This is my first time of writing a post, so please bear with me……
The press have hounded Arsene Wenger from the day he became manager back in 1996 and probably will do until he leaves Arsenal.
Things weren’t so bad when he first arrived as Arsenal and more importantly Arsene Wenger, proved all the “experts” wrong by proving his methods and style worked and by 2005, Arsenal had won 3 EPL titles, and 4 FA Cups. Two of those title winning seasons where Doubles, 1997-1998 and 2001-2002.
We also got to the final of the UFEA Cup in 2000 which we lost on penalties to Galatasaray, and to our only CL final in 2006 which we lost after conceding two goals in the final 13 minutes of the game. That 2-1 loss was to a team that went on to win two more CL titles and between 2007 and 2012 were one of the best teams in the world. Some would even say one of the best teams ever. Lets not forget that Arsenal went into that famous game in Paris on the back of ten successive clean sheets in the competition, a record which stands to this day and that feat was achieved with Philippe Senderos starting every game from the second round onwards and Flamini covering at left back!
Until 2006, Arsenal and Arsene Wenger were bang on the money. Not only did they win a lot of trophies but records tumbled like the one mentioned above. Another was the famous Invincibles of 2003-2004. Not only did we win the league, but we won it at White Hart Lane and by going an entire season unbeaten, something that hadn’t been achieved in the English game since Preston North End had done it in the 1880’s when the league season consisted of 22 games.
Arsenal went the whole season consisting of 38 games unbeaten and not only that but they then went on to sweep past Nottingham Forest record of 42 games unbeaten and managed 49 until we went to Old Trafford and were robbed. That record, which to this day and probably for a very very long time will not be beaten. At least the ref at Old Trafford got a bit of fame eh!
As said, Arsene had quite the start to life in North London not only did he win trophies, not only did he smash records but he did something beyond that, he changed the face of English football forever. He did things back then which other managers at the time hadn’t even dreamed of doing. He created teams which played with style.
I don’t think there was a title or a cup (the only exception being the 2005 FA Cup final, but lets not remember how we won, lets just think we beat those scam bags) which Arsenal won that anyone could say they didn’t deserve to win. They won with pure class and style.
Arsene also brought to North London a new scientific approach to training. The days of alcohol after the matches were gone and in came diet plans and stretching during long journeys. He helped prolong careers of the old guard, we saw training methods that had never been seen on these shores before. Arsene revolutionised the English game, something which Sir Alex never did.
Arsene brought foreign, mainly French players into the league and for the first time in English football history, combined the flair of the foreign players with the fighting spirit of the English players and successfully integrated a continental style of football. We won the double in his first full season in charge and won it in style.
English football had been changed forever and other clubs were quick to copy Arsene and Arsenal’s new and what must be said better system, but no matter who the other teams brought no one could argue that between the years of 1997 and 2006 Arsenal were by far the best team to watch and best technical side in the country. Some might argue in the world and all that quality and technical superiority really showed in the Invincible season of 2003-2004.
Yes we suffered disappointments in Europe and the domestic cup but over 38 games in the league we were head and shoulders above the rest. All of our stars seemed to peak together and the Wenger masterpiece of fluid attacking football was at its very best. Not even the most ardent of Arsenal haters could deny that.
It’s no surprise that team of 2003/04 were voted the best EPL team in the first 20 years. So not a Sir Alex team, but a guy who when he first arrived was greeted with headlines such as “Arsene Who” and who in recent times has been called out by his own supporters and been told “You don’t know what your doing” yes that guy.
He was the one shining light in English football and he was the one that changed it for the better. Gone were the days of two teams scrapping it out on a mud patch on a Saturday afternoon with long balls and kung fu kick defending. In were the days of swift counter attacking, clever defending, quick pressing and sublime football and at the very fore front of it all optimising the Wenger philosophy were arguably two of the best foreign imports in the history of English football, Dennis Bergkamp and Theirry Henry. One with an unbelievable touch and vision, the other with an equally great eye for goal.
So why then has Arsene been criticised so much by the same people who say they love the beautiful game? You could argue that Wenger is a type of Einstein for football, he took something and advanced it into something far better, why is this guy hated by the press?
My guess comes to one thing and its that he’s French!
Look at Alex (I’m giving up the Sir because truly the ref’s that helped him win so many trophies should adopt the Sir and not some cheat) he’s British and they love him. Very rarely have I seen a bad article about him but Arsene on the other hand even when we win we are slated.
