Arsenal in crisis

[Roque Santa Cruz]

How on earth is it possible that Wenger has been manager at Arsenal for such a long time? He hasn't won much PT titles, not to mention the lack of CL success with Arsenal.

 

[Kopper]

So Arsenal should allow Wenger to remain in the job simply because he's has it a long time and has done well in the past? Sorry, that's not healthy for either the club or him, not to mention the fact football, like it or not, is a business. And Arsenal will suffer if he stays there.

The guy clearly doesn't know his time is up, and was some time back. He should have left in the summer. The decision needs to be taken out of his hands. And I suspect it finally will be this summer when they don't make the CL spots again. Unless they do what the chimp suggests, and do a United via the Europa. That will probably give him some breathing space.

Is Arsenal a top 4 side with the wealth of Man City(oil) Man United(TARP) and Chelsea(oil) to contend with. Not to mention a resurgent Spurs and Liverpool vying for a place in the Champion's League.

Wenger is important to Arsenal for the financial stability he provides and the revenue he generates. Which is to say nothing of the success he's brought to Arsenal.

 

[Pagnell]

Is Arsenal a top 4 side with the wealth of Man City(oil) Man United(TARP) and Chelsea(oil) to contend with. Not to mention a resurgent Spurs and Liverpool vying for a place in the Champion's League.

Wenger is important to Arsenal for the financial stability he provides and the revenue he generates. Which is to say nothing of the success he's brought to Arsenal.

A simple yes to my question would have sufficed.

You seem to be under the impression that Wenger choosing not to spend equates to Arsenal not having the ability to do so. I'm genuinely surprised there are still people that buy into that. Even the Arsenal board have made it clear that is no longer the case and hasn't been since the stadium was paid off.

You have offered nothing to suggest Wenger should be kept on for anything other than sentimental reasons. And in modern football, there is no room for sentimentality. When you look at their ground and financial means (only Manchester United take in more money from gate receipts for example), it's impossible not to conclude that they are being left behind for one reason and one reason only. Wenger. One of the few saving graces he had left, namely a guaranteed top 4 finish every season, has now gone too. They missed out last season and look almost certain to do so again this time around given their league position, form and the small matter of their best player's immanent departure to United.

In summary, modern football doesn't lend itself to having one man having so much control. Foootball has moved on, Wenger is stuck in 2004 and Arsenal are suffering as a result.

 

[Bilo]

He'll be gone in may probably. It just doesn't make sense on any level now.

 

[Stevencc]

With the veiled derogatory comments to the state-backed/oil-fuelled clubs and his outburst at Mike Dean at least Big Weng is going out shooting.

I'll miss the big lug when he does move on.

 

[Pagnell]

I'll miss him only in the sense that he's been around for so long it's difficult to picture the footballing world without him. But in recent seasons he's become irritating to watch. His inability to accept responsibility has been embarrassing at times.

#TeflonWeng.

 

[JimJams]

Weird thing now is that before when the Arsenal fans were generally split on him going you could see a number of managers you'd have thought could step in and do a good job with them. Now they're teetering on being a Europa side the selection of possible managers doesn't look that great.
Who should they appoint? Realistically that you can say with confidence will do better?
I'd try for Allegri, but thats probably unlikely.

 

[Benji]

Giggs.

 

[GodsGift]

Conte once he's ditched at Chelsea.

 

[Pagnell]

Koeman. Everton supporting friend of mine swears his failure at Everton was as a result of him realising he'd made a mistake with the move from Southampton and not wanting to be there.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

 

[Storzy]

Crisis over, we're winning the lot.

 

[SkyBluesRose]

Conte once he's ditched at Chelsea.

Mourinho once he's ditched at Manchester United.

 

[Kopper]

A simple yes to my question would have sufficed.

You seem to be under the impression that Wenger choosing not to spend equates to Arsenal not having the ability to do so. I'm genuinely surprised there are still people that buy into that. Even the Arsenal board have made it clear that is no longer the case and hasn't been since the stadium was paid off.

