Fire Wenger? Better think again

I know there are many Arsenal fans out there that are still ticked off about our latest defeat to Villa, especially as it is a game that the Gunners usually win.

Many will now be reinforcing the call for Arsene Wenger to resign or be fired, and for the Board to bring in a new manager who will restore Arsenal’s rightful place as Premier League champions – something they haven’t managed since the 2003/04 season.

For the past two years I have been one of Arsene’s strongest critics, calling for him to bring in established, world-class players to strengthen the team because the weaknesses are there for all to see…apart from Arsene, it would seem!

However, I have not been one of those calling for the Frenchman to be replaced. I have been an Arsenal supporter since 1963 and have seen too many managers come and go, and the results were not what fans wanted to see.

In the thirty three years, from 1963 up until Wenger joined in 1996, Arsenal have had seven managers. Our average league position was seventh, with the highest being first and the lowest nineteenth. While two of those managers, Bertie Mee and George Graham, being the two most successful managers in the clubs history, yet the team struggled in mediocrity for a lot of that time.

My point here is that while we are very frustrated with Wenger for his continued self-belief in his ‘youth project’, demanding a new manager to be brought in may not bring you instant improvement, or even the same level of success we enjoyed when Wenger first arrived.

In his fifteen years in charge of the Gunners, Wenger has managed to guide the club to three Premier league titles, four F.A Cups and finished runners up eight times, and either third or fourth five times. We have never been lower than fourth and have qualified for the Champions League every year since Wenger took charge, as well as reaching the Champions League final once back in 2006. That’s an amazing record, and one that is second only to Ferguson at United.

I personally think it would be foolish to kick Wenger out, unless of course he continues with the same pattern of buying second rate players, rather than paying what the market demands for world-class talent. To do that, he needs to change his philosophy. He also needs to acquire good, experienced backroom personnel who can help him change his views on modern day tactics.

So fans, beware what recent history tells us. Its not as bad as we may think right now, especially when you look back at what Wenger has achieved compared to his numerous predecessors.

Yes I’m very disappointed and extremely frustrated that we will probably end up in fourth place this season, but fans should think carefully about getting rid of a man who has simply revolutionized the club.

We as fans need to let Stan Kroenke, and the rest of the Arsenal board, know that we demand a huge amount of transfer funds to be handed over to Wenger so that he can go out and spend it on the type of players who can restore our rightful place in the Premier League and in Europe!

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