Wenger talks tactics, Xhaka and the ‘menacing challenge’ WBA offer…

Morning all.

Arsene Wenger has a point about Granit Xhaka:

He is in a position where on the first foul he gets a yellow card. He is a victim a little bit of his reputation. For example against Lincoln, a soft yellow card.

You see tackles by some players much worse than what he did [against Burnley] and they don’t even get a yellow card. He got a straight red, because he had a history of that in Germany. I think he is a victim of that.

To be honest, it’s not just Xhaka who often receives a soft booking for Arsenal, plenty do and that’s because the referees, or rather Mike Riley really don’t like us. We all want our players to be tougher, more physical but within the rules of course, but the reality is, many a referee won’t let them because as soon as a strong tackle goes in, out comes a card. Yet more often than not, it’s deemed ok for the opposition to stick the boot in good and hard on us. Similar can be said of shirt pulling in the box as seldom do we get a decision in our favour for that yet I bet if Mustafi or Koscielny did the same in our penalty area we know what would follow.

I know Xhaka goes to ground a bit too often with his timing all wrong but it’s not like he’s ever committed a really bad tackle, not really, unlike some of the tackles we see each weekend. Let’s not forget the stamping and elbow incidents going on in the game too which is far more serious than a cynical little trip etc which hardly deserved a straight red card Mr Moss!

He’s improving though says Arsene, he’s learning how to time his tackles better because that’s all what’s wrong, bad timing and showing his studs which can easily be rectified I’m sure. Steve Bould didn’t struggle much with his defensive duties so he should be working each day with the Swiss international. Maybe he is.

Neil Swarbrick is the referee today and funny enough, the only other time he’s officiated a match involving us was against West Brom earlier this season at The Emirates. He dished out three bookings for us that day – Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey, and Olivier Giroud and just one to West Brom which was for Ben Foster who was time wasting. Swarbrick has been in charge of three matches for the Baggies though, all of which they lost!

Anyway, we need to win this one today if Arsene Wenger wants to get his customary top four place, in fact we probably need to win all of our remaining games and as we have two games in hand over Liverpool and one over the rest above us, we need to make it count. Utd and Everton are breathing down our necks so it’s going to be a close run in. Not to win the title of course that’s done imo as Chelsea are way ahead of the rest. Lord help us if they collapse and you know who pips them to the post, we’d never hear the last of it. It’s going to be bad enough without Spursday this season, not that it counts for much other than bragging rights.

Other than Santi Cazorla and a slight doubt over Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the rest of the squad are fit, healthy and raring to go. Ok, they are fit!

Wenger is quoted on the official site as saying he and his team are prepared for a “menacing challenge” from the Baggies, but insists they are up to the test.

West Brom have strong deliveries and they know as well that they have to be very efficient on that. 

The best way for us is to take the game to them and not to be too much on the defensive side and not have too many set-pieces against you. I believe that overall we have been quite good defensively on set-pieces, but this will be a test.

Today will be a test so let’s just hope the players are well prepared, fully focused, seriously motivated and come out on top after a great show of football.

Well, let’s hope for a win eh….

267 thoughts on “Wenger talks tactics, Xhaka and the ‘menacing challenge’ WBA offer…

  1. ScottfromOz says:

    Morning all.
    Not giving away silly free kicks in dangerous areas is one thing we can do to help ourselves.
    Is Santi officially out for the season?
    Not that it’ll make any real difference, but out of interest.

  2. allezkev says:

    Interesting reading about the players’ bonuses, no CL, no big wad in the summer.
    So expect us, now the CL & EPL has gone, to start playing like world beaters between now and the end of the season…

    We’ll finish 4th or 3rd and Wenger will sign a new contract…
    Kroenke will be happy as the dough keeps rolling in.

    Chips and the boys will go back into hiding and Gazides will make empty claims about Arsenal being on the verge of a brace new dawn.

    They’ll be pages and pages of transfer rumours in the summer.

    Then the season money will be banked and it’ll be the same rubbish as we’ve seen for the last 5 years…

  3. rico says:

    Morning Kev, I can think of better things to be doing once 12.30 arrives, that’s for sure..

    Having read the comments from Primorac, I’m really cheesed off…

  4. Adam says:

    Kev. It is working on the new guitar at the moment.
    If true, that is horrible news from the hapless Primorac.
    What does he actually do again, apart from eat?

