Arsenal in crisis

[JimJams]

Will Arsenal be the best team in the Europa?

 

[smat]

Will Arsenal be the best team in the Europa?

Depends. Arsenal of the last two months, yeah easily. Arsenal of December - March... no, I think Linfield might have the beating of us.

 

[Blitzballer]

oh shit another two years.

Piers Morgan and other gooners on twitter in meltdown

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

Think he should have went out on the high of the FA Cup win, I can't see anything changing in the league in the next two seasons. It will be groundhog day for Arsenal fans - they won't be able to compete for the Premier League, "Wenger Out!" protests will persist until he finally walks away, his final years at the club will probably feel bitter.

That said, they'll still win more than Spurs.

Hmm, not sure that nothing will change... an EXCITING DALLIANCE with SIXTH PLACE awaits, perhaps.

But yeah, weird... really though he might be a gonner this time.

 

[smat]

I don't blame you mate, Arsenal in the Champions League have become so predictable it must be a bit boring as a fan. In a way it could be quite refreshing to have a year off in another competition. Also, winning a trophy as a fan should always be preferable than top 4. However, as a Liverpool fan I'm not sure if I'd sooner win the FA Cup or get in the CL at the moment. Ordinarily it's a no-brainer as indicated above, a trophy is better because that is what football is about. But in terms of club progression and Klopp's plan, I have a feeling getting into the CL could be better in the short to medium term. Assuming we get past the qualification round.

As for Wenger, things have been stale for years and the FA Cup win doesn't change that. No progression will be made in the next two years, on the contrary I'd say with the strength of the rest of the top 5 as you yourself allude to, you could be looking at another struggle to get into the top 4 next season and even more of a regression, especially with the 'Arsenal will inevitably finish top 4' cycle now broken and you having the arguably even more arduous Europa League to deal with. He needed to go at some point and this summer was the right time for me. Arsenal hit a crossroads and have taken the wrong turn.

I can see where you're coming from, CL is a good milestone for Liverpool and watching us play in it has been tedious for many years. I'm not sure it really gives you that hit of doing Chelsea over in a cup final and seeing your players lift a trophy, but it's job done as far as the season's objectives are concerned, at least in the league.

Still, you haven't won a cup in five years and Spurs haven't won one in nine. You both need to sort that out really, because just finishing in the top four and not winning anything starts to drag.

On a slight tangent, Arsene Wenger has won as many FA Cups as Liverpool have in their entire history. That's incredible.

 

[smat]

^^ and I also think he should have gone, but I don't exactly expect the sky to fall in because he hasn't

 

[Storzy]

It's funny how perspectives change based on how you or your rivals are doing. Not so long ago we were told that just finishing in the top four and winning nothing was pathetic and now that our rivals are getting a taste of trophless seasons it's all changed. It's not surprising because of the partisan nature of football, however it's so... blatant. A complete 360 based on differing situations.

On Wenger. I can't see myself calling for him to leave, but neither would I have complained if this was to be his last season. It is however vital that Arsenal don't make a snap decision and sack him and then ask ourselves "who do get?" Because that way leads to Hodgson

 

[Bilo]

It's funny how perspectives change based on how you or your rivals are doing. Not so long ago we were told that just finishing in the top four and winning nothing was pathetic and now that our rivals are getting a taste of trophless seasons it's all changed. It's not surprising because of the partisan nature of football, however it's so... blatant. A complete 360 based on differing situations.

On Wenger. I can't see myself calling for him to leave, but neither would I have complained if this was to be his last season. It is however vital that Arsenal don't make a snap decision and sack him and then ask ourselves "who do get?" Because that way leads to Hodgson

Well, top four represents more progress if you've managed it once in the previous seven seasons as compared to every single time in the past 20 years.

 

[smat]

A complete 360 based on differing situations.

[extremely nerd voice] that would leave you facing in the same direction you started

 

[Storzy]

Well, top four represents more progress if you've managed it once in the previous seven seasons as compared to every single time in the past 20 years.

And what about the complaints of winning fuck all? 5 years for you lot according to Smat.

[extremely nerd voice] that would leave you facing in the same direction you started

I was making a point that they'll come back round to the same talking point in the future... I mean come on Smat, get your fucking head in the game.

I in no way meant to put 180. Not at all.

 

[Pagnell]

And what about the complaints of winning fuck all? 5 years for you lot according to Smat.

It is indeed, and it's not enjoyable from a fan's perspective. But at least Liverpool are attempting to take their quality to the next level with the bringing in of Klopp. And this season, aside from the usual inconsistencies, shows that is on schedule with a CL spot in his first full season. Hopefully we can follow on from that and make further improvement with the right purchases this summer, but time will tell in that respect.

Arsenal on the other hand appear happy with the status quo. It's great you have won the FA Cup again, but it's the third time in the last four seasons and there is nothing to show the club has progressed in any way from the previous two successes in recent years. The opposite arguably given the fact you are now outside the CL for the first time in two decades. And I see nothing to indicate the next two seasons will be anything but the same old, and possibly not even that.

 

[liu]

Dont see how appointing another manager can be an attempt to take their quality to the next level, while keeping their long serving manager who has seldom underachieved is not.

If the "next level " means finishing higher in the league, does that mean every league winning manager should be sacked? They surely cannot go to the next level can they?

For a team like Arsenal, consistency is a big success in my opinion. They could have done better, like winning the league once every 4 or 5 years. But with some rivals spending like crazy, it is understandable that they didnt achieve that.

It seems that some are moaning about Arsenal not winning the league but not about Liverpool or Spurs, just because Wenger constantly take Arsenal into the top 4, while the other two often struggled. He's punished for his past success.

