Morning All, A very happy birthday to Laurent Koscielny who celebrates his 30th…! Not sure many of you lot on here can remember that far back 🙂
The boss says Jack has suffered a bit of a setback and is not progressing as quickly in his recovery as they had hope (not a big surprise) but i would rather he came back 100% fit and not pushed back when on 75% fit and then he’s out for another 3 months. Apart from that it seems the squad is fit and we have suffered no injuries to any players who were away on international duty.
A Sponsored article for today seeing as AFC news is still very much at a premium…. Enjoy your day.
Despite high expectations prior to the opening weekend of the season, Arsenal have been disappointing in the early stages of the campaign. The Gunners lost 2-0 at home to West Ham in the curtain raiser before earning a slender victory away at Crystal Palace.
Following on, Arsene Wenger’s side were then held to a goalless draw by Liverpool before Arsenal picked up all three points against 10-man Newcastle in their last outing before the international break. It’s early days of course, but the Gunners are already falling behind in the title rankings.
Quiet Period
Arsenal’s shortcomings in their opening four matches have been pinned on Arsene Wenger. While many have questioned the Frenchman’s tactics in the past, he is now receiving the bulk of abuse for the club’s failure to buy a world class striker this summer.
Whether that was entirely Wenger’s fault or if the club’s board of directors are to blame, Arsenal supporters are rightly annoyed at the lack of transfer activity this summer. In fact, the Gunners were the only club in Europe’s top five leagues who didn’t buy an outfield player all summer.
That being said, a number of Arsenal’s supporters have been calling for Wenger’s head for a while now. Many expected the Frenchman to depart last summer off the back of two successive FA Cup triumphs but that didn’t happen. Others wanted the club to take action after both Carlo Ancelotti and Jurgen Klopp became available, although that was never likely to materialise.
It would be foolish to suggest that Wenger is ‘invincible’ but it would take something drastic for the club to sack the Frenchman. While his previous triumphs may well have been in the past, Wenger is the most successful manager in Arsenal’s long history and his achievements earlier in his career should mean that he is entitled to depart when he feels the time is right.
Next man in.
However, the club must be ruthless and cannot afford to be sentimental if and when a world class manager becomes available. Arsenal’s supporters were disappointed to see the club pass on a move for Klopp earlier this summer and the former Borussia Dortmund boss is exactly the type of manager that would thrive at the Emirates Stadium.
Klopp decided to take a year out of the game but that hasn’t stopped the rumours. Arsenal fans believe that it is the German’s destiny to manage the Gunners and Klopp’s ability to get the best out of his players could help the club to earn their first Premier League title since 2004 – and we all know what happened that season.
So in one sense, there is plenty of pressure on Wenger. The Frenchman will be desperate to leave on his terms and will not want his legacy tarnished by a dismissal late in his Arsenal career. To win over the critics, the Gunners must challenge for the title this season. And by challenge, I mean challenge. A place in the top two isn’t an unreasonable target for this group of players.
While Wenger won’t necessarily feel the pressure, his position at the club isn’t certain. If Arsenal finish outside of the top four this season, the club’s board of directors will have little choice but to sack the Frenchman. Wenger has led the Gunners to nineteen successive top four finishes – a statistic that shows his ability to consistently achieve results at the highest level.
Arsenal fans are beginning to get bored of finishing fourth and they are well within their rights to call for change. While securing nineteen successive top four finishes is an excellent achievement over a career, there hasn’t been any progression since their last league title. This is perhaps Arsenal supporters’ biggest worry.
There is little doubt that Arsene Wenger is under pressure, however the Arsenal board would be foolish to move just yet. If Jurgen Klopp is available and wants the job, the Gunners should move quickly. If Liverpool fail to finish in the top four, they may also be interested in the German and Arsenal’s supporters would hate to miss out on the ex-Dortmund boss due to their complacency and refusal to dismiss Wenger.
Wenger’s tenure is coming to an end, that’s for sure. Arsenal have been blessed under the Frenchman and their supporters should recognise that his achievements entitle him to leave on his terms. However, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the club act sharply if the Gunners fail to finish in the top four and Jurgen Klopp could well be at the helm at the start of the 2016-17 campaign.
Clippety Klopp, clippety Klopp, I’m not good enough to a pl?? ,
Not for me, his best days are behind him, I reckon. BvD finished down the pile last year, didn’t even qualify for CL. He sort of mirrors Wenger’s history, brilliant early on but has petered out latterly! Nah not Klopp.
Ancelotti, well maybe he has Wenger’s demeanor, he’s cool under pressure and a very good tactician and he seems to be dispassionate about his players, no favourites in his teams, they are picked on merit, nothing else.
