Soccerphile Editorial - March 2014
Long-suffering Arsenal
Calling Arsenal supporters long-suffering would seem preposterous to the majority of football fans across England and beyond.
Nonetheless, the past decade has hardly been an era of widespread happiness for Arsene Wenger and his side after Gunners fans had the delight of celebrating top flight title wins in 1989, 1991, 1998, 2002 and 2004 over the previous 15 seasons.
Indeed, it is now 10 long years since the Invincibles waltzed to the 2003/04 Premier League title without defeat, with the 2005 FA Cup the only silverware Wenger has held aloft between then and now.
Although still alive in this season's FA Cup, it is nevertheless clear, after heavy losses to their three title rivals in the space of three months, that Arsenal will not be crowned champions this year either.
Wind the clock back to this time last season and Wenger's status as the longest-serving manager across the football league was - as now - under considerable scrutiny.
Then - as now - Arsenal's title chances had melted away.
The Frenchman was being urged by some sections of the side's support to bulk up the Gunners' squad with experienced players of international renown rather than investing in youngsters year after year.
In other quarters, he was even being urged to rethink his future at the North London club.
Fast forward 12 months, and Wenger would be forgiven for any feeling of déjà vu, with some fans vocal in advocating a change of managership at the end of the season.
Only this time, Arsenal's midwinter capitulation in the Premiership title race has occurred after Wenger did finally decide to spend big, smashing Arsenal's transfer record to sign midfielder Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid.
This season, in contrast to many of those previously, Wenger hasn't overly relied on younger players that have potential but not battle-hardened Premier League readiness.
It is arguable that Wenger's biggest failing this year has been his dallying on lavishing on a high-profile central striker as backup for Olivier Giroud.
Some detractors also point out the lack of leaders in the central area of the side, that aggression has again being overly sacrificed for creativity in midfield.
His side has suffered untimely injuries it must be said, with Aaron Ramsey missing most of the second-half of the campaign after displaying his best-ever form in the first and Theo Walcott sidelined because of cruciate ligament damage.
But many of Wenger's other trusted players have simply not stepped up when necessary, and his tactical stubbornness has also come under fire.
Worse still, the Arsenal manager's hard-earned reputation for developing young players was questioned this week, by none other than former England and Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes.
Scholes took aim for Wenger for failing to advance the development of Jack Wilshire, a player who while showing greater levels of desire than some of his team-mates has also looked well off the necessary pace this season and whose participation in this summer's World Cup is no longer a foregone conclusion owing to form and injuries.
"Jack Wilshere came on the scene and looked a top young player but he has never really gone on," Scholes bemoaned.
"He needs the characters like [Patrick] Vieira next to him to take him to the next level.
"He doesn't look any better player now than he did when he was 17."
Wenger, it is reported, has in principle agreed to extend his contract into next season, and perhaps the following one, too.
But all parties concede that his future as manager is now short-term and, like David Moyes at Old Trafford, one wonders whether the Arsenal hierarchy will trust in Arsene with the summer's big-budget rebuilding program.
Arsenal's clash with champions-elect Manchester City this weekend might lend support one way or the other.
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