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In their darkest hour, Arsenal fans can keep faith in at least one man to light the way

Published 14:24 17 Jan 2018 GMT

Nooruddean Choudry
In their darkest hour, Arsenal fans can keep faith in at least one man to light the way

Homesport

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. Image result for wenger 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. Image result for sanchez ozil 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. https://twitter.com/KubaOnArsenal/status/953616183097462785 https://twitter.com/warcozinho/status/951989506437152768 https://twitter.com/huwharfi/status/902633655146868737 https://twitter.com/GoonerTwitt/status/952967572126879744 https://twitter.com/JamieCurtis5/status/903331144715964416 https://twitter.com/Humzahjogee/status/951593894185234432 https://twitter.com/Xhakalate/status/953203109962100736 https://twitter.com/MainManMustafi/status/882254707753922560 https://twitter.com/Skrufkin/status/951578039909081088 https://twitter.com/invi004/status/922180742225985542 https://twitter.com/ArsenalPumaTeam/status/902635310781255680 https://twitter.com/MainManMustafi/status/882254707753922560 https://twitter.com/HLTCO/status/884673513986158593 https://twitter.com/Kendrick_Amazin/status/885899865024331776 https://twitter.com/ArsenalMilGrau_/status/951575192760930304 https://twitter.com/ArsenalRelevant/status/898573698617286656

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In their darkest hour, Arsenal fans can keep faith in at least one man to light the way