The ‘always open’ instant gratification, social media obsessed lifestyle is absorbing us all to a greater or lesser extent.
We can barely concentrate for long enough to hear the end of our companion’s sentence before being distracted by the ping or buzz from our mobile phone signaling the possibility of a more exciting communication.
As football fans we want success and excitement and we want it now. We want our team to win the title or promotion or a place at the top table.
But sometimes in life decisions are required that compete with our desire for instant gratification. Such a decision appeared to face Arsene Wenger last week as it is now reported that Arsenal’s star player Alexis Sanchez stormed out of a training session in a huff.
So, already in the media spotlight for their apparent stand-off regarding Sanchez’s new contract, the manager/player relationship was threatened again.
Wenger, it has to be said, is not someone who has allowed the ever-increasing supporter power of recent seasons faze him but his decision to leave Sanchez out of the starting eleven at Anfield last weekend suggested to most of us that something wasn’t quite right. Despite a rather unconvincing attempt to explain the change as an intention to present a more direct threat to his opponent it sounded as though perhaps things had developed behind the scenes between the two of them.
So what does Wenger do?
We don’t yet know and we may never know the details and the rights and wrongs of the reported training ground spat but the issue is clear. Does the manager act expediently and try to sweep the problem under the carpet, knowing his most effective goal threat is on the line or does he take the longer term perspective, demonstrate who’s the boss and remind 25 players they are a team who will win or lose together?
I suspect I know the decision Wenger naturally favours. Arsenal certainly missed Sanchez in the first half against Liverpool and Wenger finds himself in the firing line again but I must say I think the Arsenal fans will come to appreciate their conscientious manager in the weeks and months following his departure, whenever that might come.