Morning all.
A bit like Arsene Wenger, we fans plough on regardless. There’s nothing new to discuss, other than the pressure which is really building on the Frenchman. The vultures, who have been circling for around ten years or so are ramping up their campaign to get Arsene Wenger replaced as Arsenal manager. So many pundits, fellow managers and ex players are voicing their opinion to anyone who will listen, anyone who can then print what they’ve said. It’s not their fault, after all they are just answering the questions put to them and Wenger’s future is the hottest topic in the game right now. Yep, even hotter than City’s chances of winning the treble.
Paul Merson expects to see a new manager in charge next season, Robbie Savage says times up, Manu Petit says Arsene needs a friend to tell him to walk away and even Peter Crouch has waded in with his view which is that Wenger has failed to solve the problems he’s had for years. There’s more too but I’d be here until lunchtime if I listed them all. I know we don’t need their views to help us form an opinion as we’re quite capable of doing that for ourselves because we are the ones who have supported the club for years. We’ve seen bad times before, good times too and we don’t pick and choose our moments to show interest in what’s going on at the club.
The media coverage of the state of Arsenal is so great that even the thick skinned Frenchman can’t ignore what’s being written about him. Nor can the board, or owner. Josh Kroenke might have headed back to the States temporarily but he’d have taken a lot back with. Perhaps he’ll be able to get the message drilled firmly into Daddy’s head. Arsenal F.C. are in a mess and swift action is required. If Kroenke snr can’t be bothered to act, then sell his shares to someone who will.
It’s not nasty or vindictive stuff being written though, it’s just honest.
The Guardian came up with an article yesterday which If true, is a terribly sad indication of just how bad things have got within the club. There was a meeting, one which took place without Arsene Wenger being present and of that I believe as it’s happened before. Not that they did much good, certainly not long term anyway. The article then goes on as such:
The speech was delivered by one of the senior players in the Arsenal dressing room but he did not finish it. He was too choked up as he reflected on how such a talented squad had come to resemble a bunch of drifters. He said his children were asking him why Arsenal were so bad. That was the moment when the tears welled in his eyes.
Another Arsenal player stepped in. “We are a big club,” he said, tapping into the rallying cry theme. “But we need more help from the coaches.” That was when the damning judgment was articulated. It had actually been the motivation for the players to gather in the first place – without Arsène Wenger. “It’s not going to happen,” one of them said. “We need to find the answers ourselves.”
It’s been said before and by many of us, that during his early and successful days, Arsene Wenger had the kind of players who would find the answers themselves because as a squad, we were strong. Not only strong physically but mentally too. We had so many leaders on the pitch there was always one, two or more to either bark orders or simply change a game with their own performances.
Thinking our current players can find the answer to our problems themselves is wishful imo and in any case, it should be the manager putting right what he’s getting so badly wrong. That’s his job and what he gets paid for. He signs and coaches these players and everything they do on a match day comes from him. Yes, players will have an off day, they’re human but that’s when he should sub them, not leave them on the pitch. Just because Theo Walcott had a game of two halves against the Totts several years ago, it doesn’t mean that will always happen.
Sitting with his head in his hands looking to the ground won’t change anything, certainly not what’s going on on the pitch but that’s what he does when things aren’t going well. Why isn’t he thinking more, being more proactive or trying something different with someone different? It’s those kind of things which can make a difference.
It may not be nice reading the Arsenal back pages of late but in all honesty, what’s being written now has been a long time coming. For years the football writers have heavily criticised Arsene Wenger but so often they’ve contradicted themselves by writing on another day that Arsenal fans should be careful what they wish for, citing how other clubs have struggled to replace managers with better in attempt to justify their view.
How things have changed now though. Finally the penny has dropped and most if not all who write about Arsenal, can see that our football is fast heading for the gutter. We’ve got one foot in it I’d say and only a change of manager will give us hope of getting that foot out quicker than it got in.
Perhaps then, these secret meetings can cease. Training will be different and more exciting. Players will come to life again as they head onto the pitch with a plan firmly in their mind. Any potential leaders we have in squad are allowed to lead, defenders start defending with confidence and strikers are permitted to shoot when the goal is in sight.
