Morning all.
The Metro are stirring the pot over Hector Bellerin and suggest he’s ready to return to Barcelona.
SER Catalunya radio show La Graderia claims that the 22-year-old met with Barca’s sporting director Robert Fernandez in London before the international break.
And in that meeting, Bellerin informed Fernandez that he is ready to end his six-year stint at Arsenal in order to return to Spain.
It was only a matter of time I guess.
‘I want to stay in the city and the team, but in a team that wins, that has a winning mentality.
‘I am 28, I still have a lot in front of me. I am a player who looks after himself a lot.’
‘I want to stay in the city and the team, but in a team that wins, that has a winning mentality.
‘I am 28, I still have a lot in front of me. I am a player who looks after himself a lot.’
Of course, that’s Alexis Sanchez talking to Chilean website Publimetro. A quote which can be interpreted any which way one chooses but I totally get what he means when saying he wants to be part of a team which has a winning mentality and Arsenal simply aren’t one of those.
Long gone are the days when we’d often win a match in the tunnel prior to kick off, let alone on the pitch. This current team is toothless, spineless and quite frankly, fragile. Weak in possession, out of ideas and can’t defend for toffee and no matter how we dress it up, this team is a mirror image of the man who leads it. Arsene Wenger is out of ideas, he doesn’t like strong characters unlike when he first arrived, he doesn’t seem to like players with an edge to their game and those who have arrived at the club with a bit of fire in their belly, have been watered down. Alexis apart, whose clearly refused to buy into the ‘lets be nice’ mode, we really have a bunch soft centred men and that’s just how Wenger seems to like it.
Chelsea are allegedly hovering, waiting to see what happens in the summer because if Real Madrid snare Eden Hazard, they’ll come after the Chilean. Or that’s what the media want us to believe. There’s absolutely no way should the club even consider taking Roman’s money because top clubs to not sell their best players to an immediate rival, especially not one based in London. And lets face it, Alexis Sanchez is our best player and by a country mile. Selling RvP to Man Utd was bad enough, selling Sanchez to Chelsea would be even worse, especially as we don’t need to. If Arsenal don’t need the Champions League money which Wenger has recently alluded to, we don’t need to sell our better players either. If the Chilean is adamant over not signing a new contract with Arsenal, then I guess the club will have little choice but to sell him although they can dictate where he goes to a degree and that simply has to be abroad.
Losing six of our last nine matches hardly represents a winning mentality and that’s just pointing out the here and now, in fact we are the opposite as this team have adopted a losing mentality. Go a goal behind and the heads drop as if to accept defeat and at the same time, if you look over to the Arsenal dugout, you’ll invariably see Wenger sat with his head down too, while Steve Bould has a look on his face which could kill. Yet he can do nothing, on or off the pitch as it’s Wenger’s way or the highway. But it’s the Frenchman who needs to get in his car and drive on that very long highway. Drive so far away from London, he can’t find his way back because for Arsenal under his management, there is no way back.
The team are stuck in a rut, one which Wenger lead them to slowly but surely and only a new face, new ideas, new coaches and a few new players can get them out of it.
Maybe then a winning mentality will return and players like Alexis Sanchez wouldn’t even think about leaving, let alone doing so….
However, if reports in the news this morning are true, win against Man City on Sunday and Wenger will announce he’s staying.
https://twitter.com/NoNewContract/status/846979259080081409
Don’t let him……
Rico. All these decisions and crises will only compound themselves now that the tide has truly turned against Arsene. The players and the fans know what to expect from him and he looks way too set in his ways to be able to change in anything other than a superficial way now.
Change can bring in the new and the next manager won’t have Wenger’s history with the players or the fans so new possibilities always have the chance of new hope. The fans at the game could be a valuable weapon but they have been ignored and exploited for a long time. The bloke near me, who still supports Wenger reckons that the defeat to BM was unlucky. I kid you not.