I remember recently after the Liverpool game an “expert” writing for the Telegraph said Arsenal played poor and were helped because Liverpool played worse. I mean come on, you have beaten your closest rivals up to that point for the top spot and had beaten them comfortably, even the opposing manager came out and said the better team won and that Arsenal were far better all over the pitch, but an “expert” sees it differently!
Then comes our “lucky” win against Dortmund. When has being solid at the back been luck?
Chelsea won the CL a couple of seasons ago playing every game like that but not once were they declared lucky by the press. Instead we were all told they were “solid” and “hard to beat” and “played to their strengths” but the moment Arsenal do it, you know a team who for the past eight years have been told by the same “experts” that we have a manager who thinks defending means a big mac and chips, does it against one of the best teams on the planet right now we are vilified for it and told Arsenal were lucky!
Since the Manure game though, this notion of a lucky win in Germany has grown which I can put up with but one thing I am struggling to put up with is the criticism of Ozil who many say had a stinker against Manure (which I agree he did) and had been playing badly for a while.
Lets look into this second claim. How many games is playing badly for a while?
Ozil in total has played 12 games and has scored 3 goals. Anyone who has watched Ozil throughout his career will tell you he has never been known for scoring goals so that return on goals is a welcome surprise. The one thing he was known for assists, well he hasn’t failed to deliver on that as he has 6 already. Also, five key passes and has contributed to 14 of Arsenal’s 23 goals which is the total number of goals scored in the games that Ozil has been part of and that means that he has contributed to 61% of Arsenal’s goals in those 12 games. Add to that, it only took him 11 minutes to get off the mark setting up Giroud against Sunderland and he played a blinder against Napoli and Norwich.
Ozil has only been with us for a couple of months so how can everyone be so quick to judge? Surely its going to take him time to adjust he is human after all. Imagine if any one of us had to move to a new country, where every little thing you do will be under the microscope and battle a huge price tag at the age 24/25, how would we cope? Yet he has come through and has helped Arsenal recover from a dreadful start to be top of the league by two points and top of the group of death in the CL and in the process has contributed to 61% of their goals, how can that be a bad thing?
As we all know, he did have an average game against Manure but we had players out through sickness, but as a team we were below par. There are strong claims Ozil was sick that night, claims which were compounded when the German national team advised he and Mertesacker should stay at home and miss the first of two friendlies due to sickness. That could provide an answer as to why he went missing in that game.
Although Ozil had a poor game along with the rest of our midfield, the press seemed to save the best headlines for our German. Such as the Independent giving us “David Moyes’ decision not to sign Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid justified by German’s invisible show at Old Trafford”, but at the same time they classed Rooney as “playing like two players” and the press heaped massive praise on a guy who did a lot of running around, sent in the cross for the goal that came off the ‘little boys’ shoulder and other than that, he didn’t really do much else. There weren’t many exquisite touches or mesmerising skill from him but more of a doggish battling performance so at least we know that he’s definitely got all those fine ingredients to make him a world beater eh. Moyes has decided that to truly bring a player on he needs to forget skill and technique but have a doggish battling spirit instead.
The fact remains that no matter what the press says and the “experts” say, since Arsene since became manager, Arsenal have performed miracles. He has always competed against clubs who have very very deep pockets and spend as much money as is needed to win.
Arsene has managed to battle with these clubs and has been consistent throughout his reign at Arsenal. Yes the last 8 years have been hard but we built a stadium and at the same time had to fight so many new financial super powers and the face of the game not only in England but in the world has been changed by Oligarchs who use football clubs like their new toys.
Arsene has fought through remarkably difficult circumstances and has worked hard to make Arsenal a force throughout Europe.
I know the last 8 years have been hard watching especially the last couple, but lets not let the press get the better of us and lets all get behind Arsene and more importantly Arsenal, because once again we could be on the verge of something special just as we were when Arsene first arrived in 1996.
COYG’s
Written by MO11
Very good read MO11.
Morning all btw
AW press conference, Wenger says we are “in the process” of extending Per Mertersacker’s contract. “He has 1 and a half years left – there is plenty of time.”
Its also good to read that contrary to the ragtops reports “Oxlade-Chamberlain has not had a setback. He is one month away from competition.
Morning all…
I enjoyed reading that Mo, thank you.
Not sure the press dislike him just because he’s French, but possibly more because he signed mainly French players when he first arrived as you point out.
At the same time, England were no better than they are today and of course he was an easy target and how many times did the pundits like to point out that we had no English players in our squad.