Even Petr Cech might soon be able to play the ball out from the back knowing that finally, it’s not coming back to him two or three passes later.
Change is needed like never before and I for one, can’t wait……
Sorry, I had intended not to mention Arsene Wenger in today’s post………
Morning again Rico. It’s a sorry old state of affairs alright. Not sure how much credence I would give to that player’s meeting myself but it certainly captures the mood of despair at the club, wraps a tear-stained tissue around it and gives us pause for thought. I doubt many Arsenal fans could come up with a reason that Arsene should remain after this season and there’s the problem. By any standards, he is finished and it’s only his lengthy tenure that adds melodrama to the situation. But things at Arsenal haven’t made sense for a long, long time and the wheels seem to turn very slowly in the boardroom so what will actually happen is anybody’s guess.
We just have to hope that whatever is unfolding is decisive and realistic. Am I confident?
No, not really.
Good morning
We were The Arsenal!
Long ago now Jm…
Morning to you again too Adam.
I reckon there might have been a player meeting purely because we know it’s been done before but as for the content, we’ll i think that’s speculation although you never know these days.
Apparently there was another meeting after the loss on Thursday when Wenger is supposed to have told them that unless they improve, they’ll be a summer shakeup.
Laughable really as it’s him who needs shaking up. And shipping out.
I’m quite optimistic that we will see change once this season is over..
Cheap journalism and re-telling the obvious has been taken to new heights in the past two years. Every dig, every insult, every personal slant hashed and re-hashed. Watch any game, in any league irrespective of where it is in the World, and there will be at least two or three insults aimed at Arsenal. Sure, lots of them reveal the problems we have, but the complete obsession with us has taken on leviathan proportions.
So we need a new manager – well done Robbie, Peter, Jamie and Merse, all ‘experts’ in their field who have had a revelation! All of them, and thousands of other ‘experts’ would have given anything to play the football we played in our golden AW period. Yes, he’s done now. Too old and devoid of drive and ideas. He will be replaced and I, like you cannot wait, but that does not excuse the bile and hatred thrown at out club and in particular AW. He is not wholly responsible. The lame owners and pathetic board have an awful lot to keep them awake at night. We are a shadow of the team we were, and sadly do belong in the Europa League. We have fallen short and have not had any leaders for years and now we pay the price. However, we DO have many talented players who just need a new injection of enthusiasm and ideas. A younger manager who is hungry and arrogant. Time has almost arrived and things will change for this lowly club whose abject failure and 3 FA Cups in 4 years is almost too much to bare! Arsenal for life, through good and bad.
DB10 it’s hilarious that Peter fucking crouch to has had his say hahahahahahah oh whoop dee doo.??????
He still insist he ‘ll see out his contract ???? the gaul of that Frenchman.
Crouch, like all the other no-hopers is busily trying to carve out a career in ‘let’s copy what everyone else says’.
Morning all, interesting opener Rico.
As you say, the vultures are out for Wenger.
This is so not how I would have wanted things to go.
Goonster, I have removed your comment because that kind of stuff has no place on here. Please, keep things sensible…
Jeez Rico you had to delete my previous comment don’t ya ???Adam come on brudder I only stated the obvious. Yes acting like one don’t he??
No Stan. It’s not relevant in any way. Sorry.
Me neither Meerkat, but it’s of his own doing really..
Rico I used no offensive language did i?? I only compared both legacies and it’s obvious both are headed in the same direction.
I would argue that our Europa league position is based more on our pre Sanchez leaving results at home than what has happened recently. At the moment our form is bottom half if not just above relegation. Conversly we should hang on to 6th place. We are 8 points behind 5th and 8 points ahead of 7th with 10 games to go rather than aspiring to go up we are more likely to be looking over our shoulders at Burnley and Leicester such is where we currently are. We have got most of the big teams out of the way but with our lot that is no guarantee that bananas are not strewn over our path. Creeping into the early rounds of the Europa is not what our new crop of players signed up for , they won’t be happy , it’s a mess that complacency has built and only positive action is going to change the direction of this unhappy ship.
