“It is at times like these when, for a manager, the world can seem a dark place. As methods are pilloried, tactics crucified and past glories forgotten, friends can feel like foes and adversaries appear as assassins. When criticism is flying at you from all angles, self-belief is the only solace.”
A well written rare piece of sports journalism. You would immediately think, the article talks about Wenger, but no. It is the Guardian defending Guardiola after Bayern’s defeat against Real Madrid. Sure, defend Guardiola. He is certainly much better than the likes of Mourinho. However, why is there no sincere defense of Wenger?
Wenger has consistently shown remarkable self-belief during plenty of dark days in the past 8 years. Spending figures show that the club has overachieved. Despite all the challenges, many of them unfair, the club is still on track and is now becoming a beast about to be unleashed. So, why isn’t there a defence of the club and manager? All that the manager consistently gets is, “Arsene did some good things, yeah yeah , but blah blah, cliche cliche, spend spend or go go…”
It is not as though these people in the media are dumb. Sure, you have the Michael Owens, but what about those cunning pundits/writers who are professional sports journalists? The likes of Amy Lawrence, Henry Winter, etc.. These people are not dumb. They clearly know what they are pushing and how to sell it.
Many of you here say that we need to ignore the media agenda and think for ourselves. I agree with that. However, the media also has a social responsibility. Not just in sports, but this applies even more so in the general world. We all have a part to play in society, especially voices that are heard by many. When, page 3 girls are pushed ahead and real issues affecting a society are hidden, those driving such agendas must be exposed. While every media outlet should have the freedom to write what they want, there should also be accountability.
For Arsenal, the media has been successful in building this image of a manager who is afraid of spending big, doesn’t know defence or tactics, a board interested only in money, keeping away the saviour Usmanov and last but not least, the poor shortchanged fans. An air of weakness has been built around the club. This mood must be shattered and those who made it shown wrong.
We have made a lot of progress in the past 8 years. The club and manager are highly regarded throughout the world. The media darlings Guardiola and Klopp, look up to Wenger and seek his advice. Players respect him. As much as we have mixed feelings about Cesc, he still calls Arsene boss. Theirry Henry calls him boss even in interviews these days. That, to me speaks volumes about his coaching. The club has been self-sufficient even when it could have taken the easier route, especially during times of financial difficulty and sold it’s soul to Usmanov. Instead, now club is about to burst into a self made super club. There are a lot more points, a lot more things going well for Arsenal that are written, discussed and shown very well by those of you who fight for Arsenal. People like you are needed, to fight back and push away the agenda.
Lastly, I would like to repeat a point many of you here have mentioned as I think it is quite important. As the man representing the club, Arsene is more than capable to handling the media vipers. Just read his responses to some of the media comments and I assure you, you would be enjoying his put-downs. It is the boos, jeers and criticism of the fans that hurt the man.
Please don’t do it.
Don’t be a Piers Morgan. Support the man (people like him are rare) and the club.
Today’s post was by Sensational Arsenal.( @Madras_Periyar )
Positively Arsenal 
Sav, some of the most stupid and least worldly people I have ever met were Sensei.
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Hey PG,
I can’t argue with you there.
I’m still searching for my shiso, who will teach me what I did not know I needed to know.
But when I think of Sensei, I think of these guys:
http://www.dragon-tsunami.org/Dtimes/Pages/articlea.htm
In particular: http://www.dragon-tsunami.org/Dtimes/Pages/article21.htm
He put the entire Goju-Ryu syllabus on DVD – for posterity! I have all 18 DVDs – there is a depth and simplicity to it all that invigorates the spirit.
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PG,
Replied to your @6:53 pm
In moderation. Posted some links which probably caused it.
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PG and HenryB.
On the 27th April 2014, @ 7.20pm on your other (?) site, the owner wrote:
‘Henry
You are always welcome to submit. Indeed so are clock-end and NB’
You are too modest, HenryB!
Do I really have to go into the archives and prove what a bully you were to that o.a.p “smallholder”. For a person who keeps a few hens or other stock, is called a smallholder, in England.
