Sports Briefs
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ARSENAL fans are planning a coordinated protest during Saturday, April 30, home games against Norwich City to demand changes in the way the club is run. Fan discontent has been steadily rising at Arsenal this season as their title challenge faltered during the second half of 2015-16.
The Gunners’ theoretical chances of winning the Premier League ended after Sunday, April 24, draw at Sunderland was followed by Leicester’s win over Swansea, and they now have to hold off Manchester United just to finish in the Champions League places.
Arsenal fan groups Red Action Gooners and the Black Scarf Movement are now urging supporters to show their frustration by holding up signs saying ‘Time for Change.’ Arsenal is stale, fresh approach needed during the Norwich game. The groups said the protest is not specifically aimed at manager Arsene Wenger but also at owner Stan Kroenke and the board.
“Whether it’s the manager, whether Stan Kroenke has to go and whether the Board needs shaking up and reminding that we’re a FOOTBALL club, change is needed at Arsenal,” the Black Scarf group said in a statement on its website.
The protest is planned for the 12th minute of the game, to highlight the fact that Arsenal’s Premier League title drought will reach 12 years, despite having been top of the table in January. Wenger has already been under increasing pressure from supporters, but has repeatedly insisted he plans to see out the final year of his contract next season.
Kroenke, the American who owns a majority share of Arsenal but rarely comments publicly on the club, has also been accused by fans of caring more about profits than trophies.
“It’s pretty clear that things aren’t right at Arsenal. We have an absentee owner who takes money from the club whilst not engaging with fans. We have a manager who won’t use the resources available to him, to strengthen a squad which everybody can see needs investment. Fans are fighting each other over what exactly is wrong and who is to blame but it’s clear that we are in a rut, and that something needs to change,” Red Action Gooners said in a statement.
The atmosphere at Emirates Stadium has become increasingly tense during recent games, and thousands of season ticket holders opted not to attend last Thursday’s home match against West Brom. Red Action Gooners also urged those fans who don’t agree with the message to hold up their own signs of support rather than staying quiet. “Apathy achieves nothing and talk is cheap in the pub and on the internet we need fans to get involved. Something is wrong at our club and only change will unite the fanbase again.”
— May 9, 2016 @ 01:00 GMT
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