Ever since The Invincibles started to leave in dribs and drabs and were replaced with, what we perceive to have been very average players bar a few, Arsene Wenger has been on the end of quite a few critical, damning and sometimes quite vile comments.
He’s been accused of being tight, lining his own pocket, not giving a s***e about the club and what goes on the pitch and many many more comments of a similar nature.
The lack of transfers has been blamed on him by some, others believe it’s down to Ivan Gazidis and his lack of negotiation skills and inability to close a deal but reality is, unless anyone really has an inside contact at the club, we are all simply guessing aren’t we?
Personally, I can’t for one minute believe that Arsene Wenger is not behind every signing and every sale at our club, it’s he who has to work with the players, not Kroenke and certainly not Gazidis. I also believe that Arsene Wenger won’t be bullied by agents demands for their players expected wage and when they try that tactic, he leaves well alone.
Some would say that is right, others will of course disagree, citing the high wages we pay to many average players, and yes they have a point. Why pay an average player a high wage to sit on the bench like Chamakh, when an extra £10K a week could be the difference between having a player who will really make a difference – players like that earn points on the league table.
M’Vila, Giroud & Vertonghen?
Points, as Sir Brucie and all fans know, mean prizes!
Forget who we have been linked to/missed out on in the summer and winters that have gone by, we can’t change any of that now, neither can Arsene Wenger, although I strongly suspect he would admit to his closest ally that he wish he could.
Let’s look at the here and now and what could be this coming season.
We have been linked to:
Lukas Podolski – signed
Yann M’Vila
Olivier Giroud
Jan Vertonghen
Ibrahim Afellay
Yes there have been others linked to us too but so many are just newspapers and lazy journalism which we all love to read, but don’t believe a word of the article.
My question is, should Arsene Wenger make 2/3 signings which most of us believe are needed to get us back challenging the top spot in the PL and the Domestic Cups, will those who have been so critical and guilty of firing vile abuse towards Arsene Wenger, finally get off his back.
I hope so….
Have a good day all, maybe one of those signings will be announced today?
Good Morning Fine Folk.
Lady………while understanding that AW also had the stadium to think about, whatever signing he might make it will be difficult for me to forgive the 8-2 demolition by Manure. Not even if we win the CL. I am only an ARSENAL supporter but that day I felt the greatest weight ever………..and it still hurts.
Sign all off them, ship the dead wood and we really would be a force not just in the prem but in europe also. This is the time investment needs to happen. May be even 30m for RVP will make sure all the above are wearing our red and white strip.
Morning all…
I might forgive him if we win the domestic treble next season devil… However….
I’d like that four in too Lawrence and like you say, rid the deadwood, but I’d like to think that RvP would stay and be part of all we could achieve with the right signings…
In one word no. My biggest gripe with the manager is his inability to accept some of his signings have been crap and get rid off them as soon as that is evident. Almunia anyone? Secondly the wage structure, which Ivan has confirmed as being the managers doing. Paying the dross 50 k and over makes it hard to if not impossible to move these players on before their contract ends. To be forgiven he needs not only make some good signing but to start the silverware rolling again.
And morning all..
Devil,I never worried about that day…seriously.
It was just the perfect storm.
We could have,probably should have led at half time and had more shots than Utd,so I don’t agree with the idea we were so bad that day.
Utd couldn’t miss and we couldn’t score……thats what’s it came down to,and the stats back this up.
I’m not suggesting we played well,but nothing went right for us and everything went perfectly for them.
RVP probably should’ve scored four himself,including missing a penalty.
No,that game never warrants a second thought from me.
With Podolski,Giroud,M’Villa and a top CAM,we really are in business.
M̶̲̥̅̊y̶̲̥̅̊ opinion in all this has always been that he signings we crave †☺ make us competitive ar not 25mill signings. Bw 10-15m we could very decent players arnd europe eg papiss cisse in. Wenger always looks at not thwarting d careers of players we already av even though d ar no G̶̲̥̅Ơ̴̴̴̴͡.̮Ơ̴̴̴͡D̶̲̥̅ enough thereby killing our chances of competing at d highest level. Right now though,it seems d policy has changed.
Good read rico.i can’t bring myself to forgive especially for the 8-2 demolition,not a chance.
TT,so you conveniently forget the good Wengers done in favour of condemning him for the bad????
Yep,that’s a fair minded approach lol.
We’ll be lucky to sign any of these at the rate we negotiate other clubs will snap ’em up .Also our new player Podolski has been very disappointing in the Euro’s let’s hope he improves….
I suggest everyone watch the OT game again and take note of the stats…..you’d be surprised.
KTR…..again I ask how can you allow that game to erase an unbeaten season???
Scott……..AW has done a lot of good. And I do appreciate him for all that he has done. However certain things happened due to his stubborness. They could all have been avoided. And usually I do not like people who are stubbornly refusing to acknowledge the obvious.
I doubt if those who shout the vile abuse will ever back down from an anti-Wenger stance. Their mind is made up and they’re unlikely to change until they’re finally proved right and can say “I told you so”.
For me, and I do have serious reservations over AW’s ability to take us forward at this point, fix the obvious problems in the imbalance in squad / wages (wages you capture perfectly above, but having 80 professionals on the books at the Arsenal is hardly fiscally responsible!), fix some obvious quality issues in the first XI and you get the benefit of the doubt and a chance to prove us doubters wrong. Have a good run at the title (we’re unlikely to win but at least show us we’re trying for that instead of fourth!) and I’ll put my hands up, say he’s fixed it and back him. I just know that’s what he’s been waiting for…lol…
Bunch of idiots who slated Wenger. No other Manager would have got us top 3. Go and support the Spuds! From the invicibles team he had to replace every player pretty much, plus subs bench, make sure he got decent quality and have restrictions on money due the stadium. To bring in 11-15 players with tight purse strings, all pretty much young and to get top 4 each time is a miracle. Just look at the other big clubs who spend a fortune, ie Liverpool and Chelsea.
I think now he has enough decent players and more funds to expand. Judge Wenger on the next 3-4 years and not the previous 5.
Here we go.
Goona,youre complaining about Podolski after two games??
Have you seen him in his other 90 odd games??
