Morning all.
In the short term I mean. Why get stressed over something we can’t change? Protests have been organised but few turn out, booing along with the chants of ‘Wenger Out’ or ‘Kroenke Out’ etc etc have fallen on deaf ears and so here we are, nearly fourteen years after last winning the league, with the Frenchman still trying to do his best at managing the club we all love. But instead of doing the best to make us league champions as he did when he first arrived, it seems he’s doing his best to take us to the worst place we’ve been since his arrival and he’s succeeding. If we thought fifth place last season was bad enough, I suggest you and me start thinking about finishing sixth which is looking highly likely.
Neither of those two finishing places isnt good enough for a club like Arsenal FC. Having won the league back in the late nineties and early noughties, Wenger had built the foundations, well, George Graham had really but as Wenger inherited a strong back five and two great strikers in Wrighty and Bergkamp, he added steel and style further up the pitch to go with the likes of Parlour and Merson, although the latter was soon sold to Middlesbrough. All he had to do was build on what he’d achieved and improve, or at least match the standard of players who had brought him success but he didn’t and he still isn’t.
As said yesterday and many times before, he ditched what was working for him and from height, power and athleticism, he went to small, weak and slow. He signed a few gems and I’d be foolish to suggest he didn’t but by then, the rot had set in. Hleb, Nasri, Fabregas, Adebayor followed in the footsteps of the likes of Cole, Henry, Petit, Overmas, Anelka etc by moving to a PL rival or One of the Spanish giants and that’s something which has never stopped. Sagna, Clichy and Toure all went to City too, RvP ditched us for Utd, Oxlade-Chamberlain was sold to Liverpool and finally, Sanchez went to Man Utd, although at least we got a good player in return with that deal. So many players sold to a direct rival, something no other ambitious club would do. Something no other ambitious manager would put up with either, after all, how can someone do their job properly if the best are sold? Arsene Wenger went along with it though, perhaps even involved in the deals as they were done. I suspect he knows why they left too, although he’d never admit it. Money? Ha, I doubt it.
As the mega bucks came pouring in, the Frenchman wasted what money he did have imo with the likes of Silvestre, Squillaci, Bishcoff, Park Chu-Young, Santos, Gervinho, Chamakh etc and I’m sure you’ll be able to add a few to that list. I know not every player will always be a success because that’s life but once the mistake has been identified, sell, don’t hang on in hope that they’ll come good. Worse still is playing them as he’s done so often and still does today.
Arsene Wenger has imo lost touch of the game as it is today. Tactically he’s being beaten by younger and smarter managers. The same ones who are spotting the footballing gems around the world and making their move before him and I don’t just mean the clubs with vast riches, although we’re hardly poor are we.
For years now he’s failed to build a strong and deep squad, a squad that is balanced and equipped to challenge the best and not struggle to beat the rest. Yes, he might sign the odd player here and there which excites us all but after a few seconds the reality remains clear. The squad yet again is lacking in key areas just as it has been since the day Gilberto left because not since then have we had a midfielder who prioritises defending over attacking. A player(s) who will stand strong against strength and not wilt quicker than spinach dropped in boiling water. The same thing can be said of our defenders. Sol Campbell was our last proper defender. Mustafi and Gabriel showed signs though, however……..
Everything we are on the field epitomises the way our manager presents himself off it and I’m sure if Wenger was Greek or Cypriot, he’d have pink and fluffy worry beads. Because that’s just what he is imo, pink, fluffy and far too soft.
As we’ve learned from players past and present in Mkhitaryan, Wenger isn’t a demanding manager, certainly not as demanding as Mourinho according to the Armenian. He doesn’t rant and rave at the players when things are going badly, in fact I’m sure I read that he says nothing, not until the players have said their bit. Players he’s signed have arrived with an edge to them, the kind of edge which makes them strong and determined but within weeks, that side of their personality has gone. Kolasinac is the latest in a long long line. Which is just why I think it’s difficult to judge just how good or bad our players really are.
Rob Holding and Calum Chambers. Both as Kev said yesterday, arrived from their respective clubs with great promise. One had his confidence shattered when he was left at right back even though he was getting roasted time after time against Wigan I think it was. The other, well he seems to have been ditched already and I bet Bolton wish he was still theirs. I suspect Holding wishes he was still there too as at least he’d be playing. These two players aren’t twenty five and experienced, they are young and joined us with the intention of improving, to become better defenders and better players overall. To take their game to the next level at a big club. Yet what’s been done to help them? The same question could be asked of Iwobi and all the time Wenger and the way he and his coaches work, that same question will be asked about the likes of Willock, Eddie, Macey, Maitland-Niles, Nelson etc etc. What chance do they really have?