The Bellerin thing is probably a Barca-planted story but in my opinion he has fallen way off his game so perhaps a move back to Catalunya would be best for him. Under a new manger though who knows? It might all go horribly wrong but there’s ambition for you.
If you don’t roll the dice…..
Agreed Adam. Our club is a sleeping giant right now, I’m convinced a new man would soon whip many of our players into shape.
Bellerin has definitely declined, but then so have many others and it’s quite clear to me why.
I’m amazed re the bloke sitting next to you. What planet is he on? Probably the same one as Wenger…
It is strange Rico. He’s obviously a sharp, succesful man but, when I asked him to make the case for Wenger staying he just kept on about teams playing against us who come for a draw and defend. When I told him that I found that a less than persuasive argument he just shrugged.
I would love to know how the board anticipate the next two years of Wenger’s contract will pan out and what, if anything, new he is capable of bringing to the club. Personally I can’t see much changing, so I really can’t see a case for renewing our season tickets and I know I am not alone in that.
Morning all.
Yes, Arsene must go etc etc etc
Let’s stop blaming him for the lack of effort and piss poor performances of players, guys.
Coaching has little do with the errors some these very, very well paid players are making, nor the laziness.
Not that Arsene would do it, but how many would complain if he sat a heap of these guys on the bench and played some kids who want to impress?
For example, this young guy few have heard of and even less have seen- Lucas Perez 🙂
In all seriousness. I’ll never buy into this theory that pathetic efforts from players is the managers fault.
Below par Performances, yes, but a lack of effort, not for mine.
What a poor excuse Adam. Surely it’s up to Wenger to find a way to beat the defensive teams, other managers seem to be quite capable of doing so…
I wouldn’t blame anyone for not renewing, although it must be a heart wrenching decision to make…
Of curse it’s Wenger’s fault. He can’t motivate them anymore, like most of us, they are clearly bored of listening to his voice…
He signed them, if they are deemed not good enough by him, sell them…
A different manager, and watch the performances improve.
Wenger press conference shortly, I wonder what little verbal gems he has ready for us…
The question of effort and attitude , in my mind the question that I ask is :- were we in the trenches and Wenger went over the top , would you follow ?
I believe that the players despite their pronouncements would not.
With more proactive leadership on and off the pitch I think the effort would return.
I wait in anticipation Rico.
Morning Rico and All
Adam
Amazing what some fans see always makes me laugh.
Years ago we had season tickets in the East Stand
couple of 4×2’s sitting behind us always moaning
one day Graham Rix was having another crap game
and the two geezers were giving him dogs abuse
Rixy You Couldn’t Pass Wind you useless Curly Headed
wanker.
Well he picked up the ball just inside our half
beat two players looked up and drilled the ball
into the postage stamp.
These geezers jumped up cuddling everyone they
could get hands around.Shouting Out.
I told yer he would come good……I told yer
We have a few don’t we..You can have Intelligence.
But Football Intelligence tells you we are now
the laughing Stock of London.
Lets be fair..
WBA Singing…….Arsene Wenger we want you to Stay.
Rico, give me 50 or 100k a week and watch me try 🙂
No matter what anyone says, for not caring and trying, players must be held accountable, for mine.
50-100k a week-we shouldn’t be making excuses for them.
Adam, I still have mates who won’t hear of Arsene going.
I don’t agree with them, but they do offer reasons for their opinion.
I posted just before Rico put the new post up that one is North London born and bred, is a ST holder, goes to plenty of away games including CL and still thinks Arsene is hard done by.
It’s easy to disagree, but impossible to disrespect the man, because he’s entitled to his opinion….and he’s a fantastic man, and certainly no dummy.
Agree Potter.
He appears quite jovial this morning Adam. lol
Morning Fred.
Hi Fred. I’ve seen and heard that stuff too. In fact we have an in-game analyst who sits behind us. From the first whistle to the last he is jabbering away, talking bollocks non-stop. What a laugh he must be at home.
