A guest post from Muppet
In 2004 Wenger walked on water. 12 years on obituaries are circulating on line, despite him still being in contract. At the time of writing, L’Equipe has just announced that a 3-year contract extension is planned, which will take him up to 2020. The mood amongst fans is largely negative. The Wenger Out protagonists, who had always been with us, from around 2007, are now enraged. More significantly, even some of the mainstream support, who love Wenger and respect him for what he has done, are now saying it is time for a change. Go now with dignity, they implore.
The straw that broke the camel’s back was the exit from the FA Cup. After the Watford game a fight broke out on Twitter, and apparently, outside the ground. The fight was really about the events leading up to the Watford result, surfacing like a volcano. The sorry statistic of amassing just 10 points from 9 games since January 2nd (played 20), when we were top with 42 points, to take us to 52 points (played 29). This was a collapse and seen as an opportunity lost in a season where Man U, City, and Chelsea have been poor, so inviting us and clubs traditionally with no chance, to land the title. This was about stomach, and the expectation that we would fight – “Once more unto the breach dear friends”. With 18 games to go, we simply didn’t or couldn’t. We instead showed relegation form.
The case is mounting against Wenger. Not just knee-jerk Wenger out sentiment, there is major mainstream criticism of Wenger for his failure to strengthen the squad last summer. The retention of Flamini and Arteta, the decision not to buy a single outfield player. The failure to sign a world class striker, and to anticipate injuries to Rosicky and Wilshere, who have a chequered history. Even if you argue that we have been affected by injuries this season, the counter argument is that we should have anticipated the injuries and brought in replacements. Some say that our squad was already big enough and should have done better even with the absence of Sanchez, Cazorla, Wilshere and Rosicky for long periods. These arguments point to the failure of a manager to make short term decisions and assemble a strong enough squad. The success of Leicester apparently blows a hole in the resource argument. A team assembled for under £50 million, now favourites for the league. If Leicester are doing it now, then why didn’t we during the last 10 years? Managers are seen as being largely responsible for a club’s fortunes. Replace the manager if it is not working. We see this with Rodgers and the incumbent Klopp. The prevailing mood at Anfield apparently now much improved. And there are other managers who will do better. Simeone is a common suggestion. And these are managers who know how to deliver big blows to the super clubs like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid/Barcelona, whilst being at a club with lesser resources. Simeone, achieving this with a defensive style. Klopp, at Dortmund, playing heavy metal.
The problem with mounting a defence for Wenger, and the club, is that you become accused of being too defensive. And dismissed of having a red tinted narrative inconsistent with reality. And of downplaying our expectations. The backdrop of the stadium move and the relative success of the Wenger years from 1996 to 2005 has raised expectations such that the target is now the Premier League or Champions’ League, with probably the FA Cup or League Cup enough to stave off threats of the sack, and at least a top 3 finish.
If we agree that Flamini should have gone, Arteta too, then we should have been looking for 2 midfielders in the summer. A playmaker and a DM. Why then, didn’t they come? It was either because the manager misjudged the injury situation of Arteta, and over-estimated the remaining potential of Flamini, or there were issues in acquiring new players. Schneiderlin was supposedly available, he was seen as being ideal to solve one of the positions in the midfield. For whatever reason, AW thought otherwise. The reputed £24m fee and £5.2m salary which Manchester United paid may have had something to do with it, but I accept that we are now a well resourced club, and such sums are well within our reach. A popular criticism here is that Wenger’s unwillingness to pay market rates is killing us, and he is penny wise and pound foolish. But it might be that he simply thought Schneiderlin was the wrong fit. A player who was a box-to-box type, but no better than either Ramsey, Cazorla or Wilshere, and lacking the technical skill and deep play making ability of an Arteta. People can laugh at such a defence, but isn’t it the case that Wenger is under more pressure to take less risks with money than say, a manager of City or Man U. What if we spent £24m on a player who could neither be a deep laying playmaker, nor a superior box-to-box player than what we had?
