Arsene Wenger’s first ever Arsenal signing and his current captain both firmly believe he’s the right man to manage the club despite the prospect of an eighth season without silverware.
Speaking after last night’s 3-1 home defeat to Bayern Munich, Thomas Vermaelen directly addressed the issue of the boss’ future stressing that erratic performances are down to the players.
“Of course we’re behind him,” the Belgian is quoted as saying by the Guardian.
“He’s done a lot for this club. He still does a lot of hard work with us. He is the right man for the job. We have to show that on the pitch as well – at the moment the results are not good – but we will work hard with him to get the results back.
“Of course we are not happy. We are disappointed. We have to look at ourselves and stick together in difficult times. Don’t look at each other, don’t blame each other, work hard every day to get the results back.”
Dismissing suggestions that it might be time for a new man at the helm, Vermaelen continued:
“Everyone in football looks too short term. They don’t look at the long term, and he’s done a lot for this club. It doesn’t mean that because it’s not going well at the moment we don’t stand behind him.
“You have to look at the long term. He is the right man for this club and we are all behind him.”
Meanwhile in France, Lyon manager Remi Garde – who joined the Gunners alongside Patrick Vieira a month before Wenger formally took over in 1996 – has told L’Equipe that Wenger should command respect for the manner in which he has revolutionised Arsenal.
“I think it is still a great manager,” Garde is quoted as saying.
“He’s been reproached for not winning trophies, but compared to what he brought to the club, there should be a little more respect for his work.
“It [football] is judged on the result, but the form of the judgment is important, it should not exceed certain measures.”
Given the current circumstances at the Emirates criticism is natural, however, Arseblog News firmly echoes Garde’s measured words.
It was obvious that there are worlds between Bayern and Arsenal, seriously. Every pass and move they made, had an intension or a strategy behind it, while we were mostly freestyling that shit… like Merte: “well im not sure where to pass, id give it to you koscielny…” Kosc.: “oh how kind of you Per, here you get it back” Merte: “thanks, koscielny, thanks. well so im going to pass it to.. no.. mhh.. no.. well better give it to sagna.” Sagna “Sacre bleu wher’ em i going tu pass?” Merte: “how should i know… I wont take it back… Read more »
Typically I wouldn’t give this a thumbs up but the Sagna dialogue literally made me laugh out loud. Well done.
I’ve seen almost 50 games in which Arteta has featured. The passes he makes are getting monotonous imo. When in the final third I swear I have seen better passes that should he have taken them, I think we could have ended up testing the goalkeeper many, many, many times. He’s always like “oy, I passed to Sagna last time in this same situation so i’ll do the same today and probably again in the next game (meanwhile cazorla, walcott, wilshere e.t.c are making good runs in and around the area) I want him to be more adventurous when he… Read more »
Arteta is not a bad player, he is just average.In the last few games Ramsey was better than him in my opinion.
Agreed completely mate, the lack of creativity in the team is fucking frustrating. Someone needs to tell wenger that POSESSION DOESNT WIN GAMES. For 3 years now ive seen the same pass side to side bullshit and then when we lose, “but we had 60% posession” excuse. Passing from the right back, to the left back for 75 minutes is not good football. Anyone else notice the difference in our pressing game as soon as Rosicky came on against Bayern? He is our best player at pressing opponents and getting stuck in. FUCKIN USE HIM WENGER. No offence to Ramsey… Read more »
@goontang, how about Ramsey over Arteta in that trio, or do you think formation that is still premature?
definitely premature @Gunner86 Ramsey certainly does work hard and is slowly showing merit, but Arteta is far more positionally aware, far more experienced, and certainly more efficient as a result. However, I agree that his vast experience is where his value lies, but therein also lies the problem – against superior attacking plays it seems Arteta has little creativity. As a defensive midfielder this is not necessarily all that bad… it just needs someone like Diaby to be REGULARLY FIT and CAPABLE along with Wilshere/Cazorla. I fully agree with Wenger that Diaby completes our midfield, but it’s a real shame… Read more »
I was really pleased when Arteta joined us. I thought “at last, a classy midfielder who in someway might make up for Cesc’s departure”.
But Wenger’s lousy coaching and complete lack of tactical nous has reduced him to another Denilson.
The fuckwit.
@the grime raper Arteta is being played out of position as a holding midfielder. So he is going against his instinct which is to attack. I still think he is absolute quality the fact that he is playing a position he isn’t familiar with and playing it well.
While I can agree that Wenger’s made mistakes, I still believe that Wenger is not being judged as fairly as he should. He is a victim of his own success in that people set expectations based on the success he brought us earlier on. But I think it can be highly misleading. If we don’t also accept how much harder his job has become and how much tougher the competition is nowadays with clubs capable of sustaining annual losses that can fund some countries, then we’ve lost perspective. It is perfectly legitimate to disagree with his view that a Champions… Read more »
Let’s look at the facts regarding the huge focus on Wenger these days: – Arsenal loses to Blackburn – The next day The Sun says Wenger is offered a new contract – Angry reaction from fans/media; Wenger denies it – All the media say that Wenger will leave The timing of that Sun article seems a little too coincidential, no? They know how people will react. And the media reaction seems a little too predictable as well, no? It all seems like a deliberate ploy by The Sun and some other disgusting corporations to undermine Arsenal. Kick us while we’re… Read more »
wow….
really?
