Morning all.
In the words of one of the greatest ever singing duos who’ve ever lived, ‘It’s only just begun……’
Actually, I strongly suspect that’s not the case as there’s little chance Arsene Wenger suddenly woke up yesterday morning and decided to quit his job, no more than I suspect the club suddenly decided enough was enough. It’s highly likely that the Frenchman and the club have been in talks for a while, yesterday just happened to be the day we all found out.
Arsène Wenger issued the following statement:
“After careful consideration and following discussions with the club, I feel it is the right time for me to step down at the end of the season. I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years.
“I managed the club with full commitment and integrity.
“I want to thank the staff, the players, the Directors and the fans who make this club so special. I urge our fans to stand behind the team to finish on a high.
“To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club.
“My love and support forever.”
Admittedly, his recent press conferences have become repetitive and tedious but can anyone really argue that he’s always been respectful towards the club and his peers. He’s certainly never stooped to the low levels the likes of Mourinho has. He doesn’t chew open mouthed on the sidelines either although he has shoved the odd official and fellow manager about but then so what? Frustration brings the worst out of all of us. A decent man, just one who couldn’t accept when it was time to quit. A man who signed some fantastic footballers, a man who prolonged many older players careers, a man who dished up some of the best football the English game has ever seen. I bet our three Premier League winning teams would beat today’s City team too but that’s something we’ll never know.
I liked what Ivan Gazidis said about Arsene Wenger and the way he said it. Some parts perhaps through gritted teeth but one thing is for sure, Arsenal FC is in a much better place than it was twenty two years ago. We’ll never know how things might have been had Arsene left years ago and to fair, it matters not now. Not to me anyway.
Ivan Gazidis wouldn’t get drawn into the whys and wherefores surrounding Wenger’s departure and as much as our curiosity might want to get the better of us, I think keeping that private is the right thing to do. Ivan promised us change around this time last season, well that change has come and if he’s true to his word again, the future is bright. As he said, Arsene Wenger cannot be replaced, but what the club can do is build on what he’s left behind him with someone different. Someone younger, more hungry, more flexible and someone with very different ideas. A manager who believes in having an organised defence, a team mixed with youth experience, class, speed, wisdom and leadership. The very kind of team which Arsene himself once assembled and managed.
“In the coming months the world will see the unity and power of this football club, and the people within it. – Ivan Gazidis.
A big statement, the kind of statement we’ve all been waiting for. Get this club we all love back where it was and that’s not only challenging the top clubs but beating them and winning the Premier League. Be true contenders for the Champions League trophy and not just a club making up the numbers and yes, more FA Cups too as I’m sure we all love that domestic competition.
As much as the last few years have been hard to watch, as the final weeks of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal career play out, let’s not forget the good times he gave us. The Invincibles, the double winning seasons, the FA Cups, the constant batterings of Spurz, the great players and goals and many other good things he did for the club. Don’t let the bad override the good, not now.
As Ivan Gazidis said, let’s get behind him and the team now and hope that his career at Arsenal ends with a European Cup to brag about.
Finally, a big well done to under 23’s who last night beat West Ham 3-1 to win the Championship for the first time since 1990.
A good omen perhaps…..
Morning rico, good report. Nice seeing some of the old footage, takes away memory of some awful recent football. But there’s been some good performances in recent years, so let’s hope we can pull a few more off in a great atmosphere for the final few weeks. It’s win-win, as even if we fail in the semis we have change to look forward to.
Morning Andrew and thanks.
I personally can’t see much point in moaning anymore. He’s going so things are changing. Yep, some of the early days under Wenger were fantastic..
Morning all!
Better now then be sacked at the end of the season
Times for changing.
JM in the top of the list for me.
Afternoon all.
Have we signed a new manager yet?
If the board can’t find a suitable candidate do think they’ll ask Wenger to fill the temporary gap for a year or two?
Still summer here.
Afternoon fellow posters. I’ve never known any manager leaving his club, to draw the media frenzy that Arsene has. Even Fergie. I just hope they don’t do what manure did, and sign a ‘David Moyes’ nightmare, such as Brenda Rogers. He is the bookies favourite!
Given the choice, I’d try to tempt Pep away from Man City, lol. I’d even turn a blind eye to his constant spitting on the bench/touchline. In all his years, I don’t think Wenger ever spat publicly, much too classy.
Can they please try to get Simeone?? Pretty please? Failing that, umm, I honestly dunno.
Paddy? Yes he’d do for me, with Thierry as deputy. They would generate so much awe and respect from players. Fans would be deliriously happy. They would still need lots of cash injected, the same as manure and city do. And there lies the problem imo. Unless Stan has had a revelationary dream, and been told invest, invest Stanley! But only in Arsenal, soccer, not those bloody egg chasers in USA.
I’m still a bit fragile and emotional. After seeing Bob Wilson interviewed, it set me off again. There IS only one Arsene Wenger, and we were lucky enough to have him. But it had to end, and this is probably the least painful way. There are a lot of fans who still believed in him, and who will be grieving for some time, but c’est la vie, life goes on. Perhaps all the fans, ,old and new, can move on in a bit of harmony. I’ve never known another manager inspire so much devotion as Wenger has, never.
The King is dead, long live the King.
Afternoon all..nice tribute and farewell to AW..
