Arsene Wenger says Arsenal have all the ingredients to succeed this year but admits it’s up to his players to turn title talk into a title challenge.
The Gunners face Chelsea on Sunday in the Community Shield – a match the boss acknowledges people will pick apart in great detail despite it’s ‘friendly’ status – before taking on West Ham United at the Emirates as they look to make a quick start to the 2015/16 campaign.
Recognising that the mood in N5 is optimistic following two FA Cup successes and the acquisition of Petr Cech, Wenger, who also admitted he’d spent his summer at the training ground, noted that the ball is well and truly in the court of his players.
“The expectations are very high and that is understandable because you cannot win the FA Cup and finish third in the league and then say ‘Look, next year we want to do nothing,’”
“People expect a lot from us and it is the first time for a long time we have all had confidence in our environment. Before, we always lost big players and then you would quickly question us. The ingredients are there but I am long enough in the job to know we have to prove that with points.
“So I am confident because we have played well, but I am realistic as well. You know when the competition starts it’s a different game and you have to transform your performance into points.
“We have a tricky start with West Ham and Crystal Palace. But I believe we know what we want to do, we know how we want to play and we had a good end to last season.
“We also have a good stability to our squad. So there are positive ingredients there. We have no injuries at the moment, touch wood, so there is no reason why we should be panicking at the moment.”
Asked how he’d spent his summer break the boss confirmed he’d shunned time on the beach in favour of London Colney. Quite remarkable really given the everyday stresses and strains of being a top flight manager.
“I had no break at all,” he continued. “I spent a lot of time at the training ground, but I recovered at the training ground because when there is no competition there is a bit less stress.
“Not quite the whole holiday. But I only need a few days and when I go on the beach I am in the press the next day.
“Where do you want me to go? So I go to the training ground.”
Let’s hope Arsene’s dedication to the cause is matched by his players when things kick-off at Wembley tomorrow afternoon.
Pure Class Mr Wenger
He knows we have a chance of winning this season, more than the last 10 years.
There’s only ONE Arsene Wenger.
question: who are the clowns clicking the thumbs-down on these?
Who cares?
Er hazard a guess…. Trez and Fatgooner
Don’t mention my name you knobhead. I only thumb up comments i feel make sense and ignore the rest. Fucking moron.
Touched a nerve hehe
Do you ever attempt to enjoy life?
Whatever Punk…now I thumbed down your comment (since it means soooo much to you.)
Sue me.
Mate you really need to chill out. Spend less time on football websites all criticising arsenal, go out with your girl on vacation, take a different outlook on things. I’m like you and any other Arsenal fans, my week is literally destroyed after a huge loss to our rivals. But in these times mate? Most FA Cup wins ever, a better league position, and going into the new season with no fitness issue. I mean you really need to chill out if you’re easily pissed in these circumstances. Chill out, fuck what everybody else thinks and enjoy life for what… Read more »
You don’t know me well enough to make such assumptions. I don’t go around the web criticizing arsenal, this is the only site i comment on. What pisses me off is when i’m called a troll because i have a different opinion or because i don’t “swoon” over hfb or whatever.
I meant spend less time on websites criticizing Arsenal like goal.com, sky, and literally everything on the Internet. It just makes you stressed out even more, the sheer stupidity in the things they publish.
I welcome any views that are backed up by some valid evidence and discussion of points made, even/especially if contra to my own views and they makes me think. Where you would help yourself is: – never call another Arsenal fan a ‘Fucking moron’ or ‘you knobhead’. Spurs fans, possibly, Arsenal fans never. You lose the argument the moment you do that. – acknowledge the points others make eg if there have been improvements in Arsenal’s position – try to be happy about things at times eg the preseason was as good as it could be, 14 goals to 1,… Read more »
Though thinking about it, if you can’t do those things you are not an Arsenal fan(atic).
Have a think why before you get indignant and reply without thinking. Noting that I am not saying you aren’t a fan.
Silly Chelsea fans probably
I wonder if he spent quite a bit of time helping the rebuilding of Under 21’s. And flogging Podolski to all and sundry.
He did. In between writing his book on love.
I love this man
This ain’t no holiday
But it always turns out this way
Here I am with my hand
[Plotting title challenge]
“I’ve been expecting you Mr Cech”
*strokes cat/Bould’s head*
Really want Wenger to win the Premier League and the Champions League before he retires. The team looks stronger than ever atm. Let’s hope we get the best possible start by kicking Mourinho’s ass tomorrow.
Such a class Manager. Unlike the prick one who picks fights with other managers wives. Surely if there’s any justice in the world he deserves the biggest accolade in football before he retires
For all his wind and piss, Moronho’s never managed The Invincibles and never will.
Same for Red Nose and all the other pretenders.
Maybe wear safety goggles tomorrow Arsene? The eye gougeing cunt doesnt like losing and ive got a good feeling we will be the ones celebrating.