  5. rico says:

    No Scott, bloody awful really…

    Oops Kev… I’m excited about the rugby, did you see the ladies won the grand slam last night in Ireland?

  6. ScottfromOz says:

    That attitude isn’t an easy one to reverse, Rico.
    It’s very damaging and could take a massive clean out to get us back on the right path.

  7. allezkev says:

    Adam ?

    Well isn’t Boro Primorac, the tactical genius who sits in the stand and who Wenger relies on for guidance in all matters tactical, because he himself is so poor tactically???

    I just get the feeling that a few yes men at Arsenal are beginning to worry that their nice, comfortable and safe jobs are coming under the microscope and they don’t like it.

  8. ScottfromOz says:

    Kev, I reckon you’re right-there will be a few who suddenly will need to show what they do when he leaves.
    Good.
    They need to be shaken up.

  9. Adam says:

    I dunno Kev. I believe I saw him, during an Arsenal training video, standing rooted to the spot while watching the players. I also think I saw his arm move in the general direction of the restaurant. But that’s about it.

  10. rico says:

    A new manager would soon mix things up imo Scott… All those yes men would be gone, certainly the ones around the training ground…

  11. allezkev says:

    Adam ?

    Yes, Boro is a big big unit…

    Hi Scott, yes a new manager will have his own ideas on staff and players and that’s probably what we desperately need to shake the club out of its comfortable inertia.

  12. andrewh1313 says:

    Afternoon all. Rico, i find it hard to believe all referees don’t like us. But what is the alternative reason things appear unfair? It could be that we are all blinkered and biased? I don’t think so but I guess it has to be considered, non Goooner friends think so. A team that doesn’t play man to man marking, we pull much less at corners and free kicks. We try to play quick passing attractive football. So just why do we seem to get so many unfair outcomes?

  13. andrewh1313 says:

    Kev, I’d like to see Merts start! Purely to see if his awareness really can make up for a lack of pace. Or maybe he’s got quicker after a rest!! Against a team who nearly half their goals have come from set pieces, he would have a chance to show.

  14. allezkev says:

    No Perez in the squad, what is Wengers problem with Lucas?

    Yes Rico, the girls and the U20’s both won their respective grand slams, fingers crossed for a hat trick…

  15. ScottfromOz says:

    Hi Andrew, I think we received 2 or 3 penalties last season, Leicester received around 15…..I am not sure of the exact numbers but the figures are pretty accurate.
    I doubt all of the refs hate us but that’s one damning statistic, and it could be in part because we don’t throw ourselves on the floor at every opportunity like plenty, and there is obviously other factors.
    That trend has been there for a few years but i must say we’ve got our fair share this season, no doubt.

  16. ScottfromOz says:

    Kev, can you ask Arsene what Lucas has done next time you get him in the cab 🙂
    It’s incredible that the guy can’t get a start.
    Just writing this and they announce Perez is injured but still, that’s only today.

  17. ScottfromOz says:

    Alexis well done…..superb goal.
    It makes up for him losing the ball and taking a dive a minute ago.

  18. ScottfromOz says:

    Andrew, I really cringe when I see the dives lol
    Superb player and that goes without saying.
    We’ve already been fouled on several occasions-play on!!!

  19. andrewh1313 says:

    I’d like ref to see double foul on Sanchez played back and understand Sanchez’s frustration. But we all know the outcome, Sanchez will get booked next time he appeals.

  20. potter says:

    Ramsey lets Fletcher go , really needs awareness training. This zonal on corners is meat and drink to a Pulis team.

  21. ScottfromOz says:

    Andrew, I reckon he will be back.
    Bigger issue could be the lack of impact Welbeck has had.
    Get Giroud on relatively early because he will also help defending set pieces.

  22. rico says:

    And to think Wenger spoke about set-pieces before the game. What the heck is he doing in training to stop us conceding a goal from them?

  23. andrewh1313 says:

    Bit unfair Rico. Giroud in a team that has wingers or wing backs crossing would get twenty goals a season. What chance does he have in games we play tic tac tic tac tic….

    Shit

  24. rico says:

    I don think so Andrew, he’s a decent enough player but I honestly don’t think he’s good enough for Arsenal, not the way Wenger plays.

  25. ScottfromOz says:

    McLeans original run was definitely offside but very. Very close.
    Can’t really condemn linesman.
    Shit defending as usual.

  26. Kel says:

    Arsenal are toothless… tippy tippy bore the balls of ya.. honestly this is absolutely shit to watch.