I congratulate both HenryB and Northbank. Clock-end, I have not seen hide nor hair on this site!
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@ anicoll5
“I suspect however the clock is ticking for Sky, and BT, and within few years the direct sale of content from clubs to fans will be the norm”
Interesting thought – but Sky and BT sell other football in general – other clubs, other leagues. I personally would be quite happy just to watch Arsenal but do you think football fans in general would be? I’m not so sure.
***
Who is surprised at the Blue Satan’s reaction to Hazard? Obviously Hazard has stepped out of line but underlying Moany’s words is his deep instinctive distrust of creative, independent-minded players. Oh and of anything resembling entertaining football. Because as we all know the point of football is to win, not to have fun or entertain the fans.
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Back again – Gains – sarcasm is not great way to debate but if that’s your style so be it…. A couple of clarifications:- Never critcised Arsene over what he got in selling players,my point was (if some transfer stories are to be believed) being a little too frugal in the spending. As for the jibe about the cones – jeez – no idea where that thought came from.
And the next ‘imebecilic’ tripe idea burning in my pocket? Really Gains – do you feel better for that? You suggest Project Youth? Well never,ever had a problem with the concept and in the most part its delivery. Immensely proud of its aims and achievements – our way, our style and hope it is never traded for the likes of instant success brought by the likes of Chelsea and City.
Anicoll – you are 100% right to point out the successes of relatively unknown players that Arsene has brought to the club and made into star players…. and as much as anyone I want them to stay and be part of it. But when the big spenders flash their legs and some heads do get turned… my point is that no one flashes their legs at the Denilsons of the world for a reason.
FunGunner – I am AST member so know the study you’re referring to. It shows that since the last trophy and up to when the study was done, Arsenal have over achieved 3 seasons, been on the dot twice and underachieved twice.The total difference between actual position and expected position over those sevens seasons is just 2 points. So I stand by my statement that we are more or less where our wage bill suggests we should be. The interesting point is that Chelsea are UNDER achieving over same period and believe or not, or like it or not, Spurs are the main OVER achievers (out of the clubs surveyed).
I am not someone who expects a trophy year in year out. I do though want to be at least competitive and I do believe that a top 4 finish over the last 17 years is a massive achievement to be proud of – ESPECIALLY the last years during the stadium build. Many clubs built new stadiums and disappeared out of the league for a number of years. Liverpool, Spurs, Everton would love to be in our position with the stadium built, new commercial revenue streams coming on, a very manageable debt and lots of cash in hand
So yes, there is a HUGE amount to be proud of and a large, very large part of that is down to Arsene and his policies and his visions – but I still can’t help but feel “what if?” Whether it be his game plan on occasion, the inability to deal with / or factor in the injury record (that’s one table we’re consistently top of) and not least of all – nothing to do with Arsene at all but the craven and indisputable anti-Arsenal bias of majority of referees (as highlighted brilliantly by Untold Arsenal) whose decisions over the years have cost us points and success.
Over to you Gains – the hatchet is yours but good night from me….
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Oh I don’t know IWT- when we signed Denilson he was the one of the outstanding young players in Brazil having broken into the Sao Paolo side at 17, a side that the same year won the Copa Liberatores – he had also just captained the Brazilian U17 side at the World Cup where they were runners up
At 18 when we signed him a young player of exceptional potential – admittedly it did not work out but don’t tell me we made some sort of mug decision
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Anicoll – Of course – every young player that we bring in can work out or it might not – they are ‘affordable cheap risk’ transfers and a sensible approach to Arsenal’s economic reality and Board ethos; Denilson was one of those that unfortunately didn’t. But the unintended consequence of the ‘socialist’ pay structure and the salaries that rewarded potential rather than achievement (albeit with sound reasoning to keep the players together and forge an identity / loyalty of said players to Arsenal) meant that it becomes difficult to move said players off to other clubs while they are on very good salaries for long-term contracts.