Meanwhile, up in Liverpool, Theo Walcott appears to have learnt the art of defending and crossing from Big Sam. Something he seldom did whilst wearing an Arsenal shirt.
Yet still the thought of change is scary. Well, it is for some I guess, but certainly not me….
Morning Rico and all. Good post written from a perspective of resigned irritation I imagine. You’re certainly right to point out how younger and fresher managers have rather eclipsed the jaded Arsene Wenger yet still he plods on toward what is looking like possibly the lowest point of his reign. This coincides neatly with him spending a fair amount of money so perhaps there’s a lesson there. So much for his ‘judgement’ eh?
Football and the players have changed. Its attempts to reach a global ‘market’ through amazing TV contracts have had the downside of overlooking the fans that actually pay a fortune to attend the games, in search of the bigger financial rewards. Whatever it was that made Arsenal the club it was has long gone. It was inevitable really I suppose and as an Islington boy myself it feels uncomfortable yet I can see so much of the world going that way too, especially the sport. Apart from possibly Jack, which players play for anything other than their huge financial rewards? Saturday was just another confirmation of just about everything we debate here on a daily basis. Most Arsenal fans I know just shrug about it these days and wonder just what will happen when Wenger goes. The heart of the club has all but vanished and it’s anybody’s guess whether it could ever return.
Personally, I very much doubt it.
Morning Adam, thanks, and you’re right about the frustration…
Why is it though that players on big money at City and other clubs can put the effort in yet ours don’t.
Perhaps it’s simple and it’s because they believe in what they are doing in training and on a match day…
A banger of a post Rico. What else can we say that haven’t been said. Holding was the next “John stone ” right now he ‘ll be lucky to be the next “titus bramble ” under Wenger’s tutelage. As for chambers he needs to leave if he ever wants to play for the 3 lions regularly. He’s at that age where he needs regular games. Poor lad was roasted by Montero at the liberty stadium and haven’t been the same ever since. Every dog and their owner could see he was struggling at RB everyone but lefraud. I really hope and pray there’s an element of truth in him leaving at the end of the season. He needs to go off to south France and swim in his pounds Sterling.
Morning Rico and all.
I heard Madrid and plotting on making poch their new manager. Hopefully he nabs Kane with him. That ‘ll make them weaker and us well….your guess is as good as mine.
That’s an interesting point and one that I have thought about many times. A footballer arrives at a club with a set of skills and an amount of potential. Coaches like Pep, perhaps Klopp and a few others see that potential and nurture it within a team framework. Look at how KDB and Salah have bought their game to a new level under their new managers and compare them to the players that Wenger buys who seem to wilt and fade away most of the time. Imagine how exciting it must be for a player that Guardiola buys you because he believes in you.
Morning Goonster, thanks. You do say it as it is… 😉
It has to be Adam. As much as Wenger has signed some duffers, he’s signed some good players too, players though who didn’t kick on as expected. Arshavin was one, I’d even say Gervinho and defending by Clichy just deteriorated under Wenger.
Walcott, Chamberlain, and many more came with such promise only to regress and leave. Aneke, Lansbury, Hayden are just three who spring to mind who I truly believe would have excelled under a different coaching setup when they were younger. Merida too. I really worry for the next crop coming through…
I’ve got a banging idea! Don’t win the league for 56 years, or the FA Cup for 20 odd years, or spend 16 of the last 17 years out of the UCL – then everyone will love you!
Morning all.
Rico I can find nothing in the blog to argue about. Wenger has presided over the demise of our once great and hugely successful club. He has single handedly demolished the structure and stature of the club and its squad members from skilful, physical and determined footballers to wiry, weak and indifferent footballers. He was really lucky to inherit a very good team when he first arrived and in truth, apart from getting them all off drink, substance abuse and burgers had little else to do as the job had already been done. However, with the later disappearance of Cambell, who can forget him leaving the ground against West Ham at half time? Was Wenger responsible for his lightening strike? Bet he was! And also Bergamp’s retirement, as a decent, I mean a really competitive team, we have not troubled the silver engraver at all, not for the highest prize, at least, nor have we looked likely to.