Ok, but doesn’t this miss the point? Assuming that we were even looking for two tailor made replacements, a deep lying play maker, and a DM, isn’t it just rank incompetence that we didn’t find the replacements we were looking for? Whether we failed to scout them, or balked at the market rate, the accusation is of incompetence. Two players, popularly called upon to add to our midfield, are Geoffrey Kondogbia and William Carvalho. Put these two in midfield, we are told, and we have a title winning side. But there is a track record of players who would supposedly strengthen our squad and win us the title, and solve all the defensive and other problems. A lot of these players remain today playing for mainly mid-table clubs or have disappeared into obscurity. M’vila, Felipe Melo, Christopher Samba, Mata, Marouane Fellaini, Julio Cesar, Luiz Gustavo, Brede Hangeland, Scott Dann, Lewis Holtby, Bernard, Joe Cole and Stevan Jovetic are all examples of players who sparked a fury amongst Arsenal fans when we failed to sign them. The point is, that to compete with the elite, you need to make elite signings, who are in short supply. Too many fans are calling for signings of players who are simply not elite.
But there must be elite players who can improve us. Some maintain that if Napoli are demanding £60m+ for Higuain then just pay the money. We are not in the austerity period any more they say; we need to speculate to accumulate. But this is the one argument that, for me, should be taken up with the clubs directors, and not Wenger; if the objection is that the club is run as a profit driven model, and retaining those profits to the detriment of trophies. Of course, a lot still see Wenger as being all powerful, and hold him responsible for the lack of spending. Assuming that a new manager comes in, what is the plan? A change of style and more resources ? Some argue, an organisational coach like Koeman would be successful. But what is unclear is whether the budget would remain the same. Of course, the traditional anti-Wenger brigade blame the austerity on Wenger. But even if you are wildly enthusiastic about a new manager wielding a cheque book, will that bring success? Van Gaal has spent £129 million net in two seasons. Chelsea and City will continue spending with impunity. The latter clubs are now backed up with very good coaches. But doesn’t recent evidence of other clubs’ spending show that even with spending a colossal amount of money, there is no absolute guarantee that one will win either the premiership or champions league? In fact, there is no absolute guarantee that one will finish top 4. City are having the best ever campaign in the Champions’ League, but had never gone, until recently, beyond the quarter finals. Liverpool, despite spending over £100 million net in 5 seasons, have only been top 4 once, finishing 6th, 8th, 7th, 2nd and 6th. Manchester United and Chelsea are currently not in the top 4.
With respect to the defence of the current campaign, in my humble opinion we have had a lack of balance since January, due to our ball playing midfielders being absent. This was reflected particularly in our performances at home. Too many unconverted chances saw us gain just 2 points against Swansea, Southampton and Crystal Palace. In my view there has been a lack of analysis about the reasons why our form has been so poor at home. At home, teams sit back and they counter attack. To break them down, we normally rely on continuity players who are able to ping the ball around in the final 3rd. I believe the absence of Cazorla, Rosicky and Wilshere has been significant in this respect. In their place was Ramsey, Flamini, Coquelin and more recently El Nenny. We have still been able to dominate games, and have created chances, but I would argue that had we had the former three midfielders, we would have had more gilt-edged chances and opened up the opposition a lot more. Many of the chances created at home after January have been half chances that we have failed to convert.
We have still had moments this season that has proved our quality. We have beaten Bayern Munich at home, Leicester, Manchester City and Manchester United. But the crux for the mainstream support who have departed from Wenger is the cycle of injury problems, and the refusal to change transfer direction. They are not convinced that these problems can be solved by Wenger, because they should have been by now.
With respect to injuries, a report by the Independent shows that AFC had 37 separate injuries in total, ranking 7th overall. Crucially Leicester had the fewest injuries, having just 18.
There is a big correlation as well between teams that win the league and the consistency of the same 11 that is put out. Leicester is evidence of this, which is of course a reflection of the lack of injuries to its squad.
On the one hand, it can be argued that we should have done better in terms of our league position, as our injury total was probably not as bad as in recent seasons. This shows that Shad Forsyth must be doing some good work.
On the other hand, I would still point to the midfield, and say that it has been severely depleted, which has affected the balance of the team. I think this is a crucial point, because right now, on social media, on the blogs, there are a number of fans who believe that there is a confluence in the current run of form, and the stale football, and what they see as the end of Wenger’s reign. They see the current loss of form as one of a number of cycles that have taken place over the last 12 years, and therefore removing the manager is the solution. On this point I vehemently disagree. I believe, strongly, that, if we had more of a midfield balance, we still may not have won league, but we wouldn’t have had the negativity surrounding some of the performances, and could have finished higher.