Morning TT – will take a lot for me too… Yes he has done a lot of good in the past, but now is the time to bring us back to the here and now, blow the future with young signings, we need experience and soon…
why is this blog framed by pictures of that idiot walcott. at least use some of a player who puts a shift in every week
Sorry Goona…….to say that Podolski has been dissappointing shows a lack of tactical knowledge. Podolski had a job to do, and he did it to the benefit of the team and to the detriment of himself. He executed his role well. We all like players who go gung ho on the attack. And many were expected Podolski to be of the same stuff as Pires or Freddie. Podolski is neither. He had a job to do and he executed it perfectly. And the same goes to those who criticize Gervinho on the same lines.
Scott – that 8-2 was defiantely something to be worried about, it was a disgrace!
Hi Kt…
It takes a duck to recognise a duck. And similiarly it takes an eagle to recognise an eagle.
Devil,that’s fine,but it had nothing to do with that day,imo.
If RVP scores the penalty and another sitter he had….then Rooney isn’t gifted a penalty,Young doesnt score a fluke,then what would the result have been….or what could it have been?
Goona, lets give Podolski a chance shall we?
silentstan, because it’s my choice and i’m obviously not so down on the player as you are! Next you will be saying remove RvP because he won’t sign a new contract!!
Scott it would be appropriate that you read comments and put them in context wit the article they are being aimed at. I have never denied or played down what wenger has done for the club my comment was a simple answer to the article above.
Rico,I look forward.
Why bother worrying about something ten months ago??
It achieves nothing positive.
I’ll say it one last time,I promise,we were nowhere near as bad as people make out,nor we’re Utd anywhere near as good.
Of that,I am 100% positive,as always lol.
If you want a different frame silent stan you can go and open your own blog. No has ever complained about it and we will not start doing so.
And bdw………if you are silent why dont you keep quiet. The sound of Silence speaks louder than words.
I don’t forgive that 8-2 and I don’t forgive Wenger for the last 7 years. He’s making signings Arsenal should be making – doesn’t deserve to be lauded for that IMO.
Rather than try and pick holes in our sustainable approach, I think it’s worth remembering one thing here…at least we’re not Tottenham! We’re still continually at the very top level, even if the gap from the top has got a little wider in recent seasons.
How many times did we hear Arsenal fans earlier in the season saying how Sp*rs were doing things right? Now look at them. And look at us; magnificent stadium, legendary manager, making big signings (this season).
It makes this Friday all the sweeter hoping they might “do a Pompey”, whilst we strengthen 🙂
Scott – sorry but those ifs and buts didn’t happen, the scoreline said what truly happened that day…
Why look back? Because in life we should learn from our mistakes, wenger is no different, did he learn from that game, or maybe more importantly, has he learned from the dreaful results we had this last season and our performances and his tactics?
If he hasn’t we are in for more of the same….
TT…the question was would you get off his back if he made the signings..you said,and I quote,”in one word no”
Then you said to be forgiven,he needs to make some signings and win silverware.
He’s won silverware….but I believe you’re not giving him credit for that.
I’m sorry,but I think there’s more to supporting the club than simply expecting and demanding silverware.
Romford, the defeat to them at home was hard to stomach too, its about time we stopped rolling over for fergie….
49 is the number I can’t forgive!! Let’s get that number halved!!!
Scott – you said yourself that we can’t look back, and hanging onto the trophies we won all those years ago is just what many are doing, there has been eight seasons since then…..
Rico,he’s made the most obvious of statements that his and the clubs attitude has changed by signing Podolski so early.
Pele,who asked anyone to laud him for the last 7 years or for the OT game?
Don’t make things up.
At least Lee….
Good morning Rico and all. Those who cling to the past will be enslaved by it. For me, a really detached look at Wenger’s achievements as a whole tell me that we have been fortunate and lucky in having him. Yes, he has made some mistakes and clinging to Almunia was certainly one of the biggies when he could most likely have bought a safer pair of hands without breaking the bank. And yes, the imbalances at the club where we have had too many underachievers, earning too much, for far too long. I would probably agree with many of the points the doomers will make. But and it’s a big but. Let’s take a look at where we are today and compare that with other clubs. Not Man City and Chelsea. They are in a different league. When Wenger came we were not in great shape though we had an ageing but superb defence and of course we had Dennis. It was fantastic for the next years but has tailed off due to the burden of paying for The Emirates and the artificial balance that the billionaires have bought. But, we are still in the CL and I am hoping that we buy and sell the right players this summer which could push us onwards and upwards. It wasn’t that long ago that we were a similar sized club to Spurs. Some of you might remember those days. Take a long hard look at the infrastructure of the two clubs now. When was the last time you saw a Spurs shirt on a foreign TV broadcast? Financially we are light years apart with a marketing division that we hope will bring home the bacon in the next few years broadening the gap still further and this is directly related to success on the field.
I certainly agree that we are not where we want to be but I am optimistic that we are getting there as long as we don’t sell Squillacci.
Poland are set to keep Przemyslaw Tyton in goal against the Czech Republic, instead of usual first-choice Wojciech Szczesny who was sent off in their Euro 2012 opener against Greece.
Coach Franciszek Smuda will keep faith with 25-year-old Tyton, who saved a penalty with his first touch in the 1-1- draw with Greece in the tournament’s opening game, and was impressive against Russia, Rzeczpospolita newspaper reported.
It had been thought that Arsenal goalkeeper Szczesny would regain his place after serving a one-match ban but Smuda said yesterday that he feared the kind of mistakes Szczesny made against Greece.
“(Tyton) has always brought calm into the game,” he added.
Goody for Smuda. Another player who will benefit from rest. Hope TR07 cant play either.
Rico,I only raised that because people choose to condemn him
What happened in the past,but conveniently don’t go back further.
If youre going to look back,go the whole hog or don’t go there at all is what I’m saying.
Podolski alone is not enough, he needs to add three more Scott, if he does, then this season ahead could be a whole lot better than the last…
Lee says:
June 15, 2012 at 10:00 am
49 is the number I can’t forgive!! Let’s get that number halved!!!
I WANT IT DOUBLED.
Morning Adam, why did you have to ruin such a good comment 😉
Adam, sorry for calling Squilly a face of a horse.
Really sorry, Hee haw, hee haw, hee haw, heeeeeeeee hhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwww 😆
That’s shows some character devil, i bet Ches thought he’d walk straight back into the side….
DG. I bridle at that suggestion.
