Ahead of Arsenal’s penultimate home game of the season against Norwich, Arsene Wenger took on questions about his side’s failings, the planned supporter protest and his relationship with Stan Kroenke.
We’ve ignored the boring stuff he’s asked about weekly and instead produced a transcript of his long and bullish replies to the more controversial subjects.
If you want the team news, that’s here.
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It’s your 750th Premier League game in charge at the weekend, another milestone…
You know, you go game by game. I just want to win the next game always.
And yet, everything you’ve achieved, almost 20 years constantly in the Champions League, there’s set to be protests, not against you specifically, but against the club from some fan groups…
Yes, you know I think this club has special values and we care about the club and we care about our fans as well and we try to keep everybody happy. We have to put things a little bit in perspective and see how the club’s evolution has gone over the years. I believe it was not always easy. The quality of the work we’ve done at the club has got us in a strong position where the expectation level is very high. The frustration is very high as well when we do not get what we want.
We have a saying ‘fans should be careful what they wish for’…whoever takes over from you, whenever they take over from you, will they get 20 years constantly in the Champions League?
I don’t know. I wish when I go that the club goes higher up, wins the Champions League and the championship every year. I will be the biggest supporter in the stand because I will feel I’ve contributed a little bit to that with the basis that we have built. You have to remember that when we built the stadium we had five to seven difficult financial years. Out of five years we had to be three years in the Champions League and have an average attendance of 54,000 people. We didn’t know if we’d be capable to do that but of course we had to sell our best players every year and survive. And we had to survive at the top level. We did not do three years out of five [in the Champions League], we did five years out of five. I think the club is now out of that period and is in a much stronger position. And is again in a position where we can compete financially with our main opponents During that time it was very difficult.
You’re very competitive, three games to go and you’re not in the title race, how frustrating is that?
It is very frustrating because we were in a position for a long, long time where we could compete for the title. I think in the last three years we won the FA Cup in the 2014 and the Charity Shield and in 2015 as well and finished third in the league. We wanted to go a step higher up and win the league. It was possible, that’s why we’re frustrated. As well you know, I can understand the frustration. Nobody is more frustrated than we are. But competitionally [sic] as well, to fight, no matter what happens, master all kinds of situations and protect and go for what we can achieve…our disappointment has not to go too far. I believe that the team…some people question their character. I tell you something, this team has character and attitude. Some people who question them, I know them well, have less character than this team has. Because I saw them play and know them closely. They should not question the character of these players because they are exceptional characters. We are disappointed but we have to fight. On the other hand, when a club cannot enjoy anything anymore it is in trouble. We need not to forget that in football you can go down very quickly and come up very slowly. We have to stick together, the team played as well this season sometimes at home…we lost the championship at home against the lower teams, but we played sometimes at home in a very difficult climate. We have to realise that away from home we are championship winners. At home, against the smaller teams, we dropped the points. We are top of the league in the top teams. We want to add what is needed. This club has special values and one of the values I’ve experienced over the years is to stick together and to support the team. There is no success otherwise.
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You mentioned about playing in difficult circumstances. Jurgen Klopp seems to have really rallied Anfield and that’s one of the things they are talking about with their Europa League return leg. Do you feel you could get more from the home crowd at the Emirates?
Yes, you speak about Liverpool; it’s a good example to follow. They are a big club.
And you’re a big club…
We’re a very big club.
So you would want some more of that as well? Some more home support…
Look, I can understand the frustration of our fans, but as well, despite that, we want to support our team. The best chance you can give to the team is to be behind the team.
Do you think, should there be any failings, or consider to be any failings this season, that you take it all…the fans, the team…
Look, there are some group of people who try to manipulate our fans and do that well. I believe apart from an agenda, a personal agenda and big ego, there’s not a lot behind it. That’s what I think, basically.
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[question about Norwich fighting relegation]
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Arsene, who has the personal agenda?
I don’t know. I don’t know.
Is it the media you mean, or a fan group particularly?
Honestly, I don’t worry too much about that. I focus on…what is interesting for me in football is the quality of the game and the values that we want to represent. This club is hugely respected and loved all over the world and the quality of our game is very important and to perform no matter what kind of circumstances we play and against who we play. All the rest…what I think is the club is in a very strong situation and you want your fans as well to be behind the team.
Some of them [the fans] are criticising the owner, Stan [Kroenke]. We don’t get to speak to him very often. Can you tell us what he’s like as an owner?
No, I don’t want to go into personal comments on my owner. We can work with complete freedom. I believe that every football club should work with the resources it generates and that’s what we do. When I speak about values, this is one of the values I speak about and we are very proud to do that.
Some fans think he lacks a bit of ambition, he’s never stopped you in the transfer market?
Never, never. The owner is very ambitious of course, we are all very ambitious.
We have to realise that away from home we are championship winners.
Top 4 trophy, away championship winners, blaming the fans for the performance… He has totally lost it oO
he’s totally deluded and blind to reality
Sorry bruv, I done gone an’ fudged it up big time
Read exactly what he said. Don’t pick and choose some choice words like a British tabloid and rage about it. It just shows the lack of intelligence the fans have showed in the last few months. Sadly all the arsenal fans are becoming more Piers Morgan every week.
why do you think that is?
Its not like we gave up on him after 1 bad season
Its been a slow and gradual decline in trust, to be honest i’ve always backed until this season but now i’ve finally given up
Eventually you’ll get there, if you think im bad, fat gooner gave up on him after the carling cup final vs Birmingham lol
Coming third-fourth IS A BAD SEASON? WHAT FUCKING TRUST HAS HE BROKEN!? I understand that we as fans have higher expectations from Arsenal than the fans from pre-Wenger era, but is that not mostly because of him? I understand he’s shown is glimses of what a word-class team should and could be like, but is that not mostly because of his work? Purely on glory terms, Liverpool is a bigger club, suck it up. And look what they’d given to be in the Champions League the past 20 years. I agree he cannot see what we as fans cans: how… Read more »
Know your history, in the 7 season before Wenger we’d won 2 championships, the FA and League cup double and the European Cup Winners Cup, and were on par with Man Utd for league titles. HIgh expectations are not driven by Arsene Wenger.
