All supporters are guilty of having a very insular view about what constitutes a disaster for their team and we're no different. In recent years the period under AVB/Sherwood felt like the end of the world yet we finished 6th that season and qualified comfortably for the Europa League. Prior to that 2 points from 8 games in 2008 felt horrendous, being in a relegation battle under Pleat in 2004 and then most of the 90s were embracing moments to be a football fan. However, you only have to look at some of our traditional advseraries like Villa, Saudi Sportswashing Machine and Leeds who have suffered (in the latter's case a prolonged) relegation. Heck even City had to deal with 3rd division football for a season. Take a further step back and you consider the likes of Coventry City who have lost their identity, Leyton Orient - their football league status and Wimbledon (back in the day) who have lost their club all together.
Then you look at Woolwich fans - in the interests of balance lets recognise that most of them who were supporting Woolwich prior to 1988 knew some fairly mediocre times during the 70s and 80s when it was common for them to finish beneath us. I generally apply the rule that if they can remember Perry Groves and Gus Caeser they're not too bad.
Yet, there are the many who latched on to the Ian Wright and Henry/Bergkamp teams under Wenger and signed up purely for the glory believing that they have a personal entitlement to success - in many cases most of them see supporting Arsenal as a symbol of social superiority particulalrly over SPurs fans. We all know there;s a truth in the statement that 'you don't choose your team, your team chooses you' - and for so many of the 00s Gooners this is exactly the case. As the years have progressed their arguments have gradually eroded away. This is not what they signed up and they can't deal with it -it's like the kid at school from the wealthy family who has all the private tutoring, gets dropped off in the 4x4, goes on the most expensive holidays only for daddy's company to go tits up and the kid he bullied for years suddenly gets the better exam results and the better looking girlfriend. This is not what they signed up to!
The reality of the situation is surely that Woolwich has reached its nadir - the way football is now they (and us) are virtually guaranteed top 6, european football, brand exposure and all that comes with it for the foreseeable future - unless of course a mid-tabler (Everton perhaps) suddenly gets rich/good and joins the party.
Lets enjoy this situation for what it is!
