wenger must change his way

It is just like having a row with your favourite uncle.

You love him, think the world of him and never dreamed it could come to this.

But that is exactly what has happened among Arsenal fans, and it is Arsene Wenger who is playing the role as lovable ageing relative.

It's hard to contemplate life without him, but he's upset you, you're angry and, no matter how much you love him, your patience is being tested.
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Trouble is, some of the family are on your side but the majority are staying loyal to Uncle Arsene. If my family is anything to go by, no wonder passions are running high. There's a nasty split.

And that is certainly what happened at the Emirates on Saturday. Hard to believe that a place labelled The Library (a nickname brought across from Highbury) by cynics and frequented by Islington's latte sipping classes could arouse such anger.

But fights broke out at the Emirates during and after Saturday's goalless draw with Blackburn, and dear old Uncle Arsene was the cause.

They were just odd pockets of scuffles and would usually be glossed over at some clubs. But civil war has broken out at Arsenal, and you can only hope the club's hierarchy are listening.

There is one obvious way to broker peace talks - and that is for Arsenal to win a trophy. Sadly for Arsenal fans, their last remaining hope from their quadruple dream is the Premier League title and they are seven points adrift of Manchester United.

Fulham now have their statue of Michael Jackson. Arsenal need one of Jim Bowen with the inscription underneath: "Look what you could have won."

The fights at the Emirates, from what I'm told, consisted of people abusing certain players (Manuel Almunia), then turning their annoyance towards the manager, and leaving even earlier than usual in protest.

Wenger loyalists defended the team and the manager's honour. There were pushes and scuffles, and even fists. Staff handing out Club Level renewal forms - with tickets going up by 6.5 per cent next season - also got stick.

That's one of the grievances. Arsenal are charging top dollar for tickets but are buying at the bargain basement. Example: Sebastien Squillaci. Forget what happened to Tottenham in Madrid, Squillaci is not a patch on William Gallas.

The truth is that Arsenal and Wenger have not listened to their fans. Everyone in January was saying that Arsenal should buy reinforcements, particularly in central defence.

But Wenger didn't want to pay over the odds for Gary Cahill even though, the critics argue, they're happy to charge over the odds for expensive tickets.

It's easy for journalists, pundits and ex-players to stand up for Wenger. He is, after all, the most successful manager in the club's post-war history. Probably the greatest of all time.

But that is to ignore what the fans are saying. They know they are lucky to be in the top four each and every year. But do you win a trophy for that? No. That might be the measure of success for the club, but not for the fans.

Arsenal fans want some silverware. You don't get a cup for finishing third. And if the club ignore that then they are being extremely foolish.

They're not a finishing school, or a business with a plan of getting in the Champions League each season.

Arsenal also isn't merely a theatre run just to put on pretty football. If you want the theatre then go to The Old Vic.

It is a football club with fans who desperately want to win things. The fans are getting restless because, being realistic, it is going to be six years this summer since they last did.

Wenger set out his long term plan and kept faith with players who have time and again not realised their potential and yet they are still on the scene.

Arsenal used to buy proven quality. Gilberto Silva and Thierry Henry were World Cup winners when they arrived. Arsenal don't buy from that bracket anymore.

But just imagine what a few experienced, quality players alongside the likes of Jack Wilshere, Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie could achieve. What an incredible prospect.

Wilshere is going to rule the world, so why not complement him with more world class talent?

I still think the majority of Arsenal fans are backing Wenger. But even many of those want him to change his ways and to buy better players.

Sadly, there is a growing minority who aren't backing Wenger. There's a few fringe groups who want change now. They want a new manager this summer.

They want that change because the club has ignored them in the past couple of summers and their dissent and frustration has grown.

They were the ones who were shouting the odds on Saturday. And the trouble is, Arsenal desperately need to listen to them. They need to address issues to stop even the ardent Wenger loyalists from growing disillusioned.

This is not about getting rid of the manager. It's about getting the manager to tweak his philosophy. David Dein used to have his ear. Who does that now? Who tells him that a new player is needed or a change in the set-up?

I often joke that Wenger will decide when it's time for the board to sack him. But that's the truth. His contract expires in 2014 and don't expect him to leave before then.

What must be ensured is that he retires on a high and in glory. He's been a brilliant manager for Arsenal, the Premier League and for the footballing world. He deserves better than an ugly, painful exit.

However, for Wenger to go out on a high, he needs to change. That much is obvious. The last six years hasn't worked. His faith in players is admirable but when will Denilson, Diaby, Rosicky, Eboue and so on ever realise their potential?

It is time for change and it's no secret - he has hinted as much publicly - that Wenger is planning a clear out and shake-up.

But the players coming in have to be of proven quality. Forget the £2m bargains or free transfers. It's time to spend £18m on Cahill and a similar amount on a striker. A midfielder would be good, too.

Don't believe the nonsense about not being any money. There is money. Wenger has chosen not to spend it. He didn't want to pay over the odds.

But fans won't stomach that much longer. They also don't want to hear conspiracy theories about playing on a Sunday after Manchester United.

The league programme is set out, 38 games, 19 home and 19 away. It's open to everyone. Same rules, same refs, no mystery men at the Premier League plotting Arsenal's downfall. Fergie doesn't think he gets a fair deal either. It's Paranoia City.

Wenger still has the majority of the fans. But the boss of any company would be foolish not to listen to the concerns of their backers, be it shareholders or fans.

They want top quality, proven signings, strength in depth, leaders and a trophy. You can't have one without the other.

And unless Wenger addresses the key issues this summer, expect more fisticuffs next season. And what a shame that would be for one of the all-time greats to see his reign end in bitter disappointment.