I find it very difficult to believe that Wenger of all people can be accused not knowing the way forward, in terms of playing attacking football. In previous years, the accusation was always the complete reverse, that we were too gung-ho, and the defence needed attention.
For years, fans lamented the absence of a world class goalkeeper and a defensive midfielder.
Ironically now, with Cech, Coquelin and Elneny, fans are now lamenting what they see as the absence of a striker, but forgetting that previous concerns were addressed.
Positively Arsenal 
At 67 years old my expectation is that Arsene will be offered a new contract. I do not see any evidence that there is a change of regime in the air, not a scintilla. As with Ferguson’s final years at Trafford Park however it will be a one year rolling contract that allows flexibility on both sides.
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Sutton @sutton_01 21h21 hours ago
Fans making a stand against Wenger at the Villa game, your real stand is not to renew your season ticket, not renewing then loaning out.
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anicol I do think that its more likely Wenger will sign a new contract than be let go.
By the way can anyone explain the latest soundbite the malcontents use – “succession plan”
as in AFC need a succession plan for when Wenger goes.
I see this term banded about a lot, but so far none of them using it, have explained what they mean by it, do they actually think the club should announce now the list of targets they have in mind for when Wenger leaves. After all it could be a year, two, three, four, even more, before he does leave. Should the club have someone already signed and sealed with an agreement to join the day Wenger leaves, even if it is a year away, or two, or three etc etc. And more importantly should they not tell us now who that is.
You see I seem to share the same worries that the succession planners have, as I really worry that the day Wenger leaves, Arsenal will not be able to find a single decent manager willing to take the job, after all who would want to manage AFC, no history, no fan base, no stadium, no academy, no infrastructure, no bank balance, and no history of paying managers top dollar. We’ll be the laughing stock of the football world, a top flight club unable to find a manager for the team.
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Andy, you are aging at a worrying rate.
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Oi ! Youwannaaslap?
Yes eddy – having resolutely whined for at least six seasons for a change of manager to absolutely no effect whatsoever, and having recognised that yelping about “Stan” is pointless as the bloke could not give two hoots what anyone thinks, the Scarfists have moved on to “succession planning” and ” a change of regime”.
And no I don’t think they have got their “Arsenal Back”, whatever that meant.
It is all getting more amorphous, they want something, but are not entirely sure what it is or might be, or how to get there.
And I don’t think they know either. In the interim they cannot enjoy the football or being an Arsenal fan;
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Ozil: “If we finish third and qualify directly for the Champions League then we would have at least achieved our minimum target.”
so the minimum target is to finish 3rd, would make you wonder what the maximum target is,
yet these quotes by Ozil are being jumped upon as a sign of a lack of ambition. It shows that the malcontents have no sense of reason at all.
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I hope Muppet will not mind my adding a ‘picture’ at the head of the piece.
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Crawley have appointed former Arsenal and Chelsea youth team coach Dermot Drummy as their new manager. He is an outstanding youth coach, so it will be interesting to see how he gets on as a senior manager.
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WOB all season long – “what the fuck is Ramsey at shooting from there, why don’t Wenger tell him to be smarter in his choices, Wenger Out”
Elneny – “Wenger has told me not to shoot all the time, and to be more intelligent in my shooting”
WOB – “what the fuck, does Wenger not want us to score, how can we score if we don’t shoot, Wenger Out”
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“It is all getting more amorphous, they want something, but are not entirely sure what it is or might be, or how to get there.
And I don’t think they know either. In the interim they cannot enjoy the football or being an Arsenal fan;”
To me, this hits the nail squarely on the head! They want change for change sake, as if that will be the magic bullet to make all their dreams come true. The reality of life is that nothing worthwhile comes easily, you have to work at things and there may be setbacks when you least expect them (like this season).
These “change for change sake” Arsenal fans are a big part of the problem – they give nothing in terms of real support, but expect everything from the team and manager in return. If they have fallen out of love with the game and cannot accept that you win some, lose some and draw some, they need to recognise this and move on. They will never be satisfied otherwise and I fear for their mental health.
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would actually be nice to see a batch of fans with PROTESTERS OUT A4 PAPERS. LOL
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@ eduardo792
Are you sure they read Ozil and understood him?
