Today’s post is by Niall Prosser
A cast iron case for history – or continuity?
I’ve made a decision.
I’ve decided where I stand on the Wenger Question.
As you’re aware, Arsenal fans are currently split between whether Wenger stays or goes. There appears to be a shifting in the sands every time Arsenal win or lose. There are also those on either side who are certain about their position and the merits of their views.
I’ve never been certain.
I will be honest and let you know that I have been questioning Wenger – and questioning Arsenal at the moment.
I read the blogs that suggest Wenger can’t motivate players, how he can’t make decisions about signings, doesn’t have tactical awareness and his training methods are leading to the injuries we are having. The biggest reason though to question Arsenal and therefore Wenger this year is the success of Liverpool. They have for some supposedly weakened the arguments about why Arsenal haven’t won the Premier League recently.
There are three main reasons why I have decided that I want Wenger to stay and why I think he is the best person to take us forward:
1) I’m worried – I’m worried about others next year. I’m worried about the strength of our rivals – let’s briefly analyse each of them:
Liverpool are likely to win the league. Suarez seems happy and appears likely to stay. Their chairman has suggested they are going to spend big to boost the size of the squad to mitigate some of the affects of the Champions League. But they have played a game once a week this year. They haven’t had injuries to their key players either. Despite a Suarez-less start to the season, pretty much everything has gone right for them this so far this year and certainly since Xmas.
Chelsea will have Jose for a second year, appear to be about to sign a world class striker (Cavani or Costa). They seem to living by FFP so may sell but I believe they will be stronger next year.
Man City appear to have lined up some big moves which will strengthen them defensively. They have more stability and alongside a mooted stadium expansion, appear to be building an empire.
Then there is United. New manager. £200m (supposedly). They’re like a wounded animal at the moment. They have shown they’re willing to pay big wages as well. They need a new defence, new centre mid and more but they have the resources and history to get.
I think next year there will be 5 or 6 teams who can think they can win the title let alone get into the top four.
Arsenal therefore need to improve as well. We all know we need a great striker (and there don’t appear to be many around or available), a defensive midfielder, possibly a new right back, another pacey winger and possibly another centre back. That is a big shopping list. We don’t need another manager with different ideas or who needs time to understand the players.
We need a manager who understands Arsenal, who has a history of investing our money wisely and of finding great players. We’re shopping in a different market now and some say he needs to be more decisive, but he built this team and can make it stronger again.
2) History – the biggest problem with every argument made against Wenger is based on history; let’s quickly review some of them:
Firstly, he can’t motivate players – yet everyone who played for him (and still to this day) says great things about him. He has motivated a team to go 49 games unbeaten. He has won leagues, cups and awards. This is not the track record of someone who can’t motivate people.
His methods are said to lead to injuries – yet again, those who make these arguments also ignore the history lessons. When Arsenal did go the season unbeaten they did it with a core of players who played most of the games. They did it using Wenger’s training methods. So they clearly work. New methods and ideas are good but there is not always progress.
He is being out-thought by younger managers. I’m a believer in trying to get your opposition to change to counter your style rather then the other way around. There does though need to be an ability to switch it if it isn’t going well. Wenger has done this in the past but sometimes the players must do this as well. The City, Chelsea and Liverpool games have shown the team need some more leaders but they also showed that we were missing key players.
I do think Wenger has to learn from this year but I think history has shown he can.
Equally Wenger gets a lot of stick for not winning anything for 9 years. I believe that when the decision was made to build the stadium it meant we weakened significantly for a period but it would lead to us becoming a mega-club for the next 50 – 60 years. It was a necessary sacrifice. Compare teams with a similar sized stadium to Highbury and look how they’re struggling with the competition – especially with the oil clubs.
During this period of weakness Wenger was at his strongest. He was loyal to us at a time he knew we were less likely to win – when we were weak – and he stuck with us. At the moment the club is in a position of strength but he personally appears a little weaker. We should show him the same loyalty he has shown us.
Now is the time to return that loyalty.
3) Alternatives – United are admirably displaying the difficulties of replacing someone who has come to define a club. They are highlighting the problems associated with flushing out alternatives – not to mention the evident lack of those alternatives. At the time of writing it appears that their two main options are Giggs or the Dutch national coach. Everyone else has dropped out of the running (assuming they were ever actually in it) and are staying put.
