An Arsenal Fan’s Ode to Patience and Perspective


As an Arsenal fan, I’ve lived through the full spectrum of emotions that come with supporting this storied club. The Wenger years, particularly toward the end, often felt like a slow bleed—a cycle of hope, frustration, and misery that tested the loyalty of even the most diehard Gooners. Fourth-place finishes were celebrated like trophies, and the banter era was in full swing. Fast forward to today, and the narrative has shifted dramatically. Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal are no longer the punchline. We brag now, and for good reason. The club is competing at the highest level, challenging for titles, and playing football that stirs the soul. Yet, as we head into another pivotal season, a nagging question lingers: what happens if Arteta falters again? 

Let’s start with gratitude. Arteta, a managerial novice when he took the reins in 2019, has transformed Arsenal from a mid-table side into genuine contenders. His first job as a head coach, and he’s delivered a second-place finish, an FA Cup, and a brand of football that’s both disciplined and exhilarating. The Emirates is generally a fortress again, and the squad—built on youth, hunger, and cohesion—feels like a project with room to grow. Compare this to the chaos of the post-Wenger years under Unai Emery, and it’s clear Arteta has exceeded expectations for a manager cutting his teeth at one of the world’s biggest clubs.

But fandom is rarely rational, and success breeds impatience. If Arsenal stumble in the 2025-26 season—say, another trophyless campaign or a failure to challenge for the Premier League—the calls to sack Arteta will grow louder. Fans will point to Enzo Maresca at Chelsea or Arne Slot at Liverpool, managers who’ve hit the ground running with their own visions. It’s tempting to draw comparisons, but context matters. Maresca and Slot inherited different squads, cultures, and pressures. Arteta walked into a fractured Arsenal, a club in need of an identity transplant. He’s built something sustainable, not a quick fix. Judging him solely on trophies ignores the foundation he’s laid.

That said, I’m not happy. No Arsenal fan should be content with near-misses or moral victories. The Premier League title has eluded us for over two decades, and the hunger for silverware is visceral. But unhappiness shouldn’t cloud objectivity. Sacking Arteta NOW would be akin to throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Progress isn’t linear, and even the best managers—think Klopp or Ferguson—have endured barren spells before cementing their legacies. Arteta’s inexperience is both his greatest risk and his greatest asset. He’s still learning, adapting, and growing into the role. The question isn’t whether he’s perfect; it’s whether he’s still the right man to lead Arsenal forward.

If the coming season brings regression—say, a drop out of the top four or a tactical stagnation that betrays his vision—then the conversation about his future can begin. But it must be a conversation, not a knee-jerk reaction. Arsenal’s revival under Arteta is a testament to patience, a virtue too often in short supply in modern football. We’ve seen what happens when clubs chase instant gratification: the managerial merry-go-round rarely ends well.

So, as we brace for another season of hope and heartbreak, let’s hold Arteta to a high standard without losing sight of the bigger picture. He’s given us reasons to brag again, to walk into pubs with our heads held high. That’s no small feat. If he falters again, we’ll demand answers—but we owe it to ourselves to keep perspective. The Wenger days taught us what misery feels like. This? This is something worth building on.


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