With protest placards popping up in environs as unlikely as New Zealand, Minnesota and Wrestlemania in recent weeks, it would appear that the ‘Arsene Wenger Out’ campaign is now a truly global undertaking.
While it’s unclear how much of the international dissent is simply meme-based mirth, the polemic being fanned in and around the Emirates has now actually devolved into outbreaks of physical violence between warring clans on either side of the crevasse.
It’s not like anti-Wenger sentiment is a new thing, though in the past it has been largely confined to comments sections and fan forums. Now, slowly but surely, the ‘Wexit’ (*shudder*) movement is taking a nigh-on militant hue.
Basically, with all perspective and reason tossed wilfully to the wind, the more whinge-susceptible wing of Arsenal’s supporters are mobilising to collectively soil their nappies rail against an obdurate, ambitionless regime that finished way down in second place of the highest tier of English football last season.
So far we’ve seen actual fighting in the stands…
When you overhear someone praising Coquelin pic.twitter.com/MuuDjKGmya
— Andy Ha (@_AndyHa) April 2, 2017
The coining and subsequent public deployment of the term ‘Wexit’ (*shudder*) during street marches…
There is a banner that says ‘Wexit’. This is not a drill. pic.twitter.com/WLpWox21e6
— Andy Ha (@_AndyHa) March 11, 2017
Stirring anti-Wenger protest anthems being recorded…
The hiring of ‘battle bus-style’ protest vans…
The hiring of duelling protest planes…
Concerted stabs at industrial (well, social media) sabotage…
There’s accompanying literature being handed out too. pic.twitter.com/UfvGCWJLQ8
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) April 2, 2017
Repeated attempts at this kind of thing…
West Ham game: Send a message to board – Stay on concourse for 1st 13 mins, watch game on TVs, have a pint if you like. Take seats at 7.58pm pic.twitter.com/RF2YV0oIAG
— #WengerOut (@NoNewContract) April 3, 2017
Guys, do you not see? All this is f**king insane (not to mention completely embarrassing) and it’s only the tip of the iceberg.
Yes, there are a few legitimate grievances buried beneath all the faux-uproar, but in an age when entire football clubs are going to the wall due to inept and/or negligent ownership and/or debts amounting to less than Mesut Ozil’s weekly wage, maybe it might be worth taking a step back outside the bubble and reassessing your ire.
For Arsenal, they’ll always be next year. Many clubs can’t guarantee themselves the same luxury.