Adam I only stated that he won’t be sacked and will blame anyone and everyone. Never used any provocative language or said anything unheard of mate.
Goonster, of course. Are you really so insensitive to not realise that people living today are still affected by what that monster did?
Please, just think before you type eh…
Rephrase iot and repost it Goonie , I missed it.
Stan, one was a Genocidal maniac responsible for the deaths of millions and millions of people. The other is the manager of Arsenal who has been in the club too long.
Drop it mate. Respect is going out the window at the moment and it’s not pretty. I want Wenger to leave but I want him to go with dignity.
Potter, the easiest way to say what Goonster why alluding to was that Wenger is a control freak.
Rico my family is from Dresden in Germany and yes I remember what I posted. Said nothing sensitive ma’am.
Saying that Potter, Alexis didn’t play in the Europa matches so I guess you are referring to his presence alone. But then wasn’t he too demanding and dividing the camp? According to the media anyway…
Gee Adam I wish Rico could repost what I posted. I only compared both last days mate! You know what I know when am beating. That’s me letting it go. Sorry guys.
Let’s move on guys….
My apologies Rico Adam and all. Would be more sensitive in the future.
No worries Stan. 🙂
More making the point on our league position and it’s knock on effect of next season’s qualification. Everton filled the space that we look likely to get and they played their first game 27th July , there is a world cup that runs until 15th july. 12 days rest for anyone involved , no pre season for those that get to the quarters or semis and as our transfer window to buy closes August 11. Not a lot of time to react.
A mess of our own making.
Morning rico and all..
your post is a true reflection of the sad state of affairs surrounding the club..
Only one thing can change this, everybody knows it, the media knows it, players know it, the board knows it ..even AW knows it. .
Hell ya he knows it..
Yet he has been acting so selfishly and arrogantly that he”s been touted as a dictator. .
Obviously frustrsted and angry fans on social media and blogs have called him all sorts of names ..
I still maintain he ‘ll still be here till 2019. The end is not near yet. Regardless of the recent acquisition of both Raul and sven Wenger still has too much power. If they were going to fire him he should have been gone after the swans and later Bournemouth beat us. When a man still comes out fighting at every presser then you know he still has a fighting chance of keeping his job. He’s talking about seeing out his contract and people are here already replacing him lol. Adam Rico and all I ‘ll eat my hat if Wenger leaves this summer. He’s too powerful don’t forget he brought Stan into the current board at the expense of usmanov. He won’t quit and the board won’t fire him yes he ‘ll leave but only when he’s thinks it’s time to go!
So, if, as reported, Gazidis, Keswick et al are all fed up with him, why don’t they ask him to go?
Thanks Stan.
Morning Kk, he’s certainly a controlling man but I think he knows the end is nigh one way or another.
Potter, but Alexis was struggling to find his form from last season before he left so I’m not sure him staying would have made much difference, certainly not with Wenger…
DB10 tell me about it????the man has more lives than a cat. I told Rico and paddywack he ‘ll be here till the end of his contract then maybe sign a new one. Yes arsenal remember? He made us. Smh
I expect they want to wait until the summer out of respect DB…
How is Wenger responsible for Kroenke being at the club Goonie?
Not saying that it was all down to Alexis Rico . just that form seems to have gone out of the window with his departure . Ozil is now top dog and if he goes quiet so does everyone else. .
At last, some good news:)
”I’m loving my life up here. I’m not going to be here forever but I’m living in a dream. Dreams always come to an end at some point, that’s for sure. But I am always relaxed about speculation and what not. My focus is only on Celtic.”
Thanks Brendan!
There you go rico…hahaha respect??? He’s ruining the club and their business model. Respect Rico? This dude gets paid 10m a year! It’s all a front they intentionally leak stuff into the papers to get fans excited then as soon as it’s time for season ticket renewal they ‘ll ramp up the pressure only to return to norm when it’s all over. He won’t leave on his own so why wait till the summer?? It’s a world cup year remember?? God in heaven the board is spineless than a salamander on a slippery snowy day. Arsenal ‘ll be the death of me I ‘ve said it a million times before.