I can see plenty of fans clinging on to the past……about ten months ago:)
Again Rico,Podolski was an obvious admission that we’ve stuffed up transfers recently….I never suggested he was enough though.
I’ve said that I give Wenger this transfer season often enough for people to know my feelings.
Looking at that picture of Bruce Forsyth I see where Rooney got the inspiration for his new hairstyle,
Smuda is a no holds barred coach. He plays to the teams strengths. He is not like AW or Van Marwijck who sometimes select players who are clearly not up to standard but simply because they are favourites.. He selects the teams and I have the utmost respect for coaches like him
I read the story of Tyton and was amazed by the obstacles he had to overcome. Smuda stuck by him. Even when the Polish FA was against it.
Tbh I would like to see Tyton at AFC.
Why do you bridle mate????? 😉
Then you are breaking your own rules by never looking back Scott. He won that silverware more than 7 years ago. My gripe is with what he has done since albeit some good things but some bad ones that have carried on year after year. Last summer and start of the season where accumulation of his mistakes and inability to fix them or admit they where there. I will therefor not get off his back until he has shown me that he can still deliver. And winning trophy’s is what football clubs are all about. But that will not take away from his achievements with the club in the past it’s just that you cannot live on past glory for ever.
Lee…..have you worked out why I want the 49 doubled????
Welcome to those just joining today….
I have devil, you are in your new role as spuds boss 😉
Arsenal are set to reignite their interest in former Chelsea forward Saloman Kalou but could still face competition from Liverpool, according to the Mirror.
Kalou is a free agent now his Chelsea contract has expired, after the forward was unable to agree terms over an extension at Stamford Bridge.
The Mirror claim Arsenal held talks in January over signing the Ivory Coast international but manager Arsene Wenger remains keen and is set to make a fresh approach this summer.
The report suggests that Kalou would be open to a move to the Emirates if it means more regular first team football, but his wage demands of around £70,00-a-week could prove to be a problem.
Wenger will have to sell some of his high earners before any deal can be sealed for Kalou, with the likes of Nicklas Bendtner, Carlos Vela, Denilson, Sebastien Squillaci, Manuel Almunia, and Andrey Arshavin all likely to go this summer as long as the Gunners can find buyers.
However, Arsenal could still face competition from Liverpool for the signature of Kalou, with the Merseysiders also interested in the 26-year-old this summer.
Brendan Rodgers is keen to add more creativity to his Liverpool squad and a free transfer move for an experienced player with Premier League experi
There are two main reasons why prinz poldi hasn’t been eye catching so far:
First of all Germany have had to face two very dangerous wingers in Nani and Robben in the opening two games which required Poldi to track back alot to help out Lahm,Even BFG recently told the press that it was under Low’s instructions he does that and as a result they were successful in stopping the aforementioned duos from having an impact on the game.We should be glad that we have a forward that can get stuck in when we face difficult away games on a cold Tuesday night or classic away ties such as the Camp nou without minimizing our attacking threat.
Secondly, Mario Gomez.If you look at the German’s perfomances in WC 2010 they were incredibly fluid up front which hasn’t been the case so far at the Euros.This is because Gomez is a traditional no.9 who just stays up front and bangs in the goals.However,when Klose plays he does so much more.He plays sort of like Rvp;working the channels,dropping deep to allow the likes of Muller and Poldi to run in behind.Low even tried playing Reus up front in training sessions leading up to the tournament since he knew that Gomez playing up top would minimize the goal threat of the wing forwards.Just watch Germany games with Klose up top to see how much better they are.
If Poldi plays with Rvp you’ll truly appreciate how good Poldi is.
For a man who’s one of the richest paid managers in world football, he’s significantly underachieved.
The only reason I’m moaning as much is because Arsenal hit my bank balance significantly each year. If I’m paying well in excess of a grand for my season ticket, excluding travel to games and food, I don’t expect to see mongs like Squillaci and Almunia.
If we sign Giroud and M’Vila and Wenger still doesn’t win anything, we should get shot IMO.
Because I’ve got the bit between my teeth DG.
STOP SLAGGING OFF THE ARSENAL. Wake up to the new, and enjoy. We will be in it big-time this season.
😆 Adam re Rooney.
KTR 7………spot on. Good tactical analysis on Podolski.
No Rico it is not that.
Since Lee did not define what the 49 is, I took the liberty to define it as the unbeaten run…………so I want AFC to go on a 98 game unbeaten run. that would make it around 2 and a two thirds season.
Dave Highbury, been hearing the same regurgitated nonsense for ages. No more.
i was having a good day devil, UNTIL, you posted that about Kalou….. 😉
Dave – no-one is slagging off afc, try reading back again – we are doing what most adults are usually quite good at doing and that is debating….
Horse, Donkey………you heard that Adam???
Now Romford has called him a Mong. lolllllllllllllllllll
Righto. Off for now my Fine Friends.
Enjoy the day. I will be watching the games tonight.
Again I like you tactical comment KT. I leave with a smile.
ktr7 says:
June 15, 2012 at 10:15 am
Very good that. Totally agree that he will be a very good player for us and playing on the left will be able to assist our LB far better than has been done so far.
Iniesta was brilliant again last night.At this rate he will be player of the tournament.
TT,
I will try once more and that’s it.
People choose to go back and use the past to condemn Wenger….why not go back further and give him credit??
Thats as simple as I can make it.
I recently renewed my season tickets and had to think long and hard about it. But I realised that, if I didn’t like what was happening at our club, I had the option of not renewing, emotionally difficult as that would have been.
Pele,I’m struggling to remember the last time we saw Almunia or Squillaci play.
Let’s treble the 49 and be done with it. Mind you 24.5 would be acceptable.
All that is really important now is the future.
Scott its not that I have forgotten the invincibles;quite to the contrary.However,that demolition still hurts so much.Maybe it will pass but right now its still fresh in my memory.
Forgiven for what?
Not pandering to the whims of armchair ananlysts and plastics?
Get a grip, have you any idea how pathetic you sound when a club like glasgow Rangers ahs just sunk without trace?
The timing of this pathetic post could not be more apt.
Whiny spoilt ‘fans’ moaning coz we aint spunked millions like those with a sugar daddy.
Utter embarrassment
Like DG, I prefer to remember it as successive undefeated games. .
Fair enough KTR,but I’m simply saying it shouldn’t be the overriding factor when judging the guy.
