Beware the Apathy, Arsenal

A little over a year ago, Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal side won the FA Cup. Fans were buoyant and then subsequently; expectant, hoping to carry the momentum from that triumph into the next season. It was not enough; Arsenal spluttered and stumbled to another eighth-place finish. Fast forward three games into this current season – past the humbling at Brentford, the unfortunate events at the Emirates and the embarrassment at the Etihad – and the fans are angry.

It is quite easy to attempt polishing the situation, give all the necessary caveats, provide explanations and describe the context. The football landscape has been changed dramatically most recently by a global pandemic and by the deluge of funds from different parts of the world at various points before that. The game does not exist in the same form it did when Arsène Wenger and Arsenal were in their pomp and besides football is cyclical. People are overreacting like they always do. Right? 

Another look at the situation reveals another angle; a whole generation raised on great Arsenal sides, transfixed by the transcendent quality of legendary players – and a lot more who experienced them at different stages of their lives – are experiencing the genesis of an impressive decline.

The fans’ expectations are being wrestled lower than they have been for a long time but even then, Arsenal are spectacularly underperforming; therefore fans are angry, and it is only normal. The thing is, this is still a good sign for the club.