Liverpool have won the Champions League in the last 20 years
If you you feel like we’re ‘underachieving’, it’s because of a benchmark of ‘achieving’ HE HAS SET
Thank you for stating an absolute truth, wish more people would realize this. But many are spoilt whiners.
You make a lot of sense. I am disappointed with how this season has gone, it was a great opportunity to win the title and we blew it. Man Utd blew it, Liverpool blew it, Citeh blew it, Sp*rs blew it, Chelsea blew it. Their fans are not protesting and whining about their league position. A number of fans think that we have a God given right to trophies, we don’t. They think we do because of the success that Wenger brought to the club. I do feel at times that there is a toxic environment at the emirates that… Read more »
Good point well made. Im a barber, one of my clients,a very red faced, angry Arsenal fan was wanting Wenger to be replaced by the MOURON. This just tells me that too many Arsenal fans lack class. “at least he wins things”. Do me a favour.. is this how low we have stooped that some would even consider this disgusting specimen over a man whose veins are gushing with Arsenal blood… shame on you,
you classless twats..
You’re right 100% but isn’t it interesting that Liverpool have actually won the champs lge during that time, we haven’t. Which kinda sums up wenger, the nearly man… the invincible season has allowed us to ignore one important aspect of that era. Namely we should of been champions in 2 or 3 other seasons around that time but basically bottled it. The bottling factor has been repeated time and time again over the last 10 years and people have finally had enough. Everyone can clearly see their are better managers out there nowadays, managers that can install discipline and mental… Read more »
There’s this whole myth that Wenger transformed the club into what it is today. This is not true. Before the Ferguson/Wenger era, we were on course to be the most successful club in the country. To say that he is responsible for the stadium move is frankly wrong. WE the fans are responsible for the stadium move, via the exorbitant ticket prices we pay. Its easy to show “loyalty”, as he puts it, when you’re the highest paid manager in world football. Be clear fellow gooners, winning has never been and never will be his priority. The bottom line clearly… Read more »
@D: reposting this revisionist nonsense doesn’t make it any more true than it was the first time. In the first 4 seasons of the Premier League (’92-’96), up to the point when Le Prof arrived in October ’96, Arsenal finished 10th, 4th, 12th and 5th. Arsenal may have won the FA Cup and League Cup in ’93 and the Cup Winners’ Cup in ’94, but were hardly “on course to be the most successful club in the country”. From the time Le Prof arrived, we were 3rd, double winners (in his first full season), 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, double winners again,… Read more »
People can read and what he’s said is times were tough 4-5 years ago, which doesn’t explain why he chose to give new contracts to an injury prone and ageing Arteta and Rosicky last summer, instead of buying younger and fitter players.
The man’s judgement for several years now has been on the decline and reached new depths this season, for that reason alone he should be shown the door. He’s run out of excuses.
Wenger out
I have found it rather hard to read sports news especially about Arsenal. arseblog.Com used to be my refuge but damn the atmosphere here is worse than the one at the Emirates. Dont get me wrong I share some of the disappointment towards Arsene epasially how poorly he handled the summer season past but I will tell one thing i still believe he cares about the club. Is he the man to take us forward I say yes look how far he has brought us. Does he need to change how he’s been handling affairs yes because the platform on… Read more »
I don’t question whether he cares or not, i question his ability to bring further success to the club. His judgment on the quality of his squad and his ability to tactically and mentally prepare his team has been in decline for years and dropped significantly this, and for that reason he should go. When coupled with his arrogant remarks in the press, both today and in the past, where he takes absolutely no responsibility for the team, this leopard won’t change his spots. And who cares about Abramovich, City, PSG, FFP etc etc, thats competition, deal with it, you’re… Read more »
You say Wenger must change how he’s been handling affairs, do you really believe he will change? We’ve been stuck in a rut for a long time and he has refused to change his tactics or admit that what he’s doing isn’t working. He will not change. It is only because I love him so much that I want him to stay and have another crack at finishing on a high, but I do not believe he will. I hope I’m wrong.
And that’s the main issue ? I’m not in the wenger out or in, I’m just supporting the team. But coming with this kind of words in the press room gonna just bring more troubles with the fans. When you’re wife is unhappy (with some good reasons tbh), do you think blaming her will help ? Even if he’s right (which honestly is a poor statement to sum up the title collapse ), that’s not exactly the communication that will ease anything. He was going me against the world and we followed him, now I’m not sure about the me… Read more »
@Sean: I’ve read what he said and it stinks. First, it stinks because of the disdain it shows for the fans, who happen to be paying a large part of his considerable salary. Not only do they, in his view, have no right to an opinion despite paying the highest ticket prices in Europe and witnessing the same failings year after year, the opinion they have been expressing isn’t even their own. The fans, according to Wenger, are nothing but mindless, ungrateful morons who are being manipulated because they’re too stupid to think for themselves. Who are they being manipulated… Read more »
You’re not wrong there
Perfectly put
This is so apt. Very much spot on.
well said
Excellent post Miranda.
Sacking and resigning are totally separate things and you seem to have mixed them up. As far as I know he ISN’t facing the sack how ever much we think he should be. So he is saying that he wont resign because he always honours his contract.
You summed it up perfectly. Arsenal has become arsene’s dictatorship and we all know what happens if you question a dictator.
To be honest I dont think arsenal fans are deluded or manipulated by the media controversial talks. The majority of arsenal fans are aware that the media papotrate negative opinions towards our club and we despise them. In reality though most of us feel that we have been robbed by the arsenal owner, board and manager. Too much promise and nothing to deliver. Plus years of excuses; Ooh we cant compete against the sugar dadies, ooh no enough quality in the market, then Leicester City comes from championship 2 yrs ago and win the league? This is not acceptable. Things… Read more »
He’s said that we played at home in a ‘difficult climate’. Surely the facts that season ticket prices are the highest around and core fans have been driven out or put off from attending games because of the prices, contributes to the atmosphere? Can he really highlight this as a contributing factor in our difficulties at home, claim he loves the club, take home £8 million a year and not sign anyone past Cech in a summer where we have a huge opportunity to take giant steps and then expect people who pay that to buy into it? Overall most… Read more »
He’s trying to make the point that we’re far better away from home than at home – that’s literally the only message he’s trying to get across in that statement, not that we have a away from home trophy. You’re being genuinely obtuse here.
