Before I go into my thinking let me make state my opinions:
- Arsene Wenger is the club’s greatest ever manager
- Arsene Wenger remains one of the world’s best managers
- Arsene Wenger can achieve as much success as any possible replacement
- Arsene Wenger should leave at the end of this season
So how can I say 4 after the previous 3? Let me try to explain.
Arsenal are not a poor club; compared to the vast majority of clubs we are rich. However, compared to 3 other English clubs we are very much the poor relation. The problem is a huge swathe of our fan-base flatly refuse to accept this reality. So let’s look at the reasons why so many think we should be able to compete with these clubs and why their thinking is wrong.
We are the 5th most valuable football club in the world and worth more than City and Chelsea.
Yes we are, but you can’t spend your share value. An owner could of course borrow against it and fund the club that way, as Manchester United basically do, but our owner chooses not to. So just like the value of your house does not mean you can buy a new Ferrari, the value of the club does not buy players.
We have the largest cash reserves in football.
Yes, we do, but all of our cash reserves are shown in our accounts. City and Chelsea’s cash reserves are in the bank accounts of their owners and don’t show in their accounts. And importantly, their owners are prepared and willing to spend their own money to subsidise the clubs. Ours has no such willingness. It doesn’t matter how rich your Dad is, if he won’t fund your lifestyle, you are on your own. The fact that Stan is fabulously wealthy does not help a jot if he insists on the club paying its own way. And he does.
There is a proven 85% correlation across all leagues of money spent (on fees and wages) to success.
Did LCFC club outspend the rest?
No they didn’t. They were a once in a lifetime exception, and people should understand that for every 5000 to 1 winner, there are 5000+ losers. Using this freak result as an argument against years of proven data takes an incredible amount of stupidity, but that doesn’t seem to put people off.
Until fans accept that there are 3 teams much more likely to win the league at the start of every season there will always be rebellion. I don’t care who the manager is, each and every year there are 3 teams that will have vastly more expensive squads and who will most likely have out-spent us on transfers in the previous window. Some fans will ignore the financial gulf and demand we “compete” with the super spending clubs. But why?
Well, Arsene Wenger for a start. His massive early success set the bar, and the change that has happened in the game since is ignored. We want doubles and unbeaten seasons, no sausages for us, oh no-sir. We deserve better. We have tasted it, many are fans because of it and we demand it again. And again.
But we just want to compete I hear you say?
But that is bollocks, because if we did compete, the same fans would be accusing the team, manager and club of “bottling” it if we didn’t go on to win.
The connection between the fan-base and the team is broken. A huge portion of fans blame Arsene. If he achieves the finish we should be achieving – 4th- this will be hailed a failure.
But here is the thing. Any future manager getting 4th or better will have succeeded. Only Arsene can both achieve and fail at the same time. He needs to massively over-achieve for it to be seen as acceptable. If we finish outside the top 4 this year, it will be his first failure in real terms. But it is accepted thinking that he has failed for 13 years. And this thinking will remain as long as he is manager.
He has to leave before fans will see and accept that he is not the problem, and never has been.
The players appear to back him almost to a man. But until he leaves they will hide behind him and he will let them. He will take the flak for the players and the board until he leaves. I doubt a new manager will be as selfless.
Also the players could be carrying his burden onto the field. The pressure applied by fans and the media will not be released while Arsene is in the driving seat. They are sure he is the problem and will not consider an alternative view.
All this does not justify our current form which, by the way, is unprecedented in 21 years, but it might go some way to explaining it if people would be prepared to be a little open- minded. The problem is they are not. They are convinced. And only Arsene leaving will satisfy their lust for blood.
Arsene simply cannot win. He should leave, even if the club will actually be worse for it.
That said, if he stays, he will get my 100% support.
Because, well you know?
He’s Arsene Wenger.
Positively Arsenal 
typo = Usmanov (30%) — I beg your pudding. lol
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Afternoon Henry,
I agree and have no doubt that when the decision is made that it will be announced. We are an entertainment business after all.
I just don’t agree that it is a requirement under market rules. And to be puuuuurfectly honest ( and I I have no cash tied up so I can afford to make wild preductions) I doubt the price would move a point either way, whatever the outcome.
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Plumet
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The only interest in football I have had in the past few days was a relatively encouraging England performance last night. I am not too sure how seriously the Germans were taking the game but England were a level above the shambles we saw in the last Euros.
It is ironic that England have a manager who barely could get on the short list of interviewees for any Premier League job but managed, last night at least, to send his players out with a bit of confidence.
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Anicoll,
Arsenal are a non-quoted public limited company, with shares that are not traded publicly on any market, except a very specialist one, and that might have an impact on what they are required to announce to the market as required by the Stock Exchange rules – but to be honest I could not be assed to check my tattered book of rules, unless you paid me my usual fee. lol
However, as I said, it is a very unusual situation with the Arsenal Holdings Plc shares being held by only two significant parties, with neither Kroenke nor Usmanov prepared to sell a single share to the other party — but them’s the rules (if I am kerrect) — altho, if my reading of the runes is correct it is a moot point anyway as AW will stay.
