Arsenal. 

Arsenal don't spend like the City's of this world but they end up getting a bang for the buck like no other club.

2) There are still 7 days before the transfer window closes and it is obvious that Arsenal are very busy trolling for the right people to bring in.  A lot will depend on our CL fate and on the availability of suitable players who can improve the team.

That Our Season Is over Before It Has Begun

This is among the most ridiculous statements people burp out on the web. 

We are 2 games into the EPL season and anyone foolish enough to write off the Arsenal do so at their peril.  We have a long and proven history of overcoming the odds, of fighting for glory and of winning. 

Why should that change this season?

a) We may have lost Cesc and Sami but we have a higher energy level and that is evident in our play thanks to the new faces.

b) We may have another clinic-full of injured players but they will be back sooner than later and our defense is solid for once.

c) The other top 4 teams will be losing points as well and just like last year, will be there for the taking.

That the kids we’re watching replace our departed ¨stars¨ aren’t up to the task

Yes they are inexperienced, sometimes naive, often too aggressive and always over-eager but that's what the moaners have been whining about Arsenal lacking since 2005.

Would you rather have seen Squillaci, Denilson, Silvestre, Eboue, Almunia, Clichy, Bendtner and others stumble about without any real commitment or spirit?  Here are the facts:

1) Frimpong is a terror and so strong that he is threatening to displace Song.

2) Miyachi is amazing and driven and threatens Walcott.

3) Jenkinson is solid, taciturn and very reliable and is a great option across the back 4.

4) Miguel is a class act and will slot in far better than Djourou or Squillaci.

5) OAC and Campbell are yet to be seen but there is every indication that they'll add determination, skill, strength and pace to our entire team.

That we are so far behind the other top 4 teams that we’re playing catch up now

We are 2 games in and have 1 point.

We have had very poor luck in games with injuries and mistakes and some dodgy calls against us but we have shown we can fight and win when we need to.

Nobody is out of reach and won't be until the last game is played.

They will all drop points, even United, so once we get into our stride we will start winning and it won't be a difficult stretch to predict we'll stay in the top 4 once we do.

That We Cannot Beat City, United, Chelsea or the Spuds Head to Head

Every season we hear that we won't beat the other top 4 clubs or even the top 6.  Last season we not only did beat them but we had the best away record in the EPL by far.

This year, the pundits and moaners are predicting total defeat to the other top 4 teams because we are so fragile, weak and a walking disaster.

1) We have a serious injury list already but we have better bench strength and additions to the team despite losing Cesc, Clichy and Nasri.

2) Our defense has been very solid, even in defeat, so we are starting to gel in the back 4.  Our midfield is suffering the most with Wilshere out and Cesc-Nasri gone but they will be replaced.

3) Our motivation to beat the other top 4 teams is sure to be very high and we will surprise them if they take us for granted.

That Being out of the CL Would Be a Disaster for Arsenal

Everyone is predicting that we'll be out of the CL after Wednesday's game.  If so what are the consequences?

a) We will lose 25M in revenues – true but not fatal to the club seeing as we've sold Cesc & Nasri for twice that amount.

b) We won't have to play 45 games in the season and often two tough games in a week...less fatigue, less injuries, less distractions from the EPL.

c) We won't have to face Barcelona again, nor will we have to see Cesc play against us!

Try and Be Fair to the Club You Say You Love Gooners

It is easy and lazy to predict doom and failure, any cretin Spud can do that but to stand behind your team through thick or thin and cheer them on in the darkest hour is the sign of a True supporter.