In fairness(?) every dog has its day and Wenger has had his albeit long ago. They were halcyon days, memorable, heady, exciting and predictable. We were fiercely competitive and usually won! Where did it all disappear to? Up Arsene’s arrogant arse. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The latter has come home to roost as Wenger has emerged as the High Grand Vizir, potentate and chief controller at AFC, until the last six months. At last the monolithic worm has turned and the hierarchy seem to have wrested control of the club back into their own hands and out of the hands of Ebeneezer.
I feel we are witnessing the last call of his reign. Second half performances as we witnessed on Saturday afternoon are typical of the players, tactics and attitudes Wenger has imbued in ‘his’ players. They all have soft centres and have been cowed into submission by a seemingly mild mannered tyrant, who has a real spiteful streak that runs through his soul and blinds his judgement. Eg. Gilberto crossed him, he was out of the club, Vieira upset him he was eventually sold, Theo spoke out, gone etc etc.
For the sake of our club and our deep seated connections with it I can only hope that the Vizir disappears asap. Ancelotti would do, tomorrow couldn’t be a day too soon but if we have to delay the inevitable, the end of the season will suffice!
Bright blue skies here, just like my thinking? But very, very cold, just like my heart!
Not sure what you mean Db..
Rico he’s being sarcastic. More AKBs you can tell from their stench. Idiot.
Wavy, I think it was Brady who said last year that Wenger’s success has been his downfall and to a degree, I agree with him.
But, he had it all and latterly he’s had the money too which I know wasn’t there so much when we moved stadiums but so much has been wasted on really poor players, instead of buying one who might have made a difference. Imo, he’s life the players, his life is too easy, or rather it has been too easy but I think his time is running out. This season was the one I think he was expected to do better, especially with the players he has but he hasn’t, in fact we are worse as even during the days of the move, he still managed to keep us in the top four.
Other clubs have changed managers, changed ideas and know how to beat us but Wenger is simply left scratching his head not realising it’s him that’s behind our poor performances.
That’s harsh Goonie. DB isn’t an Akb as you suggest, not at all from his previous comments..
Rico. I think DB is referring to the media’s current infatuation with Spurs and their new found status as darlings who are usurping the wicked rule of Arsenal in north London. 🙂
Rico. I don’t know if it’s ultimately just the quality of the players. Every one of them has a different psychological make-up and a top manager factors this into the way he deals with them and incorporates their talents into the team.
It’s the sheer mind-numbing predictability and lack of what Wenger terms “mental strength” that is killing the club’s hopes right now.
Along with many other things of course. 🙂
Morning all and a great post, Rico………………………I like it when you say something I can disagree with so I can debate with you, but again there`s nothing to disagree with .
All I keep reading on newsnow stories is that ex-players keep on saying the same thing that we need leaders in the team and specific positions of central defenders and most of all a ball winning dm……………………….can they all be wrong ?…………………….lets face it they played the game and know what is needed in a successfull team, even more needed when the team is not successfull, only an idiot could change from a winning formula to a pretty but ineffective one and not change back to the former one !
I find DB`s comment to be a satirical take on the Spuds greatest ever team that has won so much !
🙂
Adam has pushed past the tipping point for my sanity by mentioning “Mental Strength” !
🙂
Ah, thanks Adam, that makes sense. It’s Monday, I’m always a bit slow on the uptake… 😉
@ Goonster – have an opinion that’s cool – but don’t be an arse and call me an idiot. Reading between the lines is a subtlety afforded to all who have vision 🙂
My apologies rico…am sorry DB10 thought we had a rogue poster. Thought it was someone posing as you just to tick us all off. Lol. Am sorry bro.
I realise Adam, but as you say, considering Wenger bleats about mental strength, gawd knows who he’s thinking of. He’s sapped any strength out of many of our players over the years. Perhaps he should give them back their Mars Bars!
I honestly don’t think he’s a good man manager. When did any of us see him put his arm around a player when he’s subbed? Heck, when does he even make any kind of contact with them when subbed. Watching the likes of Pep and even Klopp, they are really in contact with their players..
Thanks Lc and no, they can’t all be wrong, otherwise we’d be wrong too.. 😉
Seriously though, how long have we been saying that on here?
That’s okay Goonster – there’s enough upset surrounding our club – thankfully there is Highbury House where real fans can express their thoughts. No hard feelings.
If I take my time on here, AA and Bergkampesque, then it`s been said for years, but he knows best obviously !