Yes or no everyone……do you see us having a transfer season that’s better than recent seasons??
I have to give a bit of backing to Scott from Oz here with some of the comments above. i think we would always have lost that game at Utd in view of the players we didn’t have available that day by way of injury, suspension or because we hadn’t bought them yet. Scott is right about the stats and I believe even Gary Neville said as much, more in warning to Utd fans to not get carried away than in consolation to Arsenal fans. He pointed out that Arsenal had more shots on target that day than any other team in some considerable time had done at Old Trafford and that the score line could easily have been very different. Take into account that 4 of the Utd goals were long range goals via free kicks or from Young in open play and you can see Scotts point about everything going right for them that day. To have all 4 fly into the top corner means you have the gods on your side that day as on another day you will be lucky if one of them finds the net.
That said we were at rock bottom that day but when you are at rock bottom there is only one way to go. For me at this time the club was being mis-managed but rather than being bitter to this day about the result I see it as a positive catalyst that shocked AW and the board from their malaise. We ended up having a terrific run last season until we ran out of steam near the end. That run included us completely outplaying the eventual champions at the Emirates even if the scoreline was not reflective of our dominance. If we add the right 3-4 players to that core of a team I feel we should be title contenders next season and would forgive what has gone before. I think AW will have to swallow his pride not only on subjects like the over-reliance on the youth set up and the imbalanced wage structure, but also on areas such as not being so rigid on the formation and allow Bould to shape the team a bit to be more solid, even if it is against his attacking philosophy. If AW has finally realised this and corrects the errors I still feel there is no better man to lead us into the future. If we go on to lift Silverware again I will look at the Utd game as the catalyst for the whole turn around and will actually be grateful for that day even if it was painful at the time.
I have been an Arsenal fan for the last 30 years. I remember how we underachieved, for many of them years mid table fodder. We won games with the playing style Stoke use. I am now going to the Emirates Stadium, one of the best in this country. Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and even Man City wish they could have a stadium like ours.
All of this plus achieving Champion League football year in and out.
I know lots of Liverpool fans and wish that they could of had our last 7 years, and they have a one of the greatest histories in the PL
So please lets have less of the hating and hopefully we will enjoy a 30 more successful years.
DaveyDMX 🙄
Which part of the post has slated wenger? It hasn’t – it has merely pointed out what a section of fans may or may not have said etc… Jeez, did you actually read beyond the heading??
Adam – yes, it is about the here and now and what happens in the TW to take us further.
That was the point I was trying to make in the post, however with some, it appears to have been lost somewhere..
That was harsh Dmx…
Davey. Points made with a sledgehammer but I do agree with the general sentiment. Although I don’t believe the post to be pathetic, merely thought provoking. HH is all about encouraging debate and seldom drifts into being confrontational. Passion, on the other hand is great of course.
Scott are you reading the comments I post at all? If you want me to list all what he achieved in the past it would be a long article. That was not what this article was about. It simply asked if surtein things where to happen would we get off his back and i, like many others chose to respond to that question. If you want an debate about his achievements write an article about it and I for one will be quite happy to comment on it and laud the man for what he did in the past.
If he does find his magic touch then I will have np singing his praises from the roof tops but that was not what was being asked…
Nicely put GoonerB…
Appreciate that,GoonerB.
I wore my Arsenal shirt to the pub the next day,and copped it big time!!
I never saw a player do anything but try,and it’s all I ever ask of a player wearing the shirt…….yes,one or two may have been guilty on other occasions,but not that day.
Wasnt it only a few weeks later Utd were spanked 6-1 by Citeh??
It happens.
TT – don’t you mean his Magic Hat 😉
I think we all want him to find that in the cupboard….
Adam/Kt – thanks – I do try 😥
😉
Gooner B. I agree with (nearly) everything you say. There has always been the opinion that, if we hadn’t suffered that mauling, Arsene was going to go into the season with what we had. There would have been no 11 th hour signings. A truly, madly and deeply frightening thought.
Rico. And I, for one and probably many, do appreciate it greatly. Thank you.
There is no way Wenger and Gazidis cold have stitched those deals up unless they were already in the pipeline.
I mean,these guys take forever to sign anyone.
TT,we could go around in circles again,but as much as you think I misunderstand you,vice versa applies,so let’s leave it.
RICO,nobody realises what you do to come up with something new each and everyday,so we shouldn’t comment…..hence my apology the other week!!
Keeps me awake night after night Adam, but it’s all worth it 😉 😉
I read somwhere that Stan forced those DD signings, not sure how much truth is in that though… None I would imagine….
Michael Laudrup is the new Swansea manager, that’s a bit of a coup isn’t it?
I’m waiting for your post Scott, then i can get my own back 😉 😉
Squillaci, could he be the monster DM we’ve been looking for Adam?
I read in an interview with Arteta that it all happened at the very last minute. If I remember correctly, the first he knew of it was about 4 pm on deadline day. And the season before Squillacci was a very late signing. It just shows you………
Lee. I think he might be our very own War Horse.
KT, Iniesta was on fire last night!
Shame Squilli wasn’t contacted after midnight….
You,Adam,TT,Gambon,Nashua,Pele……probably missed another dozen that are waiting,Rico lol!!!
Adam,I was being sarcastic on last minute signings.
They had to rush the paperwork through Rico and there were several clubs in for him. We swung the deal as we agreed to a new stable for him at London Colney. In the end Arsenal made him an offer and asked him to say yay or neigh.
RICO,if Squillaci WAS contacted after midnight,Wenger could’ve told us all he was being proactive and signing players as early as possible for the following season lol.
Adam, have you had the great man’s name put on the back of your new home shirt? Mine’s being done as we blog….sweet!
Lee. No, the club had sold out when I enquired and said they had run out of the letter Q. Apparently some bloke from Essex had bought them all.
Welcome Kaz, we are not ‘hating’ we are just discussing what is going on, we are all behind one thing, and that is Arsenal and we want the best for the club..
Scott – i could have handled missing out on Squilli, actually maybe that is harsh, he had a good game once, just can’t remember it…
He was Lee.he just seems to ghost past players in the tightest of spaces.i hope jack can reach that level one day…
Don’t do it Lee, he is off to Bastia
And we are linked with Neymar 🙂
Yes, he scored the winner against some team. Was it Stoke? I believe Ramsay crossed from the left wing and Squill, thinking it was a lump of sugar, threw himself at the ball and headed it home.