I think he is actually saying our away support is far better than our home support
It is
I’m not surprised, the fans who can actually make the noise at the stadium are priced out of it.
that is rubbish, as shown by the fact we never sell out Cat C games, the £25 and Cat B £35 tickets don’t sell out, also our £10 youth tickets seldom sell out. The more expensive Cat A games sell out far more often and far more quickly than any of our Cat B or C games.
This is surely the most obviously true statement Wenger has ever made at a press conference.
The atmosphere at the Emirates sucks. It has always sucked, but it sucks even more now.
The only ‘problem’ with Wenger’s conferences, or anything that he ever says, is that it’s truthful. For me personally, it’s a reason to stick with him.
Away from Home we are 8 points behind Leicester. Also, Leicester have a game in hand.
Don’t know what ‘far’ better he is talking about here.
By the by..
Home P17 W 10 D 4 L3
Away P18 W 8 D 6 L 4
We’ve won 8 out of 18 away matches….
And you are genuinely missing the point, the point is that the support has nothing to do with why we didn’t win the title. Wenger’s failure to build a good enough team have.
Are we to believe our players are so frail and delicate that they can only perform well if everyone cheers for them? If so then I suggest we need mentally stronger players.
I just feel as though he’s got this chip on his shoulder the whole time. This “hard done by” rhetoric worked on me for a while, and like him I was bullish to the claims of the Wenger Outs. Now he sticks to the rhetoric when he should be way more conciliatory and apologetic. He should be angry at himself and his players, not at the fans and the media. I want to hear things like “I am so disappointed, I am sorry to let the fans down, they are right to be angry. I will do everything to improve”.… Read more »
Nailed it
Lets be realistic. He doesn’t ever give those kind of statements, and for good reason. The media jump all over that stuff and make us look weaker and more pathetic. I would rather a stubborn bull than a conciliatory lamb
It’s not an act. He’s very defensive and doesn’t believe the level of criticism is warranted. You can see it in his face. I imagine him going back to his family and ranting “fucking ungrateful cochons, don’t they understand what I’ve done for them”
I think it was this very site, in an Editorial line back in January, that made the point that if Arsenal do not sustain a title challenge through to the end of the season, it will be – quote :- “a bottle job of epic proportions.” That statement was and is correct. And I’m afraid that’s what it has been. I don’t mind Wenger defending himself but when he insists that this team has character and leaders when it has next to none of either – is nonsense. And he’s insulting our intelligence if he thinks otherwise. If you doubt… Read more »
I think lack of belief, stemming from an impatient, abusive and toxic home crowd, is as big a factor as a lack of tactical nouce. It can’t be denied that our fans have lost it. They’ve been seduced by the twisted media reporting, pundit bias and relentless negativity by the black scarf movement. With a solid support at the Emirates we would’ve won it this year.
The support was solid until that familiar movie started to play,coupled with the fact that none of the other traditionally strong teams were in the race, this season should have been ours. Instead Leicester, yes Leicester, are 1 game away of being crowned champions the whilst we aren’t certain of finishing in the top 4.
This isn’t on the fans it’s on Wenger and the board.
This season we were top of the league and playing at home vs Newcastle. The weather was atrocious and Newcastle were playing well. We Were BOOED off at half time when it was 0-0. Top of the fucking league. I take you were either: not at that game; or you were one of the idiotic grown ups booing our players. Leicester’s fans would’ve roared them on.
As far as i can tell he’s just saying what we all know. The atmosphere at home games is nothing like away games and there are more moans and groans than anything.
To be honest the majority of us, myself included, didn’t act like spoilt brats until that run from Christmas all the way to March which effectively ended our title chances. But to be fair to Arsene as well, even prior to November the climate, though not entirely toxic, could definitely be better. I don’t have the privilege to go, but what’s more alarming is the amount of groans heard week in and week out on TV is frankly embarrassing. And to be honest the club more than anyone has the biggest role to play; you set sky high ticket prices… Read more »
Guys honestly instead of making up numbers in CL with no shot at winning it, I would rather the team didn’t play in CL but returned in a few season as genuine contenders. I don’t see how anyone with an ounce of ambition in him, could count two decades of ‘also ran’ certificates, as genuine achievement. Simply making up numbers, is nothing. With 6 seasons of not getting into QFs, thats exactly what Arsenal are doing. And the even more brutal truth is CL was important for the money, which is all the owners care about. Now that the new… Read more »
I’m not saying this for Wenger’s sake, but that makes no sense. Ask Liverpool how they feel about trolling about in mediocrity without CL and a merry-go-round of managers. Top players want Champions League. Would Ozil and Alexis be here without it? Folks can trot out some ‘truckload of cash’ argument, but it’s just not true and we don’t do it anyway, like it or not. You might get lucky and get 1 top player that way but they are soon gone to a real club and you tumble down again. Again, see Liverpool and Suarez. Regardless of Wenger, wishing… Read more »
No Arsene, away from home we are not champions. We (30) are still behind Leicester (37) and Tottenham (33).
I love the man and I will always be grateful for all the joy he brought to my life. Please go and let’s hope we don’t miss you.
Can someone show me where he has said he blames the fans?
Am I missing it, or are some people reading headlines they want to see created by people who have an agenda?
Honest question. Please answer on point.
Keep intelligence out of this.
So, we have great mental strength, but the atmosphere is negative and has affected the poor lambs! Which is it Arsene? You can’t have it both ways.
“I think the club is now out of that period and is in a much stronger position. And is again in a position where we can compete financially with our main opponents. During that time it was very difficult.” Then why don’t we? After falling short by a considerable margin last season, we sign one player (Cech), and then El-neny as somewhat of a forced buy in January? And that’s it. I love him. I love him to pieces and will forever be indebted to him for the memories and joy he’s brought me as an Arsenal fan who was… Read more »
Couldn’t put it better myself!
Perfectly sums up my views too, George. It’s just so very sad and also a disgrace that no one at the club will stop this from continuing for another year.
