Morning all.
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has repeatedly said that he is determined to see out the year and a half that is left on his contract. But will the state of mediocrity that has befallen his side allow him to do so?
As last season drew to a close, the 68-year old Frenchman signed what was billed as his two-year exit contract. But taking into account the Gunners poor showing in the EPL, outside the top four and looking to stay there and miss out on any European football next year, he may be forced to bow out early.
During his tenure-ship as Arsenal manager, Wenger has led the club to three Premier league titles. However, they were all now a long time ago, and as we are all aware, the pressures put of Premier League football team managers for success are immense.
It’s all about performance, sadly something that has been lacking at the Emirates in recent years. Many supporters having been saying for some time now, that the manager should have been moved on. Perhaps they are right?
It’s not just about winning the next game.
Wenger has taken to quoting the oft over-used adage that it’s all about winning the next game. But he agrees that the team has to lift its performances and perform better in every game they play up until the end of this season. This, he says, is what it is all about for Arsenal right now.
Of course, given that he has another 18-months maximum to go, he can afford to take the short-term view. But the board of directors will be looking further ahead, and with that longer-term view in mind, surely it would make sense to sever Wenger’s management of the team sooner rather than later?
Planning for beyond 18-months.
To ward off an early sacking, Arsène Wenger must look beyond the next 18-months. With all of his experience in top flight soccer, he knows he has to begin the process of overhauling his current squad of players; a squad that is lagging behind in terms of the pace at the top of the league.
According to reports, Wenger is indeed making plans for a summer spending spree, and as part of those plans he has sent scouts out to Italy to take a look at two of Napoli’s players; Kalidou Koulibaly and Lorenzo Insigne.
Napoli duo being scouted.
Although much of Arsenal’s activity in the transfer market has centred on attacking players, it is well-known that the Gunners’ defence is in drastic need of an overhaul. Kalidou Koulibaly is widely regarded as one of the best and strongest central defenders; not just in Seri A but in Europe and he would be a significant addition to the Arsenal back four.
He has helped to shore up the Napoli defence with consistently strong performances over the past four years. He has been instrumental in helping Napoli to be where they are today, firmly leading the race to win the Italian premier league this season.
Other teams (including Chelsea) have been interested in signing him, but the £50-million price tag that Napoli has assigned to 26-year-old Senegalese player has kept him at the club.
Insigne on the other hand is a striker, and having seen the departure of Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud in January, would give Wenger more attacking options.
Does spending breed success?
When all is said and done, Arsène Wenger is still a wily old fox and may just do enough to see out his last 18-months in style. Does spending breed success? Yes, it does – not just in terms of the football club, but the football club manager’s standing as well.
Good post Rico – I could stomach the next 18 months if I knew he was definitely going, but is he. I would not give him another penny to spend either. He has wasted enough money. Also why would KK want to come to Arsenal, for an easy life and high wages perhaps. Oh well must be optimistic and hope he goes in 18 months
Thanks Paddy but can’t take the credit today, it’s a sponsored one.
I still think he’s off, too much going on imo.
Morning Rico et al. Good post, sponsored or not, it is highly relevant. Your belief that he will be going at the end of the season and others including the old chap, that he’s got another 18 months at least before he puts his office gear in a cardboard box and carries them to his car, with the final hurrahs echoing in his ears! We wish!
The tide has turned against Wenger from the majority of fans, I think, but either he’s too insensitive to recognise the signs or he’s just to frightened of the future and what it holds for him, that he will have to be dragged screaming and shouting from his managers chair and put in his car, and told never to return!
If he is leaving this summer then you have to wonder where all this ‘transfer’ nonsense is coming from. Unless of course a new manager has been lined up and the players under review are part of his “shopping list”. If that is the case then Wenger knows that his days really are numbered, but in loyalty to the club he’s playing along with the subterfuge or he’s been cast adrift and is in ignorance of all the behind the scenes goings on!
Who can say? I know and you know what should happen but, this is Arsenal we’re talking about where. Everything is done furtively and never openly or honestly. So, we are kept in the dark and left to wildly speculate about our club’s future.
Nice day here, blue skies, warmish with a light breeze. Won’t last!
Morning Rico. Wenger always said that a manager in his last season is a waste. Every press conference will be concerned with what happens next, especially given the very low mentality of football journalism in this country. Every team decision, especially transfers, will have one eye on the next manager. The players too will subconsciously relax (probably) and will be looking at new opportunities with other clubs if whoever comes in doesn’t see them as part of the future. Today’s players are mostly mercenaries who are sniffing out the next big payday. If the club and Wenger are making noises about him staying then I would think that’s a smart move if indeed he is leaving. Putting things in place early might not make for a totally smooth transition, but the alternative would be that it is announced he is leaving at season’s end. That would almost certainly affect the remaining hopes for this season.
Personally I cannot see what could possibly gained by another season of Arsene Wenger, but that’s just me.
Morning Wavy.