I believe that on balance the pay model at clubs like Man Utd works better; top players paid top wages and others paid reasonable wages; there’s a wider spread between top earners and the others and the success that they enjoy keeps the players there (in the main) and when some don’t work out they are easier to sell on to more clubs who can afford to match those lower wages. Just my opinion the evidence is there. It will however be interesting to see what happens if Utd have a season like this one, next year……
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IWT,
I understand that AW’s ‘socialist’ idea of pay parity was designed to foster team spirit, but was also a left over from another era, when contracts were agreed with players accepting ‘x’ with a codicil that they would have an increase if any other player got ‘y’.
Anyway, that system was shelved long ago when pressure from the transfer market made that impossible.
Unfortunately, some contracts were agreed that seemed to have been poor deals now, but at the time (Bendy) seemed like the market rate for a promising young international, who later turned out to have personal flaws. These are being allowed to lapse.
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if football was properly regulated arsenal and wenger would own them all. they know it and wont regulate it. whether its ffp or video tech or referees. he is miles ahead in his football approach/planning/thinking and the only way to catch up with him is by spending millions and cheating him. problem is the man came to england where popular thinking is that this is a clean and fair environment for football unlike the “doped up” spaniards, and the corrupt french and the “dodgy” italians with their mafia presidents/owners ..heheh ….only to find out that fergie owns the f.a, that equally corrupt owners with questionable wealth are allowed to come in and destroy any concept of a level playing field and of course a bunch of barbarians who are a bit useless at football and dont like being owned by foreigners followed by a weird sense of connecting national identity and pride with a ….game. He set up the club to become a money making machine as well as a university/institution of football. Have to say though football is the most unfair sport of all. You could be pounding the opposition and then in the 90th you concede and lose the title/champions league……. or you lose the world cup on a penalty….then you have to deal with shallow people “who only remember the winner” …bollocks to that.
birmingham eduardo never forget.
” hey its just a scratch, be a man, shut up and play” ….
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Great stuff SA
People will say the media should be ignored but if that was possible then it would not exist and have the power and influence that it does, Andy Warhol would’ve had to find another career, etc.
however in spite of the reams of bollocks, in London, a Tottenham supporting cabbie (definitely not Mel then) will turn around and say, “I have to say I really like AW, such a dignified man….”, and he might even mention the football.
This is why the AAA have been so shrill, and exposed themselves and their agenda to even more fans of Arsenal more and more as this season has progressed. We saw the same weird behaviour at Blackburn and other clubs, this stupidity and lack of class is not unique to AFC. But it is funny that as a result of this undeniably sado masochistic behaviour the AAA have denied themselves the pleasure of appreciating the humiliation of Levy in August, etc. I guess they must really know their football. There’s nothing more anyone needs to add to that self-defeating record.
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But ITW that does not explain how, if you offer modest wages for young or inexperienced players, you actually ensure that the player signs for Arsenal
The ManYoo model you say is preferable is the example I too would have chosen.
How many young players have United signed and brought through since Rooney ?
Any ?
Aaron Ramsey had the choice to sign for the Mancs or us – he chose us
Do you reckon he, or the Ox or Theo, or even older players would have signed for us if we had offered the £10-£20k a week less on the basis that they “had to prove they were worth it” ?
I think you are kidding yourself
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Whatever you do don’t mention Pogba *coughs*
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coutois ….aaaappsssewww ….gesundheit.
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HenryB / Anicoll – yes that’s exactly the point i am making; the idea behind the socialist (let’s call it “narrow banding” instead) was sound and did probably enable us to jump ahead of other teams in attracting talent for reasonable fees (RvP, Adeybayor Nasri, Ramsey, Theo, Ox) – we got any number of players that way. BUT if the player doesn’t develop in the way expected (Denilson, Bendtner) for whatever reason combined with lack of success (in the eyes of players success mostly equates to trophies) then a) poor players become harder to shift and b) good players easier to prise away. I realise the policy is flexing a lot over the last couple of years, and we can debate on balance whether it has helped or hindered. Gazidis often says at the AST meetings that the wage bill is high (but manageable) but the question they always ask of themselves at the decision making level is whether it could be spent more effectively.
good stuff and have a great weekend….
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@ Iwasthere
And two other independent surveys have concluded that in all but two years, AW has overachieved. That is consistently overachieving.
