Morning all.
It’s highly likely that Arsenal will be playing European football next year. Not be default anymore after City won the League Cup because we don’t take their place as runners up but with City securing Champions League football by way of winning the league, I think I’m right in saying that that Europa place goes to the highest placed League team who have not already qualified for the Europa League. In theory, that should be us. Well, you’d like to think we could protect our current sixth spot but I guess that’s far from guaranteed with Burnley breathing down our necks. How exciting it will be on the 6th May when they come to The Emirates eh.
However, miracles can happen and we could yet be involved in the Champions League should be get passed Atletico Madrid to the final and then win in Lyon. Chances are slim I know but over two legs, who knows. At least there should be no complacency ahead of either leg against Atletico because they’re no Osterunds or CSKA Moscow and quite often in the past, when it’s all looking bleak for Arsene Wenger, he pulls a rabbit out of the hat.
The 2013/14 season finished with him getting a lucky escape. An FA Cup Final against Hull City which seemed like no sooner the game kicked off, we were losing 2-0. Santi Cazorla made the score 2-1 with a superb free-kick just before halftime and then with around twenty minutes to go, Laurent Koscielny scrambled in the equaliser. Extra time came during which time, Aaron Ramsey grabbed the winner. Cue mass celebration from Wenger and the team, cue announcement that he’d signed a new new three year contract.
The way we won that day didn’t seem to matter, nor did the season of both domestic and European football which preceded it. Certainly not to Wenger, the board neither as otherwise they wouldn’t have given him another three years in the job. We’d secured top four so all was rosy. Except it wasn’t.
Then last summer, déjà vu. Arsene Wenger was out of contract in the summer, the domestic campaign had been poor, the Champions League even worse and we’d failed for first time under the Frenchman to secure a top four spot. His future as Arsenal manager looked like it could finally be over, much to the relief of so many of us and with the newly crowned League Champions our opponents in the FA Cup Final, we were well and truly underdogs. Who’d have thought that we’d play so well on that day at Wembley? Chelsea looked like they’d already started celebrating their league success and we tore them apart in style. Cue celebrations, cue a new contract, although this one was just the two years. A good sign perhaps? I think so.
This has been the worst season ever under the Frenchman domestically both in terms of performance and results, yet as I’ve said above, it would be so typical of Arsene Wenger to get to Lyon and win the big trophy on offer.
If he does, fantastic but it shouldn’t mean the owner and board stick with him for another season. Not imo anyway because the only way we’re likely to head is further away from those clubs who are above us right now. Further away from the top clubs in Europe too and were far enough away from them as it is.
If he goes and a new manager comes in at the end of the season then he’ll have a job on his hands sorting out the squad, who stays, who goes etc so next season could be a topsy turvy one, but at least it’ll be different.
Then the following season, the team will be his, his signings, a new approach and who knows what It will bring.
It’s got to be more enjoyable than watching the kind of football we’ve been suffering surely?
There’s a few headlines which suggest that Patrick Vieira might just be that man…
Afternoon guys, just going to catch up with all the comments.. ??
Evening all and thank you Rico.
I`m not writing off next season……………………..no, I`m writing off every season left under Wenger and and when he goes……every one under Kroenke !
I just cant see us ever winning a title again with the money that CFG and Manshafter have especislly as we have an owner who so mfar has invested £0 in the team……………….feels good, it`s been a while since I have put up that amount 🙂
We will really have to get a manager in who is as good……………….no, better than Pep if we are to challenge for a title as he is so good and has a bottomless pit of money, so we need someone better as we have zero chance of competing with the Sheiks in finance.
When you think about it, we have had an easy ride in the EL………………..easy group…………….easy last 16 game and easy quarter final………………….defend like the last two knockout games and final is a no no !
Got the JD ride on mower out today, the only pleasureable way to cut grass ! 🙂
I see that Che;sea are putting out a team to slow down Burnley . Fielding an understrength team still we can’t complain wev’e been doing it all season.
And yet they win.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43834283
Who takes over????
Well well.It’s finally happening
Strange timing though… maybe they think it will unite the team and fans!?
I’m so so pleased…
Ducking Ecstatic. I van now start to support my beloved Arsenal once more. Good bye Arsene, shame its not today.
Last push for Europa perhaps Lee, hoping to get the fans back for the semi final home game…
Over the fcuking moon, can’t sit still…..fcuking brill..
What a good morning for one and all! Rico you were right all along. He’s going, hopefully to a long and happy retirement. Don’t wish him any ill will just glad that he has at last. Embraced the fact that he can no longer perform successfully at the highest level. He’s known that for some years, his difficulty has been coming to terms with the notion that he couldn’t do what once he could.
Good luck to him!
Who will replace him? Well Allardyce, Pardew, Hughes, will all be available! Now we will see how ambitious the club really are. Will they go for a young ambitious manager or will they settle for a steady reliable but ordinary manager to steer the money pit that is the Arsenal?
Well soon find out!
Very sunny here and in my demeanor. Happy days!
“Arsene Wenger built the best teams that I played against in English Football .The 98 team was Amazing.The biggest compliment is that he played football that made us change the way we played against them. He now deserves the most incredible send off from all in the coming weeks.”
– G Neville
I don’t like to brag though Wavy ?
Neville is right but it was a long time ago… lol
Exactly Rico, a long,long time ago,,
Any chance he’ll move upstairs?
Morning everyone, what glorious morning…..
Don’t think so Bt, he’s leaving for good. France manager perhaps
Morning All….
Well I didn’t expect that, I thought that it would have to get worse before this happened.
Now the question is, did he decide to go on his own, or was he pushed?
Did the club offer him this way out or that he’d be sacked,if he refused?
Gotta be Max Allegri now, surely they won’t go for Vieira….
Every game will be rocking now, the Athletico game will be brilliant.
At last…. it’s the right decision, the club couldn’t continue as is…
I would love Allegri but I think it’ll be Enrique or Tuchel.
either way let’s just get behind Wenger and the boys now starting on Thursday night.
Me too Kev, Allegri first, Jardim second and I doubt Vieira will even be on the radar. Possibly an Nordic coach, Gunnar ?????? There could be a bit of poetry in that kind of appointment.
When Arsenal sign me?
I reckon that’s just what the club and Wenger want Kev The Emirates rocking again. Just goes to show his words yesterday were just playing with all of us because he knew he was going…
Ozil and Auba must have known too, maybe that’s why one stayed and the other joined. I bet Alexis wishes he’s stayed too now.. 😉
Wow…what a historic day. .
I am speechless. .
Hopefully the club hierarchy appoint the right man/people to get us back where we belong. .
rico all these years of hard work have finally come to fruition . .
I think arsenal blogs in general had big influence, highlighting the team deficiencies and voicing fans utter dissatisfaction …albeit 10 years late. ? but better late than never. .
Now we can all thank AW for all his loyal service and wish him happy retirement. .
Wavy/Rico, I most certainly don’t want to see Brendan Rodgers in charge.
I’m quite alarmed to even see his name linked to the job.
Could be the financials involved that’ll be the major influence, Kroenke isn’t gonna want to have a guy come in on Guardiola wages, who wants £150/£200m to spend.
I’m gutted Kk, I was hoping for a years sabbatical… 🙂
Me neither Kev and I can’t see the club going for him. My money would be on Vieira, Henry or someone like that, with an experienced team around them..
Rico’s gotta writer more and more posts! 🙂
And a whole lot more research Lee, it was all so easy under Wenger… 🙂
New post up now…
writer = write sorry Brudder!