Morning folks.

I love Christopher Nolan. I love every movie he’s done. Last night I watched The Dark Knight Rises in its entirety for the 3rd time – it truly gets better every time I watch it. You might wonder why an Arsenal blogger is talking about this. The reason is; would my affection for Christopher Nolan’s movies stop me from saying if I thought he made a bad one? No – my views on Arsene Wenger are absolutely the same.

Whilst watching the movie, it struck me there are a quite a few similarities between TDKR and the current climate at our beloved Arsenal; structures as shackles, warring factions, the rich elite and their disregard for others, an 8-year absence of a mythical figure (or trophy…), and the passing of a mantle to another.

Granted, Arsene Wenger isn’t likely to fly a nuclear bomb out of London in the nick of time, and it would be a shame to see half the first team squad buried underneath an imploding pitch. Well, perhaps not Squillaci.

I think you get my drift, though – don’t you?

When interviewed after the Villa game, Arsene faced up to some of the critics – notably the away fans and their choice of song – and he had some strong words to say:

“I leave it to you to judge. I try to be as good as I can be. Is it hurtful? Look, I have managed for 30 years at the top level and I have to convince you I can manage the team? “How many games have you managed? I promise you if you manage one I will sit in the stands and chant ‘you know what you are doing!'”

When asked about the Coquelin for Giroud change, something I thought was ridiculous, he added:

“You can discuss every substitution. You think what you want. “I do my job and I let people judge it. I do that every day and I do my best every day. I know why I do it. “What is the thinking behind the substitution? I will not explain every decision I make, you judge the game and I sit here and explain to you our game. “You are all great managers! I read the newspapers every day and I can tell you that you are always great managers!”

Sounds to me very much like the words of a man tired of the constant questioning of his management. I can’t say I blame him, but I cant say he wasn’t asked questions that needed to be asked.

I’m just a blogger. My football experience is hardly top-notch, and I was never particularly adept on Championship Manager. I have my opinions on my team, and right or wrong, I’m entitled to them – just as all you good folks that comment are. I’d be an idiot to claim I know better than Arsene Wenger – I certainly don’t. However, as I’ve stated before, no one is beyond reproach, and no one is infallible. Arsene Wenger has made mistakes. He has to answer to those mistakes, and the away fans have every right to voice their concerns.

Most ex-players seem to agree. Today I watched a video in which David Seaman stated his belief that Arsenal need to spend – to lay down a marker and bring in some real quality. Could I disagree? Nope. We do need to improve the squad’s depth. Will we? That’s another matter entirely. Perhaps Wenger is restricted by the board, or perhaps his vanity prevents him from doing something that would appear to be concession of defeat.

It’s a odd atmosphere at the moment. Supporters are unsettled, bickering, and veering from one extreme to the other at the slightest of provocation. At the end of the day, we all want the same; a successful, financially stable club. I see the only way forward is to adopt a middle ground between the two. Perhaps too much is placed on the latter.

Thats all for today folks. Leave me a few of your own views in the coments. I look forward to reading them.

Thanks for reading, you beautiful bastards. I shall return tomorrow.