Arsene Wenger says it will be ‘nearly impossible’ for Arsenal to finish in the Premier League’s top four this season after his side suffered their tenth defeat of the season against Brighton at the AMEX.
Goals from Lewis Dunk and Glenn Murray inside the opening 26 minutes put the home side in a commanding position and even though Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got one back for the Gunners, the Gunners couldn’t find an equaliser in the second half.
After his side’s fourth defeat in a row, the first time they’ve been on such a terrible run since October 2002, Wenger told the BBC that closing the gap on their rivals is looking increasingly unlikely.
“It is very difficult, nearly impossible now, we are too far behind,” he said.
“We need two teams to collapse not one. But at the moment we have different worries in how to comeback to winning a game.”
For the record, Arsenal are currently eight points behind fifth-place Chelsea and 13 adrift of Sp*rs in fourth.
On today’s performance, he added: “We were passive, struggling for confidence and heavy legged but responded well in the second-half.
“It is difficult to recover from what happened to us last week – we are going through a tough time.”
Arsenal’s next test comes on Thursday when they take on AC Milan in the first leg of their last-sixteen clash of the Europa League. What’s left of the club’s season hinges on getting a decent result at the San Siro.
On the upcoming test, Wenger said: “It is important to recover mentally and physically, we are still jaded today, we gave a lot on Thursday night and you can see that today.”
It’s also nearly impossible that this man will leave.
Impossible to resign as well.
If you go back to the beginning of the season with that lucky win against Leicester first game then defeat away to Stoke and then the moment for me when the players spoke their minds away to Liverpool. It was then IMO they perhaps voiced their concerns about AW signing a new contract again, they stopped playing for him in that match just like against City in the League cup final. IMO it was a warning to the board. I know it is controversial as we hear some players saying they want to win for him but if we had… Read more »
Been so many warning signs off the pitch too. The farce of going after and failing to get Jamie Vardy. Ox choosing to leave after Wenger practically begged him to stay. Giroud, Alexis and Ozil having to beg the club to show more ambition in the transfer market.
Even Wenger meeting with Kroenke to get a new contract instead of having a proper board meeting. And that bloody awful PR video with Wenger and Gazidis was definitely a bad sign.
When I saw the Liverpool match (away 3rd game of the season) it was such a shocking performance with such disinterest it made me sit up and ask what was really going on? (considering Wenger just signed that contract) . I think the players were told Wenger was going after the FA cup final, that’s why we saw that outstanding performance to win it. What kept going through my mind after the City final was that it was the same all over again. He was supposed to go. That is why so many players are running down their contracts. We… Read more »
I’d agree they thought he was leaving. Easy to forget now but those players were exposed and humiliated against Bayern on Europe’s biggest stage. Can’t just duck that with no consequences for anyone and think the players won’t respond negatively in the longer term.
Wenger trying to pass off last year’s slump as just the result of “contract uncertainty” might have fooled some, but the players knew it was a bald-faced lie.
The only coup against Wenger is the one he has planned, himself.
I agree only with the “warning signs” part. Rest and all is just speculation and guesses on your part, kaius. Albeit a seemingly educated one.
Milan has gone 13games unbeating, for the records. It would take a team with a higher resolve to even get a draw at San Siro.
I think it’s possible he will leave. The damage is done. Everybody knows it’s his last contract. Might as well let him finish it. I am not going to say he deserves it but we as a club don’t deserve the shit we get from people outside this club. It can’t get worse than this.
We will fight back. I have faith. COYG.
If he finishes the contract, he’ll be around until the summer of 2019. With this downward spiral, we might see Özil in a relegation battle next year…
@Serpent
Not signing anyone in the summer and letting Wenger go? Now we are truly talking about the possibility of a relegation battle.
Why do you want him to see his contract out?
Do you think next season will be any different if he stays?
Do you think he will learn anything from this season?
Do you think he will rebuild?
