Talk is cheap, so they say. It certainly seems to be when it comes to Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal Board, transfers and transfer deadline day in particular.
And yet again, it comes as no surprise for many of us to wake up this morning feeling deflated, let down and even betrayed.
It was a good start to the summer with lessons apparently learned from last year.
We splashed the cash and bought top notch international players in Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla for a combined total of £35 million.
We were excited, hopes raised in anticipation that the season ahead would see us be genuine contenders for the title again. The Boss was talking about bringing in at least two more players, about transfer surprises and about continuing to strengthening the team.
But then we sold Robin van Persie to Manchester United and shipped off Alex Song to Barcelona for £39 million. On top of that, the management team tied the club down to protracted but ‘amicable’ negotiations over Theo Walcott for another 3 months, and who can now leave pretty much for free if he so chooses. In addition, Nicklas Bendtner and Park Chu-Young were packed off to Juve and Celta Vigo – not sold, but loaned out for the season, with the club allegedly retaining a large measure of responsibility for the wages.
But it was ok. The transfer window was still open, the Boss assured us everyone was still ‘working hard’ and that movement in the market would happen. With hindsight, we should have known better, particularly when, with 48 hours still to go, Arsene started trotting out his usual phrases about only adding ‘top, top players’. At least he avoided that wretched word ‘qualitee’, which he says in a particularly annoying voice when making a point to the cameras.
What happened? Nothing.
There were vague rumours we were in for a loan deal for Chelsea’s Michael Essien. But in the end, absolutely nothing ensued.
So yet again we finish the summer transfer window having sold, bought and made a profit. And in future, that is all we can and all we should expect from Arsene and the board.
It’s not about quality. It’s not about adding top players to the squad. They are out there, playing in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The vital word missing here is ‘cheap’.
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7 years of frustration and complaining by us fans, we pay the highest ticket prices in world football, we are constantly lied to and disrespected…..and we still fill the stadium every game. It’s our own fault. Yes we love our club and that’s why we go to games, but if we really love this club and want to see a change in the way things are run and want to see success, WE NEED TO STOP GOING TO THE GAMES. It is the only way for this con artist board/manager to get the hint. Keep going to games and buying merchandise but then stop moaning coz it’s your own fault for what’s going on. I have supported Arsenal for 44 years and always will. I do not support the management.
STOP supporting arsenal…you were pretty presumptuous to think that all the fans that fill the stadium think like you do – that the wenger & the board are con-artists!!!
you want arsene wenger out….i hope arsene wenger will manage Spurs or Man Utd or Man City or Chelsea or Liverpool and consigned to outside the top 4 forever and ever!!!
you are a twat!!
immature and self obsessed
get a life you tosser!!
hmmm…
to Stephen power: were you talking to me?
The problem lies with the arsenal fans in uk, if they can stop themselves from buying match tickets and stop going to watch matches in the stadium, the board and Wenger will sit up and see reason why they have to make reasonable signings, moreover our match ticket price is the most expensive in uk, so why can’t the fans for once think about it and collectively protest, because I can’t imagine myself going to watch a match against united and be trashed 8-2, I will fall ill for that season, this is a wake up call for our fans.
To you people who moan about the way the club is run: It’s not your club. If you don’t like the way it’s run, then please take your match-day money elsewhere, because the board will continue to run the club the way that they see fit irrespective of your whining, moaning and whinging.
Someone said earlier in this thread that this is a mediocre team. It’s not. As a matter of fact, the best Arsenal team I can remember for many a year was that of 2007/08, who played some of the best football that I have ever seen.
I’ve enjoyed watching Arsenal over the last few years, irrespective of the fact that we haven’t won a trophy. I’d like good fottball AND a trophy; but if I had to make a choice, then it’s good football every time for me.
With you 100% fellow true gooner.
for the first time in watching arsenal for 38 years,this is the first time ive seen the fans divided, its got to something when fans fight in the stadium with each other over opinions, and what do the board and managment do about it ? sweet fa, the silent twat sits there counting his wads and the french fool carries on lying.
you’re making perfect sense here, save for your conclusion. Enough fans stay away and the board/wenger will go, and at this point that’s a very good and necessary thing.
stay away…get the chief culprit ARSENE WENGER out by the end of this season…
Braca, Real Madrid, Spurs, MU, MC, Chelsea will be fighting for his services…
but i hope Spurs, Liverpool or NU will get him so that Arsenal will be outside of top 4 forever…
All this talk and no one mentions the real problem?
