And yet how are the club encouraging us to do this? What support do think they think they'll be encouraging with their latest incompetent decisions regarding stadium policy?
Of the many issues of late there are two that stand out from the rest for sheer stupidity. The first you'll have heard about already, the banning of all national flags from the stadium.
If it wasn't bad enough that the old North Bank banners (well done RedAction!) won't come to Ashburton Grove (I can't bring myself to call it Emirates) and that large flags/banners won't be allowed as part of an organised display one of the last vestiges of fan decoration of the stadium has now been banned. The pristine face of the corporate image of the club will be allowed to shine through without fear of it being sullied by the traditional flags of travelling gooners. The various pub names on crosses of St George, the supporters clubs from various regions and countries, all of these are now no longer acceptable.
This has apperently come about because a Turkish Cypriot flag attracted the attention of some Greek Cypriots. While I don't want to get into the politics of Cyprus if the club seriously think that there can be no distinction made between the Turkish Cypriot flag and other flags then surely the answer is to allow all of them, rather than to ban them all?
Political correctness gone mad, some will call it, in my opinion wrongly. What this is is corporate branding gone mad. The Arsenal brand must not be tarnished. And what we have in our stadium is a clean image and a clean brand. Those messy flags might detract from the impact of the flashing advertising hoardings and the ubiquitous "Emirates" signs.
As fans we are being asked to show our undying loyalty to the players, and to vocalise this, but the minute we depart from the brand image, the moment we step away from the sanitised version of football support the club wants to see we will be put back in our places - or thrown out of them.
Consider this little true story from the first North London Derby at Ashburton Grove...
Marc Ladi of the Norfolk supporters association went to the game determined to have a laugh at Sp*rs expense, and took a small banner with him, which unfortunately fell foul of our over-officious stewards.
"We were only a few seats away from the scum, they whinged to the police and stewards who confiscated it for being offensive. As I pointed out, there was not a single swear word, rascist comment, anti-semitic comment or anything so where was the offence? Just a bit of fun at their expense, shame they couldnt take it like men. I guess my chef outfit didnt help matters but hey what could they do...I said I had just come from work!"
In case you're wondering what the stewards agreed with the Sp*rs fans was too offensive to be allowed in the stadium during the match, Marc sent us this pic:
Surely poor spelling isn't that big a crime (crosses fingers)?
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Sort it out Arsenal, the matchday experience is what football is all about. Your attempt to rebrand fans as consumers results only in more whinging when the "product" doesn't live up to to it's price. Given a little leeway we, as fans, can deliver our side of the club-fan contract. But hemmed in by petty officialdom we will end up silent.