Arsenal has the only billionaire sugar daddy among the top teams in England that does not care, at all, about winning things. The Walmart heiress-in-law only cares about cultivating profit. The other sugar daddy on the board, Ru$$ian-Uzbek oligarch Alisher Usmanov cares deeply about winning, and would be happy to spend up greater $um$ to improve the squad quality, but is hamstrung by his minority stake. In fact, Silent Sam would like nothing more for Usmanov to...just...go...away. And Sir Chips does not listen to the fans. The board is not embarrassed by shows of fan dissent. The only thing that could matter to them would be if there were, oh, say, 10,000+ empty seats at every match. Until the fans walk away from attending, booing the team off the pitch, hiring planes, or other conspicuous but meaningless signs of disaffection will have no effect, zero. Silent Stan will take note of the Champion$ League $ized hole in the revenue line of the balance sheet.
But he will see how poorly the post Fergus succession went at the team owned by an American family up in the northwest, and will not want to replicate that issue. But has Wenger done ANYTHING in planning for succession? Why have two of his former captains pursued getting their coaching credentials through Abu Dhabi FC (Paddy Vieira and Mikel Arteta)? How has the man who replaced longtime icon Liam Brady as top of the youth team setup ended up managing...Wolfsburg (Andres Joncker)? Is succession Steve Bould or bust? Yikes.
But he will see how poorly the post Fergus succession went at the team owned by an American family up in the northwest, and will not want to replicate that issue. But has Wenger done ANYTHING in planning for succession? Why have two of his former captains pursued getting their coaching credentials through Abu Dhabi FC (Paddy Vieira and Mikel Arteta)? How has the man who replaced longtime icon Liam Brady as top of the youth team setup ended up managing...Wolfsburg (Andres Joncker)? Is succession Steve Bould or bust? Yikes.
2
Arsenal seem to have reached a plateau under Wenger. The usual top four finish has satisfied his corporate masters, but no major trophies in a long time stokes the fickleness of todays fan, especially a fan of a well-financed club like Arsenal.
As a supporter of Arsenal (and the Toronto Maple Leafs; I really know how to pick 'em), the double drubbing by Bayern was the final straw. I've been apprehensive before big games for awhile, as it seems they invariably fall flat. This has to fall at the feet of the manager.
As a supporter of Arsenal (and the Toronto Maple Leafs; I really know how to pick 'em), the double drubbing by Bayern was the final straw. I've been apprehensive before big games for awhile, as it seems they invariably fall flat. This has to fall at the feet of the manager.
1
Brilliant article, which perfectly captures the interminable see-saw battle between the 'In' and 'Out' camps. I'm almost certain he'll stay.
There's one big difference this year. For 20(?) years in succession, Arsenal has qualified for the Big One, the European Champions League. They've rarely done well in that competition, a source of irritation to fans, but they've always been there. This year they may not. In fact, today's game against Tottenham could be the decider.
After watching the NLD today, which clinched Spurs above us, it has to be said: if you looked at the 22 players on the pitch, and had to pick a best XI, I think other than Cech as a push with the much less tested Lloris, I would not pick a single Arsenal player.
Without Cech, this one would have been 6-0.
Spurs are younger, with a better upside, at every position on the pitch.
It also must be said, Harry Kane was in the Arsenal youth system. He sure is better than anything on offer from Arsenal at his position.
I guess we will find out how much fun the Europa League is. I wonder when the qualifying rounds are...
The absence of Champion$ League payout is the only thing that will get Silent Stan's attention.
Without Cech, this one would have been 6-0.
Spurs are younger, with a better upside, at every position on the pitch.
It also must be said, Harry Kane was in the Arsenal youth system. He sure is better than anything on offer from Arsenal at his position.
I guess we will find out how much fun the Europa League is. I wonder when the qualifying rounds are...
The absence of Champion$ League payout is the only thing that will get Silent Stan's attention.
1
I love Wenger. i have for 20 years since when he was in Japan and all we heard of him was through snippets in rare media reports. He's a brilliant man symbolic of Gallic chivalry, nonchalance, brilliance and determination.
