The summer is here and, not unlike the rest of the season, transfer targets are at the forefront of many a football fan’s mind. The difference now being that there is no football to dilute the true joy that gossip and lies bring to the party. While this summer promises to be a massive departure from the more austere windows gone by, the issue of the day, for me anyway, is the contract of one Arsene Wenger.
The greatest manager in our fine club’s history takes great pride in always honouring his contract, but that will be little comfort to those who would like Arsenal to continue on its current path towards domination. With just over a year to run on his current deal, the intelligent Arsenal supporter is praying like there’s a god that Arsene will grace us with his managerial magnificence for another few years. Having endured years of austerity and the abuse of simpletons, Arsene has guided the club to where it can demand huge sponsorship deals and, in turn, sign the players on whom we’ve been missing out all this time. The idea of selling a top player just to maintain is a thing of the past as a new dawn is broken over North London. Arsenal are now in a position to compete on a financial level and, with the team gelling so well at the end of last season, should be able to compete for top honours once more.
Unlike many of our rivals, the position of strength in which we now find ourselves has not come about by chance. It took meticulous planning and absolute faith in the manager to mould the club into its current form. It is only with a manager of Wenger’s nous can a club really commit to a plan of such magnitude. I would like to know whether the board convinced Wenger or the other way around but some visionary devised a plan and Arsene Wenger was, and remains, the keystone. Even with huge set-backs like player departures and severe injuries to some vital players, Arsene Wenger has managed to keep the team in Europe’s top elite competition without fail. Of course, player departures were a direct result of a lack of silverware and financial power but there were some whose lack of loyalty must have hurt the boss personally and definitely impacted negatively on the plan. The casualties of this period would be the weak, the impatient and the greedy.
Why am I telling you what you already know? Well, I am just imagining how comfortable life would be if I were Arsene Wenger’s agent. We know that the boss is wanted by other clubs with almost guaranteed success for a man of his talents. We can assume that without Arsene Wenger, Arsenal would have at least once fallen out of the top four. We know that Arsene Wenger is the keystone. We know it and the Arsenal board know it. Has an agent in football ever had such leverage with which to bargain? With the exception of a few who lack the mental fortitude to see it, and a few who appear to be too stubborn to accept it, everybody knows what an incredible job Arsene Wenger has done and continues to do. The Arsenal board should, and in my opinion will, offer Arsene Wenger whatever it is he deems to be fair.
While I believe that the boss will simply renew his contract and continue his work, the little, anxious wreck inside me won’t be happy until it has been confirmed. Fears can overshadow logic like a cannon does a cock and we all need reminding of how good we have it, from time to time. I usually try to come up with my own lines but when I was planning this post, I read a tweet from Ricky (@GeezyPeas) that seemed to be more pertinent than anything I could muster. Rather than trying to reword it and pass it off as my own, he said, “Sad that some are genuinely concerned about losing Arsene to PSG. It’s as if you know nothing about the man.” A fine endorsement of Mr. Wenger’s integrity, I’m sure you’ll agree.
That’s all for this week, thanks for reading.
Up the Arsenal!
@Bradyesque7
Positively Arsenal 
Spot on. Absolutely the one key signing and the only one I get excited about.
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I was never concerned about Wenger leaving for PSG, he’ll sign there’s no doubt.
You don’t stay loyal during the hard winter just to leave when the spring arrives.
The most successful manager in Arsenal’s history is going to increase his lead.
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That has made my day. Thanks again for such an uplifting piece.
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Is there a doubt Wenger will renew?
Excellent point eltamatrox: “You don’t stay loyal during the hard winter just to leave when the spring arrives.”
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Nice one number 7, I think the great man will stay-just maybe on shorter contracts,which makes sense for a guy in his 60s and the potential of The Syrup selling to the Bond villain,thank god for Arsene Wenger-like us, he’s proper Arsenal.
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Good stuff Bradyesque.
He’s had opportunities each and every season to leave, his services have always be in high demand by Europe’s elite, but he’s always been very vocal about seeing contracts through. I don’t see why that would suddenly change. Besides, this is his life’s work, his legacy, he’s hardly likely to up sticks just as we are possibly turning the corner, unless there are things happening that we are not privy to.