The logic in me says the club won’t want another year of will he won’t he stay for another season . He admitted it harmed the team and there’s no way on earth he should stay next season, let alone after that…
Morning Adam. Totally agree. Nothing about him staying makes any sense to me…
Rico, I think he used his lack of clarity as to his future as an excuse for the team’s under performance to deflect attention away from the truth, which was that he had lost his mojo and could no longer motivate or coach the squad effectively. Hence the failure. And this season is no different neither will next year. So, as Adam has just said, I can’t see the point of him staying any longer any more than you can.
Wavy, but what he said in the summer would surely mean he doesn’t want to go through that again…
Dunno, but I just think the club are ready to move on without him.
Afternoon Rico still under the illusion Wenger is leaving a season early I see. Lol I ‘ll say i told you so when he’s still here for preseason 2018/19. The man himself is a hermit where ‘ll he go?? He’s done as a top class manager. No big club in Europe ‘ll hire him. He ‘ll be better off in the Chinese league. Like I said in the past he won’t quit and we both know the board lacks the cojones to fire him so he’s here for the duration of his contract. Wanna bet???????
If Wenger stays, then that will down to Stan Kroenke and Stan Kroenke only.
Maybe Josh Kroenke spending a few months in the UK to get a closer, clearer view of things will clarify the situation better for a Kroenke Senior. I doubt that the empty seats at the stadium will be much of an endorsement for the manager seeing out the final year, but the fact that Kroenke Junior will be around Gazides and his new associates and getting a feeling from the coal face will help in the long run.
The thought of another year of Arsene just fills me with apathy.
I mean does even his strongest AKB supporters think that he can make Arsenal truely competitive in the EPL if he stays another year?
Actually they probably do…..
Kev you have no idea the delusions on those knobs is mind blowing. They ‘re already hyped up about the tin cup final. Going to parade it as another stick to beat us WOBs with. They still believe he ‘ll win us the cl pl and maybe the world cup and African cup of nations too. What a bunch of losers.lol
I want him gone asap but can’t see it. We ve been mauled by Bayern 3 seasons in a row yet he kept his job. There haven’t been any disastrous result bar the Liverpool game earlier this season so trust me they *AKBs* ‘ll see that as progress. Lol
I can’t see him going , in fact I can see him as a future chairman of the club when Chips hands in his gavel. He is like a thrombosis ( a clot that doesn’t move )he will not leave on his own volition and no-one one the board will get enough votes to make him.. The club is his life , his birthright . He was even named for it and he sees it as his destiny.. They even wrote a song about him at the start of the Lion King which is how he sees himself.
I truly believe that he wants to achieve the best for The Arsenal it’s just that he doesn’t know how to do it anymore and I know from my playing career that it is the hardest decision that you can make . Stopping doing the thing you love leaves a void that can’t be filled. Even now at 70 if I drive past a pitch with the nets up I get the urge to go and put a ball in it. It never leaves.
I believe that it’s the only reason that he is staying , sometimes you have to be taken to one side and told the facts.. Maybe Josh will be the one to do it or maybe he might persuade his dad to do it for him.
Good post.
Back to work
“Le Prof” is here to stay, how dare you try and taint the great man!!
“One Arsene Wenger, there’s only one Arsene Wenger!!”
Lee, be careful what you wish for? ?
Be fair Stan, we did beat Bayern in a pre-season friendly, that has to be progress. ?
I’m always careful what I wish for…
Afternoon goonster, you want another 50p bet? 😉
Afternoon rico and all..
I am hoping that AW would do the right thing and move on by mutual agreement.
If it has to come to loosing the milk cup and knocked out of the europa to force him out, so be it..
This Josh kid has been in the board for few years now and he doesn’t know how things are run at arsenal!!??. .he just decided to come and camp in london for 3 month to get educated???
Could be a spin for more actions to come..hopefully. .but could well be true that as a board member and the son of the major shares holder he knows fuck all about the club!
says it all about our useless and senile BOD.
Afternoon Kk, perhaps it’s just media talk about him learning how the club is run. I’m sure he already knows much if not most of what goes on.
I reckon three months is about more than just understanding the workings of his future inheritance…
Rico I ‘ll take that bet. He ‘ll be here by the time 2018/19 preseason comes around. I ‘ll be waiting.lol
Lee our Lord Wenger deserves a 5 year renewal. He ‘ll take us to dizzy heights. We ‘ll be dizzy alright from the maulings we ‘ll get from every opposing team. Lol
Deal goonie. Between now and then,I’ll think of something to spend my £1 on… 😉
Lol alrighty then ????
Simply wow Alex song at his pomp was a creating machine. He was out of this world. Check this out Rico.
https://youtu.be/AcDzV4ZI9yw
He was rubbish at defending though Goonster which was his job…
Evening all.
Are Mansour City the new Arsenal ?…………………………..82% possession and still couldn`t beat League One side Wigan last night !………………………………………….bit of a bummer really, I wanted them to win for neither Manshafter or Spuds to win FA Cup !………………………..serves me right, I probably put the Arsene curse on them ………………………………
Morning…
New post up now.