Who was asking these questions to Wenger? It was like a lawyer asking questions to his/her own client in court. You have done so much and fans are still unhappy blah bla bla… Arsenal players who have character but buckle down every year, losing to small teams in PL and CL. Wenger, wake up.
The worst part is that nothing is going to change! We will be here this time next season saying the same thing, just a bit angrier!
This. I’ve read most of the comments here. Good and valid points are made by both “sides”. Some I agree with, some I disagree with. Many are misguided. There is a reason the other clubs have failed this year, and there is no reason it shouldn’t have affected us as well, but mainly didn’t. But so what. We can all get really angry. But it is like shouting at clouds. Nobody who should be listening is. Nobody who should care is willing to do anything. If the “owner” doesn’t care as long as he gets his %-age of the money,… Read more »
I don’t think any true fans are really questioning the character of the players. My main issue is that sadly some of them are just not good enough. Which is not their fault. We’ve got midfielders who keep giving the ball away, a winger/striker who refuses to do any defensive work and strikers who aren’t able to take advantage of Ozil’s endless assists. That’s the managers fault.
Your well-written comment gels nicely with the naysayers. I’m surprised however that you think he and the players didn’t “try and win the league too”. Have you ever failed to reach a goal? It happens chap. Shit indeed happens. If (and I understand this is a big if) we had won the league this year, he would have been framed as a perfect genius having brought the club through financial hell to become champions again. The margins in this league are tiny though. Yes we didn’t win it. Cool….bank that. Realise that had he not been in charge the last… Read more »
Comment policy: Do not tell somebody to go and support another club just because you disagree with their point of view. That’s stupid. Don’t be stupid.
Apologies. I retract that. At the very least they could stay at home though, because their negativity serves no purpose at the game.
Nonsense, we could have ben relegated, or we could have won the league. The idea that without Wenger the sky would fall is paranoid nonsense.
Of course he is to blame, who else?
Is he doing simply what the board asks of him?
Can u picture a board telling Fergie, u know what, we don’t care about winning, save money on transfers, keep us in the CL, with no shot of winning, but all we care about is the CL money. Just keep the money coming, and be average, and we will pay u handsomely for it.
Fergie wud walk away in a second.
Really don’t understand the hysteria on social media concerning this presser. He simply stated the obvious and in our collective disappointment some have gone over the top in their attack. Wenger will not be there forever but the club will outlast him. But d venom being poured on him championed by piers Morgan and petit is horrible. He is human like d rest of us with feelings and am so sure he doesn’t love failure. He is in pain just like d rest of us. Love him, hate him but respect the fact that he us human with failings. Twisting… Read more »
He can dry those tears on the £8+ million he earns every season.
He’s way past his best and the club is going backwards, especially since January. Stagnation would be an improvement.
He may not be what we need going forward but that 8m argument is stale. It’s absolutely ridiculous to say he’s only in it for the money or that makes it all ok for him.
Grossly disrespectful whether he’s the right man right now or not.
Agree completely, pundits re: Thierry, Wright, Petit et all, are paid to voice the (intentionally controversial) opinions of Sky/BT to drum up more interest in the games and feed the soap opera that surrounds it. Alot of the time this means blowing out of proportion the clubs problems (constant “Arsenal in Crisis” headlines, can they win the title with X player, can Arsenal do it against the big teams). Designed to rile people up to swell the levels of interest that will result in more clicks, views to increase companies ad revenue; but given the people involved are human, often… Read more »
Nail on the head, Jabroni, it’s fucking annoying to see how easily swayed and manipulated football fans are.
Look at Lineker’s tweet about this press conference. He’s obviously not invested in Arsenal in anyway, other than knowing enough about what’s going on to get by in his job, and has probably read that one quote from Wenger and taken it completely out of context, and is now winding up the fans (possibly not intentionally), and they’re taking the bait.
Lineker loves teasing us and some of our ‘fans’ are dumb enough to fall for it hook line and sinker… every fucking time as well.
I remember that time when fans protested against the rampant change of games times and dates without consideration to the fans by Sky. Unless u had know about the hullabaloo that had gone before the day of the protest there was no evidence of it on TV. Sky did a tremendous job of keeping the cameras away from all those areas that were empty. But ever since the atmosphere went sour at the Emirates every brake in play on the pitch the camera can’t help but go around highlighting all the empty spots in the stadium. I wish we as… Read more »
I have no idea what Lineker or any of the others have said about this presser. All I’ve read is the article above on Arseblog. My immediate reaction having read it was ‘he’s blaming the fans…he’s going to get roasted for this’. The apologists can spin it whatever way they want….but he’s blaming the fans. I’m not being manipulated when I see Arsenal FC stagnate in front of my eyes over a period of 6/7/8 years. The evidence is clear to see. The lack of ambition is frightening. The dearth of backbone galling. And either in answering that last question… Read more »
But where in the actual interview does he say he blames the fans? Please point it out to me as I’m struggling to understand what all this noise is about.
But we watch matches too right? We know the team is playing bad football. It’s not like we’re sheep who blindly follow what the pundits say. We obviously notice the shortcomings of the team constantly and hence form our opinions. To say that we are manipulated by the pundits is like saying the fans don’t have brains of their own.
too right, most of them don’t!
Meh
What basis has he built? Is it the basis that a lot of us want out of the club because they’re either mediocre or way too injury prone? Aside from Coquelin or Iwobi. But that’s not really a basis
Wenger really has lost the plot now. He is no longer the man for the job and i get why that will be difficult for him to accept. What surprises me is how so much difficult this simple fact is for some fans. His methods don’t work anymore, what else needs to happen before he is let go? TIME FOR A CHANGE! WE CAN BE SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT WENGER!
Arsene coming out with ?
I just wish he came out with results…
We all know and appreciate what he has done for the club. We all know what he’s now not doing for the club.
How long do you keep someone in a job based on long since past achievements?