Rico it’s known fact Wenger welcomed kroenke into the board when at the expense of usmanov who is his buddy dein’s mate. Why should kroenke fire him when he’s the one solely responsible for him buying into the arsenal in the first place. Why do you think kroenke looks after him so much??? Which other manager ‘ll last this long at a job after taking so much whupping?? 8.2, 6.0 back to back 5.1 maulings by Bayern!!! Heck even tiny leceister had to let ranieri leave after their result got so bad and this after he delivered their one and only title!!! Imagine that was wenger lol the foxes ‘ll never ever shake him. He ‘ll rule even from the grave ????
Wonder if ther’s any truth in this
:- BREAKING NEWS–Lord Harris offered his resignation to the board this morning which has been turned down. He’s clearly fed up with the situation albeit the Board have asked him to reconsider and to give them time.
I thought our form has been pretty average to poor since the season kicked off Potter. Perhaps the issues surrounding Alexis future and Ozils was already taking its toll… good point re Ozil, when he is on fire, we look so much better.
He’s gone. The stories now in the press is to steer opinion for fans still in Wengers camp. When Peter Hill-Wood is in the press with comments, it is done and dusted.
Jardim now please…
Interesting if true, Potter. If the board have asked for time, surely they have an idea in place?
I wait to tell you guys ” I TOLD YOU SO”????
Surely Arsene can see what’s happening here if the Lord Harris story is correct.
Begeegs, what’s PHW been saying?
I’ve missed that story Adam, unless it’s the one about having loads of money..
Just seen Potters comment. Interesting if true…
http://metro.co.uk/2018/03/03/arsene-wenger-told-outstayed-welcome-arsenal-old-boss-peter-hill-wood-7357756/
Definitely something going on.
Rico – Here are some quotes
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/03/03/arsene-wenger-hasoverstayed-welcome-says-former-chairman-appointed/
Wenger didn’t sell shares to Kroenke though Goonie. Wenger is at fault for many things, but not Kroenke getting Arsenal. Not imo anyway.
Adam – I heard about the Lord Harris stories as well, but up until now, it is only Twitter – correct?
Yes I can’t find anything on Wiki , or anywhere else aprt from social media , but it does seem like things are closing in . I reckon a stuffing against Milan will be the final straw.
Begeegs. I dunno myself. I was just reacting to a story on here. Silly of me really as I hate Twitter, Facebook and all that Social Media nonsense.
From the outside though it does feel as if there’s some sort of momentum building within the club. Or perhaps it’s just wishful thinking. 🙂
If that report of a players meeting had come from the Express or Metro etc, then I think we could have easily disregarded it, but I actually think that the Guardian still does proper journalism.
Even if all these ‘stories’ are mere speculation, it’s still an almighty sheet storm going off.
I don’t think Wenger will stay now. He may have already decided to go, but wouldn’t want to walk out on the club until they had something concrete sorted, especially as they need someone to see out the rest of the games in the ropey cup.
He is a proud man, some say arrogant, but I don’t think he is thick skinned enough to stay if only a fraction of these rumours are true. Especially the one re the dressing room meeting, to which he wasn’t invited.
It must be difficult for him to even look the players in the eye now, let alone coach them or bollock them.
No, we will have our wish very soon IMO. Then what? At least four or five players are not good enough and will have to go, and be replaced. This summer with the WC going on.
As the song goes, “there may be trouble ahead’, let’s face the music and dance”.?
Probably can’t find anything on Lord Harris until the stock exchange are informed and that won’t be until Monday.
https://arseblog.com
Good chat with a Phillipe Auclair on the Arsecast, commenting on players negating their responsibilities.
And sadly, I can see a stuffing by Milan too.
Any one who stilt thinks he will stay til end of 2019, is welcome to a private bet with me . I say – and have had SUBSTANTIAL BETS on it, already, that he will be sacked by end of this May, at the latest. If you think he will stay and are man enough to stick to it, I, will gladly match any bet up to £1000 pounds on him going.