Of course anyone following Arsenal ought to know qualifying for champions league is minimum target! Which AW had consistently met and hence his employers can hardly sack him – rather encourage to do better!
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Tenerife Tony @AFChymnSheet 2h2 hours ago
If Arsenal fans watched Mighty Ducks the film they would want Emilo Estevez as our next manager
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Well Positivistas I am finally on the way to London town to see us take on the mighty Norwich. Hope to meet some of you at the game.
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Safe trip, Shotta. You’ll have a wonderful time. The rest of you guys take care of him, ok?
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Thanks Kelly, the AlabamaGooner.
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well then shotta that is nice as one more positive voice . vibe at the stadium is always welcome!
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Your wheels should be hitting the tarmac about now Shotts so I trust you have had a good flight !
If you are available Saturday I was going to suggest a pre game meet for a drink, say about 3ish – and probably head to the ground about 4.30 so you can have a wander round if you have not been there before?
The Bank of Friendship worked well a few weeks back and is about 15 minutes walk from the Ems, and you walk past Highbury on the way – I am entirely open to suggestions though ?
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Simeone is now the man wanted by the malcontents to be AFC’s next manager. There are elements of Atletico’s play I would love to see from Arsenal, such as their pressing game and high energy game, but excuse me if I do not want to see AFC be divers, cheats, thugs and with a manager who acts like a demented ape on the sidelines. I don’t want to see an extra football hit from our bench onto the pitch to try and stop an opponents breakaway. If that is the modern game and “modern manager”, then you can keep it. Simeone might even be a more dislikable person than jose.
By the way do any of you think if Arsenal cheated, dived and were thuggish like Atletico that English refs would turn a blind eye to us. Jesus, we already get players booked for far less fouls than our opponents, imagine what it would be like if we kicked the shit out of teams.
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a question for any of you guys who are going to the game on Saturday. Are you printing off sheets of your own, but in support of our club
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I have provided the template at the Top of the page Eddy – go to it !!
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I just landed in London Andrew. Priority now is securing my tickets via a friend of a friend. Will certainly try to make that meet up you suggested. Keep you posted either here are elsewhere.
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Have a great time Shotta… It’s a dream for many of us to watch the Arsenal live. I hope to accomplish it too someday. Hopefully while Wenger is still around
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Shotta, mission accomplished? The lowest number of wins in an English Premier League season for Mr Wenger is 19!
For the malcontents, the Piers Morgan rabble and rent-a-mob, look at the table.
Is the Arsenal relegated?
Is the Arsenal likely to be relegated?
Have the Arsenal lost more games than have been won?
Have the Arsenal scored less goals than the lowest total in any previous league season during Mr Wenger’s reign?
At the moment, YES!
Norwich, Man City and Aston Villa, must be humbled 4 – 0, each game!
Now, find those scoring boots, COTG
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A.I.S.A has released a statment about the upcoming protest at norwich and the Hillsborough verdict. They have said its up to individual members to decide whether or not they want to protest and not are not advising either way as an organisation.
“Stagnation of a football club, whether real or just perceived, pales into insignificance when we reflect on what happened at a football match on 15 April 1989.
Whilst ‘time for a change’ may polarise and divide opinion, standing united as a football family and acknowledging that justice has finally been delivered should not. It is hoped that football grounds up and down the country, including Arsenal, will this weekend take time to show their support and solidarity for both the victims of Hillsborough and also for those who have worked tirelessly to achieve this week’s verdicts.
most of all, at this time we want to recognise that for all of us football is a joy that enriches our lives, something that was stolen from 96 supporters at a FA Cup semi-final 27 years ago.”
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Ryan Tomes @RyanTomes 3h3 hours ago
Sympathy for BVB because Bayern always take their players? But let’s laugh at Arsenal when City did the same thing. 5 fucking players those Mancunian bastards had off us & not once were we ‘poor Arsenal’. Fuck BVB & fuck Mats Hummels as well.
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http://you-are-the-ref.com/major-mistake-premier-league-every-four-games-shocking-result-ref-survey/
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TEAM NEWS: SANTI AND OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN
Arsène Wenger has revealed the latest team news ahead of Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Norwich City:
on the team news…
Everyone is training, so that’s new for us. That’s the first time this season.
on Oxlade-Chamberlain…
It’s Oxlade-Chamberlain’s first week in full training now, so I don’t think I will select him this weekend.
on Cazorla…
Santi might be in the squad this weekend, I don’t know yet. He is available. Everyone is available, but maybe Oxlade-Chamberlain is not competitive yet.
Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160428/team-news-santi-and-oxlade-chamberlain#jE2Aic0Y91vAZ2ju.99
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A ‘major mistake’ only once every four games ?!??
And some referees make more mistakes than others, including ( embarrassingly) referee Moss whose record with the whistle for us is almost 100%
That YATR had to be total Bollox – referees make at least eight major mistakes every time they step on the pitch
Or so I’ve heard
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So the game after we have no chance to win the PL and are out of every Cup competition every player is fit and training ?
Even I wonder whether the myth of the Emirates gypsy curse has legs !
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Welcome Shotta, hopefully I get to meet you on Saturday. Andy, just let me know where the bank of friendship is and I’ll be there.
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Sutton @sutton_01 4h4 hours ago
Fans are so divided we will have to have 3 sections in the ground next season, normal fans, personal agendas and away fans.
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anicol the criteria used had a very narrow scope, it did not look at games in their entirety, plus all the panel had to agree on the mistake
** Glenn Turner’s survey applied this criteria to qualify as “key match incidents” on which his findings are based:
* A goal either incorrectly allowed or disallowed
* A player either sent off incorrectly or not sent off when he should have been
* A penalty either awarded incorrectly or not given when it should have been
* In order for a mistake to make the list, the Ref Show panel had to agree that a decision was incorrect.
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Fair enough Eddy and I am only taking the mick – you know I am the friend of The referee !
After last night’s game between Atleti and Bayern in which both sides – but especially the home side systematically cheated at every opportunity – the notion of pointing out refereeing errors seems a bit off the target. Clattenburg deserved a medal for putting up with that shit and not pulling out a few reds
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well isn’t that the problem anicol, the question should be asked as to why clattenburg put up with it, why did he not stop it, after all its part of this job, a fucking big part, and its a sad state of affairs that it now seems acceptable for refs to turn a blind eye to systematic cheating.
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If Clattenhurg enforced the rules concerning players cheating and attempting to deceive the match officials – not to mention the occasional real foul – the game would have been abandoned after about 40 minutes with too few players for the home side left to fulfil the fixture.
Pity he did not
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Presumably match officials are instructed to ignore incessant cheating by players – TV – the FA/UEFA/FIFA etc
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And as we speak what lookef to me like a dive in the Shaktar box earns Sevillla a penalty
Just one replay of the incident on the telly
Hmmmmmmmmm
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What puzzles me – having watched Atleti last night and Sevilla tonight is why two Spanish clubs, both of which employ great skilful players, feel the need to cheat throughout the game. To feign injury, to pretend they have been viciously assaulted, to demand cards for their opponents, to claim free kicks, throw ins that they know are total nonsense.
What the fuck is all that about ?
And this is the league with the highest Uefa ‘co-efficient’ of ……. What …… ?
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not klopps team tonight.
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Really disappointed I won’t get to meet Shotta this weekend. I feel deprived. Shotts I’ll try to contact you after May 8 and see if we can’t meet! I’m sure you are going to be treated to some Wengerball….
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Andrew – the Beautiful Game rendered ugly, and all but unwatchable. Congratulations UEFA.
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Slightly surprised to see such an anodyne reaction to Liverpool’s 0-1 loss last night. Getting caught by a counter-attack in the 92 minute? Leaving arguably your best striker on the bench when every one knows that away goals are crucial? Imagine the scenes had that been The Arsenal.
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WENGER – MY OPTIONS FOR SANTI AND OX
Arsène Wenger says Santi Cazorla or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be involved in Saturday’s game against Norwich City.
Cazorla has been out since suffering an injury in November – at Norwich – while Oxlade-Chamberlain has not played since February.
Wenger has a fully-fit squad to choose from this weekend and hinted that he may use first-team players in Tuesday’s under-21 play-off semi-final against Blackburn.
Cazorla has been back for two weeks with the team now and Alex is in his first week
Arsène Wenger
“We have to decide that at the weekend,” he said. “Let’s focus on tomorrow’s game and after that the players who do not play will have the opportunity to get some competition on Tuesday because we play at Emirates Stadium.