My biggest issue with the current situation is that it really seems as though not everyone knows and appreciates what he has done. People can want him to go and I respect that opinion, but the amount of vitriol spewed at his name and the general lack of ignorance of where we would have been without him is shocking to me. I think its pathetic and sad. People go on about him not winning a trophy for all those years but fail to realise we would have probably gone bankrupt or finished at the bottom of the table without him… Read more »
I am a Wenger Out guy, but I do agree that he has definitely steadied the ship by keeping the club out of potential financial ruin… I get that, but if that was to be his job, which it seems it was, then he has completed it and now it seems he is overstaying his welcome. I think anyone who looks at the situation objectively can see that Arsene Wenger is not likely to take the club to further heights as he does not have the must win at all costs mentality that a Ferguson or a Simeone has. I… Read more »
This season is so upsetting. We’ve been putting off taking well loved family dog to the vet, hoping for a miracle.
“I don’t know. I wish when I go that the club goes higher up, wins the Champions League and the championship every year. I will be the biggest supporter in the stand because I will feel I’ve contributed a little bit to that with the basis that we have built. ” This sums it up for me. He probably feels it like we fans do but what I don’t get is why the heck does he not do something about it? Why would you not bring in a top quality striker? How can we self destruct so much to the… Read more »
I’m sure he has tried to do so. The issue is that he’s become conservative to the point of not wanting to take a risk on signing somebody that may leave the club in a pickle.
To compound that, the board is (and generally always were) risk averse, so nobody is pushing him to get things done, because they’re of the same mindset.
Yes, last summer we could have got Benteke but equally we could have got someone good instead.
The problem is that we want instant gratification, whereas many transfers take a season to hit real form (Vardy took 3 years). But it would have been good to see them at least try last summer.
Yes, that’s a good analogy with Benteke. The thing is, we’re now able to take hits on risky buys.
I’m not saying we should have gone for Benteke (I’m sure most people wouldn’t have touched him with a barge-pole), but if we had done, we could afford to take a £15-20m hit to get it wrong.
We have invested in players and their wages for years who gave nothing or very little in return- Diaby, Bendtner, Squillaci, Walcott, Gibbs, Ox, dare I say Ramsey to name a few.
Don’t think too many would argue with needing a better striker but the ones we have were doing just fine until January. If they’d have kept their early form we’d have a lot more points than we do as the chances are still being created. The slump in form of the likes of Giroud has been breathtaking in its shitness. The guy us flakey but nobody could have foreseen a Heskey-like rate of scoring from our forwards. Who knows if Wenger will stay. I’m guessing he will & if he does I can only hope faith in the likes of… Read more »
Look at when Giroud’s form, apparently, dropped! Alexis came back from injury and it was his drop in form that contributed to Giroud’s limited chances! Nobody slagged off Alexis. Giroud got all the flack! Giroud did great in the games when Alexis wasn’t playing, i.e F A Cup and France, whilst Alexis was a flop in his International game!
I don’t really understand how anyone can argue with anything he said there, personally.
I certainly will with regards to this point:
” I believe that the team…some people question their character. I tell you something, this team has character and attitude.”
This is simply not the case. As soon as the pressure is ratcheted up a touch we fold like wet paper.
We haven’t had character for a decade.
This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^!!!!
He then goes on to compare about some of our old players he has coached, and how the current players have more “character and attitude” than them. Character and attitude don’t equal talent, and don’t equal results. Vardy has the character and cunty attitude of someone that would start a fight with a random strange in a Wetherspoons, but he’s still about to win the title because he has talent. Ashley Cole practically won everything in his career, but are you a fan of his character? He’s obviously using character and attitude in the literal sense.
I like winners who aren’t complete knobs.
Like Henry, Vieria, Adams, Ljungberg, Pires etc….
If he means it as you say (which I disagree he does) all he’s saying is we have a lovely team.
Wonderful – but what relevance is that to being successful?
None, I completely agree that it doesn’t. He’s responding to the accusations people have made about his team not having character or attitude. In a literal sense, he’s probably saying they have good character because they focus completely on their football, don’t get into trouble, etc, their attitude is great in training, professional, etc, and I completely agree that those characteristics don’t equate to being successful, as its obvious they don’t, and if anything, I think we’re too nice as a football team.
Personally I think he’s more having a pop at some of the pundits more than old players. The likes of savage and redknapp who slate the teams character but had none themselves.
Spot on. We have all seen the evidence to the contrary on this, and I’m afraid arguing that him knowing the players better, means he is right and we’re all wrong, is just plain wrong.
If I murdered someone, but my wife said I would never do that and they must have the wrong man, despite being found covered in the victims blood, standing over the body with a knife, yelling “I’m glad I killed the bastard”, would the argument of “my wife knows me better, so I didn’t do it”, hold up in court?
Can you please tell me what character is. To me it’s one of those intangible qualities like “Pashun” which the media whores trot out as it saves them from having to do any proper analysis. These terms then just pass into mass use as a lazy shorthand for ” I don’t like x”. Let’s lift the standard of debate above the offerings of the likes of Owen and Savage; proof indeed that nature abhors a vacuum.
His claims about his ambition in the transfer market and the teams mental strength are sheer fantasy. Absolutely no tangible evidence for either.
There was an interesting point raised earlier. Had Arsenal FC hired Arsene Wenger in 2004 and achieved just 2 FA Cups in 12 years, would he still be in his position? I think it is an interesting point.
pointless comparison
It’s not a comparison, it’s a question. A question that asks what exactly is keeping Arsene Wenger in his position? Because it definitely isn’t results on the pitch over the last 12 years.
i dont know, maybe the two doubles and the undefeated league season
and the 20 years top 4
His results on the pitch have kept him in his position – he states as much – Arsenal HAD to stay in the CL during that period to survive. He oversaw that on limited funds.
IMO it’s only now since Arsenal are passed this period he can be questioned.