I love you Arsene. #COYG
The man is a legend. How the Wenger Out brigade wanted us to get rid of him is beyond me. They were massively short sighted in my view. Everyone is entitled to an opinion but it was always fairly obvious he was building for the long term. It would be easy to buy short term success like Chelsea, City or Blackburn but you would always be remembered for buying titles. Sure we have spent money but that was money that we earned rather than cash bequeathed from the dodgy dealings of a Bond villain.
“We have no injuries at the moment” Eh? What about Welbeck and Rosicky? Or does that tell you that neither are considered as significant players in his squad anymore?!
I assume he means ‘No More Injuries at the moment’.
Although I hope TR & DW are off the injury list and now in training…..
Le Professeur Monseur Wenger!!! Such a dedicated and hardworking man. Can never imagine Mourinho doing this
“Where do you want me to go?” COME TO MY PLACE ARSENE! No press there and we can throw a shrimp ob the barbey.
This could just be the year Arsene would silence his inconsiderate critics.
If the players put in half the commitment and desire that Wenger puts in then we will be champions come May.
Arsenal on the acsendence, Chelsea stagnant.
Pure class!!….and can’t fault his dedication to the cause either.
Now is the time for the lads to win this league for this for the boss….COYG!
I’m not expecting to win the league but we’ve got a bloody good chance. Cmon the boys
He didn’t go to the beach! Quite incredulous!!
I actually am expecting us to win the league, the opposition no longer scare me.
COYG!
The work ethic of this man.
Would give anything to see him being lifted up by the players, trophy in hand, come May
Hi guys,
Off topic but I just had my third baby last night. The wee bugger was supposed to be scheduled for a C-section on Wednesday, but he didn’t want to miss the Community Shield!!! I already have a tiny Arsenal kit for him already.
COYG!!!
thanks for the love everyone. I wanted to name him Henry, but pronounce it the French way, but the wife wasn’t have it, haha
Some name suggestions for you then : Aaron, Jack, Theo, Kieran, Carl, Calum….
Or how about Tony, Ray, Sol,..
Does the missus support $puds? if so definitely name him Sol!!
Dennis (and call him God for short!).
How about “Shield” as a middle name?
I rekon your Mrs might find that cool for a young lad!
haha, I was outvoted by the Mrs and my other kids. We’ve gone with Niall! I was trying to sneak in Liam (Liam Brady!!!), but I lost the battle.
Congratulations mate. Only one name for the little lad really…. Dennis!
“A tricky start with West Ham and Palace” it’s true there are no easy games…but come on, could not of hoped for much more….
You mean wishing for Bournemouth and Watford is too greedy?
No other manager would ever do what Arsene’s done. Having to sell his best players, work with a tight budget and bring out the best out of the players he had. This man will get get two statues. One a the Emirates and one at London Colney. What a man!
+ one at Wembley!
Now that he can compete with the other top team managers financially im sure we will be considered title candidates every season for the rest of his career. But I hope Cech is enough to close the 12 point gap on Chelsea from last season. Another top signing would make me more confident though. Wenger says he wants to add 10 more goals to the team from midfield, meanwhile we are playing with a striker 10 goals short in quality from our previous strikers, So if anything I would like to see Giroud contribute more this season. But he is… Read more »
Olivier Giroud missed 35% of last season. So you have your man.
His name is Olivier Giroud.
And he scores from crosses. Give him more. Simples.
Love that post Hornsey, well played Sir!
Poor man, we should all chip in to buy him his own private island.
Mourinho is a brilliant manager at winning titles. But Wenger is not just about winning titles and trophies, he is about building a club up organically. We built our own finances, stadium and branding. Wenger’s early success and financial acumen allowed him to capitalise our meagre resource to the fullest. He has had his fair share of duds but bc he spent low and sold generally higher, he has not allowed exorbitant purchases to be an issue and have an impact on the club. This is important for a club reliant on its own finances to build. Also the fourth… Read more »
a well written piece, and for the record,….i agree with every point raised.
thumbs up from me.
What’s the deal with all these fairweather fans?
Wengerin4life.
Why does Wenger need FOUR waterbottles on his desk!? Such opulence! These people dont live in the real world anymore, the game has gone mad!
I’m glad someone else noticed his desk!
Perhaps kleenex, vitamin pills, a box of granola (?) + four water bottles are “the ingredients to succeed this year” to which he refers…?
Are you certain they’re all water?
Arsene wow! ridiculously awesome. and just when you though he coundn’t get any more loveable
I would love to lie down on the emirates pitch on my holidays.
Just googled his vakay pics! Rest up boss that looks exhausting! Take a break and win us the league with a guard of honour from Moureen and then go hit the best, most secluded beach you can find aaaannndd chill. You deserve it whatever happens
I’m more interested in the fact that there’s no computer on his desk…lol
Hazard, and for all the love in the world, Fabregas to be cunted in the nuts and sidelined for half a season. That’s the right plot.
Peoples comments longer than the blog? Horrendous. Anything less than winning the EPL would be a FAILURE!!! I haven’t witnessed Arsenal win the league
19 PL clubs fail each year. Lots of it about. Spurs 54 years’ worth and counting.
Wow, you are only 11 years old! It wasn’t that long ago. You express yourself well, congrats to your parents and school.