But beauty overall. Arsenal has played beautiful football under him. Until it became "over-elaborate" and then plain useless.
Wenger was wrong to invest in unreliable characters and lower his ambitions. Wilshere did not flower, Gibbs never gained his footing, Mertesacker could never step up. Arteta was plain inexplicable. Don't even get me started on Koscielny. Podolski was wasted and I was heartbroken.
Wenger needs to dig deep and spend the money they say they have. 200 million on 5-8 people who will renew Arsenal's spirit.
There has never been anything wrong with Arsenal's football. Even on that day we were beaten 8-2 in one match by (the hated) ManU. ManU deserved to win, but van Persie missed a penalty and a sitter.
What Wenger has lost is his spirit. It is as if he doesn't want to win. And I hate him for that. Money in the bank and not spent ? What is the purpose ?
I looked at my facebook feed and I have wanted him gone for 4 years ! But he leaves that faint hope always.
No. They will not win another league under him. A final of the Champions League is beyond their reach under him.
He can stay for another year. But he has to transition with a new manager (Koeman or Rogers perhaps) ASAP.
This is too hard to bear. I can't take it any more.
But beauty overall. Arsenal has played beautiful football under him. Until it became "over-elaborate" and then plain useless.
Wenger was wrong to invest in unreliable characters and lower his ambitions. Wilshere did not flower, Gibbs never gained his footing, Mertesacker could never step up. Arteta was plain inexplicable. Don't even get me started on Koscielny. Podolski was wasted and I was heartbroken.
Wenger needs to dig deep and spend the money they say they have. 200 million on 5-8 people who will renew Arsenal's spirit.
There has never been anything wrong with Arsenal's football. Even on that day we were beaten 8-2 in one match by (the hated) ManU. ManU deserved to win, but van Persie missed a penalty and a sitter.
What Wenger has lost is his spirit. It is as if he doesn't want to win. And I hate him for that. Money in the bank and not spent ? What is the purpose ?
I looked at my facebook feed and I have wanted him gone for 4 years ! But he leaves that faint hope always.
No. They will not win another league under him. A final of the Champions League is beyond their reach under him.
He can stay for another year. But he has to transition with a new manager (Koeman or Rogers perhaps) ASAP.
This is too hard to bear. I can't take it any more.
2
The transfer policy has been terrible. The best two players he has had, at least since he let Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira walk away, have been savvy pickups off of the Real Madrid and Barcelona discard piles.
He let Ashley Cole and Robin Van Persie walk away at their peaks, to direct rivals.
His most expensive buy this year, Granit Xhaka, has been abysmal. And the 3 red cards he accumulated this year could not possibly have come as a surprise, as it exactly matches the number he put up last year at Gladbach, including his 1st match of the season, his first as captain. He is an undisciplined discipline nightmare. Did Wenger think he was going to change him. Did he at least think he could dominate a midfield like Vieira could?
I understand Arsenal has always been a seller of talent. By 1979, only Pat Rice remained from the 1971 double winners. By then Ray Kennedy had two European Cup winners medals...at Liverpool.
After the 1979 landmark FA Cup win over United, the team went to the Final of the Cup Winners Cup, lost in a shootout to Valencia, then sold their two best players, Liam Brady to Juventus, and Frank Stapleton, to United.
But these days the team sells, and the replacement talent is of diminished quality. Bacary Sagna out, Mathieu Debuchy in, and Hector Bellerin found by accident? Now he has regressed.
Speaking of regression, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson have all gone backwards. Gabriel has only shown intermittent competence.
He let Ashley Cole and Robin Van Persie walk away at their peaks, to direct rivals.
His most expensive buy this year, Granit Xhaka, has been abysmal. And the 3 red cards he accumulated this year could not possibly have come as a surprise, as it exactly matches the number he put up last year at Gladbach, including his 1st match of the season, his first as captain. He is an undisciplined discipline nightmare. Did Wenger think he was going to change him. Did he at least think he could dominate a midfield like Vieira could?
I understand Arsenal has always been a seller of talent. By 1979, only Pat Rice remained from the 1971 double winners. By then Ray Kennedy had two European Cup winners medals...at Liverpool.
