Today is a guest post from Naill @tuwituwo
There’s been a lot said, written and vented about Arsenal and AW in the last couple of weeks. All of which is negative. It seems that those who have fallen out of love with AW are finally getting their chance to explode this season. Within this I thought I would add my thoughts into the frame, whilst I am also hoping to use this as a chance to debate with myself about where I am.
So what is my take on the main point from either side:
1 – money in the bank and didn’t spend –
the debate goes along the lines that we had money to spend and if we had we would have a improve chance of winning the league. Now whilst it’s impossible to know for sure, we can look to see what others have done. Man city spent a net spend of £124m, United spent £108m (although net spend was only £30m following sale of Di Maria). Spending money hasn’t brought them the success they both craved. Both teams still have big gaps. Just for comparison arsenal’s net spend was £8m. Clearly though it’s not an all or nothing debate and there might have been a chance to add someone else……
2 – players available who would have improved the squad – lists have been banned around including:
Yarmalenko (don’t know much about), Isco (at Madrid, with a new manager and finding his feet) Goetze (Playing at was arguably the best team in the world) Draxler (yes moved but was coming back from injury and hasn’t really set the world alight) Reus (turned Madrid down).
Essentially then yes they are good players but for very valid reasons weren’t realistic transfers. The only one that I keep reflecting on is Dybala who moved from Palermo to juventus. He cost them €32m but is now tearing it up and looks good. We were linked and I assume we (wrongly now I believe) bulked at the price.
Although as I have just demonstrated its easy to look back and said what should have been. It’s also easy to skip over the fact that every summer for the last three years AW has brought in a world class player.
3 – due to new tv money coming this year, not spending has weakened the position – the argument goes that a strength over last couple of years has been the “war chest” and this significance of drops as the new TVs money rolls in.
This is clearly true, although you have to argue how much was it a strength in the first place. The below table is taken from transferleague.co.uk:
As it shows our war chest (assuming it’s £70m) could just about fund the purchasing of west brom for the last five years. It also would have meant our spending could have matched liverpools, and that’s not gone great.
4 – wenger has lost it
Whilst Arsenal are struggling at the moment, 2 wins from last 11, and would be storming ahead if they could have done better, the above argument appears to ignore that no major team has done well in the premier league this year. Everyone is tripping up. If you had said to any Arsenal fan that at the beginning of March, will be 8 points behind top with only city left to play out of the big 4. They would have taken. In a heart beat. It could have been better (should have been) but it’s not over yet.
I do believe though that there is some learning from this year. I think the area that has legitimacy is not having a suitable replacement for santi. It should be said that two years ago I thought his legs had gone and he was to slow to play on the wing, unlike aw I didn’t think of playing him through the middle. What a master stroke. His ability to be a deep laying play maker is sorely missed. JW can do it, AR can’t. The Spurs game demonstrates this. Did AW expect JW back sooner, I don’t know but this role is key to making us tick.
Whilst the last two or three months have been highly frustrating and damaging, there are some key questions that I now want to answer:
- Is this season over? no.
- Can Arsenal still win the league? yes
- Will they win the league? No idea but this is what makes the league so interesting!
5 – better managers available
Finally there are blogs appearing which are rating likely replacements http://shewore.com/2016/03/04/rating-le-groves-future-arsenal-managers/
Whilst reviewing the list the only one who jumps out is Simeone. The same Simeone who turned down Chelsea to stay at A.madrid. The rest don’t appear to have the experience or track record to justify a major club. Plus United (likely), Chelsea and city are all changing managers and will go through a period of change then stability becomes a strength. Before deciding whether putting our club at the risk of significant change (and we can all see what that lead to at United, who have the financial resources to survive it) then let’s see how the season does unfold. Let’s do the review in the cold light of day as we could still do the domestic double!!
Bw
Positively Arsenal 
Sorry this is so late in the day
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Excellent, excellent, excellent.