He is done and dusted – stick the fork in because he is done..
Stick the fork? That’s exactly what i don’t want us to do because that’s the easiest thing to do. If it becomes a habit then we’ll stick the fork on every other manager who will succeed Wenger. We are not Chelski. We are ‘The Arsenal’. We have a culture here. A 100 year culture is much more important than mounting a PL challenge next year. I want him to see out his contract only on one condition and the condition being he announces it to be his last year. I just want us all to unite for once and give… Read more »
22 years is enough for ANY manager…no matter how successful. We are probably the only club in the world which would have tolerated this recent level failure for so long.
@Wyn Mills
And he was the only manager in the world who put up with us during the austerity years because the ‘banks demanded’. It’s a 2 way street. Whether you like it or not the club have tacitly shown him that loyalty when they gave him a new 2 year contract last summer and it is most definitely his last one.
Given how we’ve been trending it was always a risk – for the club and for Wenger (in terms of his legacy) – to extend him after the FA Cup win. Both parties have lost that gamble. We are well past the end-game and now it will end with a whimper. What’s at stake is the loss of prestige and status as a properly run, destination club that wins big things. We simply cannot let the floor drop too low without long term consequences. The financial landscape has changed to much to assume our stature is perpetual. Respectfully ask him… Read more »
Austerity years is a figment of your imagination. Wenger’s Arsenal has always been wealthy. Should we conclude the spuds are in austerity because they are building a stadium? And that loyalty should be shown Pottechino for deterioration? If I even concede to the notion of austerity years, is it not altogether a paradox that in those years we performed better, than in the years of supposed boon. If Arsenal was ever in austerity, then, we are still in it, because the last time I checked, we couldn’t afford Jonny Evans. Are you on Arsenal’s board to know it is his… Read more »
Its not a failure; its a debacle.
@ramgooner for fuks sake if there is a limit for sticking the fork in like chelsea , there also has to be a limit to keep giving fhe contract with no merit like arsenal does . how much would be enough for u. and do you really think wenger would just leave after the contract on 2019. he would keep asking for more . if he cant control himself then its up to the board or the owner to just say no. its just our fate that we have a owner that just doesnt fuking care and a board that… Read more »
Why let him finish ? This is a Wenger problem not a player problem. We need a fresh start new blood something different etcetera. He really should be sacked in the morning. He still deserves a statue in my opinion he has done great things for the club but enough is enough. And Carlo Ancelotti is free give him a short term contract ( hes not my favorite) and see if we can salvage whats left of the season. There is still a chance of CL in the EL and fresh start in 18/19.
Let us change the backroom staff this summer and buy some world class players. Let Wenger publicly declare next season to be his last. That would be a classy way to go.
The other option is to sack Wenger. He’ll then probably go to PSG and win the CL. We’ll officially become the biggest laughing stock in world football.
ramgooner who put the back room staff there, some world class signings? We’ve a world class player upfront who has been here weeks and already looks like he wishes he wasn’t here. Seriously no world class player would want to play for Wenger during a swan song season. That season should have been last season if not before then.
Win the champions league with PSG next season? Highly fucking unlikely, apart from his lack of defensive awareness and his principles of player worth and transfer fees he’d be a bit of a fucking hypocrite to go there.
Aubameyang wishes he wasn’t here? The same world class player missed a penalty. Players need to take responsibilty. Look what Petr Cech’s done on social media. That’s a true winner right there. That’s why he is a legend in the game. I am honestly sick of these modern day players. They think they have made it already. There are guys in the game who have won multiple European Championships, World championships and yet they don’t chat shit like some of the modern day players do. I genuinely respect everybody’s opinion here and i think shouting Wenger Out is a good… Read more »
Another year of this?
Are you out of your fucking mind????
Mental to think anyone can stand even another week of this
If Arsenal let him stay season, the brand will be irreversibly damaged. It will show little respect for the fans and those who truly care about the club. We would not finish top half – the fans are that frustrated that the football will become secondary.
