Arsene Wenger: The future is not so important! The short-term is what matters…

Morning all.

We face West Ham tomorrow evening, Arsene Wenger has given his press conference this morning and one comment stood out for me.

From Sky Sports:

Ivan Gazidis, Arsenal chief executive, spoke at a fans forum before the Manchester City game on Sunday, and said that this season “needs to be a catalyst for change”, here’s Wenger’s take…

“It’s difficult to debate about things which are not so important.

“What’s important is good football players and good football and to defend the colours of the club.

“The board is responsible for the decisions which engage the future.

“There is a sense it. What is important a good football team on the pitch playing good football. The rest is just literature. What is important is playing with the right spirit, the right attitude.”

Well, I think discussing the future of Arsenal FC is important, especially where he is concerned as we the fans want to know if he’s buying into the changes which Ivan Gazidis has assured us will take place but I guess that’s why he wouldn’t comment, because no decision has been made over his future.

There’s talk of a backroom clear out, something which perhaps should have happened a while ago. Not so much Bould but certainly the other coaches who like Wenger, are stale with their ideas, either that of any ideas they might have clearly aren’t being heard. Arsenal need someone like Bould to keep the old Arsenal alive today and if it’s not him, then someone like Keown, Campbell or even Adams perhaps and let’s be honest, there are a number of ex Arsenal players who’d no doubt jump at the chance to be back at the club they grew up loving as a fan as much a player.

Again Wenger was pressed for a decision on his future, again he simply replied we’d all know soon and right now, he’s preparing for the short-term and that is trying to get into the top four.

“It’s a good challenge but I think it’s certainly possible.

“For 20 years I have done it and it looked nothing. Suddenly now it’s important and people realise it is not as easy as it looked.

“Guardiola said to achieve top four is a trophy.

“We have many games in April, we need everybody on board. We need the support of our fans in games. We play as well in the semi-final of the FA Cup, it’s all to go for. It’s a good opportunity to show we are united.

“We are fighting to have a positive end of season. That’s why you want the fans to stand behind the team. Let’s finish as strong as we can. Let’s show our mental resilience.”

Funny, the other day when Guardiola commented on Arsenal, Arsene dismissed his comments albeit saying the comment was nice, today though he’s using the Spaniard’s comments on getting into the top four to support his achievements in the league.

He’s a wily old fox isn’t he…..

 

55 thoughts on “Arsene Wenger: The future is not so important! The short-term is what matters…

  1. allezkev says:

    What a load of old waffle from Wenger.
    He basically has nothing to say.

    Morning All

    Morning Rico

  2. Wavy says:

    Morning both.

    Fair to say that if Wenger stays Alexis goes. If Wenger goes Ozil goes.
    Or, all three go into the sunset together, this summer.
    Gazidis will be the new manager and Keown and Smudger will turn down the role of coach. The Board will employ Billy Twelvetrees because they like the cut of his jib and that he knows absolutely nothing about football, but has an interesting name!
    I’m writing as much tosh here as Wenger gurgles from his gob!
    Just saying……we’re in a right Royal mess, mostly of Wenger’s making with the help from the inertia of the BoDs.

    Miserable here.

  3. allezkev says:

    Interesting to read the studied and considered comments from Gael Clichy;

    ‘Be careful what you wish for’, regarding the fans’ recent antipathy to Wenger.

    Well Gael you didn’t wait around long did you ami?
    Soon had it on your toes to trophy laden City, you plank.
    Why was that Gael?

    Tosser…

  4. Kel says:

    Wenger as his top 4 ehh… so arsene basically the first 5 yrs of your management it was two team league fs us and utd then came Chelsea.. for a few yrs and then city.

    so finishing top 4 from a position of being no.1 or 2 it no big achieved imo.. now a days yes I’d say it is considering Liverpool and spurs are now in the mix which makes it a top 6..

    An considering Arsenals wage bill is more than Liverpool and 60m more than spurs.. then its fair to say you’re underachieving.

    Good post Rico.

  5. Adam says:

    According to dicks like Clichy we must be careful what we wish for. We wish for trophies and to be challenging every year for the big prizes. Should we be careful about that then?

  6. frednerk says:

    Afternoon Rico and All

    Amazing all the Frogs sticking together..Unusual for them.

