Arsene Wenger contradicts himself after more dropped points…

Morning all.

I really can’t be bothered to write about yesterday’s match as it’s been said before, time after time. The excuses for Arsene Wenger are running out, no, run out.

There’s been so many odd decisions made by the Frenchman of late, from splitting up a Coquelin/Elneny partnership which was doing pretty well, playing a striker who hasn’t scored for what seems like eternity and the continued late or non changing of players who aren’t performing on the day.

It’s been the same for years and there’s little to no chance of anything changing so we fans just have to ride the storm until someone at the club decides that a change of manager is required if we are to improve. Maybe the Frenchman himself will make that decision in the summer, but don’t bank on it.

On Friday Arsene Wenger expressed no concerns about playing a match so soon after the Thursday night fixture:

Between Thursday and Sunday and Wednesday and Saturday morning is exactly the same…It’s no problem. In fact… points on average [after three days] are better than after four or five days.

Selecting the same side which beat West Brom just three days previously would back up his comments yet after the 0-0 at Sunderland, he said:

I think our first half was very good…The second half is always more difficult when you play Sunday-Thursday-Sunday.

So which is it? If it’s the latter then why not make a couple of changes to the starting line up or bring on the substitutes earlier or as said earlier, take off players who are having a mare on the day?

Like I said, that’s not Arsene’s way is it…..

I don’t often take a lot of notice of the Sky Sports pundits because so many just seem to have a dislike of Arsenal but yesterday Jamie Redknapp  actually drew me in with his views and imo, he’s spot on. Have a read HERE if you missed it…

85 thoughts on “Arsene Wenger contradicts himself after more dropped points…

  1. Marshall says:

    AW’s head is so high up his @§§ you wouldn’t know what he’s speaking from. He doesn’t even know what he’s saying.

    Coq-Elneny was ok then the favored Ramsey walks straight in and starts loosing possesion like an amateur. 5th it is.

  2. rico says:

    Who are Mahindra? Richer than Kroenke? 😉

    Certainly an odd one Marshall, as was Jack yesterday. I know it was very late in the game but why not Campbell…

    If I was Campbell I’d leave this summer…

  3. rico says:

    The best striker in the Championship is Andre Gray according to reports. 22 goals in 39 games. he 24, English and meant to be a cracking striker…

    Just saying and one to watch next season. Wonder if Wenger has heard of him… 😉

  4. Wavy says:

    Rico you have summarised al that. Is wrong at Arsenal, admirably.
    Wise old Wenger has the ‘bigger picture’ in his mind! His selection og Giroud was inspired! I believe he has been favoured in the last two games to give him playing time so he will be picked by the French for the Euro’s and Jack the same!
    If he were objective and hadn’t employed the vision of a pur blind brown bear, he would see, clearly, the error of his ways. Perhaps he does but you would hardly expect him to admit his mistakes, not after 30 years of unparalleled success. When you can no longer differentiate between the wood from the trees then it’s probably time to admit you can no longer see and head for the white stick shop!
    Since last August/September many of his desisions have been bizarre. Tactics, what tactics? Team selections, strange? Substitutions? Weird and often unfathomable. Team talks arranged behind his back, the organisers have not been seen on even the subs bench since! Tells a story of imploding systems and a lack of faith in the power that was!

    I’ve said before a really wise man knows when he has reached the end of the line and can offer no more! Through, what I can only call blind arrogance he thinks he can continue to rule the roost, sadly he can’t! His day is done! Frankly, I can’t see his successor having a huge impact on the results with immediate effect, there is far too much ‘unteaching’ to be done before any real forward progress can be made. The whole club needs a really good shake to rid itself of far too much dead wood, players, coaches, managers! Anybody got a new broom??

    Morning all. Another bleak and miserable day here!