After the 1979 landmark FA Cup win over United, the team went to the Final of the Cup Winners Cup, lost in a shootout to Valencia, then sold their two best players, Liam Brady to Juventus, and Frank Stapleton, to United.
But these days the team sells, and the replacement talent is of diminished quality. Bacary Sagna out, Mathieu Debuchy in, and Hector Bellerin found by accident? Now he has regressed.
Speaking of regression, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson have all gone backwards. Gabriel has only shown intermittent competence.
1
Arsene's a great manager who's had his ups and downs, like everyone else does in life. Maybe it's time to leave the Arsenal pressure cooker and embark on a new adventure. He should go and manage PSG.
Arsene Wenger is, by any metric, the most successful manager in Arsenal's history, by far.
But this problem is not Wenger's. At what football club, at the highest level or not, does the manager decide when to go, or to stay on indefinitely. There was one other one, and one only, and he was made a knight of the realm, and won a whole lot more than Wenger did, including the European Cup, twice, and beaten finalists two other times.
Arsenal remains one of the richest clubs in the world, although it does not behave that way. The design was to develop Highbury as real estate to finance the construction of the Emirates, home of the highest ticket prices in the land, and the source of the greatest game day revenue in creation.
But, against all logic, as the stadium was paid off, the team got less successful, less able to compete in the Champions League, further from a League Championship. From 2006-2008, the team was a losing finalist, and semifinalists in the Champions League. Now it is seven straight dismissals in the round of 16. While losing to Barcelona, they came within a Nicklas Bendtner blown breakaway of winning the tie. Similarly, in Bayern's treble season, they had a Mikel Arteta free kick to win the tie, but he skied it. This year, they outscored Bayern 2-1 in the two 1st halves, and were embarrassed 9-0 in the 2d halves. Why do contemporary Wenger teams capitulate so flagrantly? Why do they defend so poorly, despite his seconds being legendary defenders, Rice & Bould?
But this problem is not Wenger's. At what football club, at the highest level or not, does the manager decide when to go, or to stay on indefinitely. There was one other one, and one only, and he was made a knight of the realm, and won a whole lot more than Wenger did, including the European Cup, twice, and beaten finalists two other times.
Arsenal remains one of the richest clubs in the world, although it does not behave that way. The design was to develop Highbury as real estate to finance the construction of the Emirates, home of the highest ticket prices in the land, and the source of the greatest game day revenue in creation.
But, against all logic, as the stadium was paid off, the team got less successful, less able to compete in the Champions League, further from a League Championship. From 2006-2008, the team was a losing finalist, and semifinalists in the Champions League. Now it is seven straight dismissals in the round of 16. While losing to Barcelona, they came within a Nicklas Bendtner blown breakaway of winning the tie. Similarly, in Bayern's treble season, they had a Mikel Arteta free kick to win the tie, but he skied it. This year, they outscored Bayern 2-1 in the two 1st halves, and were embarrassed 9-0 in the 2d halves. Why do contemporary Wenger teams capitulate so flagrantly? Why do they defend so poorly, despite his seconds being legendary defenders, Rice & Bould?
3
It's crazy how the club has not backed the manager with a Director of Football. I don't know if any Club of the level of Arsenal to let 1 man do so much, it has now become too much.
For everything he's done for his club the board needs to step up and support the manager with a much better team and an actual Director.
#WengerIn
For everything he's done for his club the board needs to step up and support the manager with a much better team and an actual Director.
#WengerIn
2
As a Chelsea fan, I hope Wenger stays. Arsenal are a million miles away from winning anything other than the odd FA or League Cup, and all their rivals like it that way.
On the other hand, every year seems to make keeping Wenger seem risky too. Like many people who have been in a job for a long time, he has a stubborn sense of how things 'should be done' and seems blind (sometimes wilfully) to the problems of his approach. He can no longer guarantee Champions League football, and every year Arsenal seem to slip further behind its rivals. If Ozil or Sanchez leave this summer, Arsenal might really find themselves in trouble.
Stick or twist? Its a decision I am glad I don't have to make.