  27. Kel says:

    I have to be honest Rico I don’t think I could stomach another 2 yrs of this… I think I’d just distance myself.. ie check the final score and that’s it.

  28. Kel says:

    If Theo is in any doubt as to why he’s been dropped by England.. all he has to do is watch this game back…. #invisible

  29. Lee says:

    That was a perfectly good goal, however Keystone Cop goalkeeping from a pathetic Ospina.

    Fucking ninety minutes of your life you won’t get back!!

    It’s official we are turd under Wenger!

  30. allezkev says:

    As I said the other week, and I hate saying it because Arsenal are in my blood, part of my DNA, but this has to happen, otherwise we won’t see any change…

  31. Kel says:

    Lee.. it’s the truth m8.. I can take defeat, but this weakness and tippy tappy no guts or balls on show is what is killing me….

  32. Lee says:

    Kel I was chatting to a couple of Arsenal pals the other day and they echo your sentiments as do I…..

  33. Kel says:

    Hang your heads in shame… yous bunch of pathetic excuses of men…. I’d physical destroy any of these fuckin pansies…

  34. Lee says:

    That’s us totally fucked if our best player by a country mile has an injury….. which in a way could be a good thing?!?

  35. rico says:

    They mirror the manager Kel, he sets them up, coaches them… how after so many years of conceding goals from set pieces are we still doing so?

    Dreadful management and coaching….

  36. Lee says:

    Out played by a Pulis managed WBA….. do an Enrique Wenge, do the honourable thing if you love The Arsenal.

  37. ScottfromOz says:

    Sorry, but if Wenger is even given the opportunity to stay on, then the club is fukked for years to come!
    This is embarrassing.

  38. Lewis says:

    The sheer gall of the man to continue like this. Arrogance of the highest order, it’s over arsene, please let go.

  39. Kel says:

    The last thing Stan should want is this Muppet Wenger spending another 80m of Arsenals money in the summer on the same type of player we already have..

    Unfortunately Stan hasn’t got a fuckin clue and thinks Wenger does…

    Mid table looms… and rightly so and all on Wenger watch.

  40. Lee says:

    Brudder, I also notice that they cut the grass on the pitch width-ways…… can be a real fucker that!!!

  41. potter says:

    The last thing Stan should want is to be associated with this bunch and their has been leader. But that’s not his yardstick.

  42. ScottfromOz says:

    Potter, I really can’t see things changing as much as fans want with that prick hiding away in Texas, counting the cash lol
    Key the comments about Stan not picking the side etc etc
    If he isn’t on the phone after the game offering a Arsene the chance to quit then we are up shit creek for years, Imo.

  43. Lee says:

    Col U I’m following now….
    Brudder, Barnet?
    Kev, Schrimpers?
    Rico, Reading?
    Potter, Canaries?

    The sad thing is we could play this lot for another hour and still not score….totally pathetic!!

  44. Kel says:

    Well fuck this I’ve a proper St. Paddys day hangover.. so in true irish fashion im heading of now for a cure and hopefully dull the anger i feel towards Arsenal and Wenger.. ..

    Later guys…

  45. Lee says:

    Yeah if he had anything about him he’d do an Enrique and say I’m way out of my depth I’m leaving at the end of the season!

  46. SD London says:

    As soon as Sanchez and Ozil’s contract extension started making the news, Arsenal stated dipping and never recovered, they were clearly our best two players and the board just feel they should drag on it.

    Wenger should go simply by association but the whole club should be changed from within, we have being going downwards since David Dein was pushed out.

    I question the decision to sell our club to somebody that clearly doesn’t have interest in Football.

    WE CLEARLY NEED: New ownership , new board and a new coach.

  47. ScottfromOz says:

    SD, I’d add quite a few new players to your list, but yes, it has to happen from top to bottom.

  48. ScottfromOz says:

    Rico, our guys simply don’t pick up the runners at set pieces.
    Coaching or lack of coaching in defence aside, how can any professional footballer not realise that it’s a massive problem and sort the defence during games?
    It happens too often for them not to see it, and certainly not to do something about it.
    Kozzer and Mustafa aren’t big enough and Merts nor physical enough in set pieces.
    Who is there to give decent contest?
    Still, we didn’t even offer a poor contest-there was no contest at all.

  49. rico says:

    Wenger has said he’s made his decision and will soon tell us….. I guess he won’t say he’s staying after being hamered by West Brom.