The funds are there, the players are out there. Unfortunately he’s coming up short.
precisely. i’m not blindly defending him to stay now, as you’ll see from above, but to evaluate him while isolating what he achieved prior to 2004 just seems utterly pointless
Mootilated what about the question – if Arsenal had hired Wenger for 2013/14 season would anyone be calling for his head today,
I disagree, we’ve already been told that the target the board set for the period (5 years) we were most financial constrained was to achieve CL footy for 3 out of 5 seasons whilst selling one star each season. If a new manager came in and surpassed those targets like Wenger did then he’d have been thought of by the board as having done a good job. Fan’s who don’t appreciate the reality of our situation, financing a new stadium on long term expensive deals just as a monumental financial crisis hit had wildly misplaced expectations. You could argue the… Read more »
Had he been hired in 04 with the brief of a new stadium to deliver, and 8 years of austerity to have to endure as a result – compounded in particular then with the emergence of the oil-wealth clubs, his stewardship would be viewed as a good return. Annual CL league & back-to-back FA cups is astonishing given that backdrop. Look at the record of any other club that had to fund a new stadium & Wenger’s work is unrivalled. It’s in large part the expectations the success he achieved prior that have caused that see him viewed unfavourably now.… Read more »
You’ve hit the nail on the head there mate
No, he has underperformed in Europe every season bar two. The underperforming was particularly striking in the Invincibles era as they were one of the best and the most valuable teams in the comp, full of World Cup and Euro winners, who never got beyond the quarters. For the seventh richest club in Europe, our record has been shockingly poor, a reflection of Wenger’s refusal to bother to study the opposition and prepare the tactics, meaning the players are all too often taken by surprise and left floundering around like lost sheep wondering how they could be beaten by supposedly… Read more »
Austerity? 4th highest wage budget in those ‘Austerity’ years. Leicester and Spuds in one year put those years of ‘austerity’ to bed.
He makes some valid points and I don’t think any fan will knock the hard work him and the team did during the financial constraints. We all know how important champions league was. What I find frustrating is his attempt to deflect attention from his own failings, his suspect choice in players who often lack the hardiness and character of the past and blame supporters for failure. Fan’s frustration has been born out of the poor showing on the pitch and lack of desire from the manager that do not match the prices we pay. He is slowly undoing all… Read more »
What manager hasn’t bought players that’ve failed. The main difference is that for a top 4 team our failures cost us less to buy than the $iteh, Chavski or DisUtd failures (and our successes have only won us the FA Cup).
As a gooner of australia, i am saving everything ive got to get to englad and see the gooners one last time with wenger in charge. I love what the mans done with the club, and realistically hes not leaving at the end of the season. I for one aswell support the protests that are happening this weekend. I will continue to keep on making the journey as often as i can, but just as much as the season ticket holders want change at board level, imagine us fans aswell saving thousands of dollars just to see our beloved club… Read more »
Most big teams now have at least one director that’s more interested in the business than the football.
It’s just a sad reflection on modern footy.
Away from home we are third.
Exactly. Saying something doesn’t make it true. The league table does not lie : away from home we are 3rd in the league. And if Man City win their away ‘game in hand’ and we win our home ‘game in hand’ they are level on points with us both home & away.
So in other words : it’s a complete lie Arsene.
Last week it was injuries & other teams getting easy fixtures against teams with nothing to play for….you almost have to admire his ability to come up with excuses…..
Ok so we are the away game champions, top four champions, but shite in London derbies.
“If you eat caviar every day it’s difficult to return to sausages”. I wouldn’t disagree that there’s been a “difficult climate”, but what does he expect? You have to put the mood of the fans in context and that includes debacles like the Barcelona ticket issue and membership renewal fees rocketing up at a time when no outfield players were bought. Perhaps if the club respected its fans a bit more and were a bit more transparent on basic things like where £6m has gone these last two years then there’d be a bit more patience when the team goes… Read more »
remember a broken egg can not be put back together
But a broken Eduardo can…
if you can increase the entropy of the intact egg more than that of the broken egg, sure you can!
Ha, no idea what that means but it’s the best comment on here this year!
The egg’s taken a fair few bashings in its 130 year history, it’s big enough to withstand the odd chant.
Still refusing to accept fair criticism I see. He won’t name his critics because he will think it plays into their hands. This is a man who is stubborn beyond social norms, whose ownership of personal faults is deflected by blaming others. Cannot be questioned, cannot be held to account. It would serve him better to publically admit his tactical and transfer policy faults. Take responsibility for them instead of treating fans like their opinions do not matter at all. The fans are protesting a reason.
While all the above is arguably true, I don’t understand why he can’t just come out and say “Sorry, we have not been good enough. This season has been a complete failure. This is what we are going to do to fix it…” (Or words to that effect). I don’t want to hear the same old bullshit about character, mental strength and difficult climates. The record has been broken for years in that regard. Change the tune, Arsene. Please. Or this will only get worse and the trolls will only grow louder. P.S. Thanks for this. I do try and… Read more »
It does beg the question what the hell our PR team is doing. Anyone sensible would advise Wenger that he needs to try to get the fans back on side – so placate them, show a bit of contrition, say that the team will do everything it can to win around the fans. If you need to develop a siege mentality, do it with the fans inside. I’m afraid that the man is now completely out of touch with the mood of the fans and it’s going to be a very messy 2016-2017 season if he carries on in this… Read more »
What leads you to believe he would listen to the PR team?
he does say he wants to add what is needed to win the title.
And that’s part of the problem, he talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk. He’s being judged by his actions not his words
Bit of self criticism wouldn’t go amiss.
What’s this – another VT? The “championship away from home” one?
Saying all fans who want change are being manipulated…….oh dear. This isn’t going to end well which is a pity.
He’s sucked the life out of the club, team and fans this season. I’ve never felt so flat, nor seen so many indifferent Gooners.
Time for Change.
anyone on the fence about wenger will be swayed by his answers to todays questions. he speaks so well and his comments are considered and intelligent. but we have been here before hearing the dame old clap trap. obviously he must defend his team if their character is questioned, he is never going to slag them off publicly. he just reminds me off a politician, telling everyone what they want to hear.
“you either die a hero or live long enough to become the villain”
What frustrating about Wenger is talking as if the problem with winning major trophies is just a problem for this season. What frustrating fans is failure of year after year.
How delusional he has become.. He should have a tape recorder for these press conferences.. Says the same thing again and again..year after year.. Just fed up.. TIME FOR A MASSIVE CHANGE..
Arséne is being too philsophical. I respect him a lot for all he has done for Arsenal. Stan must be equally blamed. Why didn’t he buy any players when it was quite evident that we needed some. I have no idea what his view of success. He has a different perspective of success, like the club being financially stable. He’s the perfect man for Stan… So much frustration as an arsenal fan. Its almost unbearable.