Equally United didn’t plan the transition post Ferguson or prepare for life after the man. When change finally came out of the blue last summer, it meant that United missed out on players such as Thiago whilst ending up with Fellani. They changed their whole back room staff and exec team. It was all too quick and destabilising.
Meanwhile, back at AFC, the appointment of Jonker as youth team coach could be seen as the club giving the man an opportunity to learn and understand the club and who may then become the Director of Football when Wenger finally steps down, possibly in two or three years. Remember we have a CEO who was wanted by lots of businesses and clubs. Already with tangible success, he continues to develop the commercial side; he is delivering.
I think he may now start preparing Arsenal for life without Wenger – but he needs time.
So I think and agree Arsenal need to improve. Central to this is Wenger continuing to learn and enhancing the team to meet the challenges of others.
He has the knowledge and experience to do this.
He continues to be the right man for arsenal.
Niall can be found on Twitter @tuwituwo
Positively Arsenal 
Easiest run to the title I have seen in a long time.
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Brenda did the opposite of what Kenny did. Get out from all comps and make a run in the league. Easy money
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Compared to the chavs they have played 15 less games this season. Compared to us 13. makes a huge difference in freshness and the injury department. And they might still not make it..
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“PASSANEL
your in the news. Well your twitt after the Everton game.
Tom thorgoods story on hereinthecity. Hitc.
Well done famous lady….”
Huh?
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PASS
go to ” here in the city ” web site. Sports section. Tom thourgoods story about ARSENAL fans reactions to Everton losing yesterday , on Twitter. Your in his story.
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Anyone attending the Baggies next Sunday ? I’m there – I think DC is there though I suspect that nice Mr O’Leary has put his oar in
The George – before and/ or after ?
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The BEARS……
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You’re right, George. I just had a look at the table and City is ahead of them on GD. But it’s only eight, KFG.
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Different PassenalPassenel Kam
Ask Chris Hoy
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That’s not me Kam. I’m not on Twitter. I am the original Passenal as I have been that since 2006 and this is a more recent person who I have seen on Twitter, but it’s not me. I only really post here these days.
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Woops. Thanks guys. I thought it was you PASS. should sue him/her for copyright infringement . I wonder if there are any other goonerkams around..
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I remember Kenyan raised hell once against another at the jellystone bears reserve . But that was an era ago.
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ANicoll,
Seeing the positives crew again at the George next Sunday sounds like a plan. Any more than 5 of us turn up, and I will propose an immediate protest march down to the Ems!
Down with this sort of thing.
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There is only one top top quality Passenal.
Accept no substitutes.
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I shall begin weaving a banner DC – we can sort out the event later in the week!
Right – this bollox with Sagna has extended for 15-16-17 months
We offered him X
He wants Y
Apparently there is a massive queue round the block
Months of talk – allegedly – have led no nearer Bacary signing a contract he and the club can live with
Fair enough Bacary
Enough is enough
Fuck off
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i don’ care if sagna asked for 10 times more than what the club thinks he deserves. what is the good price to pay him, ill let the club decide and will stand by the club on that.
every-fucking-body wants more money.
sagna has defended the arsenal spirit in every which way.
i implore you to take the “fuck off” down. that is no way, imho, to treat an arsenal player. what i think i deserve could be very different to what you think i deserve. what is wrong in negotiating for more? and i dont understand this general belief (i witnessed the same in case of theo before) that if the contracts go on for long its always the players fault.
we know jack shit what goes behind closed doors.
now now i dont know if you believe that it is sagna’s fault here but some of the comments do suggest to me that – i could be wrong.
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I have no idea whose “fault” it is
I have no idea why the incapacity that has consistently been in place for month after month, indeed year after year, exists.
No doubt the banner weavers and scarf knitters can help with that
We are however near the end of the season
I am bored being dangled on a string by Bacary Sagna – big offers from big clubs
Yeah right
Just like wild Bill Gallas
I
As I say depart and make it swift – teamsagna
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Don’t let the door hot you in the ass on the way out, Bacary Sanga.
You were good, now we have to move on.