  50. rico says:

    Redknapp reckons the players are bored, bored of listening to Wenger for so many years…

    I reckon he has hit the nail on the head….

  51. ScottfromOz says:

    I know, Rico.
    Leaders are desperately needed so why he doesn’t allow that style of player is just another mystery.
    I’m off to try and get to sleep.
    This will be fun!!
    Night guys.
    A game closer to seasons end which will be a form of respite!!!

  52. potter says:

    Pulis just gave his pre week training message , he said Arsenal line up ZONALLY WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE 8 MEN IN A ROW AND 2 BLOCKING RUNS . kNOCK THOSE 2 OVER AND YOU HAVE 4 OR FIVE MEN RUNNING AND JUMPING AGAINST 8 STANDING.
    I put it in capitals because it needs screaming at Wenger . ,

  53. Adam says:

    Rico. To me that suggests he is going, but that might be wishful thinking on my part. Tell us all by the end of the weekend and call for fans to support the team until the end of the season I would say.

  54. rico says:

    There was something about the way he said it Adam that made me think he’s going. But any words can be read in away we choose I guess… it wasn’t in his SSs interview but for a different broadcaster

  55. frednerk says:

    Afternoon Rico and All

    I think we are all singing from the same hymn now
    after that.

    No way in a million are them player’s with Arsene.

    This is getting bad..Arsene is going..He’s Gone.

    I had to laugh when Bouldy got the ipad out.

  56. rico says:

    Afternoon Fred, there’s still a few who think he should stay though. At least three, a pilot and two to hold the banner…. lol

  57. Wavy says:

    I’ve just wasted another two hours of my life in front of my tv? Not doing it again…..well maybe I will but not with a song in my heart! Not since the days of Billy Wright have I felt so much despair and dissatisfaction. That probably says it all.
    Wenger….from hero to zero.
    What a shame. I know hindsight comes with 100% 20×20 vision but he really should have left after the Villa final, with the cup held high and joy in his heart. He can’t now. He’s going to clear his desk with little or no acclamation or pleas to stay for even just one more season. You can almost hear the fans cheering now in anticipation of his retirement from the Arsenal football club.
    I’ve been going to write what follows for a while so, Arsene Wenger is a great manager of our beloved football club, from top to bottom ha has the club and all of its staffs best feelings at heart. But he has over the last five years he’s has developed into the worst coach in the Premier League. His fall from grace is largely the inevitable slide into old age and the inertia it brings tainted also by the fact the he is the most stubborn, pigheaded control freak who ALWAYS KNOWS BEST! The evidence that he’s lost it is this afternoon’s apology for a competitive football match. Crab football at its most inept. Same old, same old.

    A younger man might just be able to knock these over paid softies into some sort of shape. They may even be good enough to win a few games as well!

    Allegri? Jardim and his team of. Coaches and scouts, would do for me.

  58. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Continue to fate:
    – We have more than triple passes that WBA (more…)
    – The percentage of possession of the final ball was 70% and 30%
    But in the end:
    – We lost 3-1
    – They shoot more than Arsenal
    – The number of WBA opportunities is greater than Arsenal’s
    – The number of corners is practically the same
    – The number of fouls is pretty much the same (strange, is not it?)
    – Yellow cards are almost the same (we did not have any today!)

    – What interests have better players (?), Have a much more expensive team (!) If the statistic is usually this one?

    Do like Leicester did: when they needed to replace, they replaced. They are winning games, scoring goals and the be in the 8th of the Champions League. Was it hard? Yes, but it is or is not giving results, even if it is provisional?

  59. rico says:

    Wavy. I’m convinced Bihar if a new man like Allegri came in tomorrow, by the time we play Man City, the mindset of the players would be very very different….

  60. Le Coq Monster says:

    Afternoon all and thanks Rico .

    Havent seen the result but know we had 78% possession so we must have won by a landslide ! hahaha

    The reason Wenger is not letting us know yet is so we(board) can do some black op`s in kidnapping a decent coach !.

    I didn`t waste two hours watching the game as I recorded it and asked my missus whether I could watch the game ?……………………..she said I`d be better off phoning a priest to make an appointment for Arsene to have his last rights read !………………………….so how bad was it ? hahahaha
    In a way I have to agree with Kev as much as it breaks my heart in that we really need to be even more shit than we are now to make change…………………I`m glad that the Chav/Scum semi is before our one as if the Spuds win I might have to cheer on Mansour City in our semi as to be embarrassed by the scummy spuds will be my worst nightmare…………..I dont think I would ever recover from a final loss to them !…………………………oh well, backwards and downwards for a new Arsenal dawn !.

