Comments from former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will strike a chord in the very heart of angry West Ham United fans.
A large section of Hammers supporters are protesting against owners David Sullivan and David Gold.
A static protest was held by a group of disaffected West Ham fans called Hammers United before the game against Everton.
Plans are now in place for another protest on the 29th of February before the Southampton match.
Their list of grievances are extensive. But chief among them is the move from the club’s beloved Upton Park home of 112 years to the London Stadium.
West Ham’s troublesome stadium move
Stadium moves are rarely easy.
But West Ham fans feel a number of promises and pledges have been broken.
A large section of fans feel the stadium is not fit for football. The chasm between the pitch and the stands is a major bone of contention.
Most damningly the Hammers faithful feel the club has lost its soul as a result of the move to the former athletics arena.
So when former Arsenal boss Wenger was discussing stadium moves – having overseen the Gunners’s switch from Highbury to The Emirates – it will have struck a chord with West Ham followers.
Wenger comments will strike a chord with Hammers fans
“I moved from Highbury, which was similar to (old traditional grounds like) Anfield, but there was a soul in the stadium,” Wenger told beIN Sports.
“We built a new stadium but we never found our soul—we left our soul at Highbury. We could never recreate it for security reasons.
“The distance from the pitch to the stand had to be bigger as we needed ambulances to come in.
“The inclination of the stands had to be smaller all those things together that we didn’t find to recreate the atmosphere.”
Some fans feel club has left its soul at the Boleyn
Many West Ham fans would say the same about their own move.
Whether that soul can ever be rediscovered only time will tell.
West Ham have signed a 99-year lease at the stadium. But improvements will have to be made if fans are to embrace it long-term.
The London Stadium, certainly the exterior, is already looking dated compared to modern stadia. The canvas covering around the stadium as part of the West Ham-ification looks cheap.
Plans to investigate the cost of squaring off the stands behind the goal were announced. But it appears that will not happen anytime soon.
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