So, apart from Premier League titles, FA Cup titles, exciting football, world-wide recognition of the club for class, dignity and style, all-time great players like Henry, Vieira, Pires, Fabregas, van Persie, a Champions League final, 15 unbroken years of Champions League qualification, and keeping us in the top 4 while financing a new stadium…What has Wenger ever done for us?
This is not to say that we dont need to buy some players but and it is a big but chances are that the club knows that and that Arsene is a better spotter ot talent and judge of a player given that he has his coaching badges, thirty odd years of experience and a track record of buying good players, to the above list, add Kosielny, Vermaleen, Gilberto Silva, Llungberg, Kanu, Arteta, Eduardo.
However if we dont buy and dont mount a creditable challenge next season then it is time to move on and bring in a new manager and staff. My choice for that person would be Guadriola as i believe he would understand and appreciate the tradition and history of our club.
My wife is currently having our back door changed to a stable door, as a way off celebrating “The Squill”
Did anyone hear the latest….we are just days away from signing Giroud??
Of course,hey never tell us how many days,and this is the fifth time in five days it’s been reported.
Some can say what hey like about your posts Rico,but at least they’re bloody original!!
At least he doesn’t hoof it long Lee.
Vernat,at least it appears the board is definitely in favour of new and decent signings,judging by the comments from Gazidids.
Over recent years,they’ve told us there’s money to be spent,but haven’t actually said it would be spent.
Lee,they had to ring the reserves coach to check the spelling.
Canters all over the pitch.
Hope France get battered tonight, want M’Vila and Giroud out 😛
True Lee. In fact his attacking tendencies have caused Wenger to try and rein him in.
It was a carrot that made the last contact Adam….
Well Rico. I hope we don’t sell him because we will miss him. If he goes and we regret it we might be accused of locking the stable door after the horse has bolted.
Scott 10:23
My point still stands at the end of the day – we’re one of the richest clubs in the world yet don’t have a competitive team. Something doesn’t add up.
vernat – that is spot on, he has bought players to excite, won us silverware etc etc and kept us in CL footie throughout his career with us…
We should never forget that, but sadly, the last eight seasons have over shadowed all of that, so now it’s his time to get us back to being a squad that looks capable of really challenging again…
Under every pony’s tail is an arse.
I agree that the last eight seasons have been mediocre by his previous standards however up until last season we had paid back 250 million of our 390 million debt a not inconsiderable achievement whilst staying in the top four. F
From last season that has ceased to be an excuse as we can not pay of more of the existing debt, I believe that is why we saw the signings last season and it is why I am hopeful that we will see more this season.. IF we make a profit again this season but sign the players we need then good who cares as long as we get the players we need to improve.
Vernat. Nicely phrased post. Success is a moveable feast. BM didn’t win much last year, nor did Barca. Chelsea, despite being one of the 2 or 3 richest clubs in the world finished in a low position in the PL but lucked the most easily forgettable CL win ever. Did PSG win the French league or the CL? And how much money have they got. In fact, any big team that doesn’t win either their domestic league or the CL could be thought of as failures.My frustration comes from believing that we aren’t that far way investment-wise and I hope we can make that step up. Mind you, it still wouldn’t satisfy some of the doomers. T’was ever thus.
Nayyyyyyy Adam….
We aren’t competitive Pele??
Just over 12 months ago we were neck and neck for the league title.
Top 4 for ever and a day.
We got smacked one single time last season.
We had a stack of injuries last season including probably our 2nd best player.
We weren’t competitive for a total of two games last season…UTD and Milan…thats it.
Yes,we definitely must improvement to win a title,but name a club that doesn’t…Citeh included.
The big thing is we actually have more capacity to improve than any club in the league,imo.
Simply with decent luck with injuries and he new guys having a full season with the club will ensure we’re a better side,let alone with some decent signing.
I think there were more than two games that we did not compete properly in, QPR away for starters, Sunderland in the FA cup, Norwich at home. At times the same old mistakes appeared were we underestimated or did not give enough respect to the game.
I know we had injuries but there were games last season where the performance was unacceptable in terms of cohesion and effort, every game must be played at the teams maximum or else it comes back and bites you.
Tell you what Lee,I would pick iniesta over Ronaldo any day of the week.
We need a new “crop” of players Adam!
KT, he is different gravy mate!
Put Messi in front of him…poetry in motion!
You are clutching a ‘straws’ thinking we’ll get that many Lee….
Offski for a bit, housework calls….
nosebag Rico?
http://www.chelseafc.com/page/AcademyProfiles/0,,10268~1333478,00.html
Can’t vote it doesn’t cover my feelings.If the signings come that will be a start but I need to see a change in the coaching to mix things up a bit when we play the so called lesser teams. If and when he does that I might start to get behind him fully again.
quote
” If Wenger makes the right signings ”
https://i.chzbgr.com/completestore/12/6/15/D4-eYALZYkW7c_mKkqOPHA2.jpg
Try this…
http://www.chelseafc.com/page/AcademyProfiles/0,,10268~1333478,00.html
fuck it,it doesn’t work…
Vernat,check the scores out in those games.
We may have played like crap,but you can’t say we didn’t have a chance at winning all three games.
Only 2 games we were not competitive last season? What team where you watching Scott. We were outplayed by Wigan at home and out fought by Norwich at home capitulated against Blackburn and every team had injuries. That’s what you have a squad for. I remember the runners up having to play midfielders as CB and wingers as full backs because of injuries.
TT,again,tell me the scores of those matches,Please!!!
How many times did we get belted……..count them,it was twice…
How many times did I say we weren’t competitive….coincidentally,it was twice….
Read my previous post and I said there were plenty of times times we played crap.
Just having a break, any news 😛
alan, yes, i do 🙂
TT – i think you could add a few more to those games…
Newcastle away in the opening game springs to my mind, then the dippers at home the following week…
Scott – forget the scoreline just for one moment, how many games did you watch thinking that the players needed a kick in the jacksie, for me there were plenty…
How were we not competitive in any of those games Rico?
Shit,yes.
Competitive,yes.
No news……media must be bored.
Guys,where did the England association with Lions originate??
I’ve always wondered.