If we hold on to our best players every year then Wenger can add to it with his bargain buys & young blood and he will pull it off.
We cannot remain a selling club any more IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE ANY MORE (You want the truth it was NEVER acceptable, it just took everyone a long f*cking time to wake up.)
SELLING OUR BEST PLAYERS HAS TO STOP.
Who gives a f*ck about big name signings? we have quality at this club, its a fucking shame the heart has been sold for a few quid.
Wenger must be given the resources to keep his best players at AFC. S I M P L E.
What the fuck do we do now the damage is done……….. Kroenke OUT!
Support the boys week in and week out! They deserve a fortress (And they fucking need one too.)
Boycott the merchandise sales, let that shit get dusty this season.
Fuck You Kroenke.
Come on you GUNNNERRRSS
Gunnerforever, can you answer my points made at 12.03 please?
Allow me, beyond polishing wenger’s nob, you’ve yet to make a point.
I am a season ticket holder and have been watching arsenal for over 38 years, players, managers, and aspirations come and go. I have no issue with trophies or glory. All I want is players who are decent human beings committed to the club I love and trying their best. My main gripe is that paying a Grand a year for the pleasure of supporting Arsenal PLC is taken for granted. A campaign is required To make the board face their rseponsibilites and reinvest in the club. The burgers should be immediatley reduced by at least a quid, and a cup of tea to 50p. Perhaps banners could be made and a march down blackstock rd might get the reductions we deserve.
Of course, agreed. When clubs take things too far, it’s up to us to restore the balance.
Steve, your thoughts on the team and result today please.
We looked awesome didnt we?
Still we have lots of money in the bank so lets spend it!!!!!
You black plastic bag idiot!!!!!
Hahahahhaaa, this squad wins nothing, just ask cesc, rvp, etc and so on.
Still waiting for you comments on the last seven years mate? One game doesn’t solve our problems.
Nicky, a true gooner.
My tour of duty has been over 60 years and have seen my beloved club with just over 4,000 watching a home game against Leeds.
So all this rubbish aboout staying away and protesting will solve nothing.
I reckon Steve must have organised the black plastic bag protest that was meant to show everyone how real gooners felt!!! what a laugh that was.
we have a season ticket waiting list of over 20,000, so Steve if you dont like it, give yours up to someone who will support the club.
Serios investment in the club can be seen by the Emirate stadium. Liverpool have now ditched plans for a new stadium, S***s are trying to get one on the cheap but our board did the right thing and here we are with a small minority moaning and bitching.
How do I know its small??? Black plastic bag protest day thats how.
well said…simply brilliant
Wenger is the second highest paid manager in the world. Likes money for himself but isnt prepared to spend it for the club we all love. Someone needs to give him a well earned slap.
he will be paid more if he leave arsenal and manage any other club!!!!
would you care to know how much Chelsea, Liverpool paid to terminate their managers…
so he is the 2nd highest paid manager because he spends little money in buying players???…well this is criminal if it is true…
but it is not…so after re-reading your post…i think you are the one who deserved a even more well-earned slap!!!
Hi, why can’t we make bigger profit by selling AW or Arsenal itself, after all the owners are less concerned about the club.
get out of your little hole…it is not that arsene wenger is a flash-in-a-pan manager…many clubs q-ing for his services…
hey, smart aleck…who to replace him??? a certain ‘arry is available for much less…
Steve, heres a challenge for you.
If you believe that you have the majority of fans behind you, organise another black plastic bag protest within the ground at our next home game.
Try to start a chant of “wenger out” and see the reaction.
The reason I want it in the ground is because then we can truly say that those fans who are spending their money on season tickets will be the ones to show their true colours AND ARE GENUINE ARSENAL SUPPORTERS.
Of course one game doesnt make a season, just like seven seasons without a trophy doesnt mean all is wrong.
No more bullshit Steve, are you willing to back up your theory or are you really just a whining Sp**s supporter?
TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE BIG BOY!!!!!!!!