Trudging through my local Co-op in Old Duston village fulfilling my duties simply as a hassled father and husband instead of a coveted Maestro, my eyes were drawn to two bold but contrasting landmark headlines on the New-stand; Peaches Golding became the first Black Lord Lieutenant in Britain serving Bristol today and a gloating Gary Lineker smugly telling all that BT Sport had secured exclusive rights for Champions League Television coverage; not least because his salary will rise even more ridiculously higher. As a man of colour, I was moved by the first story but stunned a little by the second. When I was a child I watched (with my father's permission) the highlights shows, foreign players with fancy hair and strange goal celebrations, supporters who played musical instruments to lead the singing was part of the beauty of European club competition; like the F.A. Cup, everyone always watched the final. The world has changed, choice is gargantuan for the lucky few and the shared experience along with generosity is becoming obsolete. Footballers are no longer just pictures on cards that schoolchildren exchange, they are now 'global brands' with numerous millions following every utterance and pout on various Social Media platforms. Meanwhile in all the haze of consumerism, our national game is drifting away from our gigantic Terrestrial High-Definition Television Flat-Screens and more worryingly the next generation... Arsene Wenger too is drifting uncomfortably away.
The confirmation of his demise was delivered in devastatingly ruthless fashion last night. Many fans of 'the beautiful game' are quietly reflecting that the end of an era has now been confirmed. I had similar sentiments as I trudged away from Old Trafford on Tuesday 5th March 2013 when Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United were well beaten by Real Madrid. The difference is that Mr Ferguson had already announced his retirement to avoid confusion and distraction Losing 5-1 twice to one of the pace-setters of the game, namely Bayern Munich who are managed by an equally hard-bitten veteran like Carlo Ancelotti. His time is clearly up; defeat against a non-league football club bearing my name is unthinkable; let's not go there for now! I am bemused why things have become so bad for a great club such as Arsenal under his tutelage and allowed to simply get worse. Mourinho called him a specialist in failure, we berated him for that comment but after all he might have been correct in his assertion.
Those of you who REALLY know me, will be aware that my love for Middlesbrough was born on Saturday 10th September 2005 at Arsenal's expense at the Riverside. Having been regaled with tales of artistic football that is pleasant on the eye by many 'Gooners' I travelled to the North East in search of a first-hand experience of the brilliance of an Arsene Wenger's team. What I discovered, in reality, despite the beautiful football was the embryo of a soft underbelly that has flourished unchecked for nearly 12 years. Middlesbrough bullied Arsenal on a chilly September evening and with two moments of brilliance courtesy of a debut strike from Yakubu and great trickery from Massimo Maccarone for the second. Incidently, of course at the present time 'Boro would buy moments of magic like that at any price to activate a credible stay of execution for this season's Premiership campaign, but that is a blog for another reflective day. At the end of that 2005-6 season, enthusiastic conversations enthused about a new ground which would help promote a new mindset for the 21st century and the capacity to compete with the big boys of world club football. As time has ticked on, two simple things have endured; the ground is indeed always full (60,000 plus) and the club have achieved consistent qualification for Champions League football every year, usually at the frustrating expense of Tottenham Hotspur. Could you ever imagine Real Madrid, the jewels of the Spanish capital settling for that or the Kings of Catalonia at Barcelona even contemplating such ambitions as 'a job well done!' The Emirates existence has yielded 4 trophies; two F.A. Cups and two Community Shields - a poor return. Could it be possible that Wenger has hood-winked everyone, is he the Modern Day version of that mystical Emperor with the questionable wardrobe attire. Consider this, surely David Moyes at United would have lifted more than two trophies in 10 years but, his status is now lamented as damaged goods and the Sunderland gig is doing him no favors either. Would Arsene Wenger really be faring better at the Stadium of Light?
People talk wistfully of title-winning teams but once Patrick Vierra left the Arsenal midfield their intensity was never the same again. Kante was the talisman for Leicester City last season, this campaign he has joined a superior outfit that, last season, lacked critical focus and the right general to tighten the loose screws; and guess what? Chelsea are topping the league! Wenger's Arsenal lack true game-changers, clinical strikers, leaders and most crucially a winning mindset. Right now and for a long time everything has been nearly. Sturridge and Lukaku nearly made it at Chelsea but were shipped out to Liverpool and Everton respectively and despite honourable endeavor are still operating in nearly environments. A cursory glance at Koeman's defeat at Spurs and Liverpool's capitulation at Leicester proves that.
Am I being harsh? Yes! But football is now a harsh huge business, as is life, and the natives at Arsenal are paying more for their football fix per head than my affluent Middle-Class luvvie friends down the road at the Coliseum, Covent Garden and Drury Lane, and that for me is the bottom line; watching football isn't cheap, If you yearn for an environment to showcase brilliance, and you are granted your wish 'on your terms,' by your paymasters, as he has, then you must deliver. Arsene Wenger once designed a great script for modern footballers, the trouble is that everyone else has surpassed the rehearsal stage now and is delivering upgraded performances and productions. For whatever reason, he has chosen to ignore the fact that the scene-stealers belong to other teams because he and all of those who run Arsenal failed to accept the rules of engagement. The fairy dust needed replenishing a long time ago and has turned to flour. If he does not bow out gracefully, his final curtain call could make uncomfortable viewing. 'Taxi for Wenger!' The ignition has been truly engaged, the only question now is who steps into his shoes?
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