I can only hear him because it’s so quiet in the ground these days.
Scott. What are their reasons for him to stay?
Perhaps after years of listening to his drivel, you’d give up Scott.
Potter, fair call, but name a player in our squad you WOULD follow…..make that a player who will also look out for others, someone or selfish but works for his mates.
I’m not sure we have one.
Yes, we can blame Arsene for that and for the players lack of motivation, but is anyone motivating him?
Funny how he said football has regressed having not introduced technology…. If ever there was a word which suits Arsenal under Wenger, regressed is certainly the one…
Scott you havn’t mentioned why your mate wants
him to stay.
Adam, here’s a few comments…
“Whoever comes in will be dealing with the same board. Some things may change but not the important things. We need someone to buy out Stan (as long as it’s not the Uzbek slug) & have a big stake up at board level, be more ambitious & inventive in the transfer market & also with our commercial deals. I’d want Arsene to get at least a couple of years operating under a new adventurous board, I think he deserves it”
Then “Yep. Has to do too much. He needs a buffer between himself & the board. Someone who understands both football & business, knows everyone at all levels of the game & is well liked & respected by them, also able to pull off even the biggest of deals.
Know anyone that fits that description?”
He was alluding to Dein, obviously.
Now everyone is entitled to disagree, but the fact is he makes points based on some reason, unlike the gent that sits near you.
These were just small parts of a private conversation.
The gent in question truly is Arsenal first, Arsene second, and again, spends more time and money on seeing the club play than anyone I know, and is North London through and through.
Arsene has just said.
It could be 2 months or two years what ever
He will give 100%…Still No Decision
Fred, you haven’t commented on his reasoning.
It’s been 3 minutes lol
Scott I think your mate is talking about
what we had before 2006.
Nor have have you scott
Is that all ya have, Fred????
So Stan and the current board were around prior to 2006??
It really says it all, doesn’t it?
If you can’t use reasoning and logic, yet can disregard the opinion of someone who does, then there’s not much point, is there?
John Henry doesn’t get involved much at Liverpool from what I can see, doesn’t stop Klopp spending money or motivating his players….
The only thing I 100% blame the board/owner for is not sacking Wenger a few years ago….
You picking a fight with Fred today then Scott?
Rico, an owner and board who will sack a manager automatically gives him motivation.
JH did that with Rodgers, so Klopp knows exactly what happens if he doesn’t perform.
Scott. They sound more like excuses to me but then again, everyone has an agenda. Wenger has had more than enough money over the past few seasons but he has wasted it. As for the ambition of the board? The clearest sign that they have any would surely be if they got another manager in. It’s the same old stuff really and all designed to take the heat off Wenger. Each to his own though. Enough said.
Like I said Scott, that’s the only thing wrong with the board/owner imo, as for the rest, that’s down to Wenger being such a control freak…
Rico, I’m not surprised you see it that way as it’s
Par for the course lol
Of course, Fred “challenging” me at 9.43 was overlooked by you.
7 minutes between my posts and he writes that??
Fred then simply dismissing the reasons he actually asked me to post was also left alone but hey, seems the way things roll now.
Hasn’t he just Adam. Some of the wages gives to mediocre players is dreadful and as for some of his signings, well, beggars belief really…
Yet wouldn’t pay an extra few million for Alonso or Suarez….
Adam, I did say earlier that I don’t believe the reasons he and others offer outweigh the reasons Arsene must go, imo, but he does at least offer some logic and doesn’t simply say “Arsene must stay”.
Wtf is challenging about ‘Scott you havn’t mentioned why your mate wants
him to stay.??
A simple and polite question but no, you have to see it as differently. Do not twist this around to me seeing it differently because it’s utter bollox!
Yes Rico. The essence of it comes down to the individual decisions that he makes, presumably on a daily basis.. It’s not easy for sure but that’s why he gets the big bucks. Its a results-driven business as we keep saying and the next bloke might be awful, despite his references and previous achievements. If Arsenal want to be thought of as an elite club and reap those rewards, they really have to become serious contenders again and from what I see, they are a long way from that at the moment.