I am in general agreement. Arsene seems to be having a crisis in confidence and no one senior to him at the club whose football knowledge he respects is giving him reassurance. He has no-one he reports to and respects to hold him to account and give him clear football based guidance (a la David Dein). He knows he has invested (time and money) in a generation of talent which has failed for various reasons Overconfidence (Bentner/Denilson/Larsson/Song/Adebayor) Underconfidence (Arshavin/Gervinho/Vela/Chamack/Park) Thuggish opponents (Eduardo/Diaby/Ramsay) Incompetence (Senderos/Squillaci/Djorou/Hoyte/Almunia/Silvestre) Based on this, it is understandable that he is much more reluctant to take risks in… Read more »
@Bonjour You have a short term memory, when arsenal were playing the beautiful game we were everyone’s second team admired and imitated by all the press hounding has only been more recent and I think is also due to a level of expectation not being reached. Other team’s managers get lauded for getting their sides to 6th or 7th position in the league and win manager of the month for a couple of plucky performances but Wenger (rightly in my opinion) has more expectation from fans the media and himself. We are in a bit of a rut but even… Read more »
I love Arsene and can’t imagine any other manager managing our club. If someone else was to be the Manager, don’t know if my love for the club would be the same. I grew up watching the Arsenal of the 2000’s era and some of the football was out of this world. Can’t explain how much joy that brought me personally. Trophies, yes are important but lets be honest to most of us fans its about bragging right. It pains me to see Man Utd getting hold of trophies year in year out without having to produce the sort of… Read more »
You and I have probably been watching Arsenal the same length of time. I too was attracted to the way they played, not the trophies. That’s the exact reason why I was able to enjoy the last years Fabregas had here. But let’s be honest – that beautiful, quick, incisive passing game is dead. And when we manage to briefly shine back to those days, we don’t have anyone who can finish chances. Fuck the trophies, our style of play is regressing. That’s the most worrisome thing to me.
Arsenals biggest problem is ROUTINE PASSING. Not really taking any risks. Wilshere is the only astute dribbler with a good bust of pace, stamina to get past opponents but again but he can never do it alone.
Fabragas has been quoted more than once that there was no tactical discussions when he was at Arsenal. When has wenger ever been seen watching the opposition at another match like you see Ferguson, etc? Why does he make time-bound substitutions (on 70 minutes) rather than spontaneous tactical ones? Why hasn’t he kicked his scouting staff in the stones for recommending obvious duds? Our guys ‘training’ probably consists of a nice drive to the creche in Colney in their new Merc / Ferrari / Porche, an hour or so in the gym working on their six packs, a quick jog… Read more »
Come one guys, lets be fair.
Ya’ll know you read that Sagna line with a French accent.
Sometimes i come here just for the comments, i’m sorry gays 🙁
http://dontgiveupworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/One-Arsene-Wenger-wallpaper-with-some-amazing-facts-of-his-career-at-Arsenal.jpg
Last year, still worth showing.
No its not.
Yes, that’s great, he’s done some amazing things without doubt and we’ll always be greatful. However…
Guess what! We’re in 2013 guys and won nothing since. Get over him.
However you look at it.. £16 million spent in 16 years is just awesome. If Man city get a manager like him – he will win premiership plus the rest every year.
This Guardian article is much more revealing.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/gallery/2013/feb/20/arsenal-thierry-henry
@Hatecrew
Do we really need to rehash how those ‘great’ players weren’t ‘great’ when we bought them?
Why is it awesome? It just means he’s not spent much overall, there’s nothing awesome about that. And why would Man City win the Prem with him? He’s bought players like Gervinho and over the last 18 months has spent 105 million pounds to go backwards. Just because we’ve received way over the top fees for a few players (23.5 for Anelka, 35 for Overmars and Petit, 18 for Toure, 20+ for Adebayor and Nasri) doesn’t make him a genius at all. A much better barometer is our wage bill which is almost double that of Sp*rs and Everton. But… Read more »
@Regibold
Not spending more money than you can afford is awesome.
Leeds United, Portsmouth and Kerry Katona would be the opposite of that and the opposite of awesome.
hatecrew – the guardian article tries to suggest eisfeld is a flop. at 20 years old. utter madness…
Firstly, Portsmouth are on of very few clubs to actually be in profit transfer wise during the Premier League era, so that’s clearly not a very valid argument. Secondly, it’s a myth that he’s not spent money or had money available. 105 million in the last 18 months alone tells you that. I’m not getting in to this net spend crap because if you take a few ridiculously over-priced sales out of it that whole argument falls apart. We’ve been the biggest beneficiaries of Abu Dhabi buying the title. Thirdly, he says himself that he has a big input in… Read more »
The Guardian article does not mention Carzola or Wilshere in the Fabregas role.
