Thursday, March 28, 2024

Wenger hopes stability will give Arsenal an edge

Arsene Wenger is hoping that managerial stability and the fact that the Premier League is more competitive than ever will give Arsenal an advantage this season.

With new managers at Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd, and teams like Leicester, Liverpool, Sp*rs and others all competing for at least the top four, the Arsenal manager is hoping the club’s relative sameness might work out well.

“Guardiola has come in, he’s a world class manager,” he said. “Mourinho has come in at Man United. Will that all click very quickly or will it take some time? We don’t know.

“Sometimes it can work marvellously well, sometimes it takes time. I hope it takes time and we can take advantage of the fact that we have stability.

“I believe that a club, despite all the money, is as well about identity. Identity is about values. And values have been carried through generations.

“It is about the chairman, the manager or players who stay for a long time. I hope that will always be the case. Just spending the money or sacking the manager, football has to be bigger than that.”

Pressed on whether he’d be spending more, Wenger provided a classic soundbite, saying, “Football is not a financial competition, it is a performance competition.”

Which is very true, yet there’s pressure on him to add to his squad and he spoke at length about transfers earlier. He could, you know, just buy some really good players. That would make everyone’s life easier.

In the end though, Jose Mourinho is a rampant donkey felching twatbasket and we should never forget that.

Related articles

Comments

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

97 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Anonymarse

Donkey felching … grim

Flash

Stability as in no ‘disruptive’ additions to the squad, of course

Anonymarse

At least he didn’t mention cohesion

greg

Only a matter of time

Gunnermite

doing same thing repeatedly and expecting a different kind of results is another form of insanity, as some wise man nicely put it.

leroy

i’ve never understood that expression. let’s say someone was practising free kicks and aiming for the top-left corner. he misses 5 times in a row, but on the 6th attempt he puts it in the top left corner. was he insane for trying the 6th shot?

Pak_Gooner

I think your argument has a fallacy. For the player taking free kicks, there can only be two expected results; scoring or missing. He does not expect a different result on each try.

AP

Pak, I think your argument is just plain wrong. You are really grasping at straws to try to make a point.

Crash Fistfight

I don’t think your analogy works. For the sixth attempt to go in the kicker clearly did something different (changed the angle of his run or the part of his foot he kicked the ball with , for example).

To equate your analogy to a football club, each attempt would be like a new season. You try to make changes each time to get incrementally better.

What I mean by all of this is: “sign a faakin’ striker Arsene!”

Actually, I’ve no idea what my point is.

TobyC

He would be insane Leroy if he did the exact same thing as the previous five attempts.

Presumably he changed his run up or how he hit the ball etc etc

ForeignGooner

This expression is used way too often these days.

Third Plebeian

We tried using Stability last season, and that left us 10 points off the leader.

It has never given us an edge. So tired of all the stupid comments.

skiddiestcorn

We tried stability last season and finished Second, above Spurs/Chelsea/ManU/Etc.

So tired of all the stupid comments.

Trez

We tried stability 13/14, didn’t help. Tried it again last season, didn’t help. Tired of people aayin

BromleyGooner

Second doesn’t get you a trophy. For a club as big and wealthy as Arsenal it does not constitute success. Tired of all these stupid comments

Anonymarse

I predict United will collapse under the weight of all the massive egos they just brought in

Onenil

Maureen subs off Ibrahimovich and Bang. Overhead kick. His balls are volleyed into the net from 30 yards.
Love finish.

Anonymarse

There’s a lovely image

Norn Iron Gooner

If its Joses balls i’m treasuring it.

Reality Check

We thought chelsea will and then city but their trophy cabinet would disagree. Also that stability he likes to mention every year hasn’t really given us any edge. Let’s see if the cohesion for playing together for many years will, didn’t even see it on the pitch after November last year..

Diarra

Chelsea still “collapsed” last season. They won the league the year before though but they are always balancing between collapse and success with the type of players and managers they have.