Aaaahhhhhh but RICO,by those rules,we were competitive v Utd 🙂
Quite a few imho Scott, lethargic is a word that springs to mind in many of our games…
Thing is, this is when it has to change, what has been done is gone, the squad nededs tweaking and lets all hope this coming season, lady luck is with us on the injury front 🙂
Circles again Rioc lol.
On the Lions…..am I in danger of meeting one in downtown London ??
Do you us keep them as pets as we Aussies all have a Kangaroo in the backyard lol??
We had no favours last year with injuries…it was incredible.
Funny though how many we copped,yet RVP stayed fit as a fiddle..who’d have thought?
Off to be now,so goodnight all.
Tobogganing tomorrow,so i may live to chat again…..
More importantly, my first batch of rolls have just come out of the oven and they are perfect 😆
where did the England association with Lions originate??
I’ve always wondered.
Richard coer de Leon I believe. Been on the English standard ever since.
Think what is confusing the issue Scott and everyone is the given value for competitive that everyone is using. competitive on the score sheet yes fair enough twice last season, competitive in performance and effort different matter which is the point I think that a lot of people are trying to make here.
vernat, thats exactly it….
Neck and neck? We were never in the top two after March, that’s not competing Scott?
As for injuries, we get that every season – you can blame it on luck if it happens for one or two seasons but when it’s a reoccurring issue, the manager has to take blame. Also, the fact we didn’t have much of a squad outside the first 11 is also his fault.
With regards to the injuries a contributory factor is that it seems to be perfectly acceptable to kick the crap out an Arsenal player and nothing is done by the ref about it
The thin squad is down to one man!
Neck and neck at the bottom Romford 😉
Squilli Lee, it’s his fault 😉
vernat, don’t expect that to change….
That shouldn’t be an excuse. We definitely do get kicked but you also have the foolish innocuous challenges where a two week injury turns into a six month lay-off. This isn’t an isolated case either.
Wenger has much to answer for.
People shouldn’t think I’m slating Arsenal either. I’m as passionate and behind the team as they come. The last 7/8 years have opened my eyes up to a lot though. Some people are a bit too submissive towards Wenger, they need to learn to think objectively.
When I talk about competing – I’m talking about taking it down to the final 2/3 games. We didn’t even do that in the season Eduardo got injured and that team was awesome IMO.
Wenger bleats a lot about mental strength but let’s be honest, it’s rarely shown when it really matters.
Totally agree re the ‘mental strength’ comments, they are bizzare, i wish he’d keep those thoughts, along with the ‘this is my best squad’ comments each season, to himself….
11: 03 Scott from OZ said “You, Adam, TT, Gambon, Nashua, Pele…probably missed another dozen that waiting.” I think you got me wrong mate. I love and admired AW. I think he is a football genius. But he does make mistakes that are totally and completely his fault. You just can’t be adamant and sticked to your principles all the time when there is a room for change when the situation demands it. Uptil now they’re showing the 8-2 to Manure in the U.S.A. Imagine you have to see that dreadful day over and over.
The best managers are always looking to adapt and change – that’s why Fergie is and will always remain relevant. You can hate United but he is a top top manager.
fergie is a top manager because he keeps changing his assistant, its him that brings in new ideas…. Together it ticks along nicely….
Afternoon Gooners.
Thought provoking post Rico. Very good.
Davey BMX made some interesting comments.
And then buggered off, not bothering to debate.
Now that WAS pathetic….
The two stand out comments for me, among many very good comments were, Adam, 10.02 & GoonerB, 10.36.
Squillaci Must Stay…!!! 🙂
And Fergie isn’t stubborn Rico 😉
Fergie is as stubborn as hell but he is winning games so he get away with it. The old man makes the changes that are deem necessary and don’t let the his players get away with silly mistakes on the pitch. He get down from his comfortable seat and take his chewgum from his mouth and start shouting. No player is too big to be benched.
Fergie is disciplined, Wenger is not – therein lies the difference. Complacency and application are both major problems Arsenal suffer from, and both those faults can be attributed to the manger.
Afternoon all.
A few came over and said “don’t judge Wenger for his past fialures, judge him what he is going to do in 5 years time”.
Isn’t it a tad hypocritical?
E.g.
After Maggie, how years were given to John Major to fix up her “mistakes”?
After Neil Kinnock, how many years were given to Tony Blair to fix the mistakes?
After Tony Blair, how many years were given to Gordon Brown to fix the mistakes?
After Gordon Brown, how many years were you all going to give Cameron to fix the mistakes?
Assuming the British Economy remains in the doldrum after 8 years of miseries under Cameron, are you all going to give Cameron 5 more years that he can fix British Economy?
AFter 8 trophyless years (I doubt we will win a trophy next season as it is the beginning of a 2-year transitory period to mature those youngsters and those new players to gell into existing squad) you think it is still fair to give Wenger another 5 years to continue to build his 3rd Team at Arsenal FC?
If you are so short of patience with politicans after they had failed to deliver for 2 terms, are you all going to vote for him again for the 3rd term?
And you only vote him in because there is “no one better around”…or simply it is the Party you are voting for and not that clown fronting the Party?
By the same logic, supporting Wenger is equating supporting Arsenal FC, and criticising Arsene Wenger is akin to criticising Arsenal FC?
My belief?
Arsene Wenger needs another two years to delvier a 3rd title-winning Arsenal team which should win the title or a amjor silverware (not a tin cup) by 2014/15.
Judge Arsene Wenger by what sort of 3rd TEAM he left behind in 2014/15 as Wenegr had goen stale at Arsenal FC and in England and needed a new challenge elsewhere to rejuvenate his career or a 2nd wind in his love to build another domineering football team..be it the French Naitonal Team, PSG or even a new challenge in Spain.
Judge Arsene Wenger by what kind of legacy he will leave behind for his successor..and not by what he had won for Arsenal FC.
A great manager left behind an enduring legacy like Chapman with his successor reaped the benefit of the foundation laid by him.
Counting his titles and trophies won merely indicated him as a most successful manager, like Mourinho, like Brian Clough, but not a great manager leaving behind an enduring legacy for his successor to continue to move the club to another level.
Is Wenger’s Arsenal FC like Camelot?
‘There was once a bright spark in human history called Camelot,
A brief fickle only and gone.”
Afternoon Charlie,
yes, nowt worse than a bit of a knocking but don’t bother coming back, simple isn’t it….