@Regibold Fair enough re Portsmouth’s transfer spend, but I was thinking more along the lines of overall prudence. Wenger’s caution with money extends far beyond just transfer spend and it’s to our benefit. Leeds and Kerry Katona though… Secondly, net spend is important. How well you do in the market depends on how smart you are at playing the market. Our net spend does reflect shrewd plays in the market and Wenger can take some credit with that. Whether the sales of certain players should’ve occurred or not is another matter. Receiving top fees for players that then go on… Read more »
Stopped reading the article after it said Ramsey had a poor performance against Bayern.
Having made the original point I agree with Brad.. Now, just take Bayern for example – they were final last year and they still went ahead and bought few players and improved their squad. Chelsea did the same. Arsenal has been spending £50m each for past two seasons – but Chelsea has spent over £50 million in past 10 seasons Man city’s average is even bigger. We all know how many players we could have bought or kept had it not been obscene wages from Chelsea and Man City. Yes, we benefited from player sales. But, did we really want… Read more »
@Bard, I’m not ignoring facts at all. But net spend isn’t what it seems and it’s used by people like it’s a fact. Well it’s a fact that if a player doesn’t ask for a transfer he’s paid a bonus on each year of his contract he has left. For example, Patrick Vieira had 3 years left when he signed for Juve. Juve paid us 13.6 million. As Vieira hadn’t asked for a transfer, we had to pay him almost 6 million in bonuses and fees. In effect our ‘net’ from that transfer was closer to 8 million. The Henry… Read more »
A good point of reference sir, he deserves a damn sight more respect than hes getting from some corners. All clubs go through rough patches, L’pool/Manure/Bayern and even Barca who in style of play at a club level we were a pre cursor for dont forget and that is only down to one man. If he does step down i hope he takes over the youth academy and scout system and maybe even a seat on the board PHW must be near death by now. IMO there are to many glory hunters that came along right when he took over,… Read more »
I know Wenger does himself no favours when he uses the “you’ll miss me when I’m gone” line, but really, the way he has guided us through the last few years while we have been paying off this massive stadium debt is nothing short of exceptional. He has done something that will allow this team to prosper for years and years after he is gone – this is something that is not common in the world of modern managers where you are flicked to the curb after 12 seconds and therefore work only for yourself. Arsene has not been perfect… Read more »
The reason there’s anger towards Arsene, is his refusal to fix glaringly obvious deficiencies over the last few years, the refusal to strengthen an average team is baffling! Better teams than us continue to stregthen, yet Arsene remains adamant that his squad is incredible. I’m not angry at losing to Bayern, we were never going to win the Champs lge anyway! Can you imagine this team in a final? The worst part is against shit teams we lose, against good teams we still lose, it makes no sense. And it happens year after year after year. If we don’t qualify… Read more »
Is 8 years without silverware a long enough perspective?
Eight years without silverware within the context of crazy money and the consistency to end up in the top four all along?
It’s not the greatest achievement, but when you see how the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea can end up out of the top four, it gives some extra perspective.
Granted, you can argue that you would sacrifice some shit seasons if we won something and you’ll be perfectly entitled to your opinion on that.
But the lack of silverware should always be weighed up against all the other factors. It should never be seen in isolation.
I agree that consistently getting in the Champions League places should not be dismissed, but it has become less and less secure as seasons have gone by. Also during this crazy money era even Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Brimingham, Liverpool and this season either Swansea or Bradford will have won a domestic trophy. If they can, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be able to. If we had taken the domestic cups more seriously than we have, maybe it’d only be 2 or 3 years since our last trophy.
HOW DO YOU LIKE THE NEW STADIUM AY?? ITS CALLED PROGRESS U DONUTS.
If we didn’t move, we’d be earning Newcastle-level incomes.
Have fun shouting at Wenger to spend then, eh?
I like doughnuts.
It’s a serious problem that Wenger is still living off his success of 10 years ago. People will always keep fond memories of those beautiful years but we are writing 2013 not 2003… Just as you don’t hire a player who used to be godd 10 years ago, otherwise get Zidane and Rivaldo in tomorrow…
The question that begs asking is: has Wenger become worse, or has the climate around him become a lot tougher? I say the latter. Ten years ago, there weren’t dodgy billions sloshing about and annual losses the size some countries’ budgets. Now there are. You can disagree with Wenger’s “Champions League qualification is a trophy” philosophy (which is still a great achievement, one that eludes even billionaire clubs, but you cannot say that Wenger is past it without fully taking into account the context in which he has to work in. The guy still regularly finds gems of players, even… Read more »
I’m sick of this oh it’s the petro dollars and we can’t compete bollocks! Bayern Munich have a far lower wage bill, far lower ticket prices, but look at how huge the gulf in the teams/squads. Wenger’s teams, his tactics, his motivation, his dictatorship. He keeps doing what he’s always done for the last eight years and expects a different outcome, madness. As for his great purchases, he paid £24 million for Gervinho and Giroud combined, then didn’t trust either of them to start against Bayern. So is he admitting they’re not good enough? Especially when “we have two great… Read more »
Dennis.