🙂
Their best team ever and they can only manage to fill their temporary home to 75%…………………..wait `till they move into their new home and have a few years of winning nothing……………………..as per norm ! !
🙂
https://talksport.com/football/every-premier-league-club-ranked-percentage-capacity-filled-their-home-stadium-180212272063?p=0
West Ham top that list, but they do let the kids in for next to nothing and you probably get free Pie&Mash on entry !
😆
Thinking way back to the glory days, did Wenger ever have any kind of physical contact or connection with even the best players, eg Henry or Vieira? So far as I can recall, the best he could do was slap a hand or two as a low five! And usually very unemotionally!
He’s just a cold fish I think. Or maybe he has a phobia where touch is concerned! (Except when in Paris and away from his wife, at that time!)
Perhaps that is part of the problem with Wenger, he just doesn’t seem to have any connection with his players. He seems aloof and indifferent to them, all, even Ramsey!
Wavy……………..having a connection to the players will imo help enormously , but to not have it will have a adverse effect !………………….it`s like going to a night club and chatting up twins where one twin is a miserable bitch and the other one is all over you with affection, you know which one you are going to put a performance into !
😆
No Meerkat et al crowing about that abject performance at the weekend or what a genius “Le Prof” is?
Funny that, eh?
Afternoon, very good post rico, another post I’d like a certain someone to read.
Lol see ????she actually still refer to him as leprof even after the maulings and abject performances over the years. God the force is strong on that one.
*lee
Stan, indeed the force is strong in that one….. there surely can’t be many more of “them?” Can there?
Oh believe me lee there’s a whole bunch of them. Just get on Twitter or better still untold. You ‘ll be surprised at the level of support he still commands. They are so up in his ass they can’t see the light.
The planned protest after the transfer window was a damning indictment of us as fans. Just because we had a great Windom the protest Petered out. No one showed up. We are easily pacified lee. The problem isn’t the AKBs brudder it’s the silent majority. The ones that are neither here nor there. They just go with the flow. Much like sheep. They are the people keeping him at arsenal.
Flip floppers the lot of them. After a good win you ‘ll see them talking out of their asses like ” oh maybe he needs more time and let’s get behind the team ” then bam a huge defeat and you see them going “maybe it’s time for him to leave “. Those guys can’t see a life without Wenger. They are easily swayed.
The opertaive word there is maybe, Bit like the board I feel , Can’t make a decision.
Wavy, he probably thinks he’s better than the players, after all, they’ve not played as many matches he’s managed… 😳
Thanks Andrew, I think sand will be blocking his reading ability..
Afternoon guys…
Evening Rico and All
The more I listen to Arsene’s excuses
when ever we get done over,this thought
always comes into my head.
Would he have been successful,if our
famous back 5/6 player’s had not been
around,when he turned up.
Evening Fred, I doubt it very much…
Hope this rumour doesn`t send Goonster, Lee, Wavy etc etc over the edge and into therapy ……………
🙂
http://dailycannon.com/2018/02/stopped-arsenal-fans-rage-latest-wenger-contract-rumour/
Evening Cocker, I don’t believe it, I’ve not read it and don’t intend to, The Daily Cannon is an absolute load of shit, engineered to earn dough from crappy adverts. Steer clear me dear…
The Press/Media’s love in with Tottenham and Liverpool is nauseating, but also it shows more clearly than anything how two-faced they are and that they do in fact have an anti-Arsenal agenda.
It Klopp or Pochettino had won 3 FACups and 3 Charity Shields in 4 seasons, then they’d have a statue outside either of those shit hole stadiums and the Press/Media would be blowing enough smoke up their respective arseholes to fill a dozen 6 footers.
All that doesn’t change my view that we need a new manager.
But that’s my opinion, an opinion I came to without any help from The Daily fcuking Cannon, all those other worthless sites on NewsNow or the majority of our clueless journalists or hopeless TV pundits.
All those wankers do is follow the narrative and try to claim it as their own.
The Press/Media are basically a bunch of parasites who nick a living off of our online views.
I shall now step off of my soapbox…. ?
rico, you don’t do things by halves do ya but you just know that the trolls will say this post is heresy !!!
Fred 8.01, you mention the back 5 or 6 and at the same time fail to mention how the broccoli diet prolonged their careers, same on you buddy, like it or not Le Prof is a genius.
You know me Micko, in for a penny……
Kev, well said..
Morning all – New Post up now.