It had been SEVEN MINUTES LOL
If you want to shout Scott, bugger off somewhere else and shout!
Am glad Sachez is one player who has the balls to speak out how he really feels. The other bunch of p****s all they talk is how they want their beloved Wenger to stay. Fcuk being nice!
A question Scott, your 10:08 implied a trigger happy board/owner would get Wenger motivated. Why would he need an outside motivation? And if Wenger needs a kick up his arsie so should the players. Everyone needs a jolt.
At arsenal it’s all harmonious. Even a monk could find it habitable. Nothing has ever evolved without some disruption, and Alexis’ is welcomed.
Agreed Adam. Doesn’t he earn more than any of our players to make the ‘right’ decisions?
Seriously though, I can’t see another manager cocking things up as Wenger is today…
You really must be joking.
Even when I’m right, I’m wrong lol
Good morning Rico
Wenger is going to sign his contract.
Fact 1…..there is no preparation or willingness from the board to replace him.
Fact 2….We support the manager during bad time ..mantra.
Fact 3…The number of nay sayers is to small on the stadium to be noticed.
Lets not forget as well Le prof is not any ordinary manager that he came yesterday with his back staff.He create and supervise everything that include medical physio training tactics diet press coaching ….you name it.
Do you think this board is capable or prepared for this big change ?
He has nothing to offer ….literally nothing and want him disappear for long time.
But reality with this board is something else
Marshall, it’s an RvP situation all over again eh… Ozil’s pathetic words irked me though, what a whimp…
Marshall, that was in reponse to Rico’s 9.59.
Every other manager has motivation because they’re job is at stake.
Is Wenger under any threat at all?
I’m not saying it’s right, but that’s how it is.
Keep pushing Scott and you’ll be gone!
Scott. If the guy had pointed the kind of players Wenger is buying and the way he is playing them looks promising, then ok. If he had said that the spirit he has instilled into the team is great and that they took BM all the way but were unlucky, then again that would be positive, if true. If he was pioneering a new, dynamic approach during the games or was setting out a team to counter the opposition’s strengths, then I could see that too. If he could squeeze great performances out of average players like Theo or Mustafi or Gibbs or Ramsey, then one might think there was some mileage left in his management. But, from what I see, he does none of these things and hasn’t won a significant trophy for years and years. This is not the way a top club should be carrying on, especially if they are happy charging the highest prices in World football.
Alex, good post and the big question is who do we want to decide in Wengers replacement, whenever the time comes?
I doubt many want Arsene to have a say, but so we trust the board?
How did the club get in such a situation!
Well, we all know the answer but it’s farcical.
Scott the trouble with you is you want
to out type me.
If I cut and paste the proof of anything
you give it a load of bollox.
If you want a grassroots debate with me
about football matters..you just give it the Nah Nah’s
Deep down you that I will win that one.
Morning Alex.
I reckon the board could replace Wenger. They maybe toothless but I’m sure Ivan would be able to find a good bloke to take over from the Frenchman..
Adam, no need to convince me because clearly I agree it’s not enough reason to have Arsene stay, and I’ve told my mate that 🙂
We respecfully agree to disagree, but the mans opinion is relevant at least, imo, for all the reasons I’ve outlined.
The man acknowledges my points and accepts them.
He just disagrees.
That’s fair enough I reckon.
Fred, It is abundantly clear I am wasting my time discussing things with you so I just won’t.
A bit out of context now….time passes so quickly!
The “laughing stock of London Town” top of the list is not Arsenal, although they may be second. Top of have a laugh at our expense is Leyton Orient. I see they have just parted with their tenth manager in the last two years. Now there’s consistency for you! Poised to leave the league, probably owned by a dodgy Italian geezer. Brisbane Road is ripe for redevelopment. Nice little earner there. The owner can then build some much wanted cheap accomodation and bugger off back to Sicily, or wherever he comes from. A wiser richer anonymous thief. Gone and soon forgotten.