Bayern have a bigger stadium than Arsenal
Bayern have spent around £250m more than Arsenal in the last 8 years.
Arsenal had to fork out £700m for a new stadium and training facilities 8 years ago.
We are lucky that we have been in the top 4 every year.
This clubs biggest failing is it’s commercial income and that has nothing to do with Arsene. To be fair, its not even the boards failing, it’s because we had to commit to long-erm deals in order to get the £700m loan.
We cannot keep living in the past. I totally agree that Wenger has revolutionized and changed the way Arsenal plays and has run as a club. But to keep pointing to that in the face of failure after failure is too naive. Progress has stalled yet excuses keep coming up telling us what he has done in the past. We need someone new and fresh with a ruthlessness to a winning mentality where failure is not an option to turn things around. I truly feel that as much as Wenger has done to the Arsenal, he has run his course… Read more »
Here’s the thing – the players we have love Wenger. If you think confidence is low now, just think what will happen if we sack Wenger mid-term. You would absolutely say goodbye to the chase for 4th. To me, Wenger’s hands have been tied since the move to emirates. he’s done incredibly well with what he’s had access to and managed to keep the team where it is during these lean years. Yes, there are no trophies, but he’s kept us in CL – the only way to attract “top top talent.” While the costs have been prohibitive for years,… Read more »
When are you people going to realise money is not the issue. Tactics and defensive organization have been a joke for the last two seasons at least.
I still haven’t forgot the 8-2 hammering we got last season, have you?
I think that’s a good point that many people overlook – the effect it would have on morale to drop him midway through the season considering the immense respect the players seem to hold him in still. Another thing that I find quite telling is whenever the subject comes up for discussion with fans of other teams they almost invariably say that Arsenal fans are far too critical of Arsene and getting rid of him would be a huge mistake. I find myself torn on the subject as well, because yes he has achieved amazing things at Arsenal and not… Read more »
The 8-2 result is not an example of bad tactics and organisation.
We were playing with Armand Traore, for fuck’s sake.
Money is an issue. As it was. As it will always be. Don’t kid yourself into thinking that we could suddenly compete strongly year-on-year against teams with much greater financial resources.
@ BARD Lowe league teams have worse players than Traore & they don’t get hammered 8-2 at Old Trafford. We could be missibg our entire 1st choice midfielders & Arsene will still use the same tactics, it’s ridiculous, he’s only tactic is deploying Ramsey on the right/left to offer us more defensive solidity. And I’m not jumping on the band wagon, I’ve been critical of Arsene tactically ever since the 2901 FA cup final(Owens last min double) we were a goal up & he took off all our attacking players to protect the lead, when Liverpool equalised, the only attacker… Read more »
the players love Wenger so much they keep leaving
the comments on here are unbelievably delusional
It has been shown that the wages paid to players is by far the best predictor of league position. It has also been shown that in Arsene Wenger’s entire time with Arsenal his results have been vastly superior than his wage bill suggests they should be. He is still overachieving this year, though not to the same extent in years past.
Right now winning the league is just not realistic no matter who the manager is. A new manager, in my opinion, would only exacerbate the problems Arsenal currently face.
Bard wrote: “Money is an issue. As it was. As it will always be. Don’t kid yourself into thinking that we could suddenly compete strongly year-on-year against teams with much greater financial resources.” This constant excuse the AKBs keep saying for our 8 years of failing to win anything is ‘oh, we can’t compete now or in the future with the bigger clubs as they have much more money’… but I thought Wenger was the main one putting in so much effort to champion FFP and that in the next couple of years we’ll all be on a level playing… Read more »
Arsenal are not pushing for FFP because everyone will be on a level playing field, they are pushing it because it gives them a significant advantage over every English club except for Manchester United.
Pete,
yes bayern have a bigger stadium. But have you seen how low the ticket prices are?
Their gate receipts are nowhere near Arsenal’s.
Yet still they spend the money on top top quality.
Meanwhgile we get Gervinho. Now remind me, who was it decided to buy Gervinho, Santos etc?
I still with him, he’ll come out tops just a long low in his carear! Hes the best manager in the world fuck you all
No he’s not.FACT.
Until you said “FACT” I was going to disagree with you, but how could I possibly do that now? You completely shut that avenue of thought down… I salute you.
Get some therapy
I know he used to do nice shit for us but what has he done for us lately
Kept us competitive considering how much money is sloshing about elsewhere.
This just can’t go on anymore. Tactically we are inept. There is no purpose to our build up, no movement off the ball. Bayern were crowding 2-3 people around the ball when we had it, because they knew we couldn’t move it quickly. They were also forming little triangles when they had the ball, while someone on the far side of the field was making a meaningful run. Never once did I see us switch the field with any purpose whatsoever. “Here you take it, find something to do with it” seems to be our mentality. And how is everyone… Read more »
Bayern out-Arsenaled us!
LOOK…FOR THE LAST TIME! We respect Wenger, we love the fella…but it’s time for a fresh start. His status as an Arsenal legend is assured for eternity. We need a new start. It is so obvious now.