    The backroom clear out has been going on for a while..I think

    Are any of you changing now..Arsexit

    He must be going surely…
    What has he got to gain by buttoning up
    That game with Sh*ty was like a friendly/Testimonial

    We look like a team hanging over a cliff,
    while waiting for Arsene to find his mobile.

  7. Obi says:

    Hi All:

    Am beginning to think Ivan is even worst than AW based on his comments yesterday. If he had the power to make those changes why didn’t he make them before? The problem didn’t begin this season. It’s all about personal preservation with him. Everything about Arsenal is a spin. Nothing will change with Ivan and Wenger around. Where has Ivan demonstrated any leadership qualities or made any changes? Give me a break!!! AW will stifle any changes as long as he’s around and we all know it. What a charade?

  8. rico says:

    A great comment on LG imo – aimed at someone who blamed Kroenke for all Arsenal’s troubles:

    It amazes me how you turn everything back to Kroenke. Is Koenke a terrible owner? Of course. But that doesn’t end the discussion.

    The bad owner still gave the manager a truckload of money to spend last summer.The bad owner doesn’t go to Colney during the week and bar the manager from preparing the players with a game plan.

    The bad owner doesn’t go to the manager’s office and make him pick the same players week after week despite performance and injury concerns.

    The bad owner doesn’t go to the technical area on game days and keep the manager from watching the game and tactically reacting to what is going on.

    The bad owner doesn’t go to the technical area and keep the manager from making a substitution before the 70th minute.

    The bad owner doesn’t tell the manager he can’t pay a star player more than the manager makes.I could continue this list indefinitely.

    A half-decent manager would have won the league last season, even within the parameters of the bad owner.

    A half-decent manager would have bought better last summer (and the summer before, and the summer before, and the summer before. …) with the funds allowed.

    A half-decent manager wouldn’t have the team quitting on him and out of a CL place on April 4, with an embarrassing record against top opponents.In August, you said I was insane because I said Arsenal would be better in the short- and long-term if Wenger was sacked that day. This season showed I was right.

    Give it up. Yes, Kroenke is a nightmare. But so is Wenger. Equally. And as much as Kroenke is terrible, even within his terribleness, a half-decent manager would have achieved so much more in the last 8 years or so than Wenger did.

  9. rico says:

    Afternoon Fred. I’m beginning to think he’s going because surely if he’s staying, what’s he got to lose?

    The fans have already turned and it’s only going to get worse…

  10. frednerk says:

    All this Stanley is to blame because of this and that.
    may as well be a million miles away from what needs
    to happen.
    When you hear fans going on about him -The Syrup-
    you wonder if they are Arsenal supporters,and in touch
    with our matches.
    Even at this late stage of the blame game,
    its for all to see……Arsene looks on his knees.

  11. Adam says:

    Thing is with Stan that, if he did sell, the next bloke could be a lot worse. If Wenger does go, I imagine a lot of things within the club will change.

  12. frednerk says:

    Our problem Adam is the amount of money
    in the game now.The rich just want to get richer.
    We need real football people to get involved in
    running the club.
    We can only hope that after the last 20 years of
    The….One Man Army Show……
    The Syrup has learned something and gets rid
    Chippy and Shagpile.

  13. Le Coq Monster says:

    Afternoon all and thanks Rico.

    No disrespect Fred, but to say anyone who just blames Stan may not be an Arsenal supporter is tosh !…………………as far as I can see most Kroenke haters (and I`m one of them and I do support Arsenal ) are Wenger outers aswell .
    I want Wenger out first, but the long game is for Kroenke to leave and yes we may not get a better owner, then we will start a new campaign of …Joe Bloggs Out !……………All the Kroenke haters want a Chav or Mansour City stylke owner…..well at least I do…..I think Usmanov fits the bill !.
    I think it`s open for discussion whether the big rich club owners have won all the titles since we last one it ( please , no Leicester anomaly) or the big rich club managers ?……………………as much as Kroenke has let Arsene spend badly, he hasn`t spent nearly as much as the big clubs have over the years and although not a fact, I wont sway from my belief that all the titles have been bought by the bigger spending club owners……………Kroenke is a little pussy compared to them and unlike them has never and probably will never spend any of his own money !