    PS

    I know ( according to Cesc) that the players dont watch videos of the opposition ( you know the Lincoln bosses did !……..more professionall than Arsene ) and that Arsene watches all the games afterwards ( I think I said before that this is like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted ) alone !…………………now call me stupid with no common sense, but if I was a manager, not only would the players watch vids of the opposition, but they would watch vids of themselves in the games in which they were beaten to show where they are going wrong !……………………….I know it`s a stupid idea and that`s why I`m just a Van Driver !

  61. Wavy says:

    He was by Monaco! Lightening can strike twice. Sacked that is.
    The situation is becoming acute imo.
    Rico you’re right, as usual, Allegri or a new ‘coach’ would have these players purring in no time at all sadly Wenger’s mojo is at the bottom of a large cesspit never to see the light of day again..

  62. Le Coq Monster says:

    I can reveal that Arsene is no longer manager !…………………………he wanted to keep Alexis off at half-time, but Alexis insisted on playing on even though in the words of Arsene his (Alexis`s) ankle is in a terrible state !………………………………the terrible state of arsene`s management !.

  63. kelsey says:

    I can’t add anything more.I expected it and without Sanchez who is leaving we would be mid table at best.

    2 wins in 7 of the last 8 games against Sutton and Lincoln..

    As Neville said,no other manager would keep his job yet Wenger was smirking in his interview.

    The non footballing board haven’t got the balls to sack him.The blip has turned into a disaster which can’t be repaired at the club “he built” he has done untold damage and hopefully we finish 7th,release at least 6 players and Sanchez will go.So sad if AW had added quality we would have had a team that could challenge,
    I was right about Walcott, too late to change, Ozil had a mystery illness, Ramsey is pathetic, Mustafi has lost confidence, Ospina can’t hold a ball and gives away a Hackney Marshes goal, Granit is the biggest waste of money in years,The Ox is not wanted by AW and the list goes on.
    I am done with it and AW has the audacity to tell us we will know soon.

  64. andrewh1313 says:

    Le Coq, but on a positive note shows Sanchez’s desire. How many others in team would have appeared 2nd half. It’s that lack of guys that only Sanchez shows that appalls me. Few since Adams, Viera, Keown, have it. No leaders, no guts. Maybe it’s the money in the game, cosyness under Wenger, I don’t know. I just despair, actually thought we would come out and win today. But when you see three WBA players all trying to head in unopposed it just brings back the reality.

  65. Le Coq Monster says:

    I understand that view, Andrew, but it`s negligent if we lose Alexis for the Semi ………………….and 4th place !
    🙂 smiley only for 4th place, so shall smile again ! 🙂

  66. rico says:

    I’m convinced Alexis came off for two reasons. One, to prove a point, two, Chile….

    I bet he’s back for the City game.

  67. andrewh1313 says:

    Rico, will our board pay him over and above his worth to keep him? That’s what most clubs have to do to keep their star players with a year to go. They don’t give a damn about trying to compete at the very top do they?

  68. rico says:

    Ha ha Kev. That story in the Star was poppycock it seems…. not that anyone sensible would have thought otherwise eh….

  69. rico says:

    They should Andrew. Players like him are hard to find, let alone replace. They didn’t shirk at Ozils fee so maybe they will…

  70. andrewh1313 says:

    Wilshire only a sub again? Can’t he get into Bournemouth first team any more? How comes he got two cracking goals in that England game, then hasn’t scored for Bournemouth after 20 odd matches? Oh the despair, i need a drink.

  71. frednerk says:

    I know most on here have been saying it’s
    up to Arsene if he stay’s or go’s.
    But have any of you changed your mind after to-day

  72. andrewh1313 says:

    Fred, not sure most think it’s right that it’s up to Arsene, I certainly don’t. Have to admit, Mourinho was right that in any other club he wouldn’t have survived or be in charge of his own destiny. Not that it’s his business, but factually correct.

