In recent times, I have come to realise one thing — I am a closet Arsenal fan.
But Arsenal is like the third or fourth club I support and it was a secret, till now. So, I have the advantage of being able to be on the outside looking in. From that perspective, one of the big problems with Arsenal is the Arsenal fan. Here are a few things I’ve learnt about being one:
-You have to get used to heartbreak
Brandy once sang, ‘Almost doesn’t count’, and it feels true. Arsenal seems to have a lot of ‘almosts’, especially this season in which they have almost had it all. Now, an Arsenal fan tells me the F.A Cup is their only realistic chance of winning something…
-You have to celebrate the mediocre
Apologies Arsenal, but you guys tend to celebrate things like, ‘Yes! We came fourth!” or ‘Yay! We are ahead of Manchester United’, or ‘We may be out of the Champions League but at least we did not embarrass ourselves’. Come on Arsenal, where is the anger? Where is the wanting more?
-You have to get used to disappointment between flashes of brilliance
I have seen many an Arsenal fan live tweet during games. Arsenal either impresses them with the goals coming in hard and fast, or they are losing in the silliest manner. It is a rollercoaster of emotions!
- You have to believe that ‘In Arsene we trust’
Apart from Piers Morgan, I have never seen an Arsenal fan who truly wants Arsene Wenger out. Arsenal fans get angry (for a minute), huff and puff (for another minute), and then they are good again. Usually because of my next point.
- You have to love the smallest, seemingly big gestures
Arsene Wenger refused to buy what Arsenal fans considered to be quality buys for seasons, he even sold RVP to their closest rival, and then one day he signed Mesut Ozil and he was a hero again. It reminds me of how parents buy candy for their kids at supermarkets so they can window-shop in peace.
- You have to remember United
Arsenal: Best season in a while. Manchester United: Worst season in a while. And yet, Manchester United managed to beat them once, and draw a second time.
Arsenal is not the only team I have observed this season though. This is what I think of others:
- To be a Liverpool fan, you have to keep remembering you once had a great past
O Liverpool, does it hurt when you remember the good times? But this season had you making us believe you could do it. I hope Liverpool does not drop the ball and lose out a Top 4 spot.
- To be a Manchester City fan, you have to realise money is not everything
Throw it around all you want, it won’t help you beat Wigan, or Barcelona. #JustSaying
- To be a Manchester United fan, you have to switch between ‘Moyes Out’ and ‘Give Moyes Time’
and, sometimes, during the same game!
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