I would love Wenger to prove his critics wrong

Not any attempts at analysis in this post. This is more a personal piece, a hope that Arsene Wenger proves his critics wrong. Some are amazingly calling for his head, others are using a bad run - including an admittedly terrible low-on-confidence performance at Man City - to take an opportunity to rubbish wholesale his work and his 'third generation project' which some conveniently don't acknowledge took us very close last season.

Arsene Wenger deserves far more patience and respect. For me he made a mistake not buying in the summer. Wenger is human - he is entitled to make mistakes; to have made a gamble that has not paid off in relying on the talents of Diaby, Denilson and Song being ready to take on regular CM responsibilty and to gamble that the Gallas/Toure partnership be given another chance.

It is fair to highlight that and say that it may have cost us a real challenge for the title this season and criticise him appropriately. But not to the degree I have read and seen. To do that is to show no respect to past achievement and joy he has bought to Arsenal fans and general football fans over the past decade. And that is worthy of contempt.

The test is the transfer window. If no action - or at least attempt to take action - is taken and performances like against Man City continue than severe questions must be asked of Wenger. But not now; not while he is unable to enter the market. Instead we must be patient for our heavy-hitters like Rosicky, Adebayor, Eduardo, Toure, Cesc etc who were absent on Saturday to make their respective returns to the team. And we must get really behind the young players who played with their heads down on Saturday.

The supporters who went to Man City did that. More of that is needed in place of the disproportionate criticism.

(P.S. I like many other supporters have closely followed the development of Cesc since his introduction into the first team. He has been a credit to himself, his family, the club and his home country ever since his debut back in 2003. His appointment as Arsenal captain follows a natural progression of what has been a sensational development and I definitely wish him the very best.)