Crash Fistfight

I’d rather win the league one year and finish 8th the next than having 2 years of finishing top 4 with nothing to show for it other than another run at a competition we’ve got no hope of winning.

bodiroga

That’s not a team though…that’s a harmonica. Why don’t you follow Leicester then? It takes class and hard work to keep your status at the top(ish) end of the football industry…certainly not easy or to be taken for granted

Gutbukket Deffrolla

You’re in the wrong game then. 99.9% of fans never see any kind of success whatsoever. They are still loyal fans of their clubs though. They don’t give up on their team because they have no hope of winning. “The Team” is more than just a vehicle you choose to ride to vicarious victory. I’m a Gooner for life, and I’m a realist. I know that winning trophies will be a rare and cherished event. There will be years, perhaps decades, between the moments of success. I won’t support the team or the manager any less during those times. Since… Read more »

D

“Stability” hasn’t won us the league for over a decade. Chelsea have changed manager more times than the weather and they’ve won it four times, plus a champions league in that time. “Stability” can become stagnation.

Stuck on repeat...

Very nicely put.

Danny

So… you want to be more like Chelsea?

SDB

you nailed it. same old bs from wenger. he obviously thinks very little of the fans.

Anthony

Disagree that he thins very little of the fans. While the fans are obviously important, he also has an obligation to his employer and his staff (the players) Striking a balance with all those things is difficult and I’d argue that Arsene has been for 20 years, very good at. Last season was disappointing, but as I’ve said before, and I’ll say again, we have no divine right to the league, we have to earn it. Leicester, like it or not, earned it last campaign, and like the other 18 clubs below us, we have to respect that. I for… Read more »

Stringer Bell

Anthony don’t come on here spouting logic ? I remember growing up and following Arsenal in the 70s. I was only a kid. Every year the only real hope was winning the fa cup. I never recall anyone saying that cos we were not good enough to win the league we might as well not bother. Now I hear many saying there’s no point entering a completion you can’t win, champions league. Something has gone wrong somewhere

Anthony

I’m a programmer, logic is a huge part of the job. Anyway, back on topic. It’s the notion of self-entitlement which really bothers me. Yes, we, Arsenal have won the title in years gone by, because we proved in those years to have the best team and consistency. Others have won it too, and just because they and we have doesn’t mean we automatically have a shot at it. The ‘win at all costs’ doesn’t sit well with me as an Arsenal fan, it’s just not what we are about. The very idea of ‘not entering a completion because you… Read more »

Anthony

Every 4 years respectively, can England win it? Possibly, but it depends on performances. And sadly, the performances have been poor.

Trez

Yes we agree we have to earn it, so the question is why hasn’t wenger done enough to “earn it” for over 12 years now?? Chelsea have “done enough to earn it”, city have, man united have and heck leicester have. I don’t really get what there is to praise for? 20 years in the top 4, only gotten to the ucl final once.

If we don’t have this so called “divine right”(ambition in my book) why call yourself a big club??

Javis

I’ve been really anxious about signings and still am to an extent but Mustafi looks like it’s gonna happen and that’s a very good signing for our defence, so I’m gonna try enjoy the actual football this week. Arsenal makes me happy. So this weekend kicks off 9 months of happiness! And breath..

Third Plebeian

Well, good on you, but I for one am dreading the Liverpool game. I don’t enjoy watching teams dismantle a make-shift centre-back pairing who need confidence rather than a harsh lesson (which is our own fault, not theirs); neither do I enjoy watching Walcott labour to make a mark in a big game.

Paul

We have the “glass half empty/half full” thing right there in those two posts!

Why not

Dont watch it then. Save yourself.

Third Plebeian

Can’t help it. Being a football fan is sometimes a case of the moth to the flame.

Daft Aider

Less is more Arsene, in saying things that will cause the fanbase to explode that is, not in signings

greg

All that stability really worked in the past!

Go stability

voldermort

He talks and talks. Less and less people believe in what he says and sooner or later people will stop listening and demand change. Sooner the better.
What’s happening to this club particularly the last 2 seasons is almost negligent by the manager.