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At his age, you can’t blame Sagna for wanting a big wedge for the longest possible term. At 31 this is his last big contract before even the blind will know his legs are gone.The club is just as aware he is at his peak. At the end of the day both have to make a business decision. There is no need for the acrimony and bitterness, least of all on PA. At the end of the day professional football is a business, not a boys club.
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Not a word on MOTD about the penalty not given for handball to Chelsea. ‘Pool have a habit of this in their own box and getting away with it.
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The George, you say?
Next Sunday, you say?
Sounds like a plan – wonder if we can entice out that Mel, just back from his world tour?
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Hazard (forward) – League: 33 games 14 goals / Total: 46 games 17 goals
Ramsey (midfielder) – League: 21 games 9 goals / Total: 31 games 14 goals
Not really a contest, but obviously Hazard won!
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Reasons to be positive this morning?
Only Mourinhio’s old friends Micky D and Grandmaster Riley salvaged the draw for Gazprom when they played the same game (the ‘tactics’ the plundits are jizzing themselves over, beggin’ your pardon) on their visit to N5 in November/December. When a more tired Arsenal eleven (CL game) out-parked and out-countered Maureen’s blingbus.
Whatever the ‘tactics’ were for Arsenal at the beginning of the Gazprom Away game, having seen this new team play Away over the last two seasons at say, Dortmund, Tottenham, etc. it is reasonable to assume that it was not the plan to be two down and to then, just for fun, to have a man incorrectly sent off (when 2-0 down) by the same referee, Taylor, who taught Dowd how to make such an obvious and disturbing bungle of a penalty decision as the won he made against Cardiff (Villa first game) yesterday.
I did enjoy the way that Rodgers said in his post match interview that the game was good practice for the upcoming game against Palace. heh.
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Reasons to be cheerful Fins ?
Well I’m not Steven Gerrard
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I don’t know what it is with the plundits ‘Golden Generation’ and slip ups in big games. Some kind of cosmic coincidence? Or maybe just were just writing crap, as usual?
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I think Sturridge was a little bit niggled when he came on? Dare I say it, in the redzone?
I trust that the Arsenal sports science enthusiasts, these defenders of professional footballers and athletes who never moan about the inflated pay footballers receive as a result of investigations in concussion injuries that were made in the fifties and sixties (it’s why we have lighter and lighter footballs!), that they have their pitchforks ready?
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28-04-14
Shanghai Shenhua vs Manchester United, football press conference, Shanghai, China – 25 Jul 2012
MANCHESTER United have been granted six extra games after a meeting between the Referee’s Association and Sir Alex Ferguson.
Two games each will be played against Norwich, Fulham and Cardiff City, giving United the chance to earn a further 18 points and putting them back in contention for the title.
Ferguson said: “I explained, from a distance of one inch at a volume of approximately 110 decibels, that there had been a great deal of timewasting earlier in the season. About 640 minutes worth, in fact.”
When told the extra matches cast serious doubt on whether United players could compete in this summer’s World Cup, Fergie said “So it’s win-win.”
Lawyers have confirmed that the basic principle of the move – if United haven’t won, it’s not over – has been an unwritten rule of the Premier League since its inception and is not open to legal challenge.
Fulham manager Felix Magath said: “In agreeing to this, our club may seem like a desperate, dumped boyfriend willing to be completely humiliated just to play against a Premier League team one last time.
“That is entirely accurate.”
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I don’t know if Mel would associate himself with small timers like us anymore AA; he will be supping Pims in the Savoy and having his minions seeming out press releases while boasting of his ‘connections’.
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Porto.
Someone mentioned Porto in relation to Jose Mourinho being successful without massive purchases, you need to scratch the surface here though.
In Portugal, they are able to have third party player ownership so they don’t need massive transfer fees to sign a player, they just effectively lease the player from the owning agent.
Let’s stick to comparing apples with apples please.
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Is it obvious that Liverpool needed a Giroud-esque player in the squad? That’s not Borini (they spent about £10M on Borini?), and it’s not Carroll either, couldn’t keep him as third choice forward on that fee and wage as they needed to use that Wonga elsewhere.
Whilst looking for that football quote on players and tactics (I failed) I found the famous one from Cruyff: Football is simple but the hardest thing to do is play simple football.
