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 
muaha…fuck you pep!! haha .. now enjoy der keizer in your face you fucking barcelona cunt… puta barca oe oe oe …please atheltico now its your turn to do same. DO IT!!!
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I haven’t seen such a footballing shambles since we played at the Bridge
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So how is this Bayern performance going to be explained?
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And I don’t think they have 4 first choice players out injured….
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When you play in a domestic league with no genuine competition it must be difficult
Ah the much vaunted ‘German’ model
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Admittedly all the home fans are not streaming for the exits
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No
Ten minutes to go and there streaming out
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Even Bayern have plastics – I remember how quiet they were at the Emirates until we were down to 10 men and they scored.
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When it happens to us it’s a disaster. When it happens to someone like Pep, it’s just a bad day at the office.
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goonerkam on April 28, 2014 at 11:29 pm
No idea! You could ask Roman or Jabba why they want to invest hundred’s of millions of pounds in London property etc. but I think recent events in Eastern Europe could save you the trouble. Rest assured they will not be as accommodating as the arsenal are towards those who want to “ask questions”. No suite, no tea and biscuits. Nope. A boil proof bodysuit and a bodyguard with lots of cryptic tattoos would be advisable if you were to undertake such an endeavour.
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Bundesliga:
Bayern are second to the Glazers’ debt fund (that’d be Man United) in their fundraising activities? Adidas, Phillips, possibly Audi others too, Bayern is and has been for a while their team. The rest of Germany hate ’em. That extra level of corporatism is not so obvious at Arsenal. That’s why the wise who have seen both new stadiums that were built at the same time, for the same reasons more or less (ignoring the ’06 WC), they know which of the two clubs have the nicer home going forwards.
No doubt about it.
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Good Afternoon PA.
So, who else spotted Plodders playing in his old Koln role for most of the second half (when Ozil was on, he switched to the left) against Newcastle? Maybe even a bit of the first (can’t remember)?
I did.
It’s certainly not (BOLD, ITALIC, UNDERLINE) the first time he’s found himself in the AM/second striker role for The Arsenal.
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< in the second half Ozil switched to the left…
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Good afternoon Fins – I confess I did not notice Poldi moving about but by that stage Toon were in such a mess our players were running where they wanted. With Ramsey back in harness and Ozil fit you expect them to pop up all over the pitch.
Arsene certainly has some pondering to do before choosing his team for Wembley – the midfield starters are a choice of any four from eight ! At least it ensures that whatever the CL qualification status our players will want to be noticed against West Brom and the Canaries.
And tonight brings us the second leg of the Blue Satan versus Atletico – it was always going to be an intriguing tie but after last night’s upset in Bavaria I wonder what on earth might happen ? 5-0 ……… 0-5 …………. 5-5 and Madrid go through on away goals?
Definitely one too close to call though I suspect whichever manager wins he will be declared a tactical genius
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Jose busy installing a bus depot Blakey would have been proud of.
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I ‘ate you Butler
Anyway the game has to be, has to be, better than last week
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The first match I attended in Spain was at the Calderon. Atletico v Barcelona in the Copa (“… they fell in love”) del Rey. Bobby Robson was in charge of Barcelona, and a young Ronaldo was there, but I don’t think he played. The details of the match are hazy (a quick peek at Wikipedia suggests it finished 2-2), but I remember being astounded that there were food and drink vendors wandering up and down the aisles, selling pizza and beer. Among many other luminaries, Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone featured that night, which brings us neatly back to the present.
Guardiola will have woken this morning hoping that last night was all a bad dream. Simeone, on the other hand, will have bounded out of bed knowing that today he could take a giant step towards a dream final and maybe a Liga/Champions League double.
Chelsea or Atlético – who to support? Well, given my warm welcome at the Calderon and given that I hate Chelsea, that’s easy – Vamos, Atléti!
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“the Blue Satan”
ha ha. I will use that from now on.
***
I am a bit late, Niall P, but I would like to congratulate you on an excellent article. Really well written and rational.
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Vamos Atleti – sounds right
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A Chelsea loss will cheer me up no end. Sad but true.
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1-1, lovely jubbly. Stay strong, Atleti.
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Chelski gearing up to get an Atletico player sent off
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Useless homer ref.
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Really brave penalty there.
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Tactical masterclass….. pffffttttt
Coward. impotent coward…
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And the wheels of the bus came falling off. falling off, falling off.
Oh the wheels of the bus came falling off. falling off, falling off.
On the last day in April.
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Everything is going right this week. Chelsea 1-3 Atletico. Hope it continues into next week.
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Under the circumstances I couldn’t feel better. The only feeling that is better is if Arsenal won…
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It’s been a long time coming, but it’s even better than I hoped!
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Sometimes there is a God.