  14. rico says:

    To be fair Lc, I think Fred is referring to the fans who 100% blame Kroenke and can see no wrong in Wenger… There’s a difference isn’t there?

  15. Le Coq Monster says:

    Fair enough Rico, but all the Kroenke Outers I know are Wenger Outers as well and they all love Arsenal and most Wenger Outers know Kroenke is not the ideal owner !.

    Here`s another way of putting it…….how many trophies does anyone think Chavs and Man City would have won since Arsenal last won the title without the current owners, but with the same managers ?………………………………you know I`m right ! 😀

  16. rico says:

    My only problem with him is he’s not hands on enough, if he was, he’d have sacked Wenger ages ago.

    But as far as the spending of money goes, I’m not convinced Wenger has ever been denied money, he’s just chosen not to spend it. And what he does spend, his decisions are sometimes quite odd.

  17. Le Coq Monster says:

    I`ve got a magic lamp here Rico and about to rub it !………………………first two wishes will be Wenger Out and Kroenke Out !………………………….knowing my luck they will both come out the closet and marry eacdh other !…………………………..will have to be carefull with the last wish ! 🙂

  18. Le Coq Monster says:

    An owner like Abramovitch would have done exactly that……which makes my point about Kroenke !…………….crap owner !

  19. frednerk says:

    Hi Coq
    I’m with you regarding get rid of the lot But.
    How are we goner get The Syrup out then.
    He don’t give a monkey’s what us lot think.
    Most who go for the Syrup out first can’t be going to many games,
    Arsene picks,coaches and spends from what I can see
    Billionaires just go and float on the sea,
    when the tide gets rough.
    He could shut the place down and it wouldn’t
    leave a dent in his/hers bank accounts.

    I’m afraid Coq we are stuck with the Yanks.

  20. Le Coq Monster says:

    Agree, Fred, dont see Kroenke going anytime soon and have no idea how to get rid of said bastard, other than we drop down a few divisions !………………as I said, most Kroenke outers I know are Wenger outers as well !……….actually, skip the “most” bit, I dont know any Kroenke outers who are pro Wenger !………………………………..and to tell the truth I dont know why I`m even having this conversation as think probably all of us on here want both gone !………………………lets just get rid of both, starting with Wenger !………there sorted and hope we`re OK ! 🙂

    Long time to answer back but I have been on a gruelling run with my local running club, much better with the nights getting lighter though…….and warmer !

  21. Le Coq Monster says:

    Is Scott`s absence due to his planning to assassinate Kroenke ?……………………..if so, carry on !.
    🙂

  22. Le Coq Monster says:

    Herb……saw you comment on AA………………..waste of time mate, they love Arsene !…………..although I know quite a few would like him gone, but are too scared to voice their opinion in case they rock the boat !
    🙂

  23. gnarleygeorge9 says:

    kev

    England not game enough to take on ‘my’ All Blacks, so I see they’ve decided to include Scotland, Wales & Ireland for the tour 🙂

  24. allezkev says:

    Given that West Ham’s major threat is gonna come from Andy Carroll, logic would suggest that Mertesaker comes back into the team, but didn’t he play in the 3-3 last season?

    I can see more dropped points later today.

    Wengers comments were laughable and for sure aimed at Gazides…

  25. rico says:

    Morning all.

    Merts didn’t play in the 3-3 Kev, I only know that because Goonster was ranting on about him not being in the side at the time… lol

    So AW says it’s good that the fans who protest against him, can waste their day……. Pff!

  26. Joseph says:

    This man is unbelieveable, us fans are going to make a stance. So people protesting are wasting there time. Fans who are going tonight have to boycott until 13 minutes it to let this fool know we are not going away.

  27. Le Coq Monster says:

    Maybe some of you are right about the dementia thing with Arsene as he didn`t know who his Captain was in the 2nd half !………………………………………… blazing brightness here and the cherry tres in blossom look amazing…………….morning

  28. Le Coq Monster says:

    Joseph, I can think of 8 million reasons why the protests dont bother him !…………………infact, give me a tenner (£10) and you can abuse me all you like !……………………….and if you`re a fit looking woman …..dont bother with the tenner ! 😆

  29. Le Coq Monster says:

    Still in dont care mood !…….I only care about FA Cup and Spuds not winning the league, anything else is dead to me !………………………I dont even care if they put up a Sanogo statue !

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