I actually feel that if he stays until the end of the season it will be very damaging. Sad but true.
ramgooner “same world class player that missed a penalty” are you being serious? Just point the obvious out, players miss penalties including the likes of Ronaldo and Messi.
Gradually and with some class? That opportunity has been and gone!
@Ramgooner Even world class miss penalties it happens all the time it will happen more often when they are under pressure and their confidence are in the toilet. Dont hate the player hate the game. So players are so and so really ? Thanks for the info but its real anecdotal dude and modern players are worse than the antiques yeah thats real anecdotal too. I dont see any evidence of that people are different and many young players gets high on themselves because of the vast amounts of money they earn but that does not explain whats going on… Read more »
Szcz should be our starting keeper. Gabriel should be here in lieu of Mustafi. Perez (or Campbell, or whomever) should have been getting most if not all of the Welbeck minutes over the past season and a half. Bellerin should have competition. We shouldn’t be patting ourselves on the back for getting Sead on the cheap…there wasn’t much competition for his services. We have no effective defensive coaching. We are losing to teams of inferior players not because our players don’t try or care (they know how this reflects on them and you dont get to this level with being… Read more »
Hell then probably go to PSG and win the CL, stop it! I’m pissing myself laughing…
@Peter
I know it sounds crazy. I’m glad i could make you laugh but if he really goes to PSG and does it then what message will that send out?
It’s a real possibility. Especially after he came out and said he ‘I turned down the whole world for Arsenal’.
It’s a real game theory situation with Wenger.
@Ramgooner Dont you see it wont help ? We have worldclass players we have some real talent in the squad but all that does is keep us swimming our nose barely above water. The tactics are all fucked up they are insanely wrong and the reason for our lack of goals and our leaky defence it’s all wrong. Thats not the players fault, they are the soldiers here following orders and taking the losses. There is something completely wrong with our system our tactics our complete gameplan. We cannot afford to be “classy”. I love our gentleman manager but he… Read more »
@Inspector norse
I agree with you and everybody. He’s done but i still trust him to do what is right for the club. If that means he stays and sees out his contract then let him do that.
And no it’s not stockholm syndrome. I genuinely think he’ll take the right decision for the club. That’s how it’s always been with him.
He’s like my stubborn old father who doesn’t want to be euthanized and wants to die a natural death. His death won’t be the death of this club so i don’t mind another year of Wenger.
Our players are wasting their careers and being hung out to dry because the failing manager doesn’t do coaching, can’t select a team, doesn’t do tactics, can’t make subs, sits doing nothing during the match, holds his head in his hands and doesn’t try to help them, and talks utter shite in press conferences. You may not mind another year of Wenger but sensible people everywhere do mind. We mind that he is wrecking our players and turning our club into a joke. He needs to go as soon as possible.
@Ramgooner
Hmmm … i think the right decision would been to have left after winning the cup. Trophy in his hand and a great lasting memory of this glorious intelligent gentleman which he truly is. I hope the decision will be his but we need it within a day or 2. A bigger problem in the long run of course is the evil kroenkes but right now we need Wenger out.
ramgooner
you are living in a different world than the rest of us . wenger winning champions leagur with psg ?? its highly likely that wenger wouldnt even be hired by any respectable club much less win something with them
It can always get worse…and it just may get worse.
I could have told AW this at the beginning of the season…
I fuckin hate that word ‘jaded’!!! I only every hear it when we play shit!
Thank you, true Gooner! I said Wenger is the Mugabe of football and got a lot of thumbs down. I make bold to also include Lauren Gbagbo. It would require a civil war to remove Wenger. He was touted to be a specialist in failure, I think now he also a specialist in ‘ delusional ‘.
Nearly?