Its only a matter of time before he leaves
The discontent among fans is at an all time high
Eventually he’ll either walk or the board will be forced to get rid, its inevitable, winter is coming 🙂
I still don’t think Wenger is the main problem. We got Ozil Sanchez and Cech. Clearly the club is heading in the right direction. I am totally against buying six players in a transfer window and just changing the entire roster upside down. The fact that fans are divided with regards to Wenger tells you the situation is not as bad as some other clubs have seen, like Benitez with RM or every ManU manager since Ferg
I love the man, but he’s taking the wrong approach here. He’s either lying or deluded because what he is saying doesn’t add up. he should just come out and admit the failings and mistakes of this season (not to mention the last 10 seasons). We should have bought a striker, we should have strengthened midfield etc. and maybe then by being honest he can get the fans back on his side. He seems to be suggesting the unrest is almost unfounded, almost ignoring the fact that this season is just another in a long line of failed seasons where… Read more »
Just reading the comments and the likes and dislikes each has received, every comment is literally the embodiment of a heads or tails.
With such a fractious group of fans, and with good reason, I wonder if Arsene can do anything to completely fully unite the crowd at the home games.
he can resign.
Wenger: “We lost the championship at home against the lower teams. We have to realise that away from home we are championship winners*. At home, against the smaller teams, we dropped the points. We are top of the league in the top teams**”
*At the moment, we have the third best away record (after Leicester and spurs).
**Against the top half teams, we are 7th.
He really isn’t helping himself by saying things like this…
I think he’s saying that based on our away form, if we beat the so-called lower teams at home, our away record is good enough to be champions, which I don’t think is true either, to be honest.
I think he is counting away games in all competitions!
What i dont get is that none of the journalist will point out that he’s wrong
Every single press conference he comes out with statements like this and nobody pulls him up on the fact that its incorrect!!!
Do you think they are interested in the truth or in headline making comments?
We’re not top away. We’re third. Perhaps we’re top away in the Midlands? Or maybe top away in one off games in Greece? Ozil and Sanchez and Cech didn’t join to build a basis for some imaginary future team. Stupid angle to take.
To be honest I’m glad he is bullish about it, and shows some fight. No doubt this has been a frustrating season for all involved, and really do think our fans make things worse. The second someone misplaces a pass we get on their back, if we’re not 2-0 up after 20 minutes the crowd is tense, and the singing is limited at best. I’m not suggesting it’s all the crowds fault and that the team/manager/board are not ultimately responsible, but it doesn’t help. I should add that the away crowd is immense. I’ve only gotten to a couple of… Read more »
I consider there are three periods in Wenger’s tenure: (1) arrival, (2) stadium building, (3) post-stadium building. Let’s judge him based on each period. In (1) he has clearly succeeded. In (2) he has over-achieved if the objective was to be in the CL for 3/5 years and get 54k attendance each home match (which we got because he helped make Arsenal a global brand). Now the big question is (3). I feel the third period started when we bought Özil. So it’s been now 3 years into the post-stadium building era. It’s comparable to United’s rebuilding length post-Ferguson. Have… Read more »
I believe the striker position (and maybe RW) are the only two positions that REALLY need strengthening. For the other positions we have concerns over, i believe a change in tactics, not personnel, is the answer.
I guess Wenger will be one of those men who is more appreciated once he leaves. Football fans make it sound like a football mangers game when it comes to signing players. I don’t agree with all this decisions, yes, he has his faults like any manager/human but it does not justify the attacks he has to suffer from our own fans. Only an oracle can predict injuries and subsequently sign more players. Anyone remember Arsenal’s motto? Don’t get jealous of the toys other babies have, and then proceed to throw a temper tantrum at your parents. Wenger is more… Read more »
i guess im an oracle then , Cos i can predict that we wont win the title with Arsene in charge next season. Don’t believe me just watch.
The fact that most of us have given up on next season tells you eveything you need to know about the manager. Just listen to this mornings arsecast, even if we are 7pts clear next march, we’ll all still be waiting for the wheels to fall off. I just dont have faith in the man anymore and that’s very sad but its how i feel 🙁
This is where the issue is, 7 points clear and we are waiting for the wheels to fall off. Why be so negative? Don’t you think this sort of mentality has rubbed off on most fans. I can only give examples of other teams, look at Liverpool vs Dortmund, needing 3 goals, that crowd got them the win. It wasn’t tactics by Klopp, or some brilliance just the players feeling the energy from the crowd. I know i know, it can’t be repeated game in game out but if we are ever 7 points clear and we need the crowd… Read more »
no reality sucks, it tells us all we need to know about you and other surrender monkeys
I love Wenger and he deserves to be respected but, to be fair, what are the attacks he’s had to suffer exactly? One banner that pops up occasionally (there are many more in support) and the occasional protest against the club’s direction and owner? It’s hardly a bearpit is it?
I could run down a list of events, but heck remember the away game at Stoke last season? He gets attacked by former players, media (who don’t really matter) and repeatedly by our own fans. There is more hate towards him than necessary.
Ok, so a very small group of knuckle-dragging pillocks also shouted at him and a few of the players at a railway station over a year ago – he’s hardly regularly running a gauntlet of abuse given the millions of fans he plays before each season. Tomorrow the team coach will go through the streets past the home fans without any issue both before and after the game and during the game there’ll be maybe 5-8,000 pieces of A4 paper being waved in the air for a couple of minutes. We’re not talking Buenos Aires on a derby day here,… Read more »
This was just one example, I happened to scan a few pictures of our training on the Facebook feed, Reading the comments made me sick, it did nothing but fling dirt at our own players and well Wenger. I bet the players or the manager themselves do not read these comments, I mean come on, why would they? Its this hate which is spreading amongst our fans and thats more upsetting than not winning the league in 12 years. It takes more than a squad or a manager to win the league. One needs the whole arsenal community to win… Read more »
The attacks he’s had to suffer? How about a comprehensive nine year media campaign to get him the sack, hence the “Arsenal have gone ‘X’ years without a trophy narrative”. That campaign was suspended when we won the FA Cup in ’14 & ’15, but those media sharks smell blood, and are now circling around Arsenal generally and Arsene in particular bigtime, trying to move in for the kill.
Yea, it went from no trophy in X years to no League title in 12 years.
