Denílson’s plastic bullet offers Wenger his final, but invaluable reminder

Denílson’s plastic bullet offers Wenger his final, but invaluable reminder

Denílson’s plastic bullet offers Wenger his final, but invaluable reminder

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This is it for Wenger. The loss of Denílson may be a sign of things to come. Every second wasted is a second too many. He has to act now.

By Darshan Joshi, writing from Sydney

An internationally recognised vessel finds itself shipwrecked, following six years of being marooned somewhere adrift of the promised land, and the first sailor to announce his betrayal? An underperformer. Denílson wants out, and it was a wish he needn’t rub a lamp in order to obtain. Arsène granted his request, probably without a moment’s hesitation. No need to get him to walk the plank, it has to be assumed.

Oh, but it could have been anyone.

If Denílson has, as he says, endured ’[…] the worst season of my life’, what of the fulcrum of that side, from Thomas Vermaelen to Robin van Persie via Bacary Sagna, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott? It does not bode well. The Brazilian offered further reasoning:

‘I am a winner and I came here to win trophies but I’ve been here for five years and won nothing. Until Arsenal stop throwing away silly points in stupid games, nothing will change’

The supposed opacity of the Arsenal façade must, by now, have been liberated. The fans have known it for a long time, and there are quotes to back it up. Onomatopoeia, really. Soprano, alto, tenor, bass; voices of all kinds ringing uniformly - 'boo’. Through Denílson, this disillusion has seeped through the floorboards of the dressing room. His words, so emphatic, so brutally honest, will echo in North London until change bares its beautiful self.

But at least it’s only Denílson. Wily Wenger has dodged one bullet, but the gun is loaded and he remains in plain sight. He must act before the trigger is next pulled. It has been a long, cold and stormy winter, but for the Frenchman, the summer will not be of any relief. There is no room for error. Signings have to be made; the right signings. Sway but a little, and this ship will be well off course, heading for a Titanic-like death.

There is no more need for any of us to ponder on this issue. The time is right now, Arsène. Let your principles blend into the shadow; be the change you want to see on the field.