Watching arsenal games nowadays is bad enough but reading any interviews Wenger gives makes me really wanna pull my hair out
Seems only way we have a chance against Milan is if Wenger goes this week.
Milan’s game just got postponed. He can start to write his excuse for Thursday.
I don’t agree. David Seaman is right when he says the Arsenal players are “getting away with murder” and “Arsene is copping for all this criticism”. He adds that last Sunday “at least you can show willing and I’m afraid a few of the players didn’t look like that”. I’d say more than a few. I agree that a change of manager can often spark players into life again, but these are professionals who should have some pride in their performance, and who profess, at least, to be hurt by all the criticism from fans and to be behind the… Read more »
If players can’t be bothered then why is wneger picking those players?
@Clock end Mike
Nailed it.
In the wrong place
Nearly impossible for him to be sacked with this board it seems.
Seriously the board need to grow a pair & sack him tonight. With him in charge we have no chance of winning the Europa, with him gone we have half a chance.
Shock therapy seems to be the only solution at the moment.
They’re jaded from you, Arsene. From you.
Loved the line
I don’t want to make excuses but..
As nearly impossible as it is to make a case for him to stay any longer
Everything that comes out of his mouth now just makes me angry. I feel really guilty about the way I feel about him, for everything he has done for us, but what else is there to feel?
This is dark.
All of us feel exactly the same way Chris. The board has to come under some serious scrutiny by the fans for allowing this mess to foster. Everyone from fans, media, pundits etc are blaming Wenger and quite rightly so. But the board imo are getting an easy ride, hiding behind Wenger. No reassurance from them of any kind. There wasn’t a single board member present in the set of club representatives today at Amex. Wenger is trying to do his job and is unsuccessful at it but these board members aren’t even arsed to try to do their job.… Read more »
Thats what i call a profound perspective Sherlock
We gave a lot this thursday? Ahahah
Wenger, if you have real love for this club you would critically judge yourself and come to the conclusion that perhaps someone else could do better. But you’re an incredibly arrogant man. Even your boast about always respecting a contract is more about you than the club. Cech has admitted his failures today like a man. You will never admit yours.
Yep. Exactly.
Respect Cech. I remember Arteta said the same thing after his last football game. We finished 2nd in the league and he said ‘sorry’.
That’s what i like about that generation. I am afraid the current generation will ruin football.
We probably need more coaches like Zidane and Gattuso in the future. I don’t think this generation will respect guys like Wenger and SAF. Just look at Iwobi. FFS he is ruining Wenger’s career.
Iwobi is ruining Wenger’s career? Are you mad? Wenger is the one ruining young players careers. He’s played Iwobi into the ground, he should have never played as many games as he has. It’s not just Iwobi he does it to, he did the same to Holding, Chambers and to some extent Niles aswell. He stagnates these players with his lack of instruction, young players need guidance , a system to express themselves but Wenger doesn’t provide it. He’s lost his touch with young players.
That has always been his personality. Everyone loved it when things were good, now its joining in what other fans said then; ‘arrogant’. Fair enough on it being time to move on but lets not parrot the personal attacks
Heavy legged? That’s because u made them all chase a ball for 90 minutes 3 days ago pal.
Nearly impossible… hahahahahaha.. hahaha… ha….. :’(
Mike Tyson should have stopped years before he did. Lost his air of invincibility due to staying in the game too long & therefore ruined his legacy. Wenger is the same.
But if Wenger bites mourinho’s ear off…
This is just getting sad now
I know Wenger bought these players but good god they have to take some of the blame. They’re not doing their job. Wenger stays or leaves, many of these players need to leave the club.
Cech, Chambers, Xhaka, Welbeck, Iwobi. Wow almost half the starting team today.
They’re not equipped to do their job. You wouldn’t expect a baby to talk, needs to be taught by competent adults.
They do take the blame. A brief non-scientific glance at social media tells you that during games individual players get the brunt of the stick from fans. And they know it’s their responsibility going by the reports from the meeting they had without Wenger.
