Arsene Wenger – hero or villain?

After 15 years of service there is are increasing calls for Arsene Wenger to be sacked or resign.. but is this just?

Having joined back in 1996 and winning the double in 1998 and 2002 as well as heartache in the Champions League and Uefa Cup finals. There has now been a barren spell of 6 trophy-less seasons.

But who is to blame? Is it Arsene? Or maybe the influx of foreign riches to the Premier League and the building of Ashburton Grove.

Wenger is held in high esteem throughout football for his playing and financial philosophy. Since joining he has spent less on transfers than all of his rivals including Spurs! Yet Arsene has qualified for the Champions league for 14 years running (longer than any other team in the competition at present) and 13 times more than bitter rivals Spurs.

But is the Champions League qualification enough? Arsenal went close to winning the cup in 2006 but have failed to win any silverware in 6 years.

The issue Arsene now faces is the fans are used to winning, he is a victim of his own success. Would Arsenal fans prefer Wenger spends big every transfer window and put the club in an unstable financial position to increase the chances of winning trophies, bear in mind the big spending Manchester United, Man City and Chelsea could still outspend Arsene.

No amount of money can guarantee trophies with the current level of competition in the Premier League and CL. We all remember what happened to Leeds after they borrowed money against future success that didn’t follow. How many Leeds fans would swap their 1-2 years challenging for trophies for 10 years of mid-table football in the Premier League?

What now for Arsenal fans? Do we get behind Wenger’s (frustrating) transfer philosophy and accept we can only push for titles with some luck? Or do we call for his sacking and increased spending to fight with the Sheikh’s of the football world and jeopardize the Arsenal Legacy created over the last 20 years?

I’m sure most mid-table sides would be ecstatic with a top four finish and Champions League football without debt. But what’s your take? And is Arsene the right man to steet Arsenal towards future success?

Click HERE to see the original article. This article was first published on ThisIsFutbol

Written by Ben Biancardi