  5. rico says:

    Nice one Wavy. Good point about the un-teaching but whatever it is AW has been teaching them isn’t working anyway. Maybe they would all benefit and welcome new ideas and adapt with ease… lol

  6. Adam says:

    It seems crazy that Wenger should be allowed to carry on with his experiment. I really do wonder how Gazidis sees this. I imagine he is hoping that Arsene just calls it quits. If he doesn’t then next season will be interesting to say the least. What will change? What could possibly change?

  7. rico says:

    Very true re Jose Devil…

    He’d soon sort the squad out too. He maybe an absolute arse, but can’t fault him in a transfer window often…

  8. Hell Raising Devil says:

    He will soon have them eating out of his hand and playing for him. The problem is that after two seasons they will play against him. Or rather, he will have them pissed off and playing against him.

  9. Adam says:

    But Rico, he sold deBruyne, Lukaku and Schurle, because he thought they weren’t good enough. At the end of his time with Chelsea he was crap in the transfer window. He bought Remy and Cuadrado too. He has a lot to prove from what I can see.

  10. Lee says:

    Matic too Brudder, bought him for £1.5m sold him for not a lot more, then bought him for £21m from Benfica…………. I think!

  11. rico says:

    Adam, I guess even Jose seems a better option right now and that’s for one reason…

    I wouldn’t want him at Arsenal mind you….

  12. Adam says:

    Arsenal is a sleeping giant of a club. Pep knew this and wanted to come. Opportunity knocked (with a hammer) but conceit and a dose of unreasonable silliness has knocked that chance right back.

  13. Adam says:

    Yes. I suggested Jose a couple of years ago and you weren’t keen. Understandably. I also suggested Costa because I had seen him play for Athletico where he was a bastard, but a long way from the scumbag he became under Mourinho.
    So, today I am going to put forward that other bastard, Simeone. He would make every game a war and only want soldiers at the club, with a tinge of class going forward. After the capitulation that has become a hallmark of Arsene’s teams for the past decade, he would be like a breath of rancid air running through the place.

  14. rico says:

    I was kidding Adam, of course I remember… lol

    I have a Spanish friend who knows his football and he reckons Simeone would never leave Atletico unless he was sacked as the club is in his heart…

  15. rico says:

    Huge indicator that AW won’t be leaving in the summer then Adam… Would be odd to have missed out on Pep for nothing…

    And yes I know I’m not a fan of Pep but he’d be ten times better than AW.

  16. Wavy says:

    I would not want the vertically challenged, poisonous dwarf for all the tea in China! Yes, I’m sure he would reshape the playing staff, tout suite, but it would be done in such a way as to antagonise all concerned, players, non players, supporters, everybody! Being an Arsenal supporter is hard enough we don’t want his sort here, nor anywhere near here. Just don’t get me started!

  17. Adam says:

    When the Pep deal was done perhaps things weren’t as bad at our club though. The end of season brings a clarity and renewed perspective. I have asked for the past few seasons if anyone could make a reasoned argument why Arsene should remain as manager at our club. I never heard one then and doubt if I will now.

  18. rico says:

    Go on Wavy, get started…. lol

    Things at the club under Wenger have been bad for years though, not just since the turn of the year when City would have secured the deal. Not that anyone doesn’t know that already…

  19. Adam says:

    I know Rico. Most of us know, but the club must have felt confident that Arsene would know when the time was right. Some even felt that he was finished several years ago. And some think it’s the fault of the referees or the longer grass.

  20. Kel says:

    Good post rico, very frustrating being a gooner atm. Surely someone at the club Ivan etc is aware of how things are with the supporters.

    You would think maybe the sponsorships might have a part to play in putting pressure on Arsenal to ask wenger to stand down or change.

    If we make top 4 which I want us to do, it would only be fair for wenger to make way for someone else and give that manager the best possible chance to succeed with having CL football on offer at the Emirates.