We’re almost where Chelsea were in Mourinho’s last season. The players are telling us how they feel about this manager. The club needs to listen.
Beyond incredible, that statement
Maybe we’re losing because we destabilized our team in January? Maybe changing our entire front line mid-season wasn’t the best idea?
If Wenger wants to save himself the embarrassment of resigning, maybe he should get a doctor’s note saying the stress isn’t good for his heart? I’m sure that’ll be a legit reason to leave. Someone just mail one to him!
I want to be on the winning side again…
I hate this man with a passion. The board need to grow a set and sack him now. We’re an embarrassment of a club.
Sounds like the gaffer has got it all in hand. Phew!
From his body language & lack of touchline engagement Wenger increasingly looks like he knows his time is up. A very sad end but one he had control over, he should have known to go after the FA Cup win. It’s a power thing & few people in that position want or know when its time to go.
Hope Burnley enjoy the Europa League next year. I know we are five points ahead but I’d say their form is a little better and they do have faith in their manager.
*better manager
He’s going no where unless the board step up which I can’t see happening. A shame that his legacy is getting tarnished due to his ignorance and arrogance not to see what’s best for arsenal fc
‘ We responded in the second half’ 😀
Jesus do you call that response?
I felt sorry for this man. Sorry that his faith in his players was never repaid. Sorry that Chelski and $iteh’s oil money shifted the goal posts, sorry that he came so close to winning the Champions League only for Sol to throw it all. That was over ten years ago. I no longer feel sorry him. I feel angry that he has shown himself to be so selfish as to be so stubborn and keep on dragging this club ever so slowly into mid table obscurity. Wenger the passion is no longer there. Stop fleecing this club you claim… Read more »
Jaded this jaded that for this amount of money they are making jaded is not an excuse!
Where on earth is the board in all of this? It’s abject the club’s ambition is just to make the top four, they do f all in the CL and it’s all about the money sadly. Please cancel your season tickets.
Arlene, just go and write that book mate.
Arsene
It would all be lies anyway, and how he could have signed a thousand players but didn’t, and how he turned down the whole world to stay at Arsenal, and a whole lot of other deluded arrogant rubbish. I wouldn’t waste my money on it.
And Man City at the moment keeping Chelsea in their half are not jaded. The guy has no shame…
it’s all over lads
it doesn’t matter who comes in to replace Wenger, or if it’s this year or next year, because obviously our board just isn’t bothered
we will be 6th place at best for the next 5 years
He was probably asked but is anyone else sick of this manager at this stage of the season doing top-four calculations?
Seems like when Wenger talks about top four he’s mostly talking about getting the cash, not actually trying to win the Champions League. The irony is that if we’d spent the last 5-6 seasons building a squad capable of challenging in Europe (as opposed to just qualifying) we’d probably still be in it.
The lure of top four cash has been both a blessing and a curse.
I guess he is on drugs.
i’m calling Dementia
What does Steve Old do for his money? Sits there like an emotionless grey ghost every week next to wenger
all he’s allowed to do I’m afraid
If that’s the case then he should leave instead of behaving like Arsenes dog.
It’s the fact that Wenger sits there chewing his knuckles that riles me. How can the players feel urgency when their manager looks like he’s given up and wants to hide?
Arsene has lost it and the dressing room. that’s a given. But the senior players are a disgrace at the moment. Our chief cry baby, Koscielny, can talk the talk in players meetings but has once again bottled being a leader. Wilshere our so-called English big hope, can not take on any defensive duties or impact the game offensively (also soon to lose out on a World Cup place to the Ox). Then there is our World Cup winner Ozil and uber experienced keeper Cech who are dining out on reputations. Spine of the team is full of spineless players
All these players would look good under almost any other manager and in any kind of system.
Wasn’t following arsenal back in 2002, but does any body remember what it was like in 2002 when we last lost 4 games in row?
