Wenger hoping to win back fans

FIRST it was the Beast from the East, then Mother’s Day, and yesterday it was the turn of the Easter Bunny.

After Arsenal supporters voted with their feet for home Premier League fixtures against Manchester City and Watford, apathy again reigned at the Emirates Stadium. The explanation was not convincing.

‘It is explicable by the fact it is Easter, a family happening,’ manager Arsene Wenger said. ‘We’re not going for a lot in the Premier League in people’s minds. We had a break, the last two or three weeks we faced that problem.’

A club official trundled around in the second half to report that more than 59,000 tickets were sold but he was not fooling anybody; most neutral observers estimated there were at least 10,000 fewer spectators in the stadium.

Wenger’s conclusion that Arsenal fans are experiencing a religious reawakening is not credible. Instead, it is increasingly clear they are expressing discontent at the club’s malaise in the most direct manner.

It was the same against Manchester City in the snow and against Watford on Mother’s Day. Yes, fans must fight the elements and balance social lives, but generally they do all they can to turn up to watch their team. Yet at the Emirates, apathy has taken over.

However, Arsenal’s form is returning, so will the supporters follow? ‘They will be back on Thursday (for the Europa League), don’t worry,’ Wenger said. He must hope so.