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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U couldn’t have put it any better. Fans have to understand sacking wenger won’t change things for the better instantly.
even as an arsenal fan, i really like what kenny is doing at liverpool.. 2 signings, fair amount of young players, nice football.
why can’t arsene check players who don’t play in france?! Holland, Germany, Scotland, Ireland..
you say it would be foolish to kick wenger out unless he continues with his policy of buying cheap(or getting freebie) players that are second rate.
Well I agree, if we were assessing the situation last year. In other words your feelings and tolerance are a year behind mine….my patience has run out…he has had warnings about the defence particularly for a number of seasons and appears unable to grasp the core of the problem.
If you lose games from goals at set pieces, wouldnt you logically look for a defender that regularly deals with these situations rather than ignore the problem.HOW does signing kos and squill rectify the ariel problem at centre-back?
It doesnt as we have let more goals in that way.
I think Arsene is now looking at players in England. As the pound has gone down in value, the prices for players on the continent has gone up, making English players less over priced. I would love to see Cahill at The Emirates. Song needs backup and the club needs David Dein back, or someone like him that ARsene respects an would be a contructive counter point.
Factor in the points taken away from Arsenal through ridiculously biased refereeing and point gifted to ManU through howard webb and Co you know that arsenal wd have had the league sewn up long back
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I disagree with you on this matter Jeff Fairbrother (writer). It’s a valid point and of course it’s your point on the matter. But can you honestly see Wenger splashing the cash to buy world class, talented and experienced players. I honestly can’t see it.
I mean for the past 6 years, Arsenal fans, pundits and the players themselves have been asking for Wenger to bring in world class, talented and experienced players, so Arsenal could become a force again, but for some reason he disagree’s with everyone. Within this 6 year spell, we have had problems all over the park.
1. We have had goalkeeping issues during this time but it looks like we may have found someone now.
2. We still have defensive issues.
3. We lack strikers when RVP is injured.
4. The midfield without the likes of Nasri and Fabregas looks weak.
Also within 15 years at the club we have won 7 trophies, but how many have we lost due to the fact, that Wenger didn’t strengthen the squad. I would at least say 3-4 premierships, 1 FA Cup and 2 Carling Cups. So for me he has won trophies but he has lost the same amount, maybe more over the years.
Also Wenger’s lack of dipping into the transfer market annoys me, as we have missed out on some quality players, players like David Villa, 3 years ago when he was worth 15-20 million, but he waited until after the euro championships and then his price sky rocketed, which put him off. We could have also signed Torres from Athletico Madrid for 20 million but again the price put him off. If we had acquired one of these players we could have won trophies. These are just some players we have missed out on, due to Wenger’s lack of spending in the transfer market, but there are many more. Petr Cech and Michael Essien also come to mind.
His style of football is good but it doesn’t always work, and when this happens we don’t have a plan B, he needs to learn to adapt his style against teams we struggle against such as Stoke, Bolton, Birmingham and so on. Anyway I think his time is up, it’s my opinion of course and I’m sure some of you will disagree with me.
is gary chaill realy the answer to our defence problem? i have watched both him and samba closly this sesson and for me samba is more of the person we need
My issue with the fire Wenger tosh is exactly as you said, the only person with a better record than him is Fergie and none of us would want him if he was available. Wenger’s achievements are stupendous. People always wheel out earlier managers who did well but let’s face it, NONE of them brought this level of consistency to Arsenal and consistency is key.
I, like everyone else, want to see some big moves(they don’t have to be expensive, just correct) in the market this year but I fear that the dwindling commitment of our fans will have a negative impact on that. What players will want to join a team that gets booed every time they lose and every mistake they make is brought up over and over and over until their confidence is crushed. We are the fans and we have our part to play in the success of our team and, this year in particular, we have been failing our team in this regard. Criticism is fine but the number of people pursuing their own private agenda and the number of people listening to them is obscene.
@tony – If you’re conceding goals from open play, you can focus the blame on the players: If the goals are coming from set pieces it would be more realistic to look at defensive coaching as the major issue. This point is highlighted by the fact that the problem remained through a completely different lineup this season from last.
It shocks me how poor people’s judgement of Kozzer has been this season. According to some he’s a complete waste of space and I have seen no evidence of that. He works hard, his positioning and movement are very good and he’s got a mean tackle on him. Plus he’s only going to get better. I’ve been disappointed with Squillaci but I’d rather have him than Sylvestre, who he replaced.
I have thought again and…
… I still want the deluded, old fool out of the club!!!
WENGER OUT! KLOPP IN!!!