The last part of that statement could equally apply to Monsieur Wenger, but at least he will leave us with his creation, his ‘baby’, his legacy but with similar degrees of recent failure. He won’t however, cost us our club! Unlike the fans in Leyton!
There’s always someone worse off than yourself!
bANG ON sCOTT
Don’t shout Fred 🙂
Wavy
Barry Hearn owns the ground.
Wavy, no matter when he leaves, the club will be in great shape off the pitch, which means it shouldn’t take much to get things right on it, imo.
Jog on Scott
Anyone that wants Wenger to stay is either a spud or they really hate Arsenal or they’re clueless!
I seriously cannot think of a single reason why he should stay….the bloke should leave for health reasons too, imho!
The bloke has spunked over £250m and we’re worse off….
Yes Lee he has a serious illness. Back in the day they’d have sectioned him and found him a padded cell in Claybury!
Now, it’s all about care in the community! And he is sure as fcuk he’s still in our community!
Sorry, morning all. What a miserable day, weather that is.
But he’s staying isn’t he. Frightening! And he’s going to spend another huge chunk of money…
Rico…if you mean bloks yes but one block cannot replace Wenger.
The other thing is surely the Board have something as a plan.I dont think they are completely clueless on who will be his substitute.
Question is if they want to dismantle his power bit by bit or in one go.I tend to believe they are prepared to do it gradually and with his consent.
Le prof is surrounded by a lot of yes men,players and other personell.He brought them from obscurity and rewarded them highly .
Look at what we have in the pitch:
Ramsey….from no where
Feo…………his failure simbol
Coq……….
Ox………….we should look at ouselves
Bellerin……
Sanogo……
Gibbs………
Kos………..he made me man
Giroud…….he need more respect thing
There is more emphaty given in their caracter than their footballing ability.
And you have the big Bold statue at his side which no one literally no one questions what is his role except to sit near Le prof on the dug outs.Is he human ??
Le prof did not only build the statue but he made sure who is coming and staying .He carefully created an enviroment to prolong his stay.
Therefore is not like replacing Mourinho because while he signs a 5 year contract half of his body is not in yet.But Le prof his roots are every where hence not an easy dilemma for the board to replace him.
Why Alex? Replace Wenger, let the new man manage and the others on the board do their jobs…
We as fans can only get rid of Arsene
through protesting.
No way can we get rid of The Syrup
It’s Laughable..But thats how it is.
We all know The Syrups a Rich Tosser
I wonder if the protest on Sunday will ramp up a bit…
Arsene was supposed to make statement
to day regarding his position.
Good Afternoon All.
Afternoon Rico, I must say that things are a little heated around these parts…
Wenger is staying, I’ve felt that for awhile now, if the Bayern debacle cannot shift him, then nothing will.
Kroenke doesn’t care, he is two thousand miles away out of the firing line. He’s like a First World War general, miles behind the front line, living in a fantasy world of stats and figures.
I don’t agree with Scott though, I think that Wenger has had everything he wants, he’s just managed it appallingly badly.
Put another, more modern, more defensively intelligent coach in charge of our squad and we’d be ok, we’d be competitive, it’s the non confrontational approach from Wenger which rubs off on his players and makes us weak.
Afternoon all
I see Arsene is keeping shtum and talking bollox again. .
Sanchez is clearly saying what we all have been saying for ages ..winning mentality.
I watched highlights of Chile’s game the other day, he missed a penalty yet again, but he had one of his best performances for long time..involved in everything. .he was simply sanchezanal ??
OK I will get my coat!
Scott, your point about lazy and unmotivated players is well taking. So why do Wenger keep playing them ? Additionally maybe if players are played to their abilities and strength that would not be an issue.
Hi Rico and HH.
