There is a reasonable chance Manchester United could go top of the Premier League this weekend. Equally, Arsenal need to win by two goals against Olympiacos next Wednesday to progress to the last 16 of the Champions League. Not bad going for either club. Yet Manchester United’s fans can barely hide their dissatisfaction with the football being played under Louis van Gaal right now, while roughly 10,000 seats were empty for Arsenal’s last Champions League game, at home to Dinamo Zagreb. The disenfranchised, it would appear, are striking back. The fans are making choices, just as clubs and managers do. Van Gaal chooses pragmatism; United’s fans choose to demand entertainment. Arsene Wenger has always separated matches into categories of importance, now it would seem Arsenal’s fans are doing the same.Manchester United’s fans can barely hide their dissatisfaction with the football being played under Louis van GaalAt Arsenal roughly 10,000 seats were empty for the last Champions League game, at home to Dinamo ZagrebThe result is no longer all that matters and any fan who can afford £4,000 for a season ticket can also afford to let it sit empty if he has a better offerDissent at Manchester United and disinterest at Arsenal are separate issues but with a shared rootThe supporters feel short-changed, whether by the football, or the ambition of their club. It was bound to happen
‘I don’t care about Rio,’ sang the supporters of FC United, ‘he don’t care about me.’ It is over a decade since Rio Ferdinand’s contract dispute with _, but the memory still rankles.