    But the way it seems to be going is wenger is gonna wait until he misses top 4 then retire leaving a right old mess for a new manager, that for me is worst case scenario, why wait until you fall to rebuild, absolutely terrible ownership and management…

  21. malaga gooner says:

    Afternoon Rico and the house

    Ivan Gazidas was hand picked for his job by Wenger. He picked someone who would stand by his every decision.

    just goes to show you how much power he really has.

    were stuck with Wenger for another year and then i believe Kroenke will sell his shares

  22. rico says:

    Afternoon Mg. Do you really believe Ivan Gazidis will be happy with what is going on? Somehow I doubt it really and unless the owner and board give Ivan some kind of control, his hands are surely tied….

  23. malaga gooner says:

    Rico i believe Gazidas is probably sick of standing up the AGM’s taking the flack for Wengers decisions. The power Wenger has overrides Gazidas and that’s not the way clubs should be run.

    For me it goes back further than Gazidas. Keith Elderman came out and said there was huge funds for the club to buy players and he was pushed out, then Wenger said if he was offered a 100 million he would give it back, what manager says that.

    Wenger will be known as the manager that built and payed for the stadium and he is happy with that

  24. malaga gooner says:

    Also rico i think Gazidas main role at the club was to bring the best possible sponsorship deals.
    Leaving Wenger to do what ever ha wants

  25. Wavy says:

    For the sake of my sanity I shall leave the Portuguese prick in the sewage works where he belongs………for now!

    Mg agree with you re Wenger staying another year but, if you think the syrup will sell up you are barking up the wrong tree. If I remember rightly one of the reasons he bought into the Arsenal franchise was the deal that was proposed for soccer on line! We are up there and passed that hurdle we are now into mega tv bucks. He hadn’t factored the level of tv money into his purchase. He is about to, notionally receive 100’s of millions of pounds to enhance his possession. Yes, he could cash in his chips or he can hang on and get another bigger deal when tv rights are renegotiated next time! Or just give our club away to his son! Traditionally that’s what happened to the Arsenal the board was filled by dead men’s shoes! I give you the Hill Woods and the Bracewell Smiths, incumbents by birth since the 1930’s. Now we have inherited the Kronke’s! Deep, deep joy!

  26. allezkev says:

    Yeah Lee, I know what you mean about not being confident about anything concerning Arsenal atm, but just when you think that Wenger has blown it, he somehow pulls a rabbit out of his hat, a red hat no doubt..

    I mean, it wouldn’t surprise me, (although I know it would surprise you, Mr Volcano and most on here) if after all the shit football and angst ridden results, if Arsenal didn’t go up to City and flippin win…

  27. malaga gooner says:

    wavy your probably right regarding Kroenke selling his shares.
    But my main beef is with Wenger and his power. We will see whats really going on when he finally goes.

  28. rico says:

    Mg, but then Lord Harris said the same last summer, we could afford any player baring Messi and Ronaldo I think he said….

  29. Wavy says:

    Good news about Bentner. Always one of Wenger’s favourites! I think we can expect the former world’s best striker back with us this summer, especially as he will cost next to nothing. Always assuming the old incumbent stays in situ!

    Kev I love your optimism! Win at City. Yep, I get that but you haven’t factored in the defeat against Norwich!?

  30. Wavy says:

    Ramsey needs to shave the bum fluff from his face. He’s not player well since he grew it! It has obviously raised his centre of balance and he can’t cope with the added weight!

  31. rico says:

    And Giroud, although I’m not convinced shaving his beard off would make a lot of difference. Poor soul is low in confidence….

  32. allezkev says:

    Ray Parlours book sounds entertaining….
    10 pints of Guiness, followed by a vindaloo no doubt…

    Sounds like your average Thursday night with the HHCC…

  33. Rick says:

    Evening All.
    Kev it looks like things are changing at the academy.

    De Kat the U18’s coach is leaving at the end of the season, the last game is sat against the spuds.
    I am hoping Gatting and Larriman will follow him.
    Is it possible that Arteta could be a replacement.
    I have seen your comments on Nketa and will responed latta

  34. andrewh1313 says:

    Kev, heard Ray Parlour talking about it on Talksport this morning, it should be fun! George Graham used to send out Stewart Houston spying on the Tuesday Night Drinking club to check up where they were. They saw him looking in a bar window and invited him in. He joined in the drinking!