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IMHO Roman is definitely underachieving with chelski. (0(
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i opened the tv at 08:23 and torres just scores….i look at the ceiling and start swearing…i then press tv guide..catch up ..game of thrones …i have now come back to the computer and i see the mythical 1-3 ..thank you diego simeone you have restored order.
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Hunter, I too have just watched two episodes of game of thrones and was a bit scared about looking at the result so it was excellent to come on here and see chelski spanked. Maureen getting it wrong again. Fulham youngsters beating them the other night and then Athletico tonight excellent. Oh how I would love the F.A cup and finishing above chelski this year
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There was definitely some fear of success in that Chelski performance today.
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Amazing. Not only are the two finalists in ECL from the same country but from the same city. Must be a first , I would think.that said these two teams and clubs couldn’t be more different. Smart money might be on real mad but I know I’ll be supporting the air force team. The long shot underdogs through out the tournament. Could be a barn burner. Well done today stuffing the translator with some real and exciting tactics. Well done Diego. Now go get some new outfit ffs , you look like a mafia don.
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dont know if it was yesterday or earlier today when he mentioned something about everyone else being stupid to dare critisise his negative tactics. what an emphatic answer he got. well…i guess he can park the bus and wait for people to slip but teams will find the open windows to score, and then what? throw strikers on like they did in fm with faria when they were kids? but havent you heard?..its the result that matters mate…. and mou goes trophyless for a second season with teams like madrid and chelsea and combined budgets+wages in the billions….thats very special.
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martin samuel must be so angry…
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“I confess I did not notice Poldi moving about” 🙂
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Mark Ramprakash is an Arsenal fan which is news to me.
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One for the cricket fans:
foreverheady, was it a straight up contest between Hick and Ramps in the 90s? How did the lesser player(no offence to any Hick fans) get more chances? I believe that Ramprakesh, who had some struggles, that he got to show his quality in the end.
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urgh < he managed to show…
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As we guessed, Maureen’s calls* cost Gazprom the league & more.
*Mata. Eto & Lukaku. Czech & Courtois.
Heh, heh and thrice heh.
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So no FA Cup, no Premier League and no Champions League for the moany one. Let’s see who the “specialist in failure” is after May the 17th.
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Fins: my memory is that they would have both been accommodated (indeed were for periods) but it just didn’t work out. They were both fine, fine players, but never quite made it at the highest level, much to most supporters sorrow. Was it technique or temperament that stopped them playing as imperiously at Test level as they did on the County stage? Possibly a bit of both, but better, I think to recall them for the brilliant things they did rather than dwell on the things they didn’t quite do. But the question reminds me that there is something to be written about success and pressure and injuries. I will have a think about that. But how great that Ramps is an Arsenal fan (of course he would be as there is a strong link between the Gunners and Middlesex CCC) and I enjoyed his contributions on Twitter yesterday evening.
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Morning guys and gyals!
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Can’t wait to listen to hawksbee and Jacobs at 1 for a laugh at a real bitter chelski fan. He will be whingeing about everything today.
For us its back to focusing on a good end to the season with the last home game coming up and three more results needed
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Thanks FH
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Morning Mean Lean!
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Hallo mean lean!!!!!! great work 😉
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Morning Mr Lean, everyone.
Oh what a night!
Looking forward to Talksport at 1pm when my radio will tuned in firmly to the inevitable inquest into last night. Aside from Mo’s tactical genius, I’ve no doubt the rule will also be placed over the wisdom of Chelsea’s player-loans (also a product of their oh-so-clever Manager).
That Chelsea’s ‘death-of-football’ approach to the game is the precise antithesis of everything Arsenal under AW stand for alongside the fact that the borderline corrupt abuse of the player-loan system is so vehemently opposed by Arsene makes last night’s outcome triply sweet for us and millions of non-Chavs the world over.
If only cfc had been able to play Lukaku up front, the Spanish goalie at the back? If only Jose could abandon his bus fixation and play the kind of footie Hazard clearly aspires to (as evidenced by his post-match criticism of last night’s depot-based tactics).
If only, if only.
Who’d have thought potless ol’ Chel$ki would be giving the Tots such a run for their money as Laugh of the Season contenders? Or Moyes’ Manure for that matter?
Specialists in failure? Or Masters of the Humour Universe? I reckon only Liverpool can pip the Chavs now should their own ‘tragic’ stumble in the race for The Greatest Championship Ever collapse at the final hurdle …
Will be worth it for the media breakdown alone.
And to think some haven’t enjoyed the season; good job we at least have the FA Cup Final to look forward to. No doubt we’ll be prohibited from enjoying any win should we pull it off as it’s ‘only’ Hull but I’m just gonna enjoy the day, regardless.
Much as I have the entire season.
Well done Arsenal.
And well done in particular for not being Chelsea, Tottenham or Manure.
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