The only factor I can see influencing his decision is his age. Christ alone knows where you find the energy to do such a non-stop job in your 60’s. So what Mel said. A shorter contract perhaps.
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Brilliant! Renewing Arsene’s contract in my view is the single most important piece of business this summer and if the players and indeed Arsene celebrated a top 4 finish like they’d won the league, I’ll celebrate Wenger’s contract renewal like winning the quadruple. Make it happen Ivan!
Now this made me chuckle …….”Fears can overshadow logic like a cannon does a cock…..”
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The notion of Arsene joining a club with a zero tolerance policy on disappointment was ludicrous. The man has his canvass to create for which he and I are mutually grateful.
I go along with the shorter contract point – another two years and he will be 65 – I find it difficult to believe he would want to carry on much longer
Only a foolish man would risk dying in harness, and AW is no fool
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Great stuff, Brady. I’m selfish and wish Arsene would stay for another decade. As that likely would be detrimental to his health, I’ll take another five. Or two? Or anything, really. I want him to stay as long as he wants to stay.
@Emmanuel that was my favorite line, too. Funny, and true.
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I think Arsene has made it clear that life without football is not an option for him.
4 year deal again I reckon.
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I believe Arsene will stay as long as his health allows, he’s already said so on a few occasions.
That he might walk away from Arsenal now is ludicrous, eltamatrox has put it perfectly. He hasn’t led us through the hard times to let some other chump come and reap the benefits. It’s pure wishful thinking from Arsene’s detractors, as they can smell the humble pie coming. I plan to be in front of the line plating it out for them.
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Starting with this fucking cretin:
https://twitter.com/LeGrove/status/276110253135912960
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fuck le grove
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I plan to be in front of the line plating it out for them.
that wont be enough im afraid …what those people/scum deserve is a vieira on anelka 🙂
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Yes Bradyesque, mental fortitude. Love it. And I agree with Peter that the most pertinent word here is integrity. AW is such a big part of why I am so proud to be a Gooner now, that I don’t understand how and why so many can’t or won’t see it. Thanks for a great article.
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To bouldly* go where no modern football coach has gone before.
To give Tapie and pals the finger and to still be around twenty years later to tell some tales. To go on to be a pioneering stranger in a strange strange land. Do some not like that**. And then some. Oh no.
*Who needs a coat when I can yank this chain and open the trapdoor beneath my feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee………………
**A strange land where Carlton Palmer gets more caps then Le Tissier. “It was the effeminate surname wot did it, me lud.” I rest my case.
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Two words ….Logicly brilliant…..
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like stew said spot on, I think everybody to greater or lesser extent has taken ARSENE for granted on here lesser and spuds like le grove greater. “everybody knows what an incredible job Arsene Wenger has done and continues to do” , unfortunately this is the line which divides man as many a blind man covered in red and white will not recognise this as truth.
The bumbling fool that was lucky when he first hit our shores or the magician who suddenly lost his mojo is how many see our most successful manager ever, is this pure ignorance or an illustration of how powerful the media and power of suggestion are.
Whatever the fact remains to the right minded that we still want and need the great ARSENE for many years to come so fingers crossed !
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Y’know, I’ve only ever visited LeGrove once. Just once. Many moons ago. That was the first and very last time. I’ve felt no need to torture myself by ever going back and reading it again. LeGrove is like the Daily Mail, or Richard Littlejohn, or Piers Moron, or TalkShite, I know it/they exist, but I find the best way to deal with these things is to avoid them altogether.
I do admire the more combative approach of our George, and Hunter there though. I just haven’t the heart.
F*ck ’em.
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Very good post and comments. Like everyone here, I wish Wenger would stay and retire with us, which is what I think is going to happen and that is the best thing for us. I dont see him going anywhere else, unless he is unceremoniously dumped. I am just a little apprehensive that nothing bad should happen.