And he is not afraid to let the club be in debt to the tune of £197 Million (i think)
Now we really don’t want anything like that to happen, just spend what we have and coach those who we do have…
You hit the nail on the head there Rico. I don’t even think Wenger is getting the best out of the current squad. As previously mentioned, Fergie is open to change – I’m sure and I hope Bould will be able to contribute and implement new strategies.
What are you trying to say Merlin 😉
Bould and Banfield Romford, two quality defenders in their day, they need to drum that into ours defensive players…
Not only coach those who we do have but bring in those we can afford and have the attitude of TV and JW. These two in IMO will die for Arsenal.
Nashua 2.57. Could you enlighten me as to the meaning of that earlier post you referred to by Scott? I can’t work it out at all.
@ Adam, Scott makes a joke at 11:03 AM when your name and my were mentioned.
Hi Nashua. I’ll have to take your word for that. Thanks. 🙂
Rico, I meant that Arsene Wenger needs two more years to build his 3rd team and that is it.
He will not continue on with Arsenal FC and will move on to pursue other new projects such as PSG or in Spain or even in Africa to follow his love of building youth academies.
Look at Wenger nowadays. He is no more clam, no more “Le Professeur”, no more that suave, calm, urbane Zen Master in his early years at Higbury.
He had morphed into a whingeing sore loser, easily wound-up by the likes of Ferguson, Big Mouth and Pardew…
Look at how contemptuous Ferguson was treating Arsenal FC as no threat to any club in the title race……no more that fierce rivalry worthy of a “mind-game” from Ferguson.
That is how far had Wenger dropped in the pecking order since the halycon years of the 1998 to 2005.
Arsene Wenger knew very well that he had stagnant at Arsenal FC, and no help with such a money-grabbing owne rin Kroenke with no passion for football, only dollars and sense.
Wenger wants to work for a club with a passion for football, a club driven to success with the full support of the owners to get the players he wanted tos trengthen the team; and not to wathc the budget to get the players he cna afford nowadays.
Remember the ealry years in 1997 to 2001 when Wenger was given a carte blanche with David Dein suportign him in closoing the deals?
You can said the beginning of the end relaly started with Cashly Cole when the overtly interference from the Board and finally Dein being ousted led us to the sad state of what Arsenal FC became today as a 2nd tier European club ratehr than a marquee club in the same breathe of Real, BArca, Milan, Bayern Munich, ManU, CITEH and Chelski.
Wengegr will be gone in 2014 and we will know what kind of legacy he left behind…like AS Nancy and AS Monaco?
Nashua – agree there re the ‘never say die attitude’ – we have a few who are just happy to jog around on the pitch….
I know Merlin, was pulling your doo dah 😉
I’m not sure Arsene Wenger will be hanging up his managers boots just yet, I think he’ll sign another contract yet….
hello
Clichy is the left back today
M’Villa and Giroud are in the bench
Michael owen is set to join Stoke – why would he want to do that? Guess he couldn’t stomach playing for Everton… or the fans abuse he’d get from the dipper fans…
Hi JM, hopefully they will be sat talking about what its going to be like for them at their new club….
Comrades together at Arsenal 🙂
And they are off, come on Ukraine 🙂
Match suspended, thunder and lightening….
still waiting…….
kickk off not only before 7 p.m.
6pm here JM 😉 i’ll keep you updated 😉
Hi Rico. Busy day for me? Are you bearing up under the weight of negativity sweeping the Arsenal blogs lately?
Hi Adam, sorry, I was outside re-setting our staddle stone, boy it was heavy 😉
Can’t wait until the TW is actually open mind you, then we really could have something to moan about 😉
What is a staddle stone Rico?
Just Googled it. Looks heavy. Can’t someone else in the house do it for you?
darn – 2-0 to France….
missed you again Adam, guess we are both busy 😉
I’m here to stay for a while now…
It takes two Adam, and a sack truck 😉
All these country expressions elude me. Sack Truck?
Adam, does DHL never deliver to your door with a very heavy parcel??
Quite a few times a week in fact Rico? Are you saying that you are. DHL driver then? 🙂
http://www.sacktruck.org.uk
😆 Adam – you suggesting i am a tad heavy….
Giroud has just come on for France…
Ah! Give me a country woman who can manhandle a straddle stone and a sack truck every time Rico.
Never in a million years Rico. I am sending you a mail later or tomorrow. Keep an eye out.
😆 Adam, you are cheeky….
Oi City Boy, it’s a staddle stone, no straddling involved 😉
I will keep an eye out 🙂
Back very shortly….
Apologies. It’s the iPad predictive text. Honest.
M’Villa is fantastic
Nasri is from other world
Giroud is ok
France runs for winner
Kick off Sweden-England
Swedish fans are just horrid, come on England…..
😆 Adam…
And Caroll is nothing more than a…….. answers on a postcard
Hi JM, I hope we get get both Giroud and M’Vila 🙂
M’Vila looks just what we need. Covers the defence and is always looking to move the ball into offensive positions. Giroud? Not so sure. His running off the ball looked unimaginative. But unfair to really judge on a short look.
I wouldn’t want to judge Giroud on the short time he was on the pitch either, at least he had a shot, albeit terribly off target…
1-0 – get in there….
Andy just scored for England
True Rico.
Twemendous header by Cawwal.
Hiya Fine Folk.
That was a tremendous goal by Carroll from a great pass by Gerrard. I do not like Carroll but his technique in the air is great.
Rico, the swedish supporters may be horrid. But they have some good looking chicks.
That could be just what Giroud could do for us 🙂
😆 devil, funny enough, I am not watching them 😉
Nashua – he has to score for england, he can’t do it for liverpool 😉
Evening guys, what have I missed in the world of Arsenal?
Evening Will, nothing….
Damn it.Was hoping to get in from work and we have some info.
Just how calm is Martin Keown, and doesn’t he speak so so much sense, I really wish Arsenal could fine a place for him on the staff….
Alan Green. BBC5 Live.
Moan moan moan.
Why doesn’t that fcuking short fat ugly tosser just piss off.
Talks a constant stream of bollocks.
Commentator????
My arse..!!!
Not until France get knocked out Will, and that could be a while yet sadly….
😆 Charlie, you a bit fed up with him then ….
England are doing ok….
I hate Alan Green and he is not that happy with my team when he commentates on us.