  73. Le Coq Monster says:

    Fred, do you mean have we changed our minds whether he should go ?
    If so, are there sado masochists on here ?………………………………….I`ll ask the question…………………..hands tied up if your an S&M ……………hahaha

  74. frednerk says:

    A couple of season’s ago he was going
    we ended up getting a few lucky draw’s in the FA Cup
    so he stayed.
    The board backed him this season with dosh after
    2nd place last season.. But as we know,his
    been useless for the last ten year’s.
    Now the fans are are demanding change
    that should swing it..In my Opinion.

  75. gnarleygeorge9 says:

    Oh dear!!!!

    So many questions! When will Wenger leave? When will England find the nerve to play my beloved All Blacks? Where do you live Kev?Which question will be answered first?

    You all really need to find an alternative to The Arsenal if Old Frenchie signs on again. Though not England & Wales, the Aussies reckon they are going to get their Ashes back during their next summer.

    Kev, do you live in North London, if not, you are a tourist ?

    Oh well, only 3 more sleeps till the footy season starts. 90,000 @ the G on Thursday night, & not a sad, deluded old marble faced French fart within a 19,000 km radius?

    Off for my morning walk now, anyone noticed how much warmer March is becoming?

    Noho ake rā,

    Up the Arse, not Arsene!

  76. allezkev says:

    So, Wenger has stated that he will make public his decision soon. So fecking what…
    Is he waiting until after the FACup S/F, in the hope that we might get to Wembley…

    GG, I come from North London even though I now live in Essex via several other interesting addresses…

    Isn’t Tasmania a part of Samoa, just asking? ?

  77. micko says:

    rico 6.42, but what if he’s already signed the contract, just putting the cat among the pigeons !

    I’d love the thought of him arriving for work Monday morning and finding his desk in the toilets, the penny probably still wouldn’t drop.

  78. Wavy says:

    You’re on Stan. I’ll be there so long as you don’t want me to mention God, the firmament or the second coming!?
    But you can have a sermon, I think I’ll entitle it, ‘a good man knows when its time to get hitched to a new arse.’

  79. scottfromoz says:

    Stan, must be lost in translation because I have no idea what you’re waffling about, ya crazy Dutch bastard 🙂 🙂
    Fred, if Arsene is even allowed an option of staying after that performance, it says everything we need to know about the club.
    He should have been tapped on the shoulder straight after the final whistle.
    Let us know, and I’m sure 98% would then cut the protests and support him until seasons end.
    There will still be the 2% of Stan’s mates 🙂 🙂 🙂

  80. Le Coq Monster says:

    Not that I want him to die……………..that`s only for the exclusive club of Kroenke !……………………..but if Arsene kicked Le Bouquet ( that`s The Bucket to you Tasmanian Fiji`s ) I reckon his mental strength is so strong that he could run the club from the grave via a Quija Board in comunication with Gazidis !…………….obviously the board will be made up of French Letters and numbers rather than english ones !
    If he signs a new contarct then I will emigrate to the Cooks Islands of Tasmania and open a marsupial lap dancing club where the only sport will be the bondage of marsupials and sung to the Tasmainian National Anthem of Tie me Kangaroo Sport !………………………….he`s gone !………………………….like me after a Phall Curry…………….Arsenal need a total clear out !

  81. frednerk says:

    Wavy now we all know
    the whole club is effing clueless.
    Sanchez wants to play because that’s how he is
    But Ozil is a chicken and the rest are Just money grabber’s.
    We need to get rid of this lot.

  82. Wavy says:

    Just NO LEADERSHIP anywhere in the club at the moment. Josh Kronke he’ll sort it or…….sell it……..please!
    Is Usminov the new king of the Emirates or is he the great pretender?

  83. ScottfromOz says:

    Usmanov is full of it I reckon.
    He was originally trying to buy Utd but after having not pick suddenly became a lifelong Arsenal fan.
    He’s got enough to pay overs for the club if he really wanted to.
    Yes, I’d like be to see Stan go but as for a replacement, I have no idea Lol.

