Arsenal Summer Crisis Phenomenon

Another summer, another supposed crisis in North London. This time apparently it is Thierry Henry, who has developed cold feet at the altar.`During these alleged troubled times, most Arsenal fans fall into the trap of either blaming the player involved or the press.

This time it is Henry who has drawn the short straw, borne the brunt of the blame, and has suffered hatred far beyond the etiquette of common decency.

The other perceived culprit is a massive press conspiracy, or the lack of a public relations representative at Arsenal who magically manipulates the rumours. How exactly he would do that, is unfortunately never explained to back up this alternative theory.

But lost in the general confusion is the identity of the actual culprit, the great man himself, Arsene Wenger.

Preambles aside, I will explain my hypothesis. Its a bit long winded, but bear with me, I will tie it all together.

Arsene Wenger doesn't manage his players. He oversees them. He is like a magnet which affects the iron filings through a barrier. There is never any actual contact.

Contrast that with another manager, we know and hate, Sir Alex Ferguson. If Wenger, is a magnet, Ferguson is a hammer. He moulds the players almost forcefully. There is nothing subtle there.

Both of them treat their players as kids. The difference is, Wenger treats his kids as intelligent beings capable of making their own decisions every time, whereas Ferguson assumes his kids are talented, but incapable of making any decisions of their own.

How does this tie up with our crisis? United at the start of the season, were in a mini crisis of their own. Three years without winning a title. Two key players Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Christiano Ronaldo unsettled. What happens next?

Ferguson assumes control, freezes out Ruud early on in the season, transfer lists him and sells him forcefully. Going the other way with Ronaldo, he orders him not to talk with the press, asks his agent to shut up and issues a press release, saying, he isn't going nowhere.

He made the decision for both the players. And he was decisive.

Contrast that with Wenger, who let Vieira decide his own future, and is now doing the same with Henry.

But, a message of caution, here, before you proceed to Wenger's house with a pitchfork. If, as fans, we applaud the freedom and joy with which our players play, we will also have to accept players making up their own minds, in a messy prolonged public saga.