JArghS

Last two seasons we were Premier League runners up and FA Cup winners (for the second time in two years).
Whilst I’ll admit that a club of our stature should be achieving more – and being 10 points off top makes being “runners up” feel a little hollow – there’s an awful lot of clubs that’d bite your hand off for two seasons like our last two.

voldermort

It’s not that we haven’t achieved anything, it’s negligent because we have the money in the bank and have no excuses left for getting the one or two extra players we needed to be truly competive.
Most of us realist knew we wouldn’t win the league and again this season. But at least give ourselves the belief that we could by signing the players the squad so clearly needs.

King 14enry

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I read this part in my head like:
“Guardiola has come in, he’s a world class manager,” he said. “Mourinho has come in at Man United, he’s a world class cunt.”

Paul

Yes billion £ plus cunt

Paul

another “Paul” enters the blog….

JArghS

Totally

Ducks sake

Guardiolas no less of a cunt. Ohhhhh he banned pizza he’s fucking amazing ohhhhh he won lots of trophies with shit players like Messi, Xavi, Invests, Busquets, Fabregas an all them crap guys. He’s amazing. Ohhhhh they pass the ball sideways a lot i cum in my pants.

Twat.

Crash Fistfight

Thumbs up for making me laugh.

PFo

So one guy’s a cunt for poking a fellow manager in the eye, calling his physio a whore for doing her job, telling lies that besmirch the reputation of a referee and incite death threats that force that ref to retire, constantly taunting other managers entirely unprovoked, and playing ugly, cynical football. The other is somehow no less a cunt for having the temerity to ban his players from eating unhealthy food, for winning lots, and for playing possession football…

Ducks sake

No he’s a cunt for all the false hype about him. How come Enrique doesn’t get the same amount of praise? He’s doing just as well with Barca?

All the top.managers ensure their team eats right, how does that even become a news story. Gets on.my nerves. Think he’ll get found out this season

wellarsed

This is almost exactly what he said at the beginning of last season! He’s quite right that football shouldn’t be a financial competition, but the rationale for adding a couple of key players is an internal one – based on an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the squad (not spending at other clubs). It’s also an analysis that he’s publicly endorsed. Really worried that his dragging out these excuses (already) implies the search for a striker is being abandoned.

Diarra

We have already signed Xhaka who is one of the best in Europe in his position. He didn’t cost 100 million and was signed pretty early in the window so people tend to forget him. If Mustafi come it will be two really good signings. If a winger/striker comes in it will be a really good window. I think some fans have a bit unrealistic expectations of our signings, never happy.

wellarsed

In other words, you agree with me: as things stand we are still at least two key players short. Even Arsène has conceded this. So how is it that my expectations are “unrealistic”?

BigDave

We’ve had stability since 2004, what we need is new signings you tit.

1-1 at Newcastle...wait..5-1 at Newcastle

Stability has been like a new signing since 2004. I hate the start of the new season every year…fills me up with hope…wenger says the same thing and by march this site turns into riot

richardanus

Stability + Identity + Performance = The best soap opera in football

Stillmatic

Captain Cohesion,
He’s Arsenal’s hero,
Gonna improve our chances,
Exactly by zero.

greg

I loved captain planet!

Gudang Bedil

We’re the Goonerteers,
You can be one too
And whining about signings
Is the thing to do!

Jaywon

I said it be4 dat Arsene makes it easy for mourinho to have a go at him..he hasn’t won d league since 2004 and hasn’t defeated him. i think d motivation of beating mourinho and winning d league at his expense by shutting him up shld be enough to make Arsene invest in the squad and make it stronger. I hope Mustafi signs and a striker/Mahrez

ClockEndRider

You seem to be having a problem with your keyboard. Either that or you have the grammar of a 6 year old. Grow up and use the full form definite article.

JArghS

What’s the D League and can we hope for a top four finish in that too?

Jaywon

We have been hoping for many yrs without achieving d ultimate aim. What abt less talk and more action in squad investment. Hope alone doesnt do it

Xhakira

Translation- I will use the word stability to justify not making key signings

Sancheezy

Boy, wouldn’t it be funny if he was right, wins the league, then ends up staying another 3 years!? We’re f*ck if he does!!!

greg

Funnier still he doesn’t win the league and signs for three more years! You know it

Anonymarse

I have a funny feeling …

something cool

If he signs, will it be LANS?