  84. Herb's Army says:

    Hi Rico and good people of HH.
    Wenger really is the most fraudulent disingenuous and graceless manager to ever darken our doorstep. An absolute stone-cold charlatan.
    In over 20 years at Arsenal, he can be credited with putting together one decent defensive unit, and even then he had a lot of good fortune.
    Lauren, who he converted from a wing back (Wenger’s propensity to insist on players playing out of their natural position has cost the club on many occasions),
    Sol Campbell, who despite being courted by the European giants really didn’t want to leave North London, and more or less fell into Wenger’s lap.
    Kolo Toure, who Wenger deserves great credit for when you consider he only cost £150,000 became an ‘Invincible’, and was sold for £15m.
    Ashley Cole, who if Wenger had his way, would have gone to Crystal Palace for £200k. Only Silvinho’s dodgy passport prevented this from happening.
    Bacary Sagna was a decent buy in isolation, but no-one could argue that he was ever part of a really solid hard-to-break-down unit, because setting up one of those is one of Wenger’s multiple blind-spots.
    He is a gambler who takes punts on players no other big club would give a second look at. But there comes a point when you have to question this logic when it has gone spectacularly wrong for such a lengthy period of time.
    There’s a whole litany of dreadful footballers that he has allowed to wear the sacred shirt of Arsenal, it is beyond embarrassing.
    If it were any other club but ours, we’d be howling with laughter at the extraordinary amateurish decisions, because rather than making significant progress to catch our rivals, Arsenal are a stale bland club who are doing everything in its power to fall as far away from the top as possible.
    And to hide his miserable record of abject failure, Wenger points an accusing finger at the club’s fan-base, saying nothing is good enough any more, conveniently ignoring the fact that he isn’t delivering anything for fans to get excited about.
    Against West Brom yesterday he said Alexis Sanchez went against his wishes at half-time, and ran out for the second-half carrying an ankle injury.
    That is weak, piss-poor management at any level.
    But the catalogue of horrendous mistakes he’s allowed to get away with is mind-boggling.
    A man completely lost in his own egotistical fantasy, totally out of touch with modern football methods, and who has simply been allowed to bring in any mediocre player he has set eyes on, using Arsenal’s money to give them ridiculously generous rewards.
    He is the only manager in world football who is paid more than the club’s star players.
    I’m confused at who is really responsible for this whole horrible mess.
    Is it David Dein, whose friendship brought someone to the club that they just can’t get rid of?
    Is it Lady Nina, who sold the shares that allowed Kroenke to become our majority share-holder?
    Or is it Arsene Wenger, who has no love for the fans, claims to have built the new modern-day Arsenal, but who is lord and master of a club in deep decline?
    So many questions concerning Arsenal and Wenger’s relevance in world football, and not one of the BoD brave enough to front up and give the fans some honest reflective answers.
    Please somebody give us our Arsenal back.

  85. Mabo says:

    Has Wenger resigned? Yesterday I had a surprise birthday party done up by my lady for me. Cake was a nice Arsenal Jersey with 31 as my age. And when I checked after the party we lost 3:1. Didn’t know whether to be cheered or cheesed off. But has the scum left?

  86. ScottfromOz says:

    Morning guys.
    Herb, a straight question and I won’t argue your reply….do you believe changing managers will fix all of the woes at Arsenal?
    Hi Rico,
    Strange, but around the traps, I’m seeing people who’ve been critical of Wenger now defending him against the abuse, but just as many who have defended him snap after yesterday’s game.
    Funny old world 🙂

  87. rico says:

    Morning Herb.

    Another very good comment with lots of questions which I know we all wish we knew the answer to and as much as a lot of blame has to be go to the owner and board for being toothless when it comes to allowing Wenger to make his own choices, the manager himself is solely responsible for all the big things you mention.

    Playing players out of position, signing mediocre players, blaming fans, lack of coaching ability, and yesterday, allowing Alexis to play on after being injured is a scandalous… He is the manager, manage!

    I really can’t see how he thinks by staying, he could improve things at the club because our woes run far too deep now. And he put us there..

  88. ScottfromOz says:

    Rico, Wenger could easily improve things, but he won’t because it would be an admission of error over the years.
    Bringing in coaches and allowing them to coach is one thing.
    Handing over transfer negotiations is another.
    Just these two things would make a massive difference but as we know, it’ll never happen.

  89. ScottfromOz says:

    I guess I should ask everyone, not just Herb.
    Do we believe a change of manager alone will see us get to where we should be as a club, or does more need to be done?

  90. rico says:

    Absolutely Scott. We are in this mess because he put us there and he won’t change so things will only get worse…

    Yes, I think a change of manager alone would see us soon improve…

  91. ScottfromOz says:

    Rico, not just improve, I mean will it really see us as force, challenging the big boys in CL etc etc

  92. rico says:

    That’s what I meant Scott. Someone with drive and ambition and we’ll be right back up there. He’ll get his own team in, his own players in time and within a couple of seasons, we could really be challenging imo, if not before.