I think the main point in all this is could we have done better? Maybe, could we have done worse almost certainly. Should the most successful manager in our history deserve respect? Definitely.
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Good assessment ..dont know whats up with the wenger hate, but if one is not on the blogosphere, and watches foreign telly, me reckons one won’t even know about all these imploding slightly confused and biased fans and pundits. Its been duly noted about these inpatient Arsenal fans, and its the going from bacon and egg to caviar and back to quote le proffesor that has spawned the situation.
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Money in the pocket…but they just can’t get no love…..but, It ain’t over til,it’s over……sorry going a bit eighties there.
Will we win the league…..personally doubt it, but there is hope
Have the team got everything right this year…..probably not, a big gamble on TR , Jack and Arteta being fit, compounded by the injury to Caz. Could have done with more backup for Ciq as well, tho Elneny looks good.
Has Wenger lost it…..no chance. If there is criticism, maybe he has a tendency to be a bit optimistic on projecting the levels and effects of injuries, and at times, adequate cover. This could be a learning point, though expect a few summer signings. Was also pleased to see him play two fairly defensive MFs at WHL, would like to see more of this, with Ramsey up front when the occasion demands
Players available to add to the squad…..some blogs saying we had Schneiderlin in the bag, but can see why Coq was goven a chance
Better managers available…..very hard to replace the ultimately legacy manager. Some may appear more meticulous, tactically structured, more willing to spend, more willing to replace backroom staff……but we don’t know all Wenger has been up against, not can many comprehend the pressures he is up against from the media, fans and God knows who else Poch and Ranieri have it easy compared with Wenger, when he goes, his replacement will have to be some manager, or he will be quickly crushed by expectations, not least by those who suddenly realise all Wenger brings to this club
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We flopped it. Bottled it. Call it what you want. We should have got a point at old Trafford, a point vs chelsea, 3 points vs Swansea. Thats 5 points there….. The facts are visible for all to see – we bottled it HARD and may end up within 1-2 points of the eventual winners. At that time this will feel 100 times worse. I still remember 1998/9
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We will come to remember and appreciate Wenger’s achievements when he shall have left Arsenal. The so-called “Wehger Trophy” which we so gleefully deride is what teams are fighting to achieve after spending loads of money in the transfer market. The man may have his faults (who doesn’t?), but I dare say no other manager would have beaten his record under the circumstances that Arsenal is run
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Excellent post Niall, many thanks. Keep sharing your debates with yourself with us!
Cheers!
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She Wore ?
Well its all about opinions
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At this moment of writing I still think Wenger should stay longer,why should he not? We can doom and gloom at this moment looking at the latest run, but the season keeps throwing up all sorts of wild cards and hurricanoes and who knows whats coming next? LCFC could still cook up a spectacular collapse.
Plus how often are them speculators seduced by the exotic? Two years ago they were screaming for Martinez,and Coyle, which says it all.
One thing Wenger understands is the way in which a team can click and run together.What works in one league doesn’t necessarily work in the PL but certain nefarious blogs seem a tad ignorant of that and having played limited football themselves think that when a player comes in all things work immediately.Its a rare thing.I think we are very close.
If this current Arsenal team clicks and gets on some real runs without injuries and without too much bullshit reffing they can sweep the board. This could also be a pivitol moment in Theos career, and hope his form comes back soon.Just needs a couple of games with a few goals and the doors will open again.
It will also be interesting to see if LCFC are a one hit wonder or if they will stay challengers for some time.Plus who might sneak up next year? Citizen Kane might be sold to Barca and the Spuds get relegated…well cant we all speculate?(banned smiley)…
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Le poste nouveau jusqu’à
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on point 5, when you see articles claiming that Henry is the ideal man to replace Wenger, you know their argument is lost
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PG
I know you have apologized but this piece is too good to not have us pore over it with good time before the next post.
Thanks Naill
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