Muchadoaboutnot

All that said by monsieur wenger and sincerely I want to be positive. But it wouldn’t be a surprise if the atmosphere turn sour early at the Emirates. Acrimony and flashpoint would be quite in order if the obvious striker and defensive needs are not met by the time the transfer window ends. Hopefully, that won’t be the case.

greg

The booing is for him not the players

Kate

People were still booing Rioch when Wenger was on.

Stillmatic

Where they saying “boo” or “bu-urns”?

Paul

Billion plus donkey felcher, that cunt has spent double any other two managers in premier league in past twelve years no wonder he kicks off when other managers mention cost of players let go on free, my 10 year old daughter could of won champions league spending a billion plus on players, can’t wait for his sacking at Christmas when Manu are 8th cunt.

Make mine a Swiss miss

I hope they’re a lot lower than 8th.
A repeat of last season’s Chelski would be just dandy

Paul

Any danger of changing your name please new Paul?

Abhishek

In the end though, Jose Mourinho is a rampant donkey felching twatbasket and we should never forget that.

😀

Kate

The title is ours. Sorry, I meant arse.

App

Shut up already and buy some players…its been 12 yrs of stability in top 4 but not top top

He's got no hair but we don't care...

Shockingly repetitive and delusional.

Down with this sort of thing.

you had me at donkey felching..

Blitz Bailey

Football is not about stability either though is it. If it was, our trophy cabinet would be bursting at the seems.

A2Gooner

Jose Mourinho is a rampant donkey felching twatbasket – you win the Internet for the day.

SPG

Wenger has failed to invest in the transfer market to fill obvious gaps in the squad, so now starts to convince himself that this is good and not a hideous mistake. It is obvious that Wenger is a competent manager but for glory you need to take risks he has obviously lost that ability aging is a bugger it does that to you. Usually this is resolved by the board setting goals to stretch the manager who then fails to meet them and the board reacts accordingly. however we don’t have a football minded board, its a financially motivated board… Read more »

MikeSA

I’d question your contention that he is “obviously competent”

BODMAS

I believe Wenger want to win and he knows what to do but by the time he spends 60 to 70 millions on a single player people will start complaining his as joined Mou. To me that is what scarce him most… He knows what to do but I will pray he makes the right choice and leave ego

Little Swede In The Number 14 Shirt

Stability as in losing three senior team members, including the club captain?!

Vincent Kompany/Jamie Vardinho

I hope Wenger isnt serious when a defender is his only priority

Sideshow_bob

Managers come managers go. Other clubs keeps adding players. Whereas Wenger just keeps trolling us year after year. And tells us not to be worried about Alexis and Ozil’s leaving. Sure

Diarra

Of course he says this. Why would he go out and say that Arsenal desperately need a striker? The prices for Arsenal would go up immediately. He has by his actions indicated a need for a new striker for a long time, now hope he signs someone.

Matt

On a side note, the Mustafi deal seems to have collapsed or even has never been in place in the first place?! Now there’s talks of Barca’s Mathieu instead.

They should change this transfer window and make it close before the start of the season…

Andrew

Stability is as good as a new signing…..

Bank of friendship

Wenger out.
Same old same old excuses.

Alexstratz

Bla bla f*cking bla. Last year it was cohesion, this year stability.

Lone Star Gunner

I agree with the Mugsmasher on this week’s Arsecast when he said “other clubs seem to be able to sign
players.”

santori

You see how City spent 55m on a much vaunted (by media at least) pairing of Otamendi and Mangala.

Then added Sterling for 49m and De Bruyne for 55m combine 104m

Now that is ambition. Forget stability.

That’s why they finished below us last season.

santori

Wenger should learn from his failure of spending only 1 quid over for Suarez and failing to land him, just like he did with 42.3m + 1 quid for Ozil or 35m +1 quid for Alexis or 30m+ 1 quid for Granit.

I mean he just doesn’t know how to conduct transfer business and buy players.

Share article

Featured on NewsNow

Support Arseblog

Latest posts

Latest Arsecast

97
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x