Arsenal: Apology, schmapology – do something about it!
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal fans are getting serenaded in apologies from the players and guess what? No one cares. If they aren’t going to do something about it, what’s it matter?
After the Brighton loss, Arsenal players did the “brave” thing and hopped on to social media to apologize for the performance. On the one hand, yay, someone is taking responsibility for the shambolic mess the club is in. On the other hand, who the hell cares?
Apologies are cool and all. They are indicative of change. One apologizes when they regret their actions and intend to make up for their mistakes by doing the right thing the next time around.
Which is why I ask who the hell cares? Arsenal players are apologizing for not being good enough. Guess what? It’s been this way for five or more years. Getting on social media and accepting responsibility and saying better times are ahead, that is meaningless at this point.
Related Story: 5 Things Learned Against Brighton
All I want to see is effort. Desire. Passion. A willingness to do something about a loss as it is unfolding. As we talked about in the recent Pain in the Arsenal podcast, it’s not so much that the Gunners are losing, it’s in the manner that they are losing.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win
If you go out there and give it your all and lose, there’s no shame in that. You’ve done all you could. If you go out there and do what the Gunners have been doing lately and quit before half time, then there is shame the likes of which a quick “sorry guys” can’t make up for.
What we saw against Brighton, Manchester City, Swansea and beyond, was complacency. It was dejection and sadness. Worst of all, it was acceptance. Acceptance that they could not change the result.
There is no excuse for a player on this proud football club to accept a result before it’s happened. I don’t care if you’re 3-0 down in the 85th minute, you better be tracking your arse back into the box to defend and pushing forward to attack.
Jack Wilshere and Petr Cech were both quick to apologize and again, there is a certain honor in that. But in my book, not much. Not anymore. Talk is cheap.
Next: Arsenal vs Brighton Player Ratings
Arsene Wenger thinks he can turn the club around? Nah. Talk is cheap. Stop saying the same old things and do something about it. Otherwise you might as well just post pictures of baby sloths and kittens on your social media. I’d rather see that.