    This squad is a good one imo, it just needs the right and better guidance…

  93. Mabo says:

    Wenger is making life hard on himself you know. This is the man who could at least try to tweak things and change players and tactics and the team could play. Of course the coaching could help. Imo if Wenger forgets about his favourites and choose horses for courses he could go toe to toe with some teams in the Epl. But we all know some deserving boys sit out games while his faves get to run around like headless chickens.

    We have some quality we just don’t have the right manager

  94. ScottfromOz says:

    Rico, there is a difference-we know Roman gives a crap about onfield performances but it’s a fair point.

  95. rico says:

    It was very different at Chelsea though Scott, they were flirting with relegation at the time and players were supposed to have made it clear they couldn’t play for Mourinho anymore…

    I wish ours would be a bit more honest instead of supporting the old not so wise one…

  96. Le Coq Monster says:

    Morning lovely people.

    Donbt think there is anyone on here who is in any doubt that Wenger should go at end of season, but I do have to side again with Scott here in that ultimately who has let Wenger carry on with what us fans think/know is a decline in our club ?…………………………….Kroenke !
    Will another manager make us competitive and hard to beat ?………………………….will Kroenke keep another manager on for years if said manager whoever he is continues to replicate Wengers 4th trophy experience ?
    No doubt a new manager will get us excited in which will be uncharted waters after so many years of averageness, but it will also be interesting how long we give a manager as lets face it some fans will be on the newbee`s back straight away if we dont improve drastically…………………..interesting times ahead as we haven`t been down the non CL no Str Totteringham`s day route for a long time !……………….in a way it`s a bit of a relief to get it over and done with as we all knew these days would arrive sooner or later .
    I have no doubt a new chapter is just around the corner………could be a rollercoaster ride………..I have white knuckles gripping my mouse in anticipation !
    🙂

  97. ScottfromOz says:

    Rico, if they were being honest about wanting him to stay, they’d play for him.
    They’re obviously not and that will stick in my
    Memory long after Wengers gone with some of these guys.
    Some of the distinct lack of effort is terribly disappointing.

  98. Adam says:

    It seems irrefutable that Arsene is finished now. There is a story going around the press that the fans will need to endure one more season of him, but I can’t see it. Having said that, would anyone actually be surprised? It’s been the longest goodbye tour in footballing history, with some highlights for sure but ultimately, football-wise, it has been fruitless. From a business point of view though it has been enormously successful of course with vast sums flowing into the club, only to be spent unwisely (mostly) by Wenger on average players and the odd show pony, like Ozil. I was going to write the words “Our club” but I can’t. Arsenal have become a divisive and aloof organisation with little sense of any fan being part of anything other than a financially-centred organisation intent on sucking every last penny from devoted supporters. The whole Emirates experience is rather dull and somewhat tarnished these days as almost everyone in the ground knows that this team, under this manager, are never going to achieve much. They are sick of being spoken to a such a condescending way by Arsene and his constant reminders to us about how great he is, how he has built the club and how many years he has been in football have been appalling really. He may preach the politics of humility, but there is little evidence that he practices it in front of the fans. We have not managed a PL team for a single-day for sure, but many of us have been going to watch for far longer than he has been managing at Arsenal and we know somewhat more than he gives us credit for. You can’t polish a turd – though many, including Wenger, have tried.
    So, let him leave and let us see what the new regime can bring. A new manager, coaching staff, backroom changes and perhaps even a re-think at board level would bring its own challenges which is why the choice of who takes over must be accompanied by the club’s support for that man and everything that he does. If he blows out then they will have to get rid of him and find someone else.
    I can foresee some rocky times ahead but the alternative is too horrible to contemplate. More of the same from Wenger? No thanks.

  99. ScottfromOz says:

    Hi LC,
    yes, change is exciting and the unknown is, as well.
    It’s needed, no matter what happens.

  100. rico says:

    LC – didn’t Wenger already have pretty much total control when Kroenke bought his shares? I cant imagine him giving them up at the time even if someone tried. I think we all know a more proactive board/owner would be ideal, but they aren’t responsible for transfers, team selection, not playing Lucas and not being able to defend set-pieces are they?

    I can understand why they don’t want to play for him Scott, I really can…

  101. Le Coq Monster says:

    Oops !………………..I`m on here and my neighbour is outside waiting for me and warming up for a 6 mile run !……………………he`s Manc …………..so tough ! hahaha

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