Arsenal frontline striker template?
Eduardo – Adebayor – Van Stapleton + reserves
Current pool?
Podolski – Giroud – ? + reserves
There’s been a lot of chat this season about Podolski playing on the left. Reminded me of those games in 07/08 where The Arsenal would flit between an attacking 442/433 back into a 451ish type thing when they felt like defending, with Eduardo on the left. Didn’t like the ‘defensive’ part with Eddy on the LW myself, but, well, for someone who doesn’t do defence AWs ‘defensive’ tactics were working quite well…all reminded me of when Wiltord would get shunted out onto the right, which was terrible 🙂
Plodders is different to Eddy, less grace and more power, but if he’s lucky with his fitness next year and stays he could go on acheive the same cult status as another popular No.9. The club went for Suarez, not sure if they’ll attempt a similar signing as I don’t know who else out there fits the bill (on the pitch) so well. Who knows what could happen? Not me. I’m looking forward to the game tonight.
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Careful DC – Mel may have one of his ‘people’ monitoring this site watching out for, you know, ‘indiscretions’ …
No, I just thought he might be able to pass by The George in his limo, grant us a regal wave or two. We might be able to snatch a blurred selfie of the gold-plated, chauffeur-driven carriage before returning to our conventional little-people routines.
We may imbibe in the gutter but nothing can stop us looking up at The Mel.
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I think we have left it a bit late to get a busy mover and shaker like Mel along to the George DC – finding a window in his diary when Mel has so many commitments not an easy task
It is a privilege that he even is prepared to look though ( nods head very humbly)
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Well let’s not get ahead of ourselves here – no-one’s saying he’ll actually look at us!
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You know when you meet Mel, the custom is to kiss his ring ?
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How about that for an open goal ?
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Mel’s legendary ring?
The one that’s usually on fire?
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I can’t be mad at Bacary Sagna. Good servant for the club and looks to be the type of guy every other teammate loves. Let him go off and land the huge contract that will set him up for life. Mazel Tov. We have Carl Jenkinson champing at the bit and Hector Belerin right behind him. These two boys are very good defenders and, in my estimation, they are much better than Bacary at getting forward.
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wenger and sagna to join monaco………
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Hunter don’t even suggest it,
Going forward or in defence I think the team will adapt if bacs goes however I believe he is the best header of the ball in the squad always giving the keeper an option on the right. As we have been using him as option at CB then its there we may have to spend money to replace him. I know the coaching staff rate Ajayi highly and he has been training with the first team all season im not sure he would be ready for third choice if both bacs and TV5 left.
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hunter13,
“wenger and sagna to join monaco………”
Don’t do that. That’s not funny at all. Especially the Wenger bit.
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I shall be going to the game on Sunday,but you peasants will have to do without me as Sky’s rearrangement for the fixture means it coincides with a family do later on in the afternoon-so I’ll have to get back for that sadly,have one for me boys-next season for sure-if it’s any consolation I’m a bit disappointing in the flash!-right I’m off to tonight’s game,where,thanks to the RMT I’m going to be sober watching an Arsenal game,laters!
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Wenger’s not leaving; nor is Arsenal weakening, quite the reverse. These trends are clear. Sagna is weighing options, he has a few, and may yet stay, forget about the whacky media, they actually don’t know. But it’s the usual, he wants financial stability at the twilight of a career, but Arsenal has options too.
Good sober piece.
Poor Liverpool finally couldn’t find a single goal, at home, when it mattered more; it was bound to happen, very typical Maureen game. Chelsea all in all, has done terrifically well in many of their big matches, less so consistency-wise throughout the season.
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I knew it was too much to hope for (wrings cap)
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Regal rebuff.
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Chelsea struggled away from home all season against lower table teams.
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Peasents he says.! pufffftttttt
COYG
come on ARSENAL!!!!!
ITS WENGERBALL TIME!!!!
SAG, you old legs. show them you’re worth every f••••••• penny..
GUNS AIMED. B00M!!!!!!!!!
ready or not here we come…….
Its kickass time….
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What’s up family?
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Goal!
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Kozzamundo!
Good call to spot the tricksy foul on Giroud (credit will be given!).
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KOSHER MAN does it again. Bon appetite
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