Basically, you are always going to feel “what if”. But that’s your problem, not Arsenal’s.
Whichever wage policy or recruitment policy a club adopts will have downsides. If you disagree, point me to real-life examples. We followed policies whose advantages were what we needed at the time – not looking back years later.
You are being unrealistic, basically.
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And in other news, Sp*rs are 2-0 down against West Ham.
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Good stuff SA.
Haha I’m so hungover I can only laugh at the moaners getting upset because Arsene said transfer might be delayed because of WC.
Two or three players? Such a teaser that Wenger.
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Spurs had a once in a lifetime windfall of £100m to spend and they totally fucked it up.
Arsene Wenger will have that sort I money to use this summer, and very importantly not having to sell any key players.
Just imagine how much wiser the Proff’s purchases will be, and with the exta money conning in now, he will have £70m or more every year.
The only problem will be managing the wage bill.
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Positivistas Assemble!
Noon at the George Pub, behind Piebury corner off Holloway Rd.
Sounds like a plan.
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2-0 to West Ham.
Is this a cunning attempt by the spuds to dogdge Europa league football next season, is Tim Sherwood sticking his two fingers up Levy’s arse on the way out, or are they basically just a shite nobody team that will never amount to anything much ever?
Answers on a postcard please.
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Brighton in the play-offs.
That would be a nice away game next season, if the managed to get through to the PL.
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New to the blog keep up fighting Arsene’s corner…
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Sunderland win at OT. Why couldn’t we? Oh well, there’s always next season.
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As did the Totts Mickey as did the Totts
I’m not sure who I want in at the Ems Gus ? Tim ?
And there’s always Tony !
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So I see, Micky Finn. Giggs the savour. That didn’t last long, did it?
Now come on, Citeh! Wrap that fourth place up for us.
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Everton 1-3 Man City – Edin Dzeko
Come on, lads, don’t stop there.
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DC 2:53 pm
“$$$,
Love, Adeba the whore”
You got to feel for Paulino and lamela thou, still crying at nights for being dumped there by their former clubs.
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Fuckity, 2-3. And both Aguero and Yaya Toure are out of the game. C’mon City.
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Good good good, if Liverpool win the title we will never hear the end of it. I don’t care if a few mecenaries win a medal for a club they don’t care about.
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Oh, no, I’ve jinxed it. Everton 2-3 Man City.
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Arrgh fuckin useless, grind it out ffs
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C’mon Mercenary City, c’mon… cough, Nasri.
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David Silva in, good. Always felt he should’ve played for Arsenal. Class.
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Well, three interesting games with good results in a row.
CL, here we come, again.
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Hello again old friend.
AW knows.
Congrats to Le Prof, the team, staff & all those who keep the faith.
COYG!!!
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Diaby will get a run out against Norwich now.
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What on earth is going on in the copa Italia tonight?
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Well, we can relax. Fourth spot is ours but I demand Wengerball tomorrow…….and just before that I’m looking forward to meeting the Positivistas at the George….
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The baggies are still under pressure, but Norwich might just have been given a lifeline.
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Tomorrow should be a celebration.
Instead the misguided begrudges amongst the fanbase are trying to take it over for their own agenda(s).
Guess which angle the media will latch onto?
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GP, the first round is on me!
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See you then DC…..
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The Spuds usually go to shit after St. Totts anyway.
Sunderland deserve to stay up.
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CL playoffs guaranteed. I am greedy and I now want third place. Weekend, you are looking good. Please stay fabulous. You know what I mean. (banned winky face)
By the way, anyone else find it hilarious that the Dutch skunk has “got over” his injury now that it looks like a proper manager is on the way?
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And well done Aaron:
“Aaron Ramsey has been talking candidly and with great maturity, covering everything from endangered animals in Africa to his belief that Arsenal can be serial winners again, when the conversation turns to Piers Morgan and whether the Welshman has ever bumped into the man who described him as “a complete and utter liability” 18 months ago. After a long pause Ramsey replies: “Who’s Piers Morgan?””
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(0(
Good for RAMSEY.
