PREMIER LEAGUE: A REFLECTION ON THE FIVE YEARS PERFORMANCE FOR ARSENAL FC

It is now five years since arsenal foot ball club last took a trophy –along with usual consolation messages at press conferences, as if that will ever give fans the right game results

A lot of confidence has since been invested in the coach, but the deteriorating performance overtime, leaves many doubting future press releases. Such, now, as then –will mean nothing to anyone –be it the fans or opponents.

To most teams, arsenal is so average that they find it possible to beat it, unlike years before 2005 –when opponents could be sure of a rough time. Because of Arsene’s ever unconvincing game plans, it would take arsenal another marathon of years to attain the level of 2004 performance level.

Much as investing in the young players was economical and excellent sporting strategy, how best to employ them, to adjust from the past philosophies (of mainly attack) and at what time to make important changes in the team –remained a tight challenge for Wenger.

It could be noted that after 2004 the game required more of defensive consciousness than merely adventurous or rampage attacking. Arsenal, given its record of having most goals conceded, of the big four teams, continued with its senseless attacks –whilst mindless of defensive requirements.

Instinct to defend lacks in arsenal’s current defenders, perhaps because current defenders were mid-fielders before. It has been more-less a team of eight mid-fielders and two strikers whenever it played competitive games.

Yet, with the changes in the level of the game –especially in the premier league – regardless of the team one played, fielding two good defensive midfield players could be most appropriate. In fulfillment of that, Arsenal has been lucky to have Alex Song and Denilson.

Unfortunately for him, he has been exerting all efforts on experimenting players around possible positions they possibly played –no matter how poor. Arsenal has not had a standing team, but rather, a clique of players the coach best believed in as ones that could automatically win a chance to play; and anytime.

One observational method used is nationality. Most likely, regardless of the player-form, he would field one of a French origin. There has been a tendency of him being reluctant to play black Africans in preference for the French folk or Brazilian ones.

When Song was playing wonderfully and more stable than Denilson at most times, Wenger, so often left him on the bench. And, when Eboue showed more stability in his game amidst Sagna’s declining game, the coach was slower with taking on Eboue.

For the cliques of most influential young players were sure of getting selected. Even if they played poorly, their positions would be reserved. Eboue, for example, deserved playing every aspect of Chelsea and Manchester game, but Wenger preferred Diaby at the cost of his frequent ball donations to opponents.

More over, Eboue’s attitude, always proved excellent on both teams. Indeed, this season than ever, arsenal scored goals more by luck than as obvious as it were four to five years ago.

Besides, over-patience over having to substitute a player has been so chronic that by the time a better substitution is made the game would be almost over. If the substitute scored or helped others score, the game still could be 2:1 loss to Arsenal.

So surprising and disturbing was when he left out Andrei Arshavin from the starting line-up of the FA game with Chelsea, yet he was not qualified to play champion’s league. The question is for whom was he reserving Andrei for, and for what purpose; to lose the game afterwards?

The season 2008/9 has featured more of arsenal players and coach doing much of the talking off-pitch than in the game –as if cushioning themselves from mistakes they never want to recognize or accept.

Then, when the club captain expressed dissatisfaction, the most influential clique of young players led by Van Persie, warded him off with contempt. And, on the other hand, the coach failed to take a disciplinary action against them.

Instead, rushed out at captain Gallas and had him demoted –without having to look at his concerns; as strikers not being clinical at the goal, and playing as though not competing at all! But all it cost him was loss of his position as club captain. Could the other reason have been that he wept at bogus arsenal losses?

But Christians can agree that Jesus did the same for his love for mankind yet considered righteous. And just in the premiership alone, Chelsea’s Terry and Manchester’s Ferdinand have often wept upon bogus losses, but are still the best and doing wonders in their respectful clubs!

Of course, there cannot be more than one coach or decision-maker at the club, much as the adverse effects, in the very end, are not met just by club management, but fans else-where in the world. Just three years down the road Uganda has had three arsenal-related deaths and numerous emotional and physical complications in people –accruing to its poor performance.

Yet thinking that being part of the crowd watching Arsenal play to beat a any team in the weekend game opponent would be one way to fade-out work stress; instead, are met with more insults with team’s poor performance.

Only at the champion’s league game against Manchester united, an arsenal fan in Kenya committed suicide due to arsenal loss. This shows how much faith and expectation people have in arsenal team that are rather in disharmony with either the coach or the players themselves –who at times play as if outside competitive match.

About how those attending live matches could feel about arsenal losses is another issue. Unlike, fans living several miles away from England and unable to watch live matches, financially could find it a bigger bite watching the team lose at emirates stadium, while at the same time failing to see substance from coach’s press conferences at the same time.

But, rather than deviant press-talks like world war propagandists and comforting self-talk from falling dictators, it has been evident that for the last five years, arsenal has not won any trophy –including the smallest of the kind.

What mission, then, does it have; just talking at pre-press and post press conferences? Isn’t it high time every one concluded that arsenal management has failed, and that any future press statements be branded lies?

But, Christians to which Arsene must be subscribing to –believe that if the smallest can never be achieved, then it could always be a joke to claim desire to win bigger challenges. On the basis of that statement, there must be one person fooling the other, and that is the coach.

Surprising, as if the team did not have sufficient pre-seasonal training, the coach often shifted that time to replace competitive games like FA, premier league, champion’s league and carling. Isn’t playing a reserve team or considering a competitive game experimental just sheer arrogance and useless pride?

Fortunately or unfortunately, Arsene is not like other premier league managers –who have either been sacked or resigned, so that he saves every one’s time on the pitch and television from being wasted.