You won’t get fresh start with this board irrespective of the choice of our manager.
Im only praying Wenger can win something cos someone with his class and dignity deserves better. To me hes the sole shining role model in the principle and morally bankrupt premiership. Personally hes someone I look up.
Having nice principles and moral wealth can’t fix a leaky defence and poor tactics.
just looking at the bigger picture mate
He get’s £7 million a year. That’s more than he deserves.
He’s out of touch, out of ideas, stubborn and arrogant. Not the sort I personally would aspire to.
I’m not saying I’m adverse to Wenger leaving. But can someone tell me who they think can come in (realistically) and make a huge difference? Remember there is other factors to take in such as the board and how much money we actually have to compete. Obviously we have more than we spend but how much? It’s clear also, that the board are content with finishing in the top four and putting 0% pressure on the manager. This is of course ridiculous in any football club especially one who doesn’t live up to the expectations that they say (Gazidis and… Read more »
Same predictable question, ‘who’ll replace him?’. Honestly, you’d think he was the only manager in the world. Stop living in fear people.
I’m sure someone at the club can manage to rustle up some names
Jurgen Klopp, David Moyes, Mircea Lucescu, Michael Laudrup, Walter Mazzari, Diego Simeone and probably a lot of others that I dont know of. All of the above, according to me, would do a better job with the resources available at Arsenal. We have a huge wage budget, I’m just guessing but it should be in the same region as Bayern, and we are a rich club so a new manager would have a lot to spend if he could get rid of the dross and get the money from the sales that slimy Gazidis claims are there. At some point… Read more »
I read on another blog that Bayern’s wage bill is less than ours. Just shows you what a waste of money we have on our hands.
Bayern’s wage bill is not less than ours.
Bayern also plays in a league where they are vastly richer than everyone else.
Unfortunately, we pay the English Premier League premium with wages.
Problems run deeper than you seem to think and some of the names you have put up there are pretty embarrassing. You have no evidense for Moyes doing a better job he has always ran of a budget at a club that exceeds expectations and Laudrup has been at Swansea for half a year and your touting him as a better manager than Wenger. Seriously man get some perspective. I think both of those men our good managers but I find your confidence that they would do a better job than Wenger baffling. Like I said I’m not adverse to… Read more »
A Twat With a Keyboard
What names and why are embarrassing? Is it just Laudrup and Moyes or are Klopp also embarrassing? I think Laudrup did a good job in Spain and continue in Swansea. Moyes are a very good manager and with more money he would be challenging for titles.
To me it seems that the only manager you know of is Wenger and it might be time for you to widen your perspective and think a bit.
@Hatecrew
How many times do I have to say I’m not adverse to Wenger leaving. He pisses me off just as much he does you I’m sure. Change is needed in one way or another at Arsenal and getting rid of the manager might be part of that, but it’s NOT the only thing that has to happen.
@hatecrew: “All of the above, according to me, would do a better job with the resources available at Arsenal.”
Who the fuck are you??
I’m torn. Wenger HAS spent a lot of money on players over the past 8 years….just on awful players. This is a good little article on the money he seems to have wasted on bad players.
I’m not a Wenger out person, but he isn’t above criticism.
http://arsenaltruth.squarespace.com/arsenal-truth/2012/2/23/arsenals-130m-wage-bill-exposed.html
Notice one remarkable thing about that: Yossi Benayoun’s wage.
A reserve player at Chelsea is being paid that much. That’s what we’re up against.
But I would agree, if that’s real, that we need to fix the wage structure.
Hah. TGSTEL is on 52k
The post date on that website is February 2012, and they have presumably used the most recent figures available, which would be the 2010/11 season.
The third player listed is Arteta, who joined at the beginning of the 2011/12 season.
That we have a lot of players on the books who shouldn’t be there is beyond doubt, but that article is shit.
Exactly, we don’t need 33 ‘first-team’ players most of whom don’t play and just suck money out of the club.
We need exactly 22 in the ‘first-team’ AVERAGING GBP100k-a-week:
We have 33 ‘first-team’ players. Why? The majority of these are either over-paid ‘flops’ or under-played ‘young & prospective’ players. We should have 22 ‘first-team’ players who AVERAGE GBP100k-a-week: – 2 to 3 paid GBP200k-a-week (the Rooney/RVP type) – 2 to 3 paid GBP150k-a-week (the Hazard/Oscar type) – 5 to 6 paid GBP100k-a-week (the Cazorla/Wilshere type) – 7 to 8 paid GBP75k-a-week (the Nacho/Sagna type) – 4 to 5 paid GBP50k-a-week (the Gnabry/Zaha type) This means the 22-man ‘first team’ would only cost GBP115mm worth of wages. The rest could be spent on manager/coaches/reserves. ROTATION is the key when you… Read more »
The error prone “captain invisible” and Remi Garde says that Wenger is the ´”right man for the job”. I’m sorry but that hardly instills me with confidence.
Quite the opposite actually.
Wenger deserves 2 seasons more for the loyality and commitment.