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I’m glad we are clearing this up.it kept me awake last night.
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I know you are a stickler for good corporate practice and fiscal prudence George – rest easy though.
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Hoping my fellow Positivistas and family in England are safe and did not suffer any loss from yesterday’s terror in London. Life is bigger than football.
I did the tourist thing at Westminster Palace last May, less than one year ago. But for the grace of god….
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All good Shotta – I was in central London yesterday but not Westminster, thank gawd. Kids nowhere near. As you say though, on another random day …..
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I really don’t think current form would play any part of Arsene’s in decision. Player development, available expenditure and general forward motion of the club have always been his considerations in the past.
Andy, I know the usual suspects were talking up England’s performance but I wasn’t impressed. Basically it was our first team against their second or even testimonial side.
The Germans have a habit for chugging along until tournaments so it was actually our first team against their chugging along, testimonial , second string side.
Having said that I like young Gareth and the amount of players from the U21 side he played in the second half.
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Congratulations to Buffon who will be making his 1,000th appearance tomorrow night against Albania – 1,000 games and still a top keeper. Here is one of his off nights to cheer us up.
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Too right that no Englishman should get over-excited by the game on Dortmund but small steps, small steps Ian. Probably losing was the best thing that could have happened as if we had won the papers would have installed us favourites for the World Cup (as usual). There was a bit of energy in England, bit of confidence going forward last night that was very badly lacking in France in the Euros.
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Sleep peacefully, PG!
Mr. Wenger and his position, was not relevant to the Bond issue.
Mr. Wenger and his employment, was not included in the Kroenke offer for the Arsenal shares. Mr Wenger did endorse the bid, as being in the best interest of the club..
Mr Wenger is neither a director, nor a shareholder.
A red herring, for the rabble to nibble and debate over.
There are changes in the Hale End Academy, and certainly, London Colney. Pending Mr. Wenger’s final (?) contract. A tight ship, make it so!
COTG.
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Just read Plodders’ comments on the Football and Rugby identity crisis at the FA. Very, very funny.
What must’ve he made of this season’s pgMOB Rules (ok?) flexible code variant with the kind of leaping flying elbows following long sprints that are fouls in Rugby!
I think we all know the answer.
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No need to speculate when NOTH is chief treasurer here at PA.
Our very own ‘safe hands’!
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the dive from Vardy was a highlight!
Having good players like Bertrand who can pass the football as opposed to those who can’t such as Rosicky’s favourite victim/target (on more then one occasion!) will always be an improvement.
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Wenger IN!
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good interview with Xhaka, with the standout comment being
“What kind of analysis is that from these experts?”
http://news.arseblog.com/2017/03/xhaka-reveals-all-about-heathrow-incident-shearer-dig/?utm_campaign=autotwitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter
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this comment in response to the xhaka interview actually made me laugh, the wob really don’t get it
“Yet another player who fully supports the manager. I just don’t get it, Wenger is literally the only thing standing between Arsenal and eternal glory, and the very people who work with him day on day out can’t see that he is to blame!”
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Omg Graham Poll !
On PA – Aaaaaaaarrrrrgggghhh
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Well said Mr Poll , glad he mentioned club form, the msm tend to leave their clubs well alone
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shotta_gooner Since I was 8 years old we have been told by our government to be ‘vigilant, ‘not to leave bags unattended’ to watch out for “suspicious behaviour” and I am now in my fifties.
The spirit we have in London and England will not be shook by misguided people (He was used as a pawn) like that individual.
My thoughts go out to the victims in this tragedy.
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Alexis starts for Chile in their game v Argentina tonight
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#WeAreNotAfraid
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Arsenal’s Vlad Dragomir has been selected in the Romania U21 squad for 1st time
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Arsenal players selected for under age internationals this week
Spain U21 Hector Bellerin
England U21 Rob Holding
Romania U21 Vlad Dragomir
England U20 Ainsley Maitland Niles
Portugal U20 João Virginia
England U19 Chris Willock
Cyprus U19 Kostas Pileas
Finland U19 Hugo Keto
France U19 Jeff Reine-Adélaïde
England U18 Tolaji Bola, Marcus McGuane, Reiss Nelson, Edward Nketiah
Netherlands U18 Donyell Malen
France U18 Fortune
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re my last post
But our Academy is shite, or so we are told by the malcontents
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UEFA have fined Arsenal £4,300 for a pitch invader and Bayern £2,600 for fans throwing toilet rolls onto the pitch at the Emirates.
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Do yourself favour and spend two minutes watching this;
http://www.espnfc.com/english-league-two/26/video/3088640/leyton-orients-emotional-arsenal-appeal
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Cheers Andy for putting that up, sure sums it up! Can someone tweet it over to AFTV?
God bless the Os a mighty fine club (soz about 78 semