Sunday afternoon’s Premier League match at Anfield confirmed many things, including the fact that the Banter Era is well and truly alive at Arsenal Football Club.Arsene Wenger’s side produced one of their worst ever performances against Liverpool. If anything, the 4-0 defeat flattered them. It could - and probably should - have been far worse.‘What went wrong?” the beleaguered Wenger was asked in his post-match press conference. “Everything” came the reply."We were not at the right level from the first minute - physically, technically and mentally - and we were punished," Wenger was quoted as saying by BBC Sport. "Today our performance was not acceptable. It is true today we were an easy opponent for Liverpool."Our performance was absolutely disastrous.”
Let's take a trip down memory lane
Arsenal fans know better than any other set of supporters that if you don’t laugh, you’ll only end up crying.
So with that in mind, let’s take a trip down memory lane, back to 2006 when this glorious Banter Era began.
Arsenal fan's 'Banter Era' thread is incredible
One Arsenal has posted an epic ‘Banter Era’ thread on Twitter and it’s absolutely brilliant.
You might not be smiling now, Arsenal fans, but you will be by the end of it. We guarantee it.
Take it away, @VieiraPaddy…
1. ‘It all started when this **** turned up from Chelsea with £5m in a brief case to replace invincible and future captain Ashley Cole.’
2. ‘Sheffield United away in 2006. We lost 1-0 to a side that had Phil Jagielka in goal for the last half an hour. Better than Paddy Kenny.’
3. ’In February 2008 we were top of the league until Eduardo’s broken leg. Gael Clichy gave away a late penalty then our cunt captain gave up.’
4. ‘Wigan at home in 2008. Eboue comes on for the injured Nasri. Keeps giving the ball away, tackles Kolo Toure, subbed back off. He cried.’
5. ‘August 2009 when Wenger got sent to the stands after kicking a water bottle. I’ll leave this one to Gordon Strachan.’
6. ‘September 2009 we lost 4-2 to Man City and Adebayor ran the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the Arsenal fans. Iconic.’
7. ‘Sol Campbell returns, plays a back pass against Porto then the ref stands in his way so he can’t defend it as they score.’
8. ‘Summer of 2010. Sick of Almunia we chased Mark Schwarzer all Summer. We bid £2m. Rejected. They wanted £5m. We re-bid £2m. Almunia survives.’
9. ‘Who can forget Rory Delap’s long throw-ins? These were more terrifying than anything Donald Trump or Kim Jong-un can throw at us.’
10. ‘The infamous 4-4 vs Newcastle. 4-0 up at half time and cruising. We all know what happened next. God rest Cheik Tiote.’
11. ‘League cup final vs Birmingham in 2011. Bantered off in the 89th minute by Obafemi Martins and Barry Ferguson. Peak banter era.’
12. ‘March 2011 Van Persie gets sent off at the Nou Camp for taking a shot. Then Bendtner messes up this chance to send us through late on.’
13. ‘April 2011 RVP makes it 1-0 with 98th minute penalty. Eboue pushes Lucas to the ground and Kuyt scores a 104th minute penalty equaliser.’
14. ‘The 8-2 at Old Trafford. THE banter era game. Miquel and Frimpong were no match for prime Wayne Rooney. That missed penalty proved costly.’
15. ‘What followed on deadline day was amazing. Per, Arteta and Yossi were class. The less said about Andre Santos and Chu Yung Park the better.’
16. ‘January 2012 at Craven Cottage. Fulham 2-1 Arsenal. Bobby Zamora scored because Squillaci headered Koscielny instead of the ball.’
17. ‘March 2012. 4-0 down from the first leg against Milan, we get back to 4-3. Then Van Persie decides to try chip this and we’re out.’
18. ‘Reading 5-7 Arsenal. 4-0 down at HT. 4-4 at FT. Giroud and Coquelin throw shirts away before ET and have to ask for them back.’
19. ‘December 2012 our easiest game of the season away to Bradford in the league cup. We lost 2-1. F*** Gervinho.’
20. ‘Summer of 2013 we were promised big signings. First day of the season we hadn’t spent a penalty and Aston Villa beat us 3-1 at the Emirates.’
21. ‘This abomination.’
22. ‘Deadline day of January 2014. We desperately need a midfielder due to injuries. Then 31 year old Kim Kallstrom arrives with a broken back.’
23. ‘The 5-1 at Anfield in 2014. 4-0 down after 20 minutes. 2-0 down to Martin Skrtel after 10 minutes. One of the most embarrassing days.’
24. ‘Arsenal were used to losing to Chelsea but going to Stamford Bridge for Wenger’s 1000th game we were feeling more optimistic. We lost 6-0.’
25. ‘Same game. Gibbs gets sent off because Oxlade Chamberlain handballs a shot that was going wide. What do you mean what?’
26. ‘New Year’s Day 2015 Szczesny makes a mistake, we lose and he lights up in the showers. Never seen again.’
27. ‘20th October 2015: Arsenal 2-0 Bayern Munich. 27th October 2015: Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 Arsenal.’
28. ‘Actually re-signing Mathieu Flamini was bad enough, but this was worse.’
It’s been an unforgettable journey.
Other Arsenal fans wanted these moments included
It says a lot, too, that Arsenal fans came up with more hilarious moments that should have been included…
Never leave, Arsene. Please, never leave.