50p is the maximum stake on here Jon… lol
As a new poster on here(I am a regular on Just Arsenal news, though) i will explain the obvious signs that point to his sacking. Josh Kroenkes stay in London to analyse stae of the club and report back to Stan. All the backroom changes brought in over Wengers head by Gazidis and the clear change of transfer targets and incomings. The clear loss of the dressing room, for a long time now. The board meeting last Monday at which Wenger was closely questioned. The huge and universal outbreak of “he must go” posts and blogs , plus all Arsenal ex-player media pundits and others etc agreeing he must go. Most of all, the almost certain loss again of CL and the money it brings. The future difficulty in attracting top players -unless ludicrous financial packages are offered to them, against Kroenkes instincts- and the loss of club status and financial worth as we continue drifting. I loathe and detest Kroenke and the board for their arrogance and non caring of us fans(and I have regularly attended from 1958 til last season, when I resolved to give this corruptly run club , no more of my money, while Wenger stays). But I acknowledge that billionaires are financially very astute and far ahead of the “prolls”(us lot!) in finacial acumen. If anyone still fails to see his sacking , possibly as soon as we exit Europa cup -probably to ACMilan, then I say they need a guide dog. Or some brain cells! The bet offer remains however.
Jon – I suspect that post Milan, it will be announced that he is leaving. Does that constitute sacking? I doubt that he is going to be sacked. There is too much respect for the guy at board and fan level. Even those fans that want him out will not want to see him sacked.
50p bet from me 😉
Afternoon all and thank`s Rico.
What a fcuking week……the start of Man-Flu last weekend……………Mum in Law passes away on Sunday morning, lose Carabao Cup in Afternoon…….Lose again to Peps Armys ……………………Man-Flu still wont go away and wish someone would put me in a Temporary Coma `till it goes as I feel like death anyway………………………….Brighton loss should be a final nail in Arsene`s Coffin, but I`m still with Goonie !…………………….it will need a lot more nails I`m afraid !…………………………..I`m going back to die !………as I`ve probably broken all my fingers typing this !
Wenger Out !
Joaquim Moreira In !
Sorry to hear about your mother in law Lc….
Rico, You say “sadly” about a likely stuffing by ACMilan. A stuffing is what we need to get his sacking on the morning of March 16th, approx 300 hours from right now. I can hardly wait, personally. It is WELL worth losing every game from now til he is sacked, if it means his sacking is earlier than it otherwise would be. Only then can the cure begin and the sooner the new man is chosen and announced, the better. Despite everything that has happened we still have some prodigously talented players BUT they need coaching, organisation and MOTIVATION. Those are never going to happen under Wenger, are they!
Does Sir Cippy own Carpetright? If so his resignation may have something to do with the imminent demise of his company. I think it’s going to call in the Administrator in the next few days. It will probably mean au revoir to the chippy and he’ll be waving bye bye to his fortune as well. The gravy train will have hit the buffers for him!
Coincidence? I doubt it…..time will tell.
If true it seems that Arsenal are beginning to self destruct.
Frankly, the club needs a really good shake up from top to bottom. Shall we start with Stan Syrup selling out to Usminov? And letting him have a go? A new Board of Directors who are proactive and not octogenarian has beens, and I include Ken Friar in the clean up equation, great servant to the that he has been. Let’s have a clean sweep. I doubt any new board could perform as badly as our current mass of inertia!
However, I hope we don’t end up with a group such as they have at Watford or Palace or Swansea!
A glimmer of hope here, the snow is beginning to recede.
I think Kroenke selling up is a pipe dream tbh. He would have to have the club and it’s supporters welfare in mind to do it, and he just isn’t the type of guy to give a shit about anything, other than money.
Until it shows on the balance sheets, he won’t even notice we are losing all our games!
Begeegs, What you say makes no sense. Unless , as it appears , you believe he will resign of his OWN accord. Face the truth, when it comes it will be decided by the club, not Wenger. Dressing it up as , “mutual consent” or him “resigning” would be a clear lie and only designed to save face. We can surely all see through that one. However, it is totally academic, AS LONG AS HE GOES VERY SOON, WHICH HE WILL!