He still rides on the pride of winning the 2004 English premiership, rather than studying the current game dynamics adoptable to win English games. Amazingly, regardless of the extent to which his policies have failed, he has continued pursuing them. That is the policy famously called Arsenal policy.

Having done that for five years, doesn’t it only show fading or faded mission for the team? And has he run out of team management form? What, then, should we expect from Arsene, come 2009/10 campaign?

Jacob Waiswa
Community Psychologist
DISHMA -Uganda

HOW WOULD LIFE BE WITHOUT PREMIERLEAGUE?

THE CASE OF UGANDA

BY JACOB WAISWA

A SITUATION HEALTH ANALYST

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Around 1990s and a few years that followed, football made in German was the main foreign soccer entertainment in Uganda –along Africa Cup and World Cup. It made people’s lives, and beers; club and pilsner filled tables. And German soccer, Cameroon and Nigeria were the talk of the town.

Years that followed, premier league, took the stage as Ugandans were out and about identifying themselves with the English clubs. The most prominent English club then was Allan Shearer’s Newcastle. But soon Manchester United, Arsenal Football Club, Liverpool and Chelsea shot to prominence.

As of now, many Ugandans boast of being fans to either of the listed clubs. They boast of their rich histories, the kind of football played, the fan-base, and the club’s wealth status. They do not end here, but go as far as arguing about period taken supporting or fanning the clubs.

And as part of the greeting, there would be a question, about which clubs any of the acquaintances supported, and each would reveal his side. While those who could be categorized as most conservative give Ugandan clubs, while the least conservative would say both Ugandan club and English club. Fanatics of premier league would shun Ugandan football for never developing.

The Ugandan football, then, was famed more for being violent more than the entertainment bit. In fact, they were second to none in as far as keeping riot policing busiest. As Ugandan football was heading to hell, the premier league took the driving seat.

In the years that followed, it began threatened discotheques, cinemas and drama groups as most attractive entertainment scene though passive. Of the three only discotheques and cinemas managed to cope.

They did so, integrating soccer on their entertainment menu. Actually, with drama those who lacked an alternative, as singing were no body (in the entertainment industry) but “dead.” Radio stations too had to style up –by adding soccer talk onto their programmes.

And, today, as compared to other programme presenters, soccer presenters are more popular. Even if J. Kazoora was still one, he would not have competed. This is what one would call the power of soccer.

Bars blossomed -since football entertainment went directly hand in hand with drinking beers. Someone, whose club was victor, could stand up and buy beers for the audience to celebrate with him.

Remember, football watching is mainly a man’s take. So, there could be a gender bias as we go along –because with them it is notably, reading novels and watching love stories on television or at Cineplex. As a result, relationships suffered –the same way as today.

Now, premiership has taken up Uganda like coup d’état. It has more-less replaced traditional religious believes. Unlike, in the early political history of Uganda –when people identified with religions, today, they would wish to be indentified with premier league clubs. Premier league clubs are, instead, the talk of the town. One would be proud to say is an Arsenal fan or Manchester United rather than the old talk of religious inclination.

After a long period of political party ban, a switch to Manchester united or Arsenal could make much sense to people. And for those who are fatigued with politically fighting Museveni out of power too found a better thing to do –which was to watch premier league.

With it they were surer of wining a game than waste time on Museveni out of power. They thus, refreshed or found better life in watching football. This helped reduce political pressure on Museveni –which could a more important attribute than to Kaihura’s riot police boys.

Those stressed by work, also, too could find an inevitable time for premier league football. It could be the best alternative stress managing activity –though greatest well-being moments would prevail more if the team won. The same would be for those angered or just been in a conflicting situation. It is premier-league soccer that would bring relaxation away from stressful objects and people.

The most challenging time would often be at end of the league in May. Thereon, everyone would begin looking towards august –when the league resumes. It could be harder life to live especially for those in overwhelmingly stressful environments or permanently living with stressors. It would be woeful.

But thanks to the radios stations, they keep people as far as rural with premier league news and in particular their clubs. Radios are able to relay football transfer news, moderate discussions about football, and by far; help to keep football club spirits high, people cheerful -and expressing happiness.

Even, when his or her football club gets beaten, they meet as fans to talk out mistakes, and thereafter, look forward to winning ways next weekend –with reinforcement from radio and television presenters, newspapers and internet club websites. These mediums asses games and give verdicts that are positive-oriented to the fans. What a contribution to mental health!

Premier-league football shows bring about a cross section of people together –and have unconscious way of uniting people. When strange people of the same club meet, they feel proud and share it together.

The initially stranger-man’s appearance would no longer be there but rather friendship or brotherhood. It would probably augur well for people in relationships or just dating –because of the mere fact that having similar interests -as same football clubs created a stronger bonds than not.

Development-wise, premier league football has helped provide employment -both as self-employed or employed by someone else. This is in form of club products and services sold to the general fan population, and the viewership, respectively.

Uganda now local businesses in that area like Katumwa sports shop for foot ball club products, GTV and DStv as service providers. Within them, there are both employees and employers.

And in one way or the other, government gets revenue for development projects, which would not have been the case without strong demand for premier league viewing and fanning in the country.

Unfortunately, over the last two years there are has been about three cases of deaths linked to football. The latest in Kampala was regarding brothers struggling over which game to watch on the same television set. They fought until one stabbed the other to death.

Another was in Jinja Town, where an Arsenal fan -thinking that it could a habit for the club to lose after it went down by one goal for Spurs, collapsed and died. It was unaffordable for him to see his team lose in presence of his girl friend.

The funny bit was that Arsenal Football Club went on to win the game 3 to 1. Perhaps, the lady did not do enough to call for patience or might have belonged to another football club. And may be if he was alone (without girl friend), he would have held on to see his team win. May their souls rest in Eternal peace.