 

[Stevencc]

That's a nice way of saying Sanchez and Ozil want to leave as a result of Wenger's new contract.

 

[Bilo]

Arsenal remind me a bit of us in 2010, only we chose to sack our manager and it didn't turn out splendidly. They should sell the players who don't want to be there imo, keeping unhappy players doesn't really work out very often. At least you'd trust Wenger to reinvest it well, if someone manages to force him to spend it all.

 

[smat]

I think I might just watch the cup final highlights all summer and ignore everything else.

 

[Stevencc]

I think I might just watch the cup final highlights all summer and ignore everything else.

Arsene Wenger gives clearest indication yet that he wants to stay at Arsenal as he urges board to 'watch the game'.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...-urges-board-watch-fa-cup-final-a7760916.html

 

[Dirk]

That's a nice way of saying Sanchez and Ozil want to leave as a result of Wenger's new contract.

Come to Bayern, both of you! Maybe it will revive the competition at the top of the Bundesliga when 2 Arsenal players (aka "Non PL Title winners") are jinxing it for the "Bauern" , too

 

[Stevencc]

Come to Bayern, both of you! Maybe it will revive the competition at the top of the Bundesliga when 2 Arsenal players (aka "Non PL Title winners") are jinxing it for the "Bauern" , too

The Sanchez to Bayern rumours are gathering pace and I wouldn't be surprised to see him ending up there. He's obviously a fantastic player, I'd love him at United - no chance Arsenal sell him to us now though.

 

[Dirk]

Yes, nearly every day (via Sky Sports News Germany) we are getting the "news" that Arturo Vidal and Sanchez are best friends and Vidal is "very excited" about the thought that they soon play together.

 

[liu]

Agree that they should sell Sanchez, providing that they can sign someone with about equal quality or they can get a decent fee. His stats has been great but everytime I watched him, he seemed to be playing only for himself. He made runs only when he's interested. He didnt trust any of his teammates but Ozil. He seemed unhappy and moaning at others all the time, which couldnt be good influence for youngsters.

 

[JimJams]

They'll sell Sanchez and bid for Mahrez.

 

[Pagnell]

Or Vardy.

 

[JimJams]

Or Slimani.







Please buy Slimani.

 

[Cornish Piskie]

Not so long ago, when I was visiting family in London I was chatting with a neighbour who is an elderly Arsenal fan and he was talking about the Wenger "Should He Go Or Should He Stay" saga. I recalled that chat when I heard some of the reaction to AW's new contract today.

The neighbour recalled the period from 1953 - 1970 - 17 seasons when Arsenal won absolutely nothing at all and I've checked out some stats on that period for this post. I've found that during that period Arsenal finished outside the top ten of the first division 7 times (and only finished in the top 3 once), failed to progress beyond the 4th round of the FA Cup 9 times (with no semi final or final appearances), didn't even enter the League Cup until 1967 (when the competition acquired a Wembley final and attracted a place in Europe) and only qualified for Europe twice. Only 5 Arsenal players made an England debut during this period. A total of 27 appearances..... 19 of which were made by George Eastham.

OK.... Statto time over. I think I've provided some background there.

My neighbour said he was saddened by the behaviour of modern day fans who seem to think that winning trophies is the club's right. As if they're entitled to win for no other reason than the fact that they're Arsenal. When he was traipsing from Blackheath to North London every other Saturday to watch his team win nothing at all in that period he didn't bay for the manager's blood, or hang out banners or indulge in other unseemly behaviour.

Rather, he felt that Arsenal are a dignified and honourable club with a reputation for decency and integrity, and the fans of the day bought into that. To slate the manager or other such things would be somehow "un-Arsenal". They supported the club through thick and thin, and during the period of "thin" continued to give unconditional support. They didn't demand the league title as if it was some sort of God given right that they felt was owed to them. I could see where he was coming from.

But that was then and this is now. We live in different times and have a different footballing culture (if "culture" is an appropriate word to use).

A football manager's job is the ultimate results-driven occupation and the pressure is far more public than anything that businessmen, politicians, industrialists or bankers have to deal with. Those jobs too are dependent on getting results, but the way they do their job isn't plastered all over the TV news or newspapers each and every Saturday afternoon for nine months of the year. Those people don't have to face howling mobs baying for their sacking for only finishing 4th out of 92 and in doing so, qualify for a huge financial bonus (the Champions League) for more than 20 consecutive years.

Wenger has had his moments of controversy, but in the main, he is a decent, honest man and I think Arsenal are lucky to have him. He truly loves the club, that much is glaringly obvious. Perhaps somebody else could do better. Then again, they may not. What then..?

Whatever else he may or may not do, I'm confident that as long as he is in post he'll do his very best and will serve the club well. I hope he gets to see the next two years out. Good luck Arsene.

 

[Stevencc]

I wonder what the elderly neighbour would make of ArsenalFanTV.

 

[Pagnell]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40103874

Presumably he wasn't targeting it last season.

 

[JimJams]

I wonder what the old Arsenal fan would make of the clubs extortionate ticket prices.

 

[Stevencc]

That's the spirit.

 

[Benito]

That feel when Zidane has achieved more than Wenger has in 20 years.

 

[Cornish Piskie]

That feel when Zidane has achieved more than Wenger has in 20 years.

In fairness though, Wenger didn't inherit an attack that contained Ronaldo and Bale, or a transfer budget the size of a planet.

An alternative thought to your comment may be to imagine Zidane in the home team dug out at Arsenal with the current line up and see how the results go then.