Arema Respond To Poor Start

It hasn't been the best of starts for Arema in the Indonesia Super League. Yesterday's 2-2 with bottom club Persiram was their first point from their opening four games and apparently after the game the Arema fans vented their displeasure at the team.

The club have responded by sacking coach Wolfgang Pikal.

I mentioned at the start of the season the Arema squad was hardly one to set the fans' pulses racing and obviously the 5,000 crowd at yesterday's game was an indication the Aremania weren't impressed. Indeed the IPL version of Arema have been pulling bigger crowds!

Presiram finished the last 10 minutes of yesterday's game with 10 men following JP Boumsong's red card but it was the visitors who looked like securing their first three points of the season when Nasution Karubaba scored with four minutes left.

It took full back Patrick Pierre Seme to save a point for the home team with two minutes left but it didn't lift the mood of the Arema fans who responded to the dropped points by causing some disturbances after the game.

The club who were ISL champions in 2009/2010 are second off the bottom while much of the team that won the ISL play in the IPL.

Arema's Results 2011/2012

Arema v Persela 0-1 14,000

Persiba v Arema 2-1

Gresik United v Arema 2-0

Arema v Persiram 2-2 5,000