i gather it's all about "matchday experience" for you. this thing is so much deeper it's not even funny.
There are many lifelong Gooners coming forward and expressing similar views now. Even the usually super optimistic are now reaching a breaking point. I will share another letter that I thought was very telling: http://www.arse2mouse.com/post/35477333373
My enthusiasm has definitely waned. If it's hard to get excited about a club that can't compete, it's impossible to get excited about a club that could, but refuses to even try. The RVP sale was the end for me, as i've said many times before, it was a slap in the face to the fans. Anyway, that said, the atmosphere at the new stadium isn't really that bad, people tend to glorify the past. My first trip to Highbury was in 2003 to see Arsenal v. Chelsea. I got a ticket in the Upper West stand with a bunch of long time season ticket holders. Almost no one sang and there was plenty of moaning about poor play from the squad. But everyone did jump up and celebrate our goals. It's the same thing now, just without the same quality in the squad.
Im with you 100% here. For the first time in 18yrs I didnt bother to watch the game live on Saturday when ive had the opportunity. Watched it Sunday morning when I had nothing else to do. Doesnt sound like much but ask any of my family and friends and they will tell you that everything must stop for me when Arsenal are on tv.
Two roughly depressing and roughly accurate pieces. I wonder if the top management of this club really have a clue as to how our club is perceived in recent years. And how they seem to be taking a monumental risk of losing the support that they most desparately need. One line from the 2nd blog which I thought was telling: Still... I haven't jumped off the tracks yet. Unlike Scally who did the unthinkable for him, I did manage to make time to watch our escapade with Fulham last weekend... live. I'm still committed. But I feel more like an Everton supporter now. Maybe that feeling will be complete when Wenger moves on and Moyes replaces him.
I completely agree with this: Interestingly you can read similar letters from old school Man Utd fans who have pulled out as well.
It's hard to compare fans of English football vs German football when Premier League teams have priced many supporters out of being able to attend. Teams in Germany have kept prices down so everybody can afford a ticket and the atmosphere there is outstanding. PL fans find themselves watching on TV, the internet, or in pubs.
It's the type of fan we attract. Atmospheres are better in other PL clubs, Liverpool, United, Newcastle, etc. have good atmospheres generally. Even Spurs do. I think basically the types of fans who come to Arsenal are not traditional fans, and this was even the case in the Rioch and Arsene (at Highbury) eras. Whether it's because we're a London club, and due to its status as a major city, we somehow attract more non-traditional fans (but then this should apply to all other London clubs also and maybe even Chelsea since the Chelsea area has been an upper-class one for a long time). I agree with article in general though, we've essentially been mismanaged both on and off the pitch. It seems Gazidis and co. only care about profits, and Arsene is too stubborn to see he's made many errors over the past few years. Had both been on par, I think the 2008 and 2010 leagues would have been ours.
Matchday experience is all part of the general football experience. You go to a match, sing about your favourite players, sing about how much you hate your team's rivals, berate the opposition fans, and obviously cheer your team on to win. That's simply as it is.
Basically this. Arsenal supporters pay more money than any other supporters in the world, and in return we get assurances that the club "can't compete." It's therefore non-sensical to pay that much money for what everyone understands (including management) as an inferior product. But what is probably the most depressing theme underlying all of these complaints is the globalization of football and its creation of identikit football cultures, atmospheres and styles across the world. There is nothing unique about watching the current iteration of Arsenal. You will get very much the same (or better) overall consumer experience by following City, United, Chelsea, PSG, Ajax, Bayern, Roma, Inter, Atletico, Porto, Sporting...the list goes on, and on, and on.
Well that was the point. If it's due to an excess of non-traditional fans, it should affect Chelsea more than us, since Chelsea is a trendy part of the city. I can't really put my finger on why our atmosphere is shit relative to other clubs.
this is a matchday experience. http://www.flickr.com/photos/27453474@N02/7139677787/lightbox/ 62,012 in attendance and that was only a friendly on a damp and dank october.
Pretty spot on with how I feel. I'll be in London for a few days at the end of March and I'm not going to a game. That would be unthinkable for me a few years ago but it's my personal statement against the club's ticket pricing policy, their decision to sell our best players year in/year out and creating an environment where it's impossible to attract top talent. I'm an Arsenal fan for life (jumping ship to support another club isn't an option nor will it be) but I've never been as apathetic about this club as I am this year. It's sad to see the Arsenal brand diminish so much in such a short span.