Its not like we have been apalling.Defeats we have had could have happened to any top team. There are too many new players broight in this year which i feel is the main problem.If we fix our attack d defence will take care on its own.
I believe Bayern had four new players bought in this season. Not doing too bad are they?
The ‘new player’ excuse is just a smokescreen. Bad management is too blame. I seem to remember Mourinho buying 3 new players in his first season, didn’t have any problems either.
“Defeats we have had could have happened to any top team.”
8-2 to fuckin united. Ring a bell?
Bayern lost 5-2 last year and made it to the Champions League final.
One match does not a manager make.
But I would agree that while new players should be allowed to bed in, it si not necessarily a stumbling block.
Bard, why can’t you just accept Wenger is no longer fit for purpose? There’s only so long you can blame players, and there’s no excuse for the persistant conceding of poor goals and lack of effective game plan.
Why should he accept that Wenger is no longer fit for purpose if that isn’t his opinion?
Mostly due to the lack of coherent criticism. There’s a lot of misinformation and opinion being stated as fact, that’s bound to get peoples backs up a little, even when there’s a point in doubting Wenger the OTT nature of the comments obscure everything else. There seems to be some psychological problem Wenger can’t overcome, it’d be interesting to see what we would do without our team getting gutted every few year (something we are powerless to stop, the suggestions that we can are wide of the mark and simply inflame the divide) but it’s starting to look like there… Read more »
I had a dream last night that we hired mourinho
Wash your mouth out, thanks.
He may win us trophies but it will be all about him not arsenal.. I don’t want my club to become a walking circus
Did it end with him leaving after two years leaving us with a big trophy, a massive black hole in the transfer budget and a load of, now past it and worthless, aging players bought in specifically to win that trophy?
Mourinho will get you drunk on glory, but the hangover’s a bitch……
Yep you were dreaming all right.
Seems like most people think its a wrap for Mr Wenger. The ones who dont are probably scared our next manager will be as bad as some of our players!
I think Wenger has not run his course just yet, simply because I measure his achievements (even in the last 8 years) within the context of the changing financial landscape.
People have very high expectations of Arsenal despite the disadvantages we suffer from, but many forget that those expectations are there only because of what Wenger brought us.
You know that feeling in the pit of your stomach on the last day of the season? The one that slaps you and tells you there’s an empty space for a few months? I felt that yesterday. Horrible.
Wenger has always took full responsability for all the shit on and off the field. the real problem comes from the board but wenger isn’t the one to shift the blame, he’s a classy manager unlike many others *cough*cough* mourinho….. If he goes to real or barcelona he’ll win shit loads of trophies and that’s a certainty because their boards have different priorities. Im really pissed off with all the shit that goes on but i will not forget who made arsenal the club it is today
There is money in the bank and he’s chosen not to spend it, Arsene Wenger’s own words. You are living in a fantasy world mate. The board aren’t perfect but they have put the money on the table and Wenger has told them to put it back in their pockets, it really is as simple as that.
It’s not as simple as that, because then you have to ask the question of, “should the money be spent?”, “if the money is spent, would it be worth it?” and “how does the spending affect us in the long-term” etc. etc. etc.
It’s not a black and white question of spend or don’t spend, surely.
Bard, seriously mate. When they needed to buy a left back, they did it quickly with no problems. Sadly it was a reactive signing, but proves they have the ability to sign decent players. He just chooses to not strengthen the squad at all because he’s on some kind of personal crusade to prove everyone wrong.
It’s not the fact that we’re getting beaten so much that annoys me, more the manner of the defeat. We’ve become a real soft touch thanks to Wenger’s flawed vision and poor setup.
The problem you have is who replace wanger?
If he stay’s something needs to be done. we have to many avarange players that either need to start stepping up or GO. Team need defensive drilling we seem all over the place (start man marking, not this zonal rubbish) get steve bould to beast them. Look at a different formations. Bring something new blood with exprience, winners. Because I’m sure if something doesn’t happen fan wont continue to pay ticket to see a mid table team. because other teams are get stronger just look at Swansea, Everton, Liverpool.
The reason I’m backing Wenger is that I believe he deserves to finish his contract,he has earned that much. Yes a manager should be judged by all his work not just on the pitch. His work means that we are set for the future. However, with the commercial contracts secure and the debt (does anyone know how much debt we are in now?) now low, apparently, he has no excuse not to now use that money on players. Let’s, invest on the squad now. Verm is right. Some blame lies with players too. A manager can only do so much… Read more »
I completely agree. Most of our squad is playing well below their levels. However, I firmly believe this team will be much better next year.
“You have to look at the long term. He is the right man for this club and we are all behind him.”
love how they try to make things sound right yet they dont explain why in a long term he is the right man. even if they do they often refer back to his successful years.
oops this was not meant to be a reply to goon.
sorry for my mistake.
8 years of pleasure 8 years of expensive pain
extensive pain would be finishing mid table, being reduced to signing players like adebeyor (or simular calibre) and playing in a stinking hole like stanford bridge or craven cottage ….. stop being such a bloody drama queens
expensive does not mean extensive
I think the point of the blog is that AW deserves to be treated respectfully given his history at the club. I personally believe his time is up but I hope it will end in the least controversial and divisive manner
Respect works both ways. He’s been mugging us off for years. If he’s really a winner and the board have stifled him, he should have resigned.