“One of [Cazorla or Oxlade-Chamberlain] could be involved against Norwich, I’ve not decided. But Cazorla has been back for two weeks with the team now and Alex is in his first week.”
Cazorla’s midfield partnership with Francis Coquelin was one of the positives of last season and his quality in possession has been missed. But Wenger believes Arsenal have still been creative in Cazorla’s absence.
“I would say the quality of our game has come back to a very good level,” said the manager. “I watch the games every day and you can look at the numbers in the league, the chances created. We have gone through a difficult spell, but I think the quality of the game has come back in the last month and a half.
“We have very strong numbers. We didn’t make the maximum in our home results against the lower-table teams. But we analysed that quite well and we know it’s not down to the quality of our game.”
Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160429/wenger-my-options-for-santi-and-ox#lxL7f73U22vSkZZI.99
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I can already hear the whinging when Campbell is left out of tomorrows squad for either santi or ox
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this from Wenger has upset the malcontents
image: http://www.arsenal.com/assets/_files/scaled/696×392/mar_16/gun__1457886842_wenger.jpg
Arsene Wenger
WENGER – I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION
Arsène Wenger understands the frustration of the Arsenal fans – but says now is the time for everyone to “stick together”.
Having challenged for the Premier League title for much of the season, the Gunners’ recent form has left them in a fight for a top-four place.
Wenger says he is as disappointed as anyone by his team’s dip, which he puts down to their results against some of the teams near the bottom of the table.
image: http://www.arsenal.com/assets/_files/images/apr_16/gun__1461924376_mds1516_afc_ncfc_left_ad.jpg
“It is very frustrating because we were in a position for a long, long time where we could compete for the title,” the manager said.
“In the last three years we have won the FA Cup and the Community Shield [in 2014 and 2015] and finished third in the league. We wanted to go a step higher up and win the league, which was possible. That’s why we are frustrated.
“I can understand the frustration, because nobody is more frustrated than we are. But [we need] to fight no matter what happens, master all kinds of situations and protect and go for what we can achieve. Our disappointment has not to go too far.
“Some people questioned the team’s character. I tell you something: this team has character and attitude. People… should not question the character of these players, because they are exceptional characters.
“We are disappointed but we have to fight. We have not to forget that in football you go down very quickly and you come up very slowly. We have to stick together.
“We lost the championship at home against the lower teams. We have to realise that away from home we are championship winners. At home, against the smaller teams, we dropped the points. We are top of the league in [matches between] the top teams.
“We want to add what is needed. But as well this club has special values and one of the values I’ve experienced over the years is to stick together and support the team. There’s no success otherwise.
“I can understand the frustration of our fans but despite that we want to support our team and the best chance you can give to a team is to be behind them.”
Copyright 2016 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to http://www.arsenal.com as the source
Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160429/wenger-i-understand-the-frustration#ztSIdUrwRpoyVgAp.99
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what a response by Wenger,(my God he has nailed it big time) to this question
Do you think, should there be any failings, or consider to be any failings this season, that you take it all…the fans, the team…
Look, there are some group of people who try to manipulate our fans and do that well. I believe apart from an agenda, a personal agenda and big ego, there’s not a lot behind it. That’s what I think, basically.
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The reaction on social media is funny this morning ” HOW DARE WENGER SAY HE UNDERSTANDS OUR FRUSTRATION !!”
I did not hear the pressco and assumed he has really told the whiners to fuck off – I should have known better, he is far too much of a gentleman.
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transcript from his presser – from arseblog
WENGER ROUNDS ON CRITICS AND SUPPORT: FRIDAY PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
Matches and team newsManagerPress conferencesby Arseblog News Hound – April 29, 2016
Time posted: 10:19 am
50
Ahead of Arsenal’s penultimate home game of the season against Norwich, Arsene Wenger took on questions about his side’s failings, the planned supporter protest and his relationship with Stan Kroenke.
We’ve ignored the boring stuff he’s asked about weekly and instead produced a transcript of his long and bullish replies to the more controversial subjects.
If you want the team news, that’s here.
___
It’s your 750th Premier League game in charge at the weekend, another milestone…
You know, you go game by game. I just want to win the next game always.