But my favourite for the manager’s office is Jonker. I’m sure he has been apprenticed to our resident pensioner with. The view that he will take over when the old one shuffles off! In terms of continuity, from within the club, I think it could be an inspired appointment. As well as the fact that he has total inside knowledge of the whole playing staff and their abilities. What could be better? The return of David Moyes???
Anyway it’s the not my opinion!
Should be, ‘it’s only my opinion’ at the end!
Jonker in my view is tailor- made for coaching and not managing teams…
His record as a manager is quite poor even though it could be argued he has not been given the chance…
Ideally he will come in as a no.2 as he did at Wolfsburg and FC Hollywood…
Good read Wath btw… you have upped your game from the summer. good to see you took Goonie’s criticism on-board 😉
I’m with you Ts, Jonker to me seems like someone who is in his element coaching and teaching, like the way he thinks and speaks as to what he wants to achieve with the academy so think he quite happy there.
Had to keep Stan happy Ts otherwise he’ll go off on another rant in front of the mirror and Rico will ban him. The only thing Stan does is make me laugh Ts.
I wonder if Arsene goes with BFG and Gabriel on Sat..?
Ts only reason you liked the post is cos I didn’t write it mate lol
It’s that quiet on here I could be joining Rico on hols me thinks………………
Good afternoon all,
Good article Wath.
In my opinion we should go for a younger manager who has the energy and ambition to make it as a manager. The likes of Wenger, they have seen it all and they don’t feel anything anymore that’s why they don’t care anymore.
Who knows, maybe Stan has already given another position within the club…so I don’t see him being sucked but rather just moved to another position. Expect him not to retire even at the age of 90…(Bob’s style) …
Honestly, the club is loosing out on it’s fun base because the youngsters don’t wanna associate themselves with a team which hasn’t won the league for over ten years!
Most of us we are tired of the history of Wenger, it means nothing more especially to the new supporters, who only know how our team has been humiliated and no tangible success.
We are even tired of by mocked year after year with nothing to defend ourselves with. Wenger has expired, full stop! Let him leave the position…we will never know who else will be successful until he leaves…he has dwelt long enough.
Pep stayed at Barca, for a quarter of his time and won everything…so success should be relative to time…as for me he is not as successful as we claim…he has stayed long ? Yes! Because he makes money for owners.
As for old and new supporters as well as economy…NOTHING! Money is stuck with the same people
Lol Wath…
You could copy and paste a post from 2 years ago.. it won’t be noticed.
Simon lol a bit harsh on Monsieur Wenger. Even Sperds have new fan base over seas thees days for them to consider expanding the bowling alley they call stadium… 🙂
I think you may find its the older supporters not very new fans who are becoming disillusioned.
Join the again fans to sunderland or Stoke and you will find the number of Yanks and South Asians’ visiting UK just to watch Arsenal
join the away* fans… it should read
Simon, most new age fans will follow the likes of shitty and the chavs because they win things but are they real supporters or just glory hunters, these are the kind of fans that change teams every few yrs..!
If someone asks why we have not won the league in ten years ask them how much their club spend to win the league and only due to sugar daddy money did they achieve this..!
We now have funds and it’s frustrating we didn’t spend what we have but never take shit from other fans who just follow the rest and support a team cos they won something recently..!
Do you really want ppl like that supporting Arsenal year after next because we win the league this year…? these ppl are not real fans..!
I don’t want Arsene anywhere near the club when he retires… new broom needs to sweep clean but I don’t trust the board to make the right decision if I am honest
Rather patronizing from the Boss though that he feels he can tell us how to support our Club yet we can’t tell him how to manage..? How many years has and how many games has he been a supporter…? We have not been in charge of a 1,000 games as manager so I’d ask how many games has he followed Arsenal as a fan…?
Comments like that just get peoples backup and he creates another stick in which to beat himself with if things go tits up…!
For such an intelligent man he speaks such complete nonsense sometimes…!
I hear you tsgh and Wath…it’s just so frustrating to that we can’t buy just two field players and yet we boast of having £200m? Really? We didn’t expect Wenger to buy a new team like QPR two or three years ago or what ManU is doing at the moment…aaah not forgetting Chelsea and Shitty….No!
But aaaaasaah Prof! Has screwed us again
Gary Monk in a couple of years, could fit the bill, to step in after Wenger. He’s a young coach who stepped in at Swansea when things were a bit rocky. He has shown that he can certainly work under pressure and could be ready in a couple of years. He has carried on getting Swansea to play nice attacking football but have an edge in midfield and can defend.
Its whether the Board would sanction such a maverick move…..