However, that has all changed now, we have many English/British players, most of whom play for England so those pundits/media are struggling to criticise him any more for that.
But, until will lift a trophy, we’ll never be taken seriously by the media/pundits etc.. They are just buffoons!!
Spot on by the way re Chelsea compared to us in Europe.
Ts, those 18 months will soon fly by, Merts contract needs to be signed and sealed be Dortmund or Munich come knocking..
Sagna is proof of that right now.
However, I believe that once AW signs on, Sagna will soon follow..
Mo, great read.
Terrific stuff.
Rico, i am retired after that one 🙂
Morning guys.
I will be quick….we bowled brilliantly and your lads batted poorly.
It happens.
Soton…bring it on!
This is an excellent post. Well done.
Hi Rico and Scott.
I am slightly worried about Schnerderlin and Wanyama targeting our creative players; both players would love to be playing for us and so they will be trying their best to show how good they coan be for us. Not forgetting Syg’s buddy Osvaldo of course…
Rico, the club is trying to save some money by waiting a bit longer to extend Per’s contract. 😛
Thanks guys and yeah probably true that maybe because he brought a lot of french players in that didnt help but he did that because the qaulity of football was shocking when he arrived I truely believe he brought English football out of the dark ages and gave them the real beutiful game and he is like Bill Shankley to me to a certain extent. Shankly didnt bring the most trophies to Liverpool but he did transform the club and when Paisley took over he reaped the rewards of that hard. I feel with Arsene it will be the same Arsene has worked hard to set a lot of things up at Arsenal and stuck by that you could argue that in terms of trophies that is what has held him back due to his commitment to develop the club on and off the field that is what cost us over the last 8 years but I also believe the if the landscape of football hadn’t been changed during those years by the influx of mega rich owners then we would have picked trophies up along the way.
Hi Scott – no way, you are due another 😉
I think so re the cricket, favours your boys for this test but anything can yet happen… I hope 😉
It is also funny how the media like to report that we are the first club to field a non-British first 11 but that is a BIG lie. The chavs did it under before us: Chelsea (v Southampton), December 26, 1999.
But will the so called experts spin the truth? 😡
we were*
Morning Rico and all.
The ‘press’ pundits are very average people who each have their own agendas. These are mainly concerned with ensuring their own positions and salaries. If you watch The Sunday Supplement you will notice that they are not very bright, have problems stringing a coherent argument together and can’t even agree amongst themselves. If you don’t like what they write or say, then don’t listen as taking them seriously merely oxygenates their relevance.
I see some of their criticisms as right and some wrong but let’s remember that they are preaching to the lowest IQ levels of today’s ‘society’. What they say is mostly tribal, puerile and downright dumb. Armchair managers, cerebral tacticians and the like are not in short supply and the Net has given them a never-ending stream of dubious information and a voice and this means that the quality of debate has suffered. We would do well not to grow a persecution complex. Our talking should be done on the field.
Hi Ts. Ha ha re Merts..
Tomorrow will be very tough.
Morning Adam.
Well said!
Morning Mo, I agree re the rich owners, but don’t we have one, make that two of our own?
If they could get on, we’d have as much, if not more money than most of those..
Difficult to put the Genie back in the bottle.
True about our owners but we all know that Arsenal spend only what they earn and pay their debt first instead of having a win at all cost. Like Manure Chavs you could add Real and Barca to that list and Shity and by that note all the new ‘big’ clubs that have come along in the last decade or so most of which have no real history and values unlike Arsenal
Couple of trophies might do the trick Adam.
Mo, but if that is their choice, then they can’t moan about other clubs, and to be honest, I don’t think we fans can either.
I don’t like it any more than the next fan but ‘football’ has allowed the rich owners in the door so we just have to accept it.
If FFP works, then changes are on their way, however…..
Very good article MO. For the very first you have done pretty well.
you just failed to include one phrase…..the famous……SOUR GRAPES from the side of the press and journos. The best thing is to ignore them.
Good Morning Lady, Sir, Gentlemen and Ladies.
Only one more day and EPL will commence again.
I have a feeling that our game will be a high scoring one…something like 3-2 or 4-3.
Good read, Mo. That was enjoyable. I tend to ignore the press; most of them are brazenly anti-Arsenal. Sometimes, I put matches on mute because commentators are painful to listen to.
Hello, all! 🙂
Morning devil…
Southampton don’t score goals, they don’t concede many either 😉
Off out with Fido now, back in a couple of hours….
