Milan Massarce

15th February 2012 will always be remembered as the date I lost faith in this current Arsenal team, not only the team but the mentality of the players, the judgment of the board and finally the manager himself.
We made an at best average Milan side look great the club we love was out played for 90mins by a Milan that are struggling to fill the once packed San Siro every week.
(I know this because I live in Milan.)
The papers every day highlight the flaws in the once great Milan with comments usually centred around the lack of pace in Milan's team the lack of goals and creativity even their legendary defence has had huge criticism as they have struggled to keep out 'serie A' opposition away from home despite being top of the league.
Opposition that might not eve rival the top four of our premier league its fair to say that 'serie A' quality of football is no where near the same level that we play in the Premier League.
Yet despite all this they outplayed our once great club, they out ran out thought and more importantly they out Gunned our once great club.
Our recent good form has hidden the real problems that are deep in our club that now painful night in the San Siro showed how not having real winners and leaders in our team has kept us back and far away from silverware. We found it impossible to turn the tide and really lacked quality not only in the final third but across the pitch.
We once had a great defence Wenger once understood you have to build from at least two big, ugly (Sorry keown and adams.) central defenders; so that all the attacking play can take place without fear of sloppy or crazy mistakes at the back.
Now with this current squad of players we have no clue how to play the beautiful game and no confidence to go forward or play in 'triangles'. Now tonight having watched the game on TV after having to witness it live, I can see what was clear to all 5000 stood beside me which is there is no belief around the club or within the players and even the fans didn't look surprised this hurt deeply hurt. The majority of player showed now fight or pride to be representing Arsenal on the biggest stage.
5000 Gooners who work hard in normal lives, everyday to earn money to watch our were rewarded with a slap in the face. Some Arsenal fans will keep the faith but I urge you with every red part of my soul to see reason too look not only at this season and the departure of certain players but the standard of football the last 5 years, the games we have lost or drawn when leaders and quality were needed on the pitch that were not wearing our famous cannons.
Many Arsenal fans will list single occasions and games when we played well,but I ask you is that enough? To win silverware you have to preform every match win, loss or draw and today like so many other days we did not perform. All our breathtaking history will mean nothing if we don't make drastic changes this is more then a 4-0 defeat it's about glory that has been missing from our club for the better part of a decade! The fans here in Milan tonight and ALL Gooners across the world deserved so much more from our club.
I wish I could take positives I usually do but now is the time to get real; time to wake up. I'm not asking for protests or for abuse to players or the manger but we need to all move forward together and we ALL need to get the message to the club that this is no longer good enough and we will no longer will we stand aside and bicker amongst ourselves that we as a group thousands strong demand more than ever.
We needed leadership as well as spirit and were found wanting not for the first time we have taken millions in transfers alone only to line the already bulging pockets of our greedy board it's not just the money but the acceptance of defeat and average performance's that is now the norm. Even the once great style of our club is gone no longer do players move and flow in sync to often the play grinds to a holt as players struggle to pick out passes that only a handful of players in the world could complete.
I end with this thought- what young lad growing up watching football would want to be an Arsenal fan? What players would they follow so keen to emulate?I pray that some big changes take place so that us Gooners don't become a forgotten breed.

Ryan (@Ryanvr46)