Like the innie-outie bellybutton, Arsenal fans’ Arsene Wenger-related plane banners are confused AF.
Understandable, though—after a jaw-dropping 21 years as manager of Arsenal (which is 300 years in EPL managerial time), Wenger has developed a devout fanbase (see: nostalgia for a lossless 2003-04 season and title and a UCL finals run in 2005-06) and a rambunctious set of detractors (see: those mounting pitchforks while Arsenal has lingered in 2nd-4th place for a bajillion years). Well, this season is the real test, as Arsenal are getting edged out at 5th, and people aren’t happy—or are they? Just ask the banners.
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Today was no exception to Gunners fans’ frustrations as West Brom made mincemeat of Arsenal’s backline, despite their massive pay checks. The score ended in a 3-1 drubbing, as West Brom scored on two poorly-marked set pieces and a loose ball. Of course it was Alexis Sanchez—who has been head-scratchingly benched by Wenger recently—who was Arsenal’s lone scorer, thus proving a glitch in Wenger’s thought process.
Arsenal are now five points behind 4th place Liverpool, with Manchester United and Everton nipping at their heels. Not a great sign for Le Professeur.
With an endless parade of anti-Wenger protest signs—including the hilariously tasty calls for a “Wexit”—we’re now likely to see people get a bit more creative about their upset. Because the conflicting “No Contract #Wenger Out” and “In Arsene We Trust #RespectAW” aren’t really sending out a coherent message. I wouldn’t be surprised if a second “out” plane made its rounds next match—to trump the “in.”