Hi Kev, your last comment on BKesque absolutely nails it.
Afternoon Kev, Herb and all…
What has Sir Chips had to say?
Do we want to play and win on Sunday or not?
Tough one Jm. But any decision he makes shouldn’t be based on Sunday’s result. Personally I’d love us to whip City’s butts…
Kev if his staying whats the reason for not
saying……….. I’m baffled
He said it’s not sorted to day.
Is waiting for the results of the next 2 months?
Like he did a couple of years ago.
Surely if we nosedive ..He Go’s
I don’t get that either Fred. Unless he knows what he wants, but the board haven’t come to their decision… Although our board and owner are gutless so I can’t be right there….
What has Sir Chips had to say?
Nothing , he doesn’t do interviews apparently
He has though Potter, or are you being ironic? Ha ha…
Cheers Herb, any positivity I had earlier this season has been totally drained.
Tbh, what has happened has been what I expected.
Last season did it for me, I lost my last drop of belief in Wenger and there isn’t anything he is capable of doing, that will bring it back…
JM, I’m not sure if what you posted has been lost in translation, but the time for ‘playing’ has past, ‘winning’ is all that counts and that’s all that’ll save Wenger and the club from some kind of fan rebellion…
I don’t think a win on Sunday will make much difference to the fans…
Fred, I think that there’s several reasons he’s not confirmed that he’s staying yet.
Or going for that matter.
The Pelligrini effect is one.
The Arsenal spin machine is another.
But the silence from Gazides is baffling to me, he is the public face of the business, the CEO, and yet we’ve heard nothing.
Maybe there is a split at Boardroom level, maybe there is a split between the Board and KSE..?
Kroenke is the elephant in the room, the elephant wearing a wig, but his football knowledge is minimal, so what does he do?
Does he insist that Wenger stays but risks a breakdown at Boardroom level?
Anyway, my best guess is that it’s all PR and Wenger is waiting for a couple of big wins to announce the ‘good’ news…
Nighty, my bed calls.
Evening all.
With the downward trajectory we as a team have been on for the past few years and the acceleration of that trajectory this year, where an earth will we end up if he does sign on for 2 more years. It’s seriously worrying, by the time he leaves we could be the 8th best team in the league, and those clubs that have recently overtaken us are building bigger grounds so soon that extra financial edge we have will be gone.
I said on here recently, anyone who still wants Wenger as the manager is NOT an Arsenal fan and I stand by that.
Why are people so scared of change?!!! I for one just want to be excited about my club and football in general again, he has literally drained my love for the game.
Agree there Lewis about our potential standing !………………..I`ve said for a long time that not only will we be behind our current nemesis`s…..ala Two Mancs and Chavs, but within a few years WHam and Spuds !……………….however I see this down to owner not the manager !……………….we will have the aforementioned in front of us and we will battle Bindippers and eventually Everton (once they are up and running with a new ground)…………………..Bindippers are a reflection of how we are run on self sustainability, so will be our rivals……….Everton will be an unknown force as I think they will have an owner who will spend like Chavs owner, he`s already got our second largest shareholder to sponsor them !
Wenger is the immediate problem and although I think a top manager may change our fortunes……if they dont then we will know for sure that the bigger problem is Kroenke………………….although I already know he is the bigger problem now ! hahaha………………………………….I think Herb, Scott and possibly from the way I`m reading his comments….Kev` will all agree………Wenger may be Darth Vader, but Kroenke is Sith Lord Darth Sideous…………… the true villain of the peace !
🙂
Hi there, yesterday news now had a petition going trying to get signatures going to get wenger out, there target was 15,000. They got just over 1600 signature. Sick of fellow gunner fans settling for second best management, we are being took for mugs. Im done with this club until the board and wenger go.
That’s about publicity .If people don’t know about it they wouldn’t vote.
Chip’s comment was a direct quote.
Morning all.
I didn’t even see the petition…
New post up now.