Why Wenger must stay, by Nigel Bidmead

What a fickle bunch of knee-jerk reactionaries some of you are.

Just when the team needs your support, you become whiny and negative.

The Premier League is within our grasp yet some of you act as though we are about to be relegated.

You are going to look right mugs if we win the title.

Of course the last fortnight has been frustrating, disappointing, depressing even, but there is no need to throw Wenger out with the bathwater.

Our 20-year-old goalkeeper makes a last-minute mistake in a cup final; we come from behind to beat what Graeme Souness calls the best club side he has ever seen; despite another individual error and a moment of ridiculous refereeing we are within a decent first touch of reaching the Champions League quarter finals; then, after those two shattering defeats the team go to the toughest place to play in England without Fabregas, Song, Vermaelen and Walcott and control the game but lose.

And you want the manager sacked, big name players brought in and a complete change of philosophy?

 Let me ask you turncoats a question.

Which English team has better prospects than Arsenal?

Manchester United with their debilitating debt and ageing manager?

Manchester City with their boring style and zero team spirit?

Spurs with their pony stadium and manager who stands accused of cheating the Revenue?

Or Chelsea with a village idiot for an owner and a squad that needs overhauling?

For me, four FA Cups, three titles, two doubles, the Invincibles, a new stadium, a playing style envied the world over, 13 consecutive Champions League campaigns, solvency, millions of new fans and a promising future buys Wenger the time he needs to build a side capable of dominating domestic and European football.

Does it get up my sleeve that we stall in November and implode in March?

Yes.

Am I frustrated at the lack of silverware in the past five seasons?

Yes.

Do I think the squad needs more depth, leadership and experience.

Yes.

Do I wish he would stop treating the the club\’s money as though it is his own?

Yes.

Am I going to call for the head of the best manager we have ever had?

NEVER.