I agree Rico but something has to happen straight after this ends.
Alan Green, Rico, his voice just gets on my nerves.
He goes on and on and on and on and on and feckin on.
A continuing droning cnut.
To those thinking the word competitive was being used in different contexts earlier,you’re 100% correct.
Seeing it was me who made the original comment,then obviously I set the agenda on that subtopic and also the context in which it was used,those disagreeing with me obviously misunderstood this and were incorrect in their arguments.
Nashua,mate,I was having a laugh when naming you and others,and it had absolutely nothing to do with Wenger.
I named a few who’d love me to write a post so they could tear it to pieces……..not sure how Wenger came into it,but I’m sorry if it offended you.
Fired up AK….how’ve you been?
I can’t stand him either guys, he hates arsenal and i don’t like him….
OOohhhh Scott, what did I miss?
Nothing can really happy Will, until July 1st…
Charlie – i would have forgiven you had you spelt it right 😉
Scott – I think it was only me who suggested you srote a post so i could get my own back, and it was all in jest…
2-1 sweden and we think our defence is bad, why did no-one challenge mellburg??
Ox and Theo will be on soon 😛
Take that Mark Lawrenson, go Theo, go Theo …
What a strike….. Of course, he could never be a striker 😉
I know Rico,and I just added a few names who may like to see it happen,but it was purely in jest also.
Obviously Nashua thought I’d listed people who hate Wenger…..I can’t understand how he came to that conclusion at all.
G’day Will,not to get the debate going again,but I merely said we were only thumped twice last season,so by my reckoning,we weren’t competitive in two games…Utd at OT,and Milan…8-2 and 4-0.
Plenty said we weren’t competitive in several other games,and listed them.
I replied that we either drew those games or lost by a single goal,so in fact were competitive,even though we played like crap.
Nothing major,just good,spirited debate.
Lesson to be learned then Scott 😉 You should have stuck to picking on me 😉
RICO,it really is the hard part about commenting on the net.
It’s very difficult to have everyone on the same wavelength,and we do have to take into account that if English is a second language,comments can be taken more literally.
It’s why debates on a forum are never boring lol.
How’s the score going??
Scott, English is your first language, yet i never know when you are joking 😉 😉
2-2 still…
Well done Theo, great ball, great finish by wellbeck…
3-2
And vice versa Rico 🙂
Who said English was my first language?
Australian is!!!,!,!,
Great to see your toyboy having an impact lol.
When asked about Giroud last night,Wenger smiled and said “I can’t say anything” followed by “nothing has been decided”.
That equates to deal is done,in my book.
Scott – Theo has been really good since he came on 3 mins, two touches and one goal 😉
My smilies give me away 😉
This is nearly as bad as watching Arsenal hang on to a lead…. 🙁
Theo is on fire, telling you guys, if we sell him, we sre stupid!!
Ashley Young has been rubbish….
That has just hurt MOTD pundits they all had to praise Theo, they actually said he changed the game…
Take that BBC!!!!
Well done Woy Hodgson….
Rico,we either play Theo the right way or we may as well cash in.
Wenger,use him right mate.
Has Roy united this squad?
Gerrard just took away a goal from the OX….:(
I agree Rico…..if we sell Theo we are stupid. But there is one thing sure about Theo. The moment he is sure of his place he is crap. The moment there is competition he changes. So if we remain with what we have than its better to sell him. But if we get competition for places than keep him.
Scott, he came on on the right but was obviously told to cut in when he can, he did and he scored. Wenger needs to give him more freedom, tell him if he needs to, tell him not to hug the line, we saw that against the swamps…
HG – he did, bloomin annoying too, would have done the ox the world of good…
Morning Devil.
It’s mighty cold down here in the snowfields.
It took a while to get to sleep last night.
The couple next door are obviously not married with kids in tow lol.
Luckily,the guy was no Ascot Gold Cup entrant,more like a 1000 metre,dash up the straight sprinter!!!
Aaaahhhhhh,to be young again.
I won’t/can’t disagree with that devil, we saw it once Ox started getting more chances…
But that is just why we all cry out for a stronger, deeper squad….
Theo needs to be used correctly. Do that, and he will be a world beater.
Exactly Rico.
If we do play 2 up front he’d be much more effective.
Any two of him,Giroud or Podolski with RVP as a true #10.
Really hope wenger watched tonights game…
I’m off guys – got a busy one tomorrow…
Nighty night and stay safe all…
Night Rico.
I am off now Fine Folk. See you all tomorrow for another great post as usual.
……and England were not crap today.
the missus told you all to enjoy this fine win and to be good. If you cant be good be careful!!!!! 😉
I hope my neighbours were careful,cause they weren’t being good 🙂
See ya Devil.
@Scott, sorry if I misunderstood, my thought was you were taking a jab at those of us who love AW but criticized him from time to time even though he might go down in history as one of the best manager. But you and I just see him differently. I take no offence. No pun intended.
Do you really want to sell TW?
For me, was the man of the match
No worries Nashua,glad we’re on the same wavelength.
Hi Scott. I’m good, thanks.
You on holiday then?
Thought that Theo was outstanding tonight.
Inconsistancy is his biggest problem.
Agreed about Gerrard taking a cert goal off the toes of the Ox.
TW is MOTM once every 7 years.
Sell him if CHelski or Liverpool is daft enough to bid 25-mil for him.
TW does not have the technique to hold onto the ball in the middle and he struggles in premiership ‘cos every defenders and every managers knew that he is a blind alley runner, eaisly shrugged off the ball with body check and skipped off the ball when you go sliding in…..
He can’t even achieved 15+ goal per seaon in all competition and TW and Gervinho is the main reason why our strikeforce is so woeful and we were never title contender since the start of the season…at the most, a fiant glimpse of 2nd spot….but grimmly fought on to hand onto 4th and got lucky at 3rd spot with Tiny Totts hitting a blip of 1 win in 9 matches, i.e. bottled it.
I will ratehr TW is gone and his time taken over by OX, Benik and Joel Campbell, our future.
TW had reached his “peak” and that’s is.
Goodnight!
yes it was a good result but it wasn’t easy
Guys We should be optimistic
Morning all…
Theo Theo Theo…
Even your negative comments on the player Merlin won’t make a difference to me, he is a late developer…
🙂
New Post going up….