You have offered nothing to suggest Wenger should be kept on for anything other than sentimental reasons. And in modern football, there is no room for sentimentality. When you look at their ground and financial means (only Manchester United take in more money from gate receipts for example), it's impossible not to conclude that they are being left behind for one reason and one reason only. Wenger. One of the few saving graces he had left, namely a guaranteed top 4 finish every season, has now gone too. They missed out last season and look almost certain to do so again this time around given their league position, form and the small matter of their best player's immanent departure to United.

In summary, modern football doesn't lend itself to having one man having so much control. Foootball has moved on, Wenger is stuck in 2004 and Arsenal are suffering as a result.

I know it was some years ago but Barcelona needed an emergency loan to pay their players. Real Madrid sold their training ground (for 100m Euros) to the municipality and then leased it back for a single Euro. Money generated from the game can't account for the transfer fees and wages we see at the top clubs.
Arsenal aren't one of the state run clubs and have to live within a budget. It doesn't help when your rivals can offer your best player twice what you can, in wages. A new manager at Arsenal would have to accept the board won't spend their own money despite assurances to the contrary and the club will lose their best players every other season. On top of this the supporters will want to win the Premier League, sooner rather than later.

If this wasn't bad enough, Wenger has to make do with second and third choice signings, as even the diamonds in the rough he's use to polishing are gazumped by the elite clubs, who are curious to Wenger's interest.

Arsene Wenger has made the Arsenal job look a lot easier than it is.

 

[Benji]

Wenger has been firing back on all cylinders lately. Most recently he made the point that the media continue to call Arsenal a failure even after 3 FA Cups but celebrate Spurs and Liverpool who haven't won anything but a League Cup between them for about 10 years.

I think it's a testament to the success of Memelords Arsenal Fan TV that it remains good value to attack Arsenal even though they have been relatively successful.

Perhaps if Liverpool and Spurs fans were quite so entrepreneurial as Robbie, we would be making fun of them instead.

 

[Pagnell]

Except the difference between Arsenal and Liverpool/Spurs, which is being deliberately ignored by Wenger for obvious reasons, is the fact that both the latter clubs are actively attempting to rectify that lack of recent success with various managerial changes in the last decade. Where as Arsenal appear to be happy plodding along with Wenger as a permanent feature with an occasional domestic cup success and, up until recently, finishing in the top 4. It also shouldn't be ignored that both Liverpool and Spurs appear to be on the up, where are the opposite is true of Arsenal with no CL spot last season and the same on the cards this campaign.

You will not see another Arsenal title challenge with Wenger at the helm in my view. I don't believe the same can be said about Liverpool or Spurs as things stand.

 

[shane]

If Arsenal get Aubameyang in, as looks increasingly likely, I think the remainder of the season becomes much more positive for Arsenal. Aubam, (a performing) Mkhitarian and Ozil has the potential to score a LOT of goals in this league. Sanchez has had the hump for 9 months and no one likes him. Fuck him.

 

[Stevencc]

Leave Alexis alone.

 

[Abertawe]

Except the difference between Arsenal and Liverpool/Spurs, which is being deliberately ignored by Wenger for obvious reasons, is the fact that both the latter clubs are actively attempting to rectify that lack of recent success with various managerial changes in the last decade. Where as Arsenal appear to be happy plodding along with Wenger as a permanent feature with an occasional domestic cup success and, up until recently, finishing in the top 4. It also shouldn't be ignored that both Liverpool and Spurs appear to be on the up, where are the opposite is true of Arsenal with no CL spot last season and the same on the cards this campaign.

You will not see another Arsenal title challenge with Wenger at the helm in my view. I don't believe the same can be said about Liverpool or Spurs as things stand.

Hey hun - there is only three points difference between the failing Wenger and your hero Poch - those facts.

 

[Pagnell]

There will be more at the end of the season. Facht.

 

[SALTIRE]

If Arsenal get Aubameyang in, as looks increasingly likely, I think the remainder of the season becomes much more positive for Arsenal. Aubam, (a performing) Mkhitarian and Ozil has the potential to score a LOT of goals in this league. Sanchez has had the hump for 9 months and no one likes him. Fuck him.

Why? They had Ozil, Sanchez, Lacazette and plenty of other creative talent the last few months and it's gotten them nowhere. There is no plan or method under Wenger now and so it doesn't matter if they signed Messi this window, it wouldn't help them kick on as the players aren't the issue.

