By Boris Mellor
December 9 2006

That may be stating the obvious, but it is an obvious that fans often ignore. Fans support a club for life – however badly that club lets them down.

Players move on at the drop of a hat. Rooney, SWP, Vieira, all moved when it suited their career. After all it’s a job, who wouldn’t move if they could get a better deal elsewhere. Most fans put up with more shit supporting their club than Cole has ever suffered, real or imaginary. But they don’t move they are different.

Fans spend a fortune to follow their club, players’ moan when only [sic] offered 55k. Edu left for more money – Cole was not the first – but nobody cared, we wished Edu a cheery farewell. We knew he was a professional. What is different is that Cole claimed he was Gooner through and through, and we loved him when he celebrated winning the league at WHL, even though Arsenal had been warned not to. He obtained an imitation trophy and placed it on the centre circle, Gooners lapped it up. When Cole had his furtive meeting with Chavksi the fans couldn’t believe it, they were heartbroken and outraged at the one and same time. Love and hate are close emotions, when what you love rejects you then the reaction can be pure hatred. What you love can kill you in the end. It can be all consuming

But fans should never forget that footballers are different to us, at the end of the day very few will show loyalty, the few exceptions do not disprove that rule. And in spite of what Lehmann says, and he is very funny, and put Cole in his place beautifully, most Arsenal players won’t enjoy hearing Cole given stick. Indeed the way Lehmann put down Cole was excellent – it could be a model to work with. Perhaps a few chants at Chelsea fans of "where were you when Cole was shit" might remind him, and them, how much Arsenal and its fans nurtured him. Sure let’s jeer him, but lets not get too consumed with him. Arsenal are a 120 years old on Monday, and when the next 120 years history is written he will only be a small footnote, probably as the man who fecked up the offside trap in the CL final. He will be only one of hundreds of Arsenal players who didn’t make an impact. He will never be one of the Legends – James, Bastin, Parker, Buchan, Drake or in modern times a McClintock, George, Wright, Brady, Rocastle, Seaman, Henry, Vieira , Bergkamp and many other true Legends.

Actually Arsenal fans owe you very little Ashley, we have had better left backs, but Sky wouldn’t know that, and it was Arsenal who supported you when you were under criticism for your England performances.

I have written too much on you Cole – lets leave Karma to do its job. I got a feeling you will win nothing this season. Just like Teddy when he first went to Man U.

Preview

I just hope the fans don’t forget to get behind the team, and not be too obsessed with a turncoat. It will be a hard game tomorrow, Chelsea have a very strong midfield with plenty of good spare midfielders on the bench. Partly due to injury (Diaby and Rosicky) and not yet adapted to the Premiership (Baptista) Arsene’s attempt to compete in this area has not yet borne fruit.

One area that was looking good for Arsenal was the defence, Gallas and Toure are immense, but injury and suspension have put paid to that. Henry is injured so that cuts out more attacking options. But football is not just about individuals, it is also a team game. A lot of people wrote off the Gunners before they played Manchester United, the same people are writing us off again this time, and as we have lost 3 away games in a row they are not entirely without logic. However Wenger is certain Arsenal can do a job, and to do that he will probably play 4-5-1, if they get that right in the way the team did at Manchester, but not in the way they played Porto away, then there could be a surprise.

But it will mean putting more offensive players into that formation. It could be time for the Beast and RvP to stand up. It would also be great to see Walcott get a chance, just imagine him skinning Cole, now that really would give the turncoat more nightmares than just booing him.

If we did put an offensive 4-5-1 out then we might see Chelsea retreat into their shell and be cautious for 30 minutes, put out a defensive eleven and they will rub their hands in anticipation. It’s hard to make a prediction without knowing the line up, but why not give it a go? Don’t forget to enter yours on the prediction league.