It is a beautiful testament to the oneness of the world that a man from France who came to manage an English club is the very embodiment of all the values Arsenal prides itself on. For me, Arsene Wenger is another Mr. Arsenal.
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I agree and I think he will be with us a few more years. Dare I say 2020. I think we all know him well enough to see that his head, a least, won’t be turned by supposedly greener grass elsewhere. We are indeed very lucky…
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Leo mate. We try our damndest to stay away from the self righteous poison that is le gloom. Its best to stay away from the rantings of the agents of Alisher and their mindless followers. Its good for our mental health not to read or listen to snakes in the grass. Please mate, I beg of you , no more links to that outhouse.
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I’d be delighted if AW signs up again for 4 years and happy if he does it for 2. It is time for him to reestablish his pre-eminence in the league and to finally conquer Europe now that the hard work of laying these foundations for the club has essentially been completed. If summer business goes well, it could be as soon as next season. He deserves the chance to really compete again.
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FUNGUN
looks like your ROGERS route to win the championship at Wimbledon just got so much easier with RAFA out. So curious though winning the French open less than a month ago and going out to a 135th ranked player in the world. I don’t buy the injury story. He can’t play on grass. That’s all.
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I watched it Kam,he was injured.
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I agree with George, I see the sense of a four year contract but very little in any thing much shorter as you are almost immediately counting down again to the next contract/departure and all the speculation that spins off that. None of which is particularly helpful for the business or staff/players of the club.
Also agree with George re Rafa who was clearly struggling. What was slightly puzzling given the extent of the injury is why he risked further damage by playing on. Odd.
Good article, B7, great read.
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Rafa actually has win Winbledon and defeated the best modern grass court player in Federer to do it. Actually, hard court is his weakest surface, I believe. What is annoying is how he inelegantly picks his underwear out of his rear end and then pulls on the front of his shorts–all rathe vulgar but it is clearly a tic he can’t stop as he waits for the serve. FG or Passenal pointed it out last summer and now I can’t stop noticing it!!! No one compares to Federer. Djokovic is a brute. I gave hopes for Murray and would be delighted to see him win.
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Apologies for all the typos on my iPhone!
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Hah. Curious that. He must have got injured between winning in France and his first game in England. We shall pull for ROGER or the gooner ANDY. Not the gross and vulgar Rafa.
Playing with his underwear in plain view of the cameras.
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And a very nice post and great controversial subject matter B7…..
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I’m sorry George! I promise this would be the last time I foul the air on here but I just couldn’t resist it.
acertainindividual:
“Wenger to leave us hopefully, the guy is well past it, signer mertesacker last year was the biggest waste of 10 million. sell him and put vermaelen back in. buy rooney and another gk like begovic as sczesney is useless.”
Now, there is stupid and there is fool, then there is both. I bet he felt really smart due to his football manager stats in motivation, finance, scouting knowledge and judging player ability and potential.
What makes it sad is the authority with which this drivel was spewed. Authority which comes from knowledge, understanding and experience of football management but which I’d bet my nuts he hasn’t got.
And he’s not alone. He did get 5 likes. Poor souls! Well like h13, I say……f@%k em’!
Rant over! Whew! I needed that. Off to bed.
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Ok. Since I’m still up, I might as well clean up my mess so here goes.
anothercertainindividual:
“Got to love the haters, us arsenal fans adore you.. anyways to my point… What an amazing job this man (Arsene Wenger) has done. In the last 7 years we have managed so much to move stadium and maintain European status while clearing the dept and spending peanuts on transfers. simply remarkable. now we are in position to spend big and hence ” we are set for life” a feat only man u have managed to do. Moral of the story : “On your way to the top you can not catch the elevator, you have to take the stairs” See you on the roof top.”
(Takes long, deep breath)…….smells so much better! I’m definitely going to sleep this time.
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hahaha anicol ….it is reasonable…so reasonable….you spend..it doesnt work out..you spend again..and again..thats what we are here for…to spend….this is pro sports baby….
epic
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goonerkam – Sorry, I promise to preserve the sanctity of PA from now on!
hunter – hahaha, I think I know what you’re referring to. That might just knock some sense into them!
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