 

[shane]

Why? They had Ozil, Sanchez, Lacazette and plenty of other creative talent the last few months and it's gotten them nowhere. There is no plan or method under Wenger now and so it doesn't matter if they signed Messi this window, it wouldn't help them kick on as the players aren't the issue.

Wenger is the main issue but to claim that is the only issue is pretty short sighted. I don't believe Wenger is the only reason behind player's contracts and poor recruitment though he is obviously a very big part of it.

They've effectively played with a fraction of a Sanchez this season. In terms of "other creative talent", other than Ozil (who admittedly, hasn't been amazing either), I'd argue they've had nothing comparable to the potential Mk and Aub offer. Against Bournmouth, their midfield and attack consisted of Wilshere, Xhaka, Iwobi, Walcott, Welbeck and Lacazette. This is Arsenal and that is wank.

I think Wenger will go this Summer. The transfers have been taken off him, which is a big indicator the board are making moves to replace him. Also, the other day I heard the guy from Arseblog say he believes the 2 year contract was offered with the intention of getting him out after a year and avoiding the "will he/won't he" that would follow the club all of next season. That makes sense to me.

 

[SALTIRE]

Wenger is the main issue but to claim that is the only issue is pretty short sighted. I don't believe Wenger is the only reason behind player's contracts and poor recruitment though he is obviously a very big part of it.

They've effectively played with a fraction of a Sanchez this season. In terms of "other creative talent", other than Ozil (who admittedly, hasn't been amazing either), I'd argue they've had nothing comparable to the potential Mk and Aub offer. Against Bournmouth, their midfield and attack consisted of Wilshere, Xhaka, Iwobi, Walcott, Welbeck and Lacazette. This is Arsenal and that is wank.

I think Wenger will go this Summer. The transfers have been taken off him, which is a big indicator the board are making moves to replace him. Also, the other day I heard the guy from Arseblog say he believes the 2 year contract was offered with the intention of getting him out after a year and avoiding the "will he/won't he" that would follow the club all of next season. That makes sense to me.

The constant speculation on Wenger's future doesn't help things - particularly with a restless and ott fan base - so I still see there being a lot of unease there until he moves on. They are indeed preparing for his departure and getting that Dortmund guy in to get new players in will help them long term as will the other guy they got (I think from Barcelona? ), but the Wenger issue holds them down like a ball and chain, and until that's cut I don't see them suddenly challenging for league titles anytime soon.

 

[mistermagic]

Shareholders like a manager who doesn't spend a lot. That's why he's still at Arsenal. End of.

 

[Cornish Piskie]

Meanwhile........

The poorly motivated, badly managed and utterly talentless Arsenal have just reached the first major final* of the season.

What a load of rubbish, eh..?




*
And just to head off the inevitable retort that it's only the League Cup and not the Premier League title well, that is true but we don't see the spending-like-sailors-on-shore-leave clubs like Manchester United or Liverpool within 12 points of the lead either.

Only one team can win the title and that means if every other club in the EPL each spent the entire wealth of the Vatican on players there would still be nineteen losers.

Arsenal won't win the league this season. They may not even make next season's Champions League. Oh dear, how sad, never mind. Good luck next season with or without Wenger but for 2018, get over it, Gooners.

 

[Pagnell]

Winning the league cup will likely give the Arsenal board the excuse to swerve the decision yet again and allow Wenger to stay on another season, until the end of his current contract. This is a good thing for the other top 6 teams.

 

[Abertawe]

Wenger is finished at elite level but he's still mixing it with the best of the rest - they are having a better season than Liverpool so far.

 

[SALTIRE]

 

[Lionel Messi]

Wenger is finished at elite level but he's still mixing it with the best of the rest - they are having a better season than Liverpool so far.

The 5 points between them in the league table would disagree with that proposition . Including more goals scored and less goals conceded Liverpool's progression to the knockout stage to the Champions League should not be overlooked either, which probably trumps Arsenal's amusing journey in the Europa League. Liverpool play better attacking football than Arsenal these days too. But I doubt either set of fans will be completely happy though.

"Wenger is finished at elite level", I agree 100% there!

 

[SALTIRE]

You'll get used to Abertawe and his warped view of things.