FUNGUN rvp feels jilted by FFF. they Hoyt his feelings, don’t you know.
As far as greedy,, oh yah . I Have wanted third or second for the past few weeks. Hay, it could happen. didnt you see geko in wall street. ” greed is good”
Greed is fine.
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hunter13 @ 10:57 a.m.
I am sorry sir, I am not a natural at decoding sarcasm and people don’t seem to get my sarcasm too.
what do you mean by? :
doped up spaniards?
italian mafia in football?
fergie owning f.a.?
corrupt french?
If you are really making a sarcastic point here, good one :).
Else, why do you discredit the sanctity of whats seems like entire european football?
and why are you still a football fan?
I’m not as naive to think all clubs are clean without wrongdoings of any sort but that is true for any walk of life. discrediting entire systems doesn’t help for much and I really don’t care much for “self-victimization”. mistakes made by clubs are being punished all the time.
Also, you seem to think for some reason “someone” doesn’t seem to want to implement FFP rules because Arsene would only win then? I hardly believe this to be true – we are very close to winning the f.a cup this year. we were close to winning to CL, PL (twice), Carling up in the last 8 years..why we couldn’t win was more down to injuries and in some cases players not being able to step up, more than anything else..and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that..in a sport with such competition winning is hard and sometimes it just doesn’t work out..but we were in the mix.
Arsenal under Arsene even before chelsea became the filthy rich club and all this spending began, did not win the league every single season. The reason is we win in style and hence much much more difficult to attain as compared to others.
and what good is winning anyway? it lasts for a short while and gives us bragging rights (which i dont care for anyway) while our game (& our approach to football) thrilled us week in and week out, for many seasons in a row continuously.
Also, do you realize how tough it is to impose a set of restrictions across entire Europe that would prevent clubs spending more than they are earning? ..I say this because I can think of a thousand things as to why it might be difficult to implement this straight away.
sir, to be honest, I have very little idea on matters relating to FFP and would definitely like to discuss more on this.
I truly believe there is no point in frustration when we have had so much fun even during the so called “dark period trophies wise” in our clubs grand history.
Cheer up! for Arsene won’t leave Arsenal until a few years more..and by the time he left we would have won quite a lot more too.
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Athletico might well win the double this year and Liverpool the league in PL..dortmund has done well in the recent past..
money is not everything.
I agree a 100% that Wages(indicate team’s strength) + Transfer spend(indicate teams acquisition) at the start of season is the best indicator for one to make an educated guess as to how a team might fare w.r.t trophies.
but football is such an amazing game that it is not the only factor!
to staunchly believe that is the only reason why Arsenal hasn’t won a trophy since 2005 is nothing short of denial and also discrediting Arsene’s genius in my opinion.
oh dear Arsene, let’s win 15-20 trophies in the next 5-6 years before you retire so that no one dare defend/comment on your greatness and achievements ever again! I know you are above all this non sense and you greatness needs no defending or validations 😀 😀
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ARSHA 23
on the face of it you put out an idealistic utopian argument that everyone wants to accept. That money isn’t everything and still possible to win competitions without going head to head with the clubs that have unlimited funds to strengthen and also buy just to destabilize an overarching tenacious rival. Possible but damn near improbable. Its not easy competing against these guys. I dare say if it wasn’t for AW we might have ended midtable someplace or maybe even lower. And that’s not the only difficulty we had to contend with. At certain times we had just about everything going against us. So yes , its damn close to a miracle that we get to the finals in anything. last last couple of years we have taken care of a couple of stones in our path and next year we will try hurdling the other two. It will take time and patiance but I share your view that we are going to start winning many competitions in the future consistently. One can never be thankful enough for the way the whole club has dealt with numerous issues it needed to overcome. I shudder to think what could and might have happened if certain decisions had not been made in the right time. It could have turned out quite differently the outcome. (0( . And it ain’t our yet , 100%.
It will make that first trophy so much more the sweeter to behold when it comes. We really can say ” we earned this damned trophy” and we would be right. I can’t weight to experience that moment. For me but mostly for the players, AW and the BOARD.
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