Yes, he told us we should be eating more sausages.
Tomorrow I expect to be lectured about the merits of a bean and cabbage diet.
It felt like a blip instead of the norm.
Time to start thinkin like like a small club – we scored a goal!! 😀
Excuses excuses excuses. All he ever uses! We were jaded. We were heavy legged. We lacked a little concentration. Blah blah blah. Individually we have a good group of players. Collectivally they are pants. One can only assume they are playing shit to force wenger out the door. I could be wrong though, they could genuinly just be shit
So sick of hearing this shit. Just leave…
The saddest part to me is not that we can’t compete anymore at the very top (or even mid table at the moment) but it’s now awful, even painful to watch us play. Where has that beautiful football gone?
I’m watching now out of a 40-year addiction and morbid fascination. Nothing more.
If the board doesn’t replace Arsene by the end of this season, its all over. I would rather have him replaced now if there is a suitable permanent replacement. Wenger is addicted to his job and it is bringing the entire club down. This is the time for the board to step in and make some bold decisions. With Sanlehi and new director of recruitment, we are not as handicapped as we were before. I really really hope this is the last season of Wengerball. No Arsenal fan deserves to take this shit anymore.
I’d rather he went now and put Jens in charge until the end of the season. At least we wouldn’t have to listen to this rubbish any more.
Do it.
The question now isn’t if Wenger should leave at then end of the season, but leave before the season ends.
I know he should get an honourable end, but how bad can this keep getting before enough is truly enough?
I think Wenger’s ability to keep his job no matter the output is beyond physical. It should be spiritual! What again can explain a board being this useless ( they seem to be blind, deaf and cant even think at all) apart from spiritual manipulation? Even Mugabe was ousted but Wenger has been allowed to do whatevet pleases his ego and in end, its THE ARSENAL which have become a laughing stock. Look at us now, just take a good look at us now!
I’ve long kept quiet about Arsene because I simply respect the man for especially his dignity, and recently roc an extent, his achievements over the last 22 years.
However, Arsenal as a club have now come to a watershed moment. Please arsene, for the remaining, respectful few of us, and your own dignity – please step aside. Watching this arsenal team in its current form is in itself an undignified experience. It’s done.
The level of delusion and denial is just staggering. We’re way past the point of worrying about the top four. At this stage securing seventh will be a struggle.
“We are jaded today”
…Arsene you’ve been jaded for 10 years now. And stubborn. And stuck in your old ways.
The irony is that our board ‘invited’ Stan into our club on the premise he would keep the stability we prided ourselves on. Stan told everyone he would take a back seat and not interfere in team matters. We will be a self sustaining football club the multi billionaire said. Silent Stan then stopped talking. He stopped doing anything. Well you’ve got to admit that he’s a man of his word isn’t he? He hasn’t done anything apart from take the odd 3 million here and there. The truth is when he took over Arsenal football club, we welcomed this… Read more »
Seriously, just shut up now.
Wenger should be replaced once its mathematically impossible to be relegated. Allow a new manager time to get used to the team and surroundings…And to come to decisions about who he needs to ship out
The board are getting away with it here. But. Arsene should resign. He has been a mixture of arrogant and desperate for years now. He really wants to win the main prizes for Arsenal but as he drifts further away from ever doing that he has become arrogant to believe it is him that will do it. He just won’t accept that he is no longer good enough. And that is terrible because it does not allow you to assess why he’s not good enough. The same applies to his players.
Arsene please leave your resignation letter on your desk.
Nearly impossible for you to stay as a manager
I think the word is its “academic”.
More importantly, bc of our January transfer dealings, we are left with Welbeck to do the business for us in the europa.
Poor confidence and lack of leadership from the gaffer, a palpable sense of distrust anyway that what he says will help them. This team is in serious need of better instructions.
Its not coming from either Wenger or Bould nor Koscielny or Cech.