In his weekly column for The Sun, former Arsenal legend Ian Wright wrote:
‘Star players set to leave, barely any new signings, injuries to top players and a seriously tough batch of opening fixtures. I’m fed up of talking about Arsenal with a negative vibe but it looks like dark days are ahead.’
He added:
‘Yet it seems Wenger’s revolution has ground to a halt. Now I fear he may end up walking away.’
So, is Wright correct to worry about Wenger’s future at Ashburton Grove?’
Let’s have a look at the current situation that has got Wright to come out with this. It sounds like Fabregas’s transfer to Barcelona is all but done and that Nasri will be swiftly following him out of the door to join rivals Manchester City as the club want to cash in on a player unwilling to sign a new contract. Already the club have lost Gael Clichy to City while Emmanuel Eboue and Nicklas Bendtner’s time at the Emirates appear to be at an end. The summer arrivals have thus far been nominal with only Gervinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Carl Jenkinson coming in. So it understandable to see such a bleak short-term future at the Emirates for Wenger.
However, it is too easy to be negative about the new season and about Wenger’s future. It has been obvious all summer that Cesc was going to leave so he must have found a ready-made replacement with Juan Mata and Eden Hazard – two names that have been continuously linked to the club.
As Arsenal’s longest serving manager, Wenger is going into his fifteenth season in charge of the club and in that time he has had his ups and downs. He has signed a three-year contract until 2014 and I expect him to see it out as why would he leave the club he has helped build, not just on the field but off it?
Just because he has ended up with a weakened team does not mean he will just walk away. If Fergie can get away with rebuilding about four new teams during his time at Old Trafford, why can’t Wenger, especially if he thinks it will benefit the club in the long term?
Players like Wilshere, Ramsey, Chamberlain, Gervinho, are at the Emirates for the long term and this can only be a positive thing. Scott Dann is close to signing and he might at long last be the solution to the shaky centre-back position, although undoubtedly Arsenal fans will criticise the signing.
I don’t think Arsenal are too far off Man United in challenging for the title particularly if they can keep the main players fit while finding suitable replacements for Cesc and Samir and then securing a safe central defender. If the fans get behind Wenger and the team then maybe it could be better season than expected.
This sort of quote is typical of Ian Wright’s pedestrian punditry where he makes ridiculous comments to cause controversy, can anyone apart from him see Wenger walking away just because Fabregas is going and Nasri is likely to follow him?
Sometimes a club needs freshening up especially after six years without a trophy and I think this will only benefit the club in the future; sometimes you have to move backwards to move forwards and I am convinced Wenger will be around for a long time to come yet.
Click HERE to see the original article. This article was first published on FootballFanCast
Written by Aidan-McCartney
Northbanksey,
You moaners think all Arsene has to do is indicate a target and he is as good as signed. It takes time for a cautious Manager to get the player he wants and that is why there is such a thing as a Window. Arsenal is not a “sugar daddie” side and is self-sustaining and therefore the Club has to be careful with ALL its business. Have faith, think positive and have patience…..
you really have no choice.
We do have a choice, but wenger does not. He either improves the squad or he is off. Caution? Larfter! Try fearful paralysis.
Wenger knows what gonna happen for months this is all shit
He should have bought weeks ago.and the cryptic messages he gives in interviews shows contempt for all us gooners
Paul,
Think about it. You have no choice other than to await the end of the Window. When new blood is signed and the team wins well in the EPL and the CL and Arsene’s plans are found to be justified…….
then, out of the woodwork will come all you moaners and defeatists saying how marvellous he is. We loyal supporters will know, however, that you fairweather fans don’t really deserve to celebrate our success.
Unlike you, I have thought about it. When wenger is gone, please find another cult to support, we’re a football club. Success? Since when did that matter to an AKB twat? Don’t pretend to be an AKB twat and then show ambition the two simply don’t go together, you should know that much at this stage.
Forgive me if am wrong but i surport wenger leaving.Reason no 1.He is always out of touch,he thinks he is the cleverest than anybody.2.it took wenger 5yrs to build a team then now its weaker so we expect to go another 5yrs hop not.3.Lets go Liverpool way, infact Rafa was more successful than wenger yet he was fired, you are right by saying lets move backward so one way let ARSENE GO..i hate him already
lets take the point that the window isnt shut yet…..
1 we are already playing competitive games so the end of the window is too late…TOO LATE!!!!(it may cost us a champs league qualification)
2 players need time to “gel” with their teammates in any event
3 A centre-back was identified as a priority from last season….it wasnt a desire it was a necessity and should have been sorted in early july
what justification is there in waiting?
fergie wrapped up ashley young ,phil jones, degea in a matter of weeks….why the excuse of complexity?….
wenger is the master of spin and bullshit..he really isnt the real deal.
it is full of rubbish to compare fergie&wenger in either way…fergie can chalenge for trophiz regardless the quality of the squad he has…but wenger must have top clas players to lift trophiz….
Paul,
Grow up or shut up. Arsene is going nowhere despite moaning from ill-informed so-called fans like you, knowing nothing about football, yet spouting forth as though you do. My advice to you is to go and support another team as Arsenal doesn’t deserve your disloyalty.
Outstanding argument nicky, well said.