Former Gunner Viv Anderson believes Arsene Wenger’s future hinges on whether or not the club qualify for the Champions League next season – is he right?
Having beat Aston Villa over the weekend, The Gunners currently sit fifth in the Premier League table, two points behind fourth placed Chelsea, with 11 games left to play.
Wenger has managed to qualify for the Champions League in the past 15 consecutive seasons, but is in danger of finishing outside of the top four for the first time since his arrival back in 1996.
And Anderson, who made over 100 appearances for Arsenal between 1984 to 1987, reckons Wenger’s failure to finish in the top four could determine his future at the club.
The ex-England international said:
‘It could be the deciding factor.
‘He’s always qualified them, he always seems to get them in there. But he faces a good fight to do that this year – there are some good teams challenging for third and fourth spot.
‘It’s important Arsene does get them into that top four but if he doesn’t, he may think there’s not much more he can do.’
Does Wenger’s future hinge on whether or not Arsenal finish in the top four? I don’t necessarily think so.
The Frenchman has always honoured his contract and has said he will remain at the club until his existing deal expires in 2014.
However, if he feels he cannot take the club any further and does not manage to qualify for the Champions League then perhaps, in my opinion, he may rethink his future and ultimately walk away.
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I think it is probably going to say more about Arsenal as a club then WEnger. His buys this year have been better then usual, but usually he has replaced quality with mediocrity. I also think their ability to attract bigtime players has already been long compromised. They will not buy a Falcao because they will not pay him. I think the news yesterday of the money they are sitting on is indicative of the onservatism in the market. They now have a good core of promising English players, but the back four is no big deal, the keeper either, and they have not replaced Song, and say didn’t Diaby get hurt again against Aston Villa. No they have already been very much harmed as a brand. Giroud is nice but clearly is no RVP. I like Poldi, and Theo on the wings and Jack in the middle, but Ox has not really developed his ball skills and Ramsey is in over his head against speed…did I say the backline is medicore? So they had better hope Wenger stays, because no big time manger is comoing in with the budgetary contraints the Gunners have
One can only hope!!
I am getting a bit bored with ex players of Arsenal making comments of this nature. Good though Viv was does he have inside knowledge of current day Arsenal?I doubt it very much, it is bad enough reading some of the bilge that the media invent so please ex players, show a little humility and don’t make comments without anything to back it up.
this is the worst set of players we have ever had-thanks to wegner look at all the players he missed over his differing-he must go and take this useless board with him.
The worst set of players we have ever had? How old are you? Arsenal was not formed in the year 2000. Try reading our history. Yes I want Arsenal to be better than they are, but comments like yours are uninformed and frankly, childish.
multiple departures are required in all departments. it is not necessary to replace all of them with new recruits as some can be replaced from within. up front i would like to see the departures of gervinho arshavin park bendtner chamakh and watt with jovetic and villa joining afobe campbell ryo and gnabry in the first team squad. in midfield i would lose rosicky diaby denilson eastmond bringing in belhanda capoue and wanyama. in defence i would lose sagna squillaci djourou and santos bringing in jamnaat ambioretta miquel and meade. finally in goal i would lose fabianski and mannone bringing handanovic and martinez
I find myself agreeing with howitzer.Since we took a punt and appointed george,by and large we’ve been spoiled.When i first started following arsenal they had the top flight status of stoke,unattractive and mediocre.Chelsea for all their investment are in a worse position than us.Meanwhile spurs are being lauded for being in a position that wed be pilloried for.So a sense of perspective is called for please.