Just a thought……
Wath you have outdone yourself!
I think if Monfish continues the way he is going with Swansea he would b worth a punt! Now put on ur knickers and make me a cup of tea! 🙂
Marinello- Monk is an interesting character…
I like Rijkaard, carlito and the new BVB manager Tuchel too…
Wath- its fair to say common sense and pragmatism escaped AW at the door.. 😉
That post was an absolute load of tripe…
😉
You want onions with that Kev….?
Ha ha ha
I am a big fan of Monk, Martinez at the Toffees and Tuchel could be the next Pep.
Next 8 weeks is a pressure cooker for AW and squad, trusting we can get some victories and decent performances.
If not AW will be under big pressure even from the AKB brigade.
It would not be the way I envisaged our start, after some pre season glee mixed with high expectations.
Still feel we missed a trick with Chicharito as our fox in the box for 7mill. Decent pedigree at RM and Manu.
Cheers
Anyone seen that video of Petr Cech playing the drums…
He ain’t bad for a goalkeeper, who we know are all mad… 😀
Every drummer I have met has been a bit odd too Kev. Guitarists on the other hand are usually fantastic people. 🙂
Guitarists……….. Keith Richards I take it you mean Adam lol
Tripe, isn’t that the stable diet of a Northern Monkey, that and pigs cheeks of course, maybe the Stoke supporters would be so kind as to enlighten us southern softies !
Steady on Adam, my ole man was a drummer.
Wath, last day tomorrow, take my advice and try and blag it mate, that’s what I’d do !
Wath. Yeah Man, Keef. What a dude!
Micko. I love drummers, it’s just that they keep speeding up. 🙂
Very inconsistent time-keepers.
I’m gonna do what Ts said Micko, copy n paste a pre stoke write up from 3 yrs ago and see if anyone notices……….. Pls don’t tell….!
Buddy Rich Adam…
Louie bellson ,saw him do a premier drums demo in the 100 club. Pretty amazing.
Great drummers both for sure.
Very true Adam, lead guitarists in particular are the most decent people on Gods Earth. 🙂
Mick, was Micko Senior in a Showband?
I could imagine that Lee would make a good drummer…
John Bonham for me..
Morning all.
I see arsene’s spouting the same old bollox and then drops a new comment about solutions from heaven. His excuses get more arrogant every year.
Lewis he really winds me up!
Morning All…
Ginger Baker…
Keith Moon…
I actually felt a little sorry for Arsene yesterday. He seemed genuinely hurt that he could be accused of actually lying. But then I am a big softie as Brudder Lee or Kev will tell you
A good win against Stoke tomorrow, with no injuries, would be very welcome.
Steve Gadd? Amazing drummer. Keeps good time too. 🙂
You are indeed a big softie Adam, I can vouch for you on that one…
Going to my first game of the season tomorrow, my first game since we beat West Brom, Theo hat trick and all..
My last trip saw the atmosphere of the Emirates on the crest of the euphoria prior to last seasons FACup final. It was like a party…
So I’ll be very interested to compare the feeling at the ground, with four months ago.
Not sure that crowd will show much patience as the total failure of Wenger/Gazides/Law over the Summer to do what was required, is certain to be in the back of many fans’ minds…
For Wenger’s sake, his team better be up for the battle and an early goal or two are gonna be vital, or else things could get a bit tense…
I don’t think the board can touch Wenger even if he finishes 7th. He gave them an awesome piece of estate and they are still making money out if highbury houses (like this mansion Rico got us 🙂
I got done and over with Wenger after this TW. Whatever isht that comes out of his mouth I try not to listen cause it will just fuel my spite. Two years and his contract is up…i hope that’s the last of him doing business with the Arsenal.
Good morning all,
Adam, don’t be fooled by Wenger, you shouldn’t feel sorry for him at all. He is a big liar. He has been lying to us all along. And that story is true. He he knew the condition of Welbeck all along. As he new that he would not buy anymore after Cech.
The truth is he is a liar and arrogant as well as per Neville.
About Stoke’s game, am a bit sceptical about that one though because we never won a match soon after internationals for a while now. Sometimes I feel these internationals disturb the rhythm of the team. Anyway, it’s part of the game.
I wish we could collect all the three points though for the team n supporters and on the other hand I feel that Wenger should pay for his lies and arrogance.
Have a wonderful day all.
Simon, having read you say Wenger is arrogant and liar daily for a few weeks now, I accept that’s it’s your opinion, I really do.
Anything else to say?
Oh, and Adam speaks with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek 🙂
Morning all.
New post up……………
Three points a must tomorrow. I think we should have enough to take Stoke, who to play up top though?!