Just Arsenal Fans

Good Morning and time to smell the roses as it is game day and hell yeah Arsenal are back by Vinay.

Talking about Arsenal (as if anything else is better), the latest recognition of the club came by it being termed the club that has best customer service and hospitality accorded during match day to fans. Before the cynics say, they have to do so after all they have the highest ticket prices in the country, my point is simple; we think of everything and everyone. Yes every club wants to keep their fans happy but its those simple things that make the visit memorable and Arsenal as ever have been at it always. The move to the new stadium was met with discord and discontent then but when you see today what a wonderful transition it has been, you realize AFC were indeed right in doing so. Still have doubts? Check out how many teams want to move to their own stadium or want to redo their existing ones, you will get your answer. Critics may say it is for the commercial benefits but ask a fan who is paying for the ticket and he will say it was worth it.

In terms of thinking ahead, AFC have been excellent. A certain Arsene Wenger was ridiculed for selling his top stars and investing in youngsters and unheralded players. We were labelled as being kids by a few and a lot more. Now when you see teams across the world, you will realize that what Wenger foresaw in hindsight was right. He knew that the only way forward was to invest in youth. If Southampton, Crystal Palace or even Watford is said to have a great youth academy and most of the top teams scouts come their to watch their players, the credit goes to those clubs who know that in order to compete in the modern day football, you either must have a sugar daddy who has bucket loads of money or have a cream of youngsters who have the needed talent but need proper guidance. It gives great joy to all of Arsenal fans when they see other teams trying to do what we already are doing. Want to see the best young team in the world, go watch Borussia Dortmund, they made the sheikhs of Etihad shudder. It was clean unadulterated football played by young men who just wanted to express themselves, Football at its virgin best it was. Even the international scene is no different, Spain are the champs but who play the best football – no not Brazil, neither Argentina, it is Germany. It is unanimously agreed that if there is a team that can beat Spain, it is Germany and Loew invested heavily in his youth players, this was the same guy who said no to Ballack and yes to Ozil, the rest – as they say – is history.

I agree every concept has a flaw and indeed the youth system does have its own as well. But the direction is the right one and i am sure everyone agrees to it. Brendan Rodgers, Roy Hodgson, Joacheim Loew, AVB will certainly vouch for the same. Am I saying only Arsenal gets the credit for it, of course not, but the fact remains it was Arsenal who were the forefront of it.

In the same way is also the financial fair play. The world of football is at crossroads because of the exorbitant money spent and apart from a few who can afford through various sources, some with a sheikh who has throw away money, some who are ok to go into heavy debts just to be there and there abouts or even some who suddenly find money hidden in the attic, rest of the majority realize that there needs to be a limit. When you hear that Manchester United officials are going to complain about City’s spending, you must laugh and say look a crow calling a kettle black.

Arsenal stuck by their financial prudence and insisted that they will spend money from their earnings and profits. Now FIFA and UEFA are trying to install a cap on the madness to. Now can we not say, we told you so.
I am not just trying to justify that everything Arsenal does is right. Like all things in this world there are certain things which can always be improved and so it is for Arsenal. The thing though is we have been trendsetters in achieving a balance of running a football club and doing it in the right way.

At the end of the day a fan or even a critic may still say all this is nice but what have you got to show for it? My answer is simple, we may not have trophies that fill the cabinets but we have been the role model for others to follow. Indeed even i want to see my dear club win everything that is there to be won but in case we dont, i can proudly say we indeed tried to do so and tried in the right way. Arsenal Football Club is right in its way and i am proud to say i support this club.

Parting shot – he is back, yes he is back, the body shudders in hearing it and seeing him may make me swoon but yes Jack Wilshere is back and before anyone says its been 15 months, the come back after a injury is the toughest etc, for one moment lets forget all that and wish him well, for he is that eternal hope and pride of Arsenal football club. Welcome back Jack, go and play as if nothing has happened, you are a fighter and you will always be one.

Till next time

Vinay