The one silver lining.
There is a growing bleakness engulfing Arsenal Football Club. A deepening foreboding as to what lies ahead. Their fans have had their hearts torn and twisted by ill fate and infighting, whilst the greatest manager in their history seems intent on eroding his own grand legacy. Perhaps most devastating of all, there is precious little to believe in anymore.
When you win, you win. Each player becomes a champion, a paragon, by definition. There is no test of faith because everything is so tangible and proven. But when fortunes dip and form is lost, you search for other things to hold on to. The reassuring presence of a great leader; a first signs of growth and potential; even a cult hero to soften the blows.
At Arsenal, they are fast running out of such outlets for consolation. Arsene Wenger is a living legend, he should be celebrated like a king. But the longer he stays on to fix his own mistakes, the more he continues to make. Had he retired some years ago, universal adulation would have been his. As it is, some of his own now detest his very presence.
It’s not even as though the Emirates faithful can take solace in each other, so fragmented is the fan base. The Wenger issue is an obvious and indelible schism, but the bigger divide is between the level-headed and tempered majority, and the loud brash look-at-me hysterical few, who grab all the attention and dominate each medium of the social media age.
Heroes on the pitch slowly disappear from sight. Former players are all too quick to stick the knife in, whilst a series of mesmeric talismen are polished and sold to rivals. The home of the Invincibles is now a finishing school. This season has been particularly galling, as the fans do their best to cheer on stars they already know are soon to be leaving.
So who do you turn to, when you can’t turn to the manager, the players, your legends, or even yourselves. Thankfully for Arsenal supporters, there is one shining light through all of this mire. He is the greatest of men, a messenger of hope and relentless optimism. In a world of skullduggery, doublespeak and bare-faced lies, you turn to a preacher of truth.
He is slender in build but immense in stature, with devilish good looks that would make angels weep. His words crisp and nourishing like the first shards of sun at the break of spring dawn. His eyes are doe-like, and full of the mysterious that have confounded men since the beginnings of time. He is hope. He is redemption. He is love. He is Ornstein.
The BBC Sport giant is only man Arsenal fans truly believe in anymore. And in many ways he is their last remaining constant in an ever-changing world of trauma and turbulence. Far more than a sadly failing Arsene, Ornstein is the one true leader of the Gooner Nation. He is the only one with M&S adorned shoulders broad enough to carry their dreams.
There is pro-Wenger and anti-Wenger, traditionalists and revolutionaries. And yet, when it comes to David Ornstein, there is no ambiguity of allegiance. No one dares question his sacred word. Indeed, such is his power and influence over his North London people, that you have to wonder where Arsenal Football Club ends, and Ornstein FC begins.
The future is uncertain, and the present a mess. But dry those eyes, Arsenal fam. Because whilst you still have breath in your lungs and Ornstein in your heart (and on your timeline), you have everything you need to become anything you dream of.
My saviour @bbcsport_david
Give us your words of wisdom. pic.twitter.com/M17Y9RQnpQ— Kuba (@KubaOnArsenal) January 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/warcozinho/status/951989506437152768
https://twitter.com/huwharfi/status/902633655146868737
What are you doing @bbcsport_david… we are waiting for you pic.twitter.com/EZd4ouN2yt
— goonertwitt (@GoonerTwitt) January 15, 2018
well in Ornstein pic.twitter.com/RCNyi5RfQA
— Jamie C (@JamieCurtis5) August 31, 2017
Ornstein to all other journos
Man try say hes better then me
Tell my man shut up! @Stormzy1 pic.twitter.com/87rdzaaaf2— Humzah Jogee⚪ (@Humzahjogee) January 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/Xhakalate/status/953203109962100736
https://twitter.com/MainManMustafi/status/882254707753922560
The Oracle has spoken! 👐 pic.twitter.com/bPRGrOnWab
— Aleksi (@Skrufkin) January 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/invi004/status/922180742225985542
https://twitter.com/ArsenalPumaTeam/status/902635310781255680
https://twitter.com/MainManMustafi/status/882254707753922560
Followed by David Ornstein, I feel privileged.
Arsenal fans across the globe will be jealous of me for this. pic.twitter.com/em5HVVRt2F
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) July 11, 2017
Lol DT, I respect your opinion and all but ornstein is a legend. What a man @bbcsport_david pic.twitter.com/dcyrmryw1v
— Kendrick 🥷🏽 (@Kendrick_Amazin) July 14, 2017
— PAU MOLARSENAL MIL GRAU (@ArsenalMilGrau_) January 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/ArsenalRelevant/status/898573698617286656