And yet, everything you’ve achieved, almost 20 years constantly in the Champions League, there’s set to be protests, not against you specifically, but against the club from some fan groups…
Yes, you know I think this club has special values and we care about the club and we care about our fans as well and we try to keep everybody happy. We have to put things a little bit in perspective and see how the club’s evolution has gone over the years. I believe it was not always easy. The quality of the work we’ve done at the club has got us in a strong position where the expectation level is very high. The frustration is very high as well when we do not get what we want.
We have a saying ‘fans should be careful what they wish for’…whoever takes over from you, whenever they take over from you, will they get 20 years constantly in the Champions League?
I don’t know. I wish when I go that the club goes higher up, wins the Champions League and the championship every year. I will be the biggest supporter in the stand because I will feel I’ve contributed a little bit to that with the basis that we have built. You have to remember that when we built the stadium we had five to seven difficult financial years. Out of five years we had to be three years in the Champions League and have an average attendance of 54,000 people. We didn’t know if we’d be capable to do that but of course we had to sell our best players every year and survive. And we had to survive at the top level. We did not do three years out of five [in the Champions League], we did five years out of five. I think the club is now out of that period and is in a much stronger position. And is again in a position where we can compete financially with our main opponents During that time it was very difficult.
You’re very competitive, three games to go and you’re not in the title race, how frustrating is that?
It is very frustrating because we were in a position for a long, long time where we could compete for the title. I think in the last three years we won the FA Cup in the 2014 and the Charity Shield and in 2015 as well and finished third in the league. We wanted to go a step higher up and win the league. It was possible, that’s why we’re frustrated. As well you know, I can understand the frustration. Nobody is more frustrated than we are. But competitionally [sic] as well, to fight, no matter what happens, master all kinds of situations and protect and go for what we can achieve…our disappointment has not to go too far. I believe that the team…some people question their character. I tell you something, this team has character and attitude. Some people who question them, I know them well, have less character than this team has. Because I saw them play and know them closely. They should not question the character of these players because they are exceptional characters. We are disappointed but we have to fight. On the other hand, when a club cannot enjoy anything anymore it is in trouble. We need not to forget that in football you can go down very quickly and come up very slowly. We have to stick together, the team played as well this season sometimes at home…we lost the championship at home against the lower teams, but we played sometimes at home in a very difficult climate. We have to realise that away from home we are championship winners. At home, against the smaller teams, we dropped the points. We are top of the league in the top teams. We want to add what is needed. This club has special values and one of the values I’ve experienced over the years is to stick together and to support the team. There is no success otherwise.
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You mentioned about playing in difficult circumstances. Jurgen Klopp seems to have really rallied Anfield and that’s one of the things they are talking about with their Europa League return leg. Do you feel you could get more from the home crowd at the Emirates?
Yes, you speak about Liverpool; it’s a good example to follow. They are a big club.
And you’re a big club…
We’re a very big club.
So you would want some more of that as well? Some more home support…
Look, I can understand the frustration of our fans, but as well, despite that, we want to support our team. The best chance you can give to the team is to be behind the team.
Do you think, should there be any failings, or consider to be any failings this season, that you take it all…the fans, the team…
Look, there are some group of people who try to manipulate our fans and do that well. I believe apart from an agenda, a personal agenda and big ego, there’s not a lot behind it. That’s what I think, basically.
Arsene, who has the personal agenda?
I don’t know. I don’t know.
Is it the media you mean, or a fan group particularly?
Honestly, I don’t worry too much about that. I focus on…what is interesting for me in football is the quality of the game and the values that we want to represent. This club is hugely respected and loved all over the world and the quality of our game is very important and to perform no matter what kind of circumstances we play and against who we play. All the rest…what I think is the club is in a very strong situation and you want your fans as well to be behind the team.
Some of them [the fans] are criticising the owner, Stan [Kroenke]. We don’t get to speak to him very often. Can you tell us what he’s like as an owner?
No, I don’t want to go into personal comments on my owner. We can work with complete freedom. I believe that every football club should work with the resources it generates and that’s what we do. When I speak about values, this is one of the values I speak about and we are very proud to do that.
Some fans think he lacks a bit of ambition, he’s never stopped you in the transfer market?
Never, never. The owner is very ambitious of course, we are all very ambitious.
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I see Morgan appears to have lost the plot;
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