As debuts go, I have to say that that was very impressive MO11…
Interesting post, and on my favourite subject, the Press/Media…
There was a time, not so long ago, when the Journos drove the agenda.
We would read our papers, listen to the TV/radio and be influenced by these wankers.
But not anymore!
I get all my Arsenal info/opinion on-line…
Journalists are being increasingly marginalized…
Nobody really cares what those fools say anymore!
They are more likely to be derided for their biased, uneducated, even ignorant opinions…
And to such a degree that far from leading the agenda, they now follow it.
It’s hilarious to read Arsenal opinion, on Arsenal blogs, and then 2 or 3 days later you find some idiot journo repeating those same opinions, as if they thought it up.
Losers, the lot of them!
Morning All btw…
Morning Rico…
Am glad that they are still analysts who see things the way you do.Good post.
Cheers all for the comments but really you should thank rico for giving me the chance and for helping to put the whole thing together awell.
And totally agree with you brainwashedkev I hardly read the papers only when im at work and bored will i have a quick look and its just makes me angry that there are people out there that believe this shit not only with sport but with all news some of the things they try and get people to believe are so stupid but the majority of people have lost their ability to question and seemed so sucked in that if the media told them that pigs fly and hope some professor from oxford uni to say the same they would nod like churchill dogs in agreement
morning all!
good post
Well as first post, congratulations. However, as you recongise the genius that is Arsene Wenger, as i also do, you can not dismiss SIR Alex as you have done without the article coming across as incredibly biased. Arsene has done incredible things with Arsenal and done it in impressive style. He is fallable though, and this has been highlighted often. A good defence, the basis of all successful champions, including your double winning teams, has been woefully neglected. Its no coincedence that you are now challenging, no just because of Ozil, but because you now look more organised and solid… Flamini returning was a stroke of genius.
Furthermore, my memory of footy, certainly at the prem level, was not of muddy pitches in the 90s at all. He was a trailblazer in many regards and teams have followed suit and that is a legacy that will remain. But by saying SIR Alex didnt revolutionise English football s just wrong. United are who they are because of SIR Alex, much like Arsenal are who they are through Arsene, and as much like Chelsea were (and will become again) Jose-esque.
For future articles, try and be a little less bitter sounding and focus on what it is your refuting. There was little need to bring in SIR Alex and your attempts to do so appear childish, which takes away from your otherwise well written article.
Its good to see the LEGEND himself training with the current crop.
Well as debut Posts go, MO11, that is very impressive, and clearly you have put a lot of thought and effort into it. Excellent, thank you.
You make some interesting points and undoubtedly AW has not had the easiest of times as far as the Media are concerned.
However, there is a paradox in the relationship the Press enjoy with him, in as much as the journalists, on a personal level, all declare how much they like and appreciate him for his intellect and honesty — as well as always being available with a quote when interviewed which in turn makes good copy for them in producing their articles, without the threat of being banned, as so many of them were by the Red Nosed fellow.
The newspaper headlines are written by the Editors and often have little to do with the article itself, and lets face it that is as much as some people can be bothered to read.
He was also subjected to some xenophobic behaviour by fans of other clubs, and disgracefully referred to as a paedophile by some of the ‘classier’ Manure fans who still do.
Apologies are due at this stage for my lengthy reply,but your detailed Post made me stop and think about what AW has had to put up with over the years. 🙂
Hi Rico.
The Legend is home….
Coach, are you watching?!!!
Afternoon. Brrrr, cold out!
goose514.
The author has the right to express what he likes on here thank you! Just because you don’t like it… Tough.
Morning Hb & Kev by the way 😉
Alex Ferguson revolutionised tapping up, influencing and bending referee’s to his advantage….
So yes, he has brought something to the English game…
It’s notable, that in Europe, where Ferguson did not enjoy such influence on match officials, that his record is quite ordinary….
Afternoon Rico, btw, 😉
Afternoon Kev, spot on, yet some think the man is a marvel….
Interesting little rant from Mourinho today. Will have to read the comments in full.
He doesn’t like the Riley apology to WBA does he potter…
Funny how we never get anything like that from Riley and his not so squeaky clean men in black…
Ramirez is a cheating Brazillians diver…
Riley’s apology highlights what a stinking cheat Ramirez is!!!
That’s why Mourinho, (the poison dwarf) is angry…
I think it’s funny Kev, but Mourinho has a point, does this set a precedence?