I’d like to know what Rambling Pete thinks. I miss him greatly.
If wenger feels so bad about average results over the past 12 years and wants to win, but a bully of a cb, a bully cm, and a world-class striker.
Then start to play some defense so we aren’t picked off on the counter all the time.
It’s that easy
So are you currently working towards a coaching licence?
he is more likely playing FM
I did win the treble with Stoke, Fulham and Everton a while back.. I must be better than a lot of managers out there.
Wenger has been an absolute legend for Arsenal, but it’s human nature to remember failure and not success, which will be his legacy. The past few years will taint the previous 15 or so.
The biggest mistake Wenger has made for me was pissing about with that £1 for Suarez. The Scousers would have taken 50 mil, we’d have won the league and everyone would be happy. Imagine the Suarez / Ozil combo…
Considering we also bid £55m for Suarez I very much doubt that they’d have taken £50m for him. The whole story around the Suarez deal is a complete myth – as soon as Suarez made clear he wouldn’t go to Court it didn’t matter whether we’d bid £200m for him, they weren’t selling him to a direct rival.
He should just hand out these responses in leaflet before every press conferences, responds with the same shit every time he is questioned. What gets me though is why will no one ask him about his opinion with hindsight on his activity last summer? Not one person seems to have questioned him specifically on it despite his arrogance in January about how right he was not to bring anyone in and his 4 world class strikers.
Sometimes, I think instead of Wenger out, we need some fans out
Seconded
Seriously, only sometimes?
Wenger’s main failing this year was putting all his faith and trust in his strikers, who let him down woefully, especially in the second half of the season. We don’t have a consistent, defense-terrorizing striker. Which we need. One of Wenger’s strengths has been to develop talent. He doesn’t like to spend money on a finished product when he feels like he can take something with potential and refine it. This is one of his core philosophies. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to do this on the striker front. Who do we have as strikers? 1) Giroud 2) Walcott (debatable)… Read more »
welbeck?
As with most arguments, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. Yes, the fans could’ve backed the team better and maybe made a difference this year but at the same time it’s also the responsibility of the club (players, manager and owner) to give the fans something to be upbeat and excited about. I’d argue that investing more money in the playing squad would’ve had a bigger chance of influencing results than me singing a few songs. The poor atmosphere at games can be attributed to a number of things. Not least the sky high ticket prices which have… Read more »
I think there are two perspectives One is that we are close to the top and have been for a long time so things are not as bad as they seem. I think this is the perspective of wenger and the board. That as long as we can remain in the top 4 we have a chance of challenging and improving to become the top team. But another perspective is that we have been in the top 4 all these years because we are mot capable of taking the next step required under this management and until top 4 is… Read more »
The club currently doesn’t have the team needed to dominate all competitions. I believe we are heading towards that point slowly and steadily, and when we get there we will dominate that season with the same authority that brought us so many league titles before. The difference is that next time, we will not make the mistakes of the past and crumble. The plan has always been to build a team that will rival Barcelona and, eventually, eclipse them. This season was a good chance to win the premier league, and we will have the same opportunity next season, and… Read more »
Can see the pressure getting to him. What’s most disappointing is his lack of perspective and ability to be honest and transparent. Both qualities which are severely lacking at Arsenal management and board level
Care to explain what does he have to be honest about?
Transparency? Really? About what? His tactics? Contract negotiations? or team meetings?
Its not pressure, its the disharmony which is getting to him. Wenger out folks need to decide if Wenger leads a cushioned life as our coach or gets pressurised by people with unknown credentials?
I fear for next season. It looks like we’ll probably just scrape fourth again – although we’re making hard work of it. But next season City, Chelsea and United will all be stronger – and Spuds, West Ham and even Southampton will still be potent. So making that all-important Champions’ League spot will be much harder. And it wouldn’t surprise me if either Ozil or Sanchez decides to jump ship in the summer – what quality player wants to be at a club with no ambition? Our sad deluded manager now looks like EJ Smith: fumbling around while the ship… Read more »
There is absolutely zero chance of Sanchez or Ozil going anywhere in the summer unless someone comes to us with 80 million. They might well leave the summer after this summer if things don’t improve, because we always sell people with a year left to go rather than keep them. But we don’t sell with 2 years go to go unless we get a ridiculously good offer or the player throws a total tantrum, and I can’t see either Sanchez or Ozil doing that.
ah fans being melodramatic, how uplifting.
So the inevitable comment re the players having character! If they had such character why does the atmosphere at home effect them? We fucked up away at Liverpool man utd Norwich west ham spurs
Sadly he doesn’t realise he’s the problem
Emirates has become a comfortable excuse. It was his decision to move to Emirates and whatever may be the reason, you can’t serve it up as an excuse for not winning. What we as fans are searching for is some accountability for the performance in the second half of the season and no lessons being learnt from the years past. He doesn’t hold himself accountable for the poor results, why we can’t go past the knockout stages in UCL; why inspite of everyone being so poor in the premiership, we still can’t win it and a team we defeated 5-2… Read more »
As much as I think its time for a change in what were doing as a club, i really don’t mind if wenger stays for another few years. Call me stupid if you like but I don’t care where we finish or what we win… I support arsenal because I’ve loved the club for 30 years and would support them, even in the bloody conference! Fans need to chill out a bit. Whatever will be will be! UP THE ARSENAL
Wenger is only ‘past it’ because his players don’t seem to want to play for him anymore. He’s got a good team and a good squad. Have a look at the squad Fergie won the league with in 2012-13. Do we really think Xhaka, Morata, Lukaku or anyone we’re linked with wins us any of the games we didn’t win this season? I don’t buy it. Why won’t the players play for Arsene?
“we lost the championship at home against the lower teams, but we played sometimes at home in a very difficult climate ”
what utter balls – the club has never allowed any public dissent in the Emirates. he is just pathetic now , blaming the fans for his own repeated failings.
This season the attitudes of the supporters, the players, and the manager have all been a bit shit. One has filter through to the other, and the cycle just repeats.
I’ve lost interest this year- haven’t watched maybe the last six matches, and won’t be going to the exhibition games this summer in the US because of the whole ‘meh’ feeling I have about it all.