But I guess £7 million a year was worth the flack eh?
you REALLY thing he does it for the money? been an Arsenal fan long have you?
Why is the comment awating moderation
I keep saying this again and again, Wenger didn’t become a bad manager just someone who has gone stale from being in the job for too long and we all have that phase when the jobs bores us. Everything about the team, is predictable, right down to the point where substitutions will be made (70th min) and which player will be taken off (Poldi). Its all so rigid and there is no desire to alter that innovate at all. Its like there is a preset plan set in the stone and nothing will get Wenger to deviate from that plan… Read more »
I ask everyone, please tell me what have the gunners differently from the previous 8 seasons to ensure that the results were different. The two things that have harmed the gunners all those years were a weak defence and no steel in the midfield. The same frail defense still exists. I do not claim any knowledge of tactics, atleast no more than the average fan, but surely it cannot be so fking hard to make your defence solid, that you cannot do it over a period of 8 years. Still no holding midfileder that ppl have been crying out for… Read more »
What have the gunners differently from the previous 8 seasons to ensure that the results were different. The two things that have harmed the gunners all those years were a weak defence and no steel in the midfield. The same frail defense still exists. I do not claim any knowledge of tactics, atleast no more than the average fan, but surely it cannot be so fking hard to make your defence solid, that you cannot do it over a period of 8 years. Still no holding midfileder that ppl have been crying out for since Flamini left. The one consolation… Read more »
For a drunk you really are enlightened. I must drink more, a lot more to reach your clarity 🙂
Lol … on the flip side being sober keeps you from posting the same comment multiple times. They are still moderating on a few of the posts. If they clear all of them, then ppl will be tired of reading the same things again and again
Shouldnt we give him a chance with some money. Right now we’ve only had rumours of money, which we cant have, why would a manager chiose not to spend money available to him. I think Gazidis has said we’ll hve money from the new deals in the summer. Lets do something with it and shove the “experts” words right down their own throats. I would love nothing more than winning something after everyone has completely written us off and for Arsene to be stood smiling smugly at all the knob’eds. I dont and wont believe that Arsene Wenger would choose… Read more »
I give him one last season to win a trophy. If not, time’s up. If he knew this there’d be some added pressure too. This summer would be a bad time to sack him cos then it would be a horrific end to a horrific season, and next season I reckon we’d do a ‘pool. But that’s just my opinion.
Not ANOTHER season for Wenger please!
” Don’t look at each other, don’t blame each other ”
Selective quoting but gives an insight as to why we’re so mentally weak. Not exactly Tony Adams grabbing Overmars for shirking tackles is it.
We have a tantalising debate. It is the classic glass half full half empty scenario. Half the fans are happy with finishing trophyless fourth and above Spurs. Half want to win the premiership. At the end of the season The club send us supporters the Arsenal participation award. This reads…Arsenal FC participation award no trophies but finished fourth and above Spurs. Half the fans pin the certificate on their wall and sing Arsenal we love you we do. The other half rip up the certificate and shout win the Premiership for Gods sake.
That’s bollocks.
There are good arguments on both sides, but to say people who want Wenger to continue are happy with 4th is shit, just as it is ridiculous to say that people who want Wenger replaced automatically think we will win the title.
Or how about just playing with some heart, cutting out the Sunday pub team performances and fucking COMPETING
All the talk of the new stadium and what its brought…. Am I the only one who really misses the small pitch at Highbury?
This new stadium is at risk of earning the moniker “Theatre of Broken Dreams”.
We’ll have our day though.
A win against the Spuds and United would turn this season round for me
There’s little chance of that happening at the moment though
You either LEAVE as a hero or MANAGE long enough to see your self become the villain
Hummels, Fellaini, Jovetic.
That would totally transform arsenal.
We are continuosly being linked to Victor Valdez, he’s overrated and I don’t see how he would help. Unless ofcourse Wenger is doing transfers on the “big name” basis to appease us fans. Which would be wrong.
Mignolet, Begovic are better options imo.
Begovic is good, but ManUre are going to offer him a squillion pounds a second this summer, so no dice there.
Mignolet has a touch of Mad Jens about him. Brilliant most of the time, but you always know there’s going to be a goalkeeping cockup of monumental proportions at some point.
We’d still be short a keeper and a winger.But if we did get only three quality players i’d rather we bought Hummels,Jovetic and Capoue.Fellaini is incredibly overrated and would cost 3 tmes as much as Capoue and isn’t even a natural defensive midfielder.We could get all three for around 50 million but that’s not even taking wages into consideration.But at this point its wishful thinking.we’ve got much bigger problems ingrained within the team,management staff all the way up to the board room.