Bob Wilson had a private and emotional engagement with arsene and I am sure there are many like him within the arsenal family who had the same humane help and support from him. .
i just don’t get why ordinary fans get so emotional to the point of weeping and crying for his departure. .the man is not dead he just quit a job he had for 22 years, and he got hansomely rewarded for it, both morally and financially.
Untold and similar places are just fascinating!
Some went to the extend of asking to rename the stadium after him..yes folks not just a stand, the whole stadium. .I mean even SAF didn’t get that at old toilet.
Now i am all for a statue to honour his achievement and contribution to the club.
Mind you he already has the club named after him!
Probably he will still be his cheeky self comentating for BEIN sport and giving lectures about human values and solidarity.
It’s good for him and of course best for Arsenal.
Hi Rico and all,
The Board finally summoned up the courage and made a decision.
Arsene has been a great Manager and introduced much change when he first came here in 96. From players diet, drinking habits… and a change in training methods. He prolonged players careers like Adam’s etc and other Clubs followed his methods.
His style of football when played by top players was quite unique. Plenty of quick inter passing played at speed with great finishing.
But as always in life, time catches you up and things cannot stand still.
Arsenal Football Club need a fresh start, and that will mean other people from within the club having to move on. It’s called change.
I look forward to the players stepping up to the plate like they did against Chelsea in the Cup Final, and playing out the remaining games with more passion and gusto than we have not seen for a long time. Be nice to win the Europa trophy.
Let’s see.
Afternoon all and thank you Rico for the last few posts regarding Wenger.
Very surprised by his statement as he has reguarly boasted he has always seen out his contract, so I personally go with the theory that he was being pushed out and took the option to save face rather than be sacked.
I will not jump up and down at his celebrate him going, I will now give him the respect his overall tenure deserves……………………..22 years, 3 titles, 7 FA Cups and 6 other finals and hopefully another one to finish with, a beuatifull new stadium, world class training facilities and Hale End revamp, we are most definately in a better place than when he first arrived.
Without doubt overall a legend and I will forget about the last few years apart from the 3 FA Cups in 4 years and remember what a great service he has done for our club.
Imo he derserves a statue outside along with the others……………….thank you Arsene Wenger.
As for the new manager ?…………lets take a look at the possibilities and the odds !……………….
Luis Enrique 3/1
Brendan Rodgers 4/1
Carlo Ancelotti 5/1
Patrick Vieira 6/1
Joachim Loew 7/1
Thomas Tuchel 8/1
Massimiliano Allegri 14/1
Diego Simeone 16/1
Arsene Wenger 20/1………….only because I have a disturbing feeling that he meant he would re-sign at the end of the season and not resign !
Dale Winton 25/1
Jimmy Saville 30/1
Curbishly and Pardew 100/1
Not forgetting Ornseins view……………………….
http://dailycannon.com/2018/04/ornstein-arsenal-have-a-five-strong-shortlist-to-replace-wenger/8/
Evening guys and thanks re the post.
I feel quite dirty hoping Utd win this match but I still love Alexis so i5 has to be done…
Hello rico, I’m sure Lee will back me up when I say Wegner has let us down again…….we thought he’d never bloody leave the club !
Le Coq, well said, the man deserves a statue outside the stadium, don’t have a problem with that as long as it’s an inflatable one.
Thanks for the memories Arsene, two unbelievable seasons in 22 years, 1997/98 & 2003/04, the fact that you inherited the former shouldn’t take away from your legendary status, don’t let the door hit you on the arse on your way out will ya !!!
Roll on the summer.
Don’t feel dirty rico, they’re already punching above their weight with their 1 trophy this century lol, no matter how bad things are we can always laugh at the spuds !
Hi Micko, I guess every manager inherits a number of players, but I doubt there is one who was gifted such an incredibly strong back 5/6…
Lol re the inflatable….
It isn’t over just yet Micko, but….
It is now, gotta luv those choking cockerals.
Hilarious…
Night Micko, have a good evening..
Forget the eulogy half hour , logically if he wasn’t pushed he was definitely eased ouit. If I remember correctly , the club class and corporates have to renew their tickets in April which is strangely where we are. Rumour has it that red members have been approached to take up the short fall but £2000 plus has not been snapped up by the unwashed. The rest of us have to cough up in June . The writing has been on the wall for some time and the steady flow of cash coming in has concentrated their minds and instead of blaming themselves they have taken the easy option to pacify and show hope to the rest of us.
I doubt that this was football orientated more financial.
Lots of conspiracy theories with this Wenger saga and I dont doubt some are true, Potter, my own one is it`s a great bit of rousing the players up for the EL semi`s and even the crowd atmosphere as well !.
Love the stat that The Spuds have lost their last 8 FA Cup Semi Finals and in that same time Arsenal have won the FA Cup 8 times !………………….what a fantastic stat !…………..stat of the Century ?
😀
Hi Rico, all.
Am excited by the prospect of having a real goalkeeper coach, a pragmatic manager. It was getting tedious seeing the same team with almost similar substitution no matter how the game was playing out.
I look forward to someone who’s dynamic. Who’s no favourites.
I bet the players will put in more effort now that they know they’re auditioning for a new manager.
Morning Marshall, all.
New post up now.