  35. Joaquim Moreira says:

    I didn’t watched Sunderland.
    I read the reports and was awfull. The usually.
    I record it. Maybe I watch it tomorrow.
    Why OX will be transfer?

  36. Micko says:

    Kel, that could well go down as the best result of our season and Arsene didn’t get a look in lol , coincedence or what !

    As for yesterday’s game I would go as far to say that, that was Jack’s best game for us all season imo but maybe I’m a little bit biased !!!

  37. malaga gooner says:

    the scum bottled it

    57 years and counting

    what ever happens to us as long as they didnt win it i dont care

  38. Micko says:

    Malaga, probably the best result of our season and Arsene didn’t get a look in, coincidence or what lol.

    As for yesterday’s game, I would go as far to say that was Jack’s best game for us all season imo, I don’t care if people say I’m bias.

    Yiddo’s, Yiddo’s, the last time they won the league man still hadn’t walked on the moon, the wait continues as you say buddy.

  39. Micko says:

    It’s been a funny ole season for us, the thought of the scum winning the league has been very sickening for quite a few months now but after tonite’s result I’m not feeling so nauseous, maybe football isn’t broken afterall.

    Nite Gooners.

  40. Wavy says:

    Just watching the spuds not winning a vital must win game, hahahahahahaha, and having seen Erikson (sp) lobbing in balls for their unnaturally unfitted strikers to miss the only few opportunities on goal, I was reminded of Hershey’s Adventures of TinTin! Doesn’t the Dane remind you of the hero, Tin Tin? I don’t think that’s meant to be a compliment! He really is quite odd looking. Looking around I couldn’t see Snowy!

    I should like to take this rather belated opportunity to say, hard luck Totteringham Hotsports, you have failed again!………I hope! Let’s see if how you do next year. One year wonders or Levy,s losers? The latter I suspect!

  41. allezkev says:

    Hi Rick…
    Yeah, I’ve just seen that about De Kat.
    Kwame Apadu could step into his shoes?

    Arteta working in our Academy would be excellent.
    Of course we already have Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg working with the U15’s so I wonder if either of them could be encouraged to move up to the U18’s..?

    Larriman and Gatting, I know very little about other than what I read on Jeorge Bird…
    Being in the 2nd tier of the U21’s on their watch, isn’t exactly a glowing endorsement is it mate?

  42. allezkev says:

    Andrew, did you ever read the Perry Groves book, it is a right scream…
    So I’ll probably get Razors…

    I tend to steer clear of football autobiographies these days, as they’re all a bit samey and dull.
    Bergkamps is good if you get the chance.

  43. rico says:

    Just what you need from your central midfielder… Wonder what’s happened to him, he was so good a couple of seasons ago….

    Morning you two and all…

  44. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Just read that the spuddies choked yesterday. Could not be bothered to watch them, and could not be bothered to check their results this morning. I am mighty furious though…..totteringham day will not happen this season. And that is horrid.

    Chin up though. Grin and bear it. I just wish this season will end quickly.

  45. Hell Raising Devil says:

    ahhh yes Rico. they might have more to laugh at us. We just ask any spuddie who laughs at us if he can recollect his team lifting the top flight title. They might have to ask their great grandfather though.

    nuff said

  46. potter says:

    Don’t know really it could still happen , a long shot but if we win out ,they have Chelsea away and Newcastle last game. Goal difference could come home to roost though.

  47. potter says:

    OI ! I can remember it , a friend went into their shop on Tottenham High Road and asked for a colour photo of their last league winning team. He just got blank looks as they didn’t understand . Bless em !.

  48. Kel says:

    A little karma dished out last night.. when spurs kept lowballing West Brom for berahino no doubt they were deliberately unsettling him to force the move.

    So I’m sure the WBA fans are taking great pleasure in that result last night.. 🙂

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