Change, change, change!!!. FFS Why cant we just all ask for the team to play better. Take responsibility on the pitch not before or after. Lose 10 – 0 i don’t care just show us that you care as a team. Not running after people and pushing them when they want to waste time. Its tracking back when Robben has got the ball on the right channel and not thinking Vermalen will sort it out. Thats commitment. Not only showing it in patches Cazorla. Its doing the work everytime. If you think your team mates needs a breather, makes sure… Read more »
“Lose 10 – 0 i don’t care just show us that you care as a team. ”
I’m sure, you are in the minority then. We are talking about Arsenal, not Plymouth, ffs.
Effort, passion is the bare minimum.
I rather win 1-0 on a flukey own goal than go all out to lose 10-0. Thank you very much.
http://footballfestng.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/25-reasons-why-arsene-must-either-quit-or-be-sacked/
good reading and pretty funny too
Madrid and PSG are trying to get him. I am sure, given the resources in Madrid or PSG, he will show his true potential. It will definitely be a great loss to Arsenal.
Another thing to keep in mind is, who would be best to replace Arsene? You got to keep in mind that the board will remain the same. What good will it be to change the manager? Arsenal will go down rather than moving forward.
> The best way would be to get the board to spend some money.
I actually think Wenger has done a good job.
IMO if any other Manager had been at Arsenal since we moved stadiums i think we would be where Liverpool are right now.
Also i believe the board would of never made the decision to move to the emirates with any other Manager.
Think about it? Bringing Arsenal success and then finacially keep Arsenal competing at the top level while selling his best players.
No other Manager could of done it.
Wenger must go. It’s touching that he’s got the support of so many ex-players but he’s finished. Stubborn, arrogant and out of touch, this man has wasted a huge wage bill on garbage. He can’t motivate or solve basic squad problems. He’s finished.
and who the fuck is Remi Garde anyway?
Why was messi on the bench tonight? Why did barcunts rest their best player on an important day such as this…..mental! Lol.
Nice to see Song racking up his bench appearances. What an arsehole.
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Wenger doesn’t deride his players or throw Silent Stan under the bus for not spending in the media–that doesn’t mean he doesn’t really think some are shit or that he actually has the last word on transfers. It means he’s a classy manager.
IMO the problem is much more deep rooted than wenger. I very much doubt ownership and club management are close to sacking him at all. This ‘socialist’ wage model creates mediocrity. But it predictably delivers 4th place each year, which is the only real target. So, it and wenger stay, unless something drastic happens to attendances in the run in. I lean towards giving wenger time with actual money to see if he can turn it around. But, thats partly because I don’t know who could replace him and change the enshrined culture of mediocrity. Does anyone have any realistic… Read more »
To be realistic there is nobody. Arsene Can develop young players and spot good buys which is the only reason we have been able to compete recently.
We have a romour of 70 million a new Manager would demand to the owners for that money and IF he got it, he would just spend it on 2 to 3 average players.
Then what?
When was the last time Wenger made a truly great signing? He hasn’t worked his transfer magic since I don’t know, Sagna? The likes of Verm and Gervinho and Arshavin are more common now. More importantly, if we are going to settle with being a tier below the top teams, we need a manager with a bit of tactical flexibility. Someone who can actually work with average players, who doesn’t want them to do things they just can’t do, but expects them to do the basics right. Like you know, defending set pieces and having some sort of defensive discipline… Read more »
i dont think we have to spent big just add two excellent players in every season untill you get the side you want starting at the back also better backroom staff then lets see where that takes us also need to trim down the players on our books too many for my likening
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I am confused, so here are my questions… 1. Define short term/long term in years, will 8 years be classed as short or long 2. Given the sport is competitive thus success is relative and we like think of us as a big club, will these kinds of performances be tolerated by other big clubs Btw I would like Wenger to continue but I rather he puts his focus on coaching and managing the team rather than putting his fingers in everything Arsenal. But for that he needs a strong character by his side. Most of the times its a… Read more »
If he was more ruthless (i.e. Fergie) I think the effect on the players would be immense. Play shit, you’re out of the team. Continue to play shit – sold. The fat Russian picking up the money he does, for what he’s done recently? Fuck him off. Take that loss. The message that sends out is clearer – we don’t care if we paid big bucks and lost some profit – lazy people do not work here. We’ve heard the Veron example before, do you think Fergie gives a shit? Ruthless. Sold Ronaldo. Still winning the prem. Hopefully financially we… Read more »
Milan isn’t better team then Barcelona and they don’t have better players then us yet they won. Why? because the players are given instructions how to stop the opposition and how to exploit their weakness or at least how to keep a clean sheet.
Wenger’s job is to make of these group of individuals a TEAM !
“Wenger supporters defend Wenger”. Great journalistic story. Not. What next week? “Wenger haters hate Wenger”? By the way, I’m not a ‘Wenger Out’ fan. I’m a ‘Wenger AND the board out’ fan. As the meeting tonight proved, they’re all equally complicit and colluding. Their joint statement that “we know the team needs improving and we’re giving Wenger a £70 million war chest” is the same placating bullshit they’ve said over the last two/three seasons to try to keep the fans off their backs whilst they rake it in. They think the fans have short memories and show complete contempt for… Read more »