It’s Lord Harris that owned Carpetright but I believe he sold up a year or so ago. He now is not listed on their board of diectors. Chips is a merchant Banker in the true sense of the term , friend and colleague of Peter Hill -Wood.
Would it being ‘dressed up’ really be such a bad thing then JF? Or is his total humiliation, what is required to satisfy those out for his blood?
Personally I will just be happy he is leaving. Why is that not sufficient?
Kind of meant sadly for us Jon.
To be honest, it should matter not what happens for the rest of the season, his days as Arsenal manager should be over in May, if not before.
By the way Jon, ditch the capitals eh, we can all read you know… lol
Night guys.
On a slightly different tack I notice that the dippers,beat the toon 2-0. No great surprise there perhaps but what did surprise me was the Ox’s performance. He was m o m. It seems that after only a few,months he has shaken off the coaching negatives of old mother Wenger and has now started to play proper , grown up football, effectively! There’s a lesson to be learned,there, I think. I just don’t know what conclusions to draw!!!
Despite being on the losing side,Theo also had. A good game today as well.
Thank goodness for old mother Wenger’s progressive coaching techniques. And people wonder why our current team seem to have hit a brick wall!
Evening Rico and All
Not sure by reading on here to-day..But
did anyone hear what the chat was about on
bt.sport concerning Arsene’s contract.
He apparently said :
My contract is in my hands..
and I will decide went I go.
When I go
Juventus do still want Bellerin, and he wants away from Arsenal. Have they actually seen him play? Quick, get a contract drawn up before they do watch any games.
He is one of five that can sod off. IMO. Would they take Xhaka on a bogof?
And there Fred you have the whole picture. The tail is absolutely wagging the dog!
Rico, I think your 50p is looking a little lost!! I think I lack a little bit confidence in your prediction that old mother Wenger will be leaving until such time as he has created maximum damage to our beloved club. He’s not looking to clear his desk until at least May 2019! It just seems to go from bad to worse.
I’m not sure anymore what the fcut to think Wavy
when ever I read an opinion..I Think old….on been
here before,even Hill Wood has given him the Wave.
hold on..spelling
Chickens coming home to roost, eh? PHW being right when he said ‘we don’t want his sort here’ of Kronke then selling out to the twat Lady Nina, the same all just to rid themselves of DD who would seem to be the ‘visionary’. And what are we left without? A manager who doesn’t know when to quit, an absolutely clueless board, who don’t know what to do, and a team that are totally in disarray.
Are we fcuked or what?
Did we see if coming?
Did we predict the outcome?
Did the club take any notice at all?
Think I rest my case……….for now!
Hi Fred, not sure those were Wenger’s actual words. From the bit I just checked on BT Sport, one of the presenters read out what he’s alleged to have said if that makes sense.
Couldn’t see an actual interview with the old boy though..
Morning guys..
Seems that the papers are full of it this morning ,however he is still in denial saying that :- This season is worse than last season because last season we won the cup and we made 75 points,” Wenger admitted.
“I don’t deny that, but we’ll analyse that at the end of the season. Don’t worry, I can live with reality. At the moment, we lost a cup final and we lost a big championship game.” I can live with it.
I guess he’s bound to say things like that though, Conte is too about his future but it’s wodely expected he’ll leave Chelsea..
Great post Rico. Certainly stirred up some good replies.
I agree with the general consensus of opinion that Wenger should now leave. The Board need to take a hard look at themselves, but we know that that will not happen. There needs to be a back room shake up as well, Steve Bould etc need to accept the responsibility as well. I hear that Wenger allows him no input, why stay then, surely not just for the money. Where is his pride?
Many of the squad are not good enough and need shipping out. It certainly is a sorry state of affairs.
Thanks marinello, just got to hope the end is near. Another season of Wenger and we’ll all be beside ourselves. Either that or taking a sabbatical….
New post up now.
Morning all
How long must we wait for be the pride and respected The Arsenal again?
Summer hopefully Jm.