Is it really good for the referees or the game?
imho, the referee should have said he got it wrong and finish the issue there.
Nipping off again, Fido needs to have her toe nails clipped. Just hope the Friday night traffic isn’t too heavy 🙁
Got to walk her on concrete, saves vet bills and keeps her claws trim.
It was her two Dewclaws Potter, the rest are all trim 🙂
Hmm, there’s a Peroni with my name on it… 😀
Offski All and cheers… 😛
Have one for me Kev, Night and have a lovely evening…
Seems all quiet here so I’m off too…
Night all….
Just got to read your first post MO11 and i must say for your first it was very well worked out, I can see you hold Arsene Wenger in high esteem and if i speak the truth i agree with almost all of your post. When you said that he has helped pioneer major changes in the English game your right but in my humble opinion he has also helped pioneer the downfall of English football. If you are an out and out Arsenal supporter what he has done is pretty spectacular, but if like me you are a lifetime supporter in not only Arsenal but English football in general he has not been so good . Arsene Wenger was the first Premier league Manager to field a team without one English Player, that for an English club is sacrilege in my eyes. I agree with many things he has done but as an Englishman that should never happen. Many believe that England is an open door to the rest of the world anybody and everybody can come here and do as they please. I for one am not against the odd foreigner but to field a whole team without one Englishman should never be allowed. The rules need to be changed and it should be made clear that a small percentage of foreign players and that should be less than 50% . Arsenal Football club is in England’s capital and should be helping English players in there career’s Grass roots football should be encouraged not passed over. England.s football team suffer’s and that should not happen, Arsenal football club should be promoting England and English footballers after allif you want to watch foreign teams there are plenty in foreign leagues.
Hi Sp.
I’m not sure Arsene Wenger can be held accountable for taking advantage of a Government ruling. Overseas people are allowed to come into this country to work/live etc, so why not sign players from overseas?
If English players weren’t so over-hyped and their prices so overly inflated, then I doubt AW would have looked abroad.
Evening Rico, Not many English players being brought in England for 42 million
Carroll wasn’t far off Sp, Rooney would be very close to that amount too..
But I’m talking about back in the day when AW signed French players – they were possibly half the price of what the respective British player would have cost…
English players are as cheap as chips now Rico why have we not brought them in on a free
Who Sp? Who is English, cheap as chips and good enough for Arsenal?
Had you ever heard of Sanogo or even the Italian goalkeeper, plenty of English footballers in the lower leagues who would jump at the chance to play for Arsenal, cheaper than many of the wages were paying out.and probab ly get a full season out of them
No Sp, I hadn’t but one is only on loan. The other, Sanogo, I don’t agree with the signing but that’s not because he’s French, but because he’s a history of being injured…
But, you are suggesting AW has ruined England because of AW signing overseas players – surely that is utterly unfair….
Right now we have more English players than most other top clubs around us…
Ref the lower league players, who do you know of that could play at the level expected?
We paid out about 15 mill for bfg when we could have brought Cahill for ten thats one Joey Barton could have been one for a bit of bite instead of Flamoney quite a few players but who are looking down the league’s, no bugger
Sp, AW can’t sign players if they don’t want to join us and Cahill clearly wanted to go to Chelsea. He had the choice.
Barton? The man is a thug, do you seriously want him playing for Arsenal?
You’ll be suggesting Shawcross next…
We’ll just have to agree to differ….
Anyway, I’m definitely off now..
Night Sp
why not Shawcross because he broke a leg., Thats the kind of player we do need someone that does tackle.
Nte all.
SP , just on this occasion are you on a wind up ? Shawcross , Barton < Cahill ? and Ramsey was Shawcross's third broken leg coupled with a few Achilles tendons .
sp, mertesacker cost around 7-8m
Sp, Shawcross??? Yo seriously have to be kidding?
Anyway, just popped on to say Morning to all. Out first thing so the post will be up around 10 am, should be back by then…
Morning guys.
Game day…..thank bloody god haha
Morning Scott..
New Post up now,….
Morning All…
Looking forward to the game today…
I remember the landlady of the Bank of Friendship telling me about the time when the allegations were made about Arsene Wenger being a paedophile. She was passing the front of Highbury where she said Arsene was lecturing them and informing them that he would sue anyone who repeated the allegations. He treated them with the contempt they so richly deserved and they have never forgiven him.
By the way does anyone know whatever happened to Caesar the Geezer who broadcast the initial allegation?