In Arsene We Trust: but do the Arsenal players?

SO KON PO, HONG KONG – JULY 29: Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger looks on during the pre-season Asian Tour friendly match between Kitchee FC and Arsenal at Hong Kong Stadium on July 29, 2012 in Hong Kong. (Photo by Victor Fraile/Getty Images)

There is no doubting the fact that Arsene Wenger is one of the best managers to have ever graced the modern footballing era. His ability to find exciting talent and hone them is second to none and his bonding with his players has always been cordial and healthy, based on trust and belief in his idealistic and pure footballing ways.

But the recent mass exodus and the continuing departure of the star players from Arsenal have brought an interesting perspective into question: Have the players lost faith in his footballing ways? Have they started to feel that Arsenal will no longer be able to challenge for the honours they once dominantly used to win?Is there a lack of trust in the Arsenal dressing room?

Whatever the problem is it’s getting serious.

The Arsenal fans are one of a kind : steadfast, gritty and to a huge extent optimistic, whenever there has been a problem they have trusted Wenger to come up with a solution and given him and the Club their full backing. But when you are an Arsenal fan you want your club to win trophies and the seven year drought has started to hurt. Yes Arsenal are not the richest of clubs, but they are one of the financially stable ones and their reluctance to give exorbitant wages to players has also been seen as a reason many players choose to leave for pastures new. Today’s game is more about money than desire and fans have started to find it difficult to trust any of their stars as all their statements have started to sound hollow.

One day a player pledges to lead the club in its hunt for trophies the other day he starts to question the Clubs’ motivations and leaves just because another club shows him the money.

But this actually just one side of the coin: Wenger has always been stubborn in his playing style as well as his transfer policy and this has not gone to well with the players as well, every player wants his trophy collection to be full of winners medals and they have started to believe that Arsenal will not be able to provide them that and have thus started to leave, From Thierry Henry to Robin van Persie, they all craved more success (and maybe monetary gain) and decided to leave. One as a club legend, the other a betrayer.

But should only the players be blamed? Is the mamagement not equally responsible? why is it that contract extension talks are always left for the last year, leaving very little space for negotiation, why are they so reluctant to give out hefty pay package without realising that a trophy is worth much more?

Changing the core of the team every year is not going to help and to be able to go back where they deserve to be, the star players need to be pursuaded to stay. They should be made aware of the project they want to implement. Moreover the trust of players in Arsene needs to be restored. There was the side that became the ‘Invincibles’, it was a side full of confidence and belief in each others abilities, a side driven by hunger and motivation. it is high time that the hunger returns, the fans will be there alongside the players even if they fail, they will bear the pain of losing players because the club is bigger but their trust needs to be reflected by the players who should step up, start to believe and make sure to put the club over their own motivations, they should trust Wenger and stick with him for some time and realise that most of the players are indebted to Arsenal for making them being able to command high wages and the least they can do is repaying by believing and winning.

I can only hope that this exodus stops and that at the end of the season Arsenal be there among the ones challenging for the title because without them fighting it out for the title it becomes less interesting to see the title race. I can only hope that players do say ‘IN ARSENE WE TRUST’.