Morning guys.
Well did you? No, not even a little droplet of a tear escaped the corner of your eye? You’re a hard lot….
The Sun shone brightly over a packed Emirates Stadium which was fitting for such a grand occasion. Players and staff of past and present had turned up to pay their respects to a man whom many have referred to as being like a father to them during their time at Arsenal. Plenty were missing but two whose absence stood out was the clubs record goal scorer and the clubs greatest ever signing. Henry was at The Etihad by choice or contractual obligation I don’t know but I’m sure Sky Sports would have given him time off had he really wanted to be there. Perhaps he wasn’t invited, perhaps he’s to be part of the new regime so stayed away out of respect. Whatever the reason, it was odd. Dennis Bergkamp, well maybe his ship didn’t dock in time. Yes yes, I jest.
Yesterday was about our club captain Per Mertesacker too as he ends his playing days next Sunday. He’s not going far though, in fact he’s staying put just in a different role. Santi Cazorla, well his contract is up this summer and as yet it’s not known whether he’ll be at the club next season although I suspect he won’t. An emotional return to Malaga or Villareal is more likely, in a league which is far less physical than here in England. The fans sang his name, sometimes in response to ‘there’s only one Arsene Wenger’, if he goes, I’ll miss the little Spaniard. He’s been great for us, they both have but in different ways.
By the time next season kicks off I’m sure we’ll have said a few more goodbyes too.
Once all the pre-match jollies, including the guard of honour for the Frenchman, the match got underway. Aubameyang made it 1-0, Lacazette 2-0, Kolasinac 3-0, Iwobi 4-0 and finally, Aubameyang again with his second goal of the game. Nice! Nice for everyone att the stadium, well, apart from Sean Dyche and co but I doubt they spent too much time feeling sorry for themselves. It was Arsenal’s day, Arsene Wenger’s day and it ended on a high.
Speeches, a presentation and a few laps around the stadium followed as Arsene Wenger applauded the fans. One youngster went home with the Frenchman’s tie which would have made his day. Sixth spot was ours now, regardless of what happens in our final two matches which is a good job considering both are away from home.
It’s been a strange old season really. It’s gone by in a flash that’s for sure but it’s been one of our best for results at home. Our away form though has been one of our worst, if not the worst and that’s what cost us dearly. No Champions League millions heading into the bank for the second year running but at least our run in Europa will mean a little more money should have been safely squirrelled away somewhere. Hopefully, very soon be handed to a new manager, along with as much as the club can afford.
That’s all around the corner but for Arsene, he’s got a couple more trips up north to make yet. Then he can walk off into the sunset, take a break whilst mulling over his next move. I can’t see him walking away from football just yet, management neither but I doubt we’ll ever see him at another Premier League club. Arsenal FC has been his life for twenty two years and as he said yesterday, he’s a big fan. He joked that he’d be pleased to sit in the North Bank with the rest, but only so he could shout at the new manager.
He also said that Arsenal can compete with the best next season and who knows, he might be right. One things for sure though, we’ve probably got a better chance of doing so without him. Harsh as that may sound, I believe it’s true.
The whole occasion was classy from start to finish. Even on his big day, Arsene Wenger didn’t forget Fergie as he wished him well. The stadium was decorated in style and the fans, well they were fantastic, as were the players old and new. Finally, the game ended with a scoreline so fitting for a man who during his first ten years made a habit of brushing sides away in such style. Those are the days to remember…
Enjoy your Bank Holiday Monday guys…
Morning all and thanks Rico.
Great day and it made me forget about the last fews years of decline (apart from my fav` FA Cups), it made me proud to be a Gooner again and to bathe in the class that we are as a club. I shall like Goonster said, just remember the good times of Arsene and I cant help feel guilty for my resentment towards him recently as he has no matter what anyone says been overall great for this club…………we are in a better position now than when he first arrived !…………………………….Merci Arsene !
Cant wait for a the new dawn and the unknown excitement it should bring although I still think we will never win EPL untill we can compete finacially, so lets see the size of Kroenke`s gonads now, even better the opening of his cobwebbed wallet ! 🙂
Nice post Rico, it certainly was a day for showing respect to a guy who really cared for the club, it was interesting to see the presentation to him by all the journalists after his final Emirates presser, that was quite unique given the cynical nature of the profession and showed us why maybe they never twisted the knife as much as we expected when the wheels came off.
The day was a bit surreal, a mixture of pre-season jamboree and end of season on the beach kick about. Burnley had their holidays on their minds and Arsenal put on an exhibition of their skills, so strangely missing on their away games during 2018. You would imagine that these Gunners would blow away Leicester and Huddersfield in their final two games under Wenger, but you just don’t know what Arsenal will turn up and that’s the crux of the problem?
The club was classy, Arsenal always are in these situations, giving Arsene the unbeaten trophy awarded to the club in 2004 was a nice touch. Naming a stand is just not the Arsenal way, the club is always bigger than the individual, but I guess a statue to Arsene outside of his baby, the Emirates, has to be a serious consideration for the club in the near future.
We are entering uncharted waters, 22 years is all many fans would have known supporting the club, the new man will have huge shoes to fill.
Ian Wright on MotD commenting on the club and the rumours over what the new manager has to spend, made the point of naming all the young players coming through atm. The new manager could find himself in a very fortunate position if he uses his resources well, blending thoughtful signings with home made products from the academy. Maybe an Arsenal version of the class of 92..?
Morning all.
I have to say, critical as I have been of old Arsene during his mojo less years, he is a class act both as a manager and as a human being. Too kind and considerate in this day and age of cut throat success or abject failure. His closing words illuminated his quality and to an extent his sensitivity to all things Arsenal and his role in them. I am really sad to see him go. It is the end of a glorious era in the history of the football club. For him Tempus fugit, and we all have to accept that we can’t, no matter how clever we may think we are, stop the passing of time. 3 score year and 10 it says in the Bible, I believe, post 70 we are all on ‘borrowed’ time and sadly Mr Wenger has nearly reached the promised time! I wish him many more years of contented retirement or whatever he chooses to do, but I do think his mojo his inert and that he should just accept the fact that he’s no longer quite up to the job, now.
Yesterday’s result was all the things it should have been. Free flowing football with cracking goals and fluid movement. The old Arsenal were back for one game only? Let’s hope that this kind of display will be a regular occurrence when the new regime take over!
The only unanswered question that remains is, who will the new man be? Will he have have his mojo sharpened or will he be a make weight, just holding the fort foe a year or two until the ‘real target’ (whoever that turns out to be) is appointed. There’s just a little bit of me that thinks that the board may employ a less than impressive, cheap Jack, journeyman chap, a bit like Bruce Rioch!
Ah well it’ll all come out in the wash! Here it is another glorious days not many more of them to come this week either! Make the most of today, I say. Enjoy the euphoria of weather and a new dynasty just around the corner.
Thanks Arsene for all the joy of the first ten years you made Arsenal very special?
Morning Lc, Kev and all.
I’m with Wrighty, we really do have a great crop coming through and perhaps there’s never a better time for a new manager to come in. It’s difficult though because he’ll be under pressure to get results and better performances and if he’s like so many of the top clubs managers, the younger players may suffer because of ready made players.
I hope a balance can be found and those who many of us think are our future, don’t get overlooked as we build again..
Wavy, for so many reasons, I too thought yesterday was a sad day, his farewell should have been after a bit of success, not after taking the club to it’s lowest position and playing some of the worst football we’ve seen during his reign. It’s going to be strange not seeing him for a while, but life moves on and hopefully with better times ahead.
First ten years were good, certainly domestically, and it’s those years I remember him for…
Afternoon rico and all..
It was nice and very touching send off yesterday.
Very classy from Arsene and the club .
I thought he was very gracious yesterday, and as you all said for once i forgot all his shortcomings, annoying speeches and pressers over the last few years. .
Henry not showing was odd, could possibly be potter’s dream coming true, him and martinez. .lol
I would like to think he gave his ex boss a private call wishing him a happy future and all that. .
It was nice to see kanu and co though. .
If we going with a rookie manager, as has been rumored in the media, I guess it would be between the young German Naglesmann or Arteta with the Liverpool guy as assistant coach. .
Or could it be AllegrI?
Very good report rico, Afternoon all. What a good decision to announce leaving when he did. Would have been poor to just announce after final game. This way we all forgave a little and respected him as a person.
Morning Rico and All
We still have two games to go,both
away………Who worked that out.
How great were them first ten years,But,
I don’t feel any sadness for Arsene,now his off.
Stayed to long.He gambled in the end and lost.
He was never a good poker player…Was He.
We are left with the Europe cup campaign again
not so good for a top manager in this league.
He could use the youngsters in that maybe
When Charlie George left I was gutted never forget that.
Bit tougher now.
Getting the best from managers and players is what
The Arsenal should be doing from now on,managers and players
come and go at most clubs,Adams,gerrads are a thing of the past.
Most of our young supporters will find it very different from now on
we must hit the ground running with the new guy and challenge the
top sides.
As for Arsene,,He was a nobody when he came The Arsenal
made him a somebody.
Wenger was a good spot by David Dein but once the partnership broke up his mojo departed.
He says that it is vital that the club announce his replacement sooner rather than later.
“The earlier the better, people want hope and need to prepare for next season,” he said at a press conference ahead of Wednesday night’s trip to Leicester.
maybe he wants to hand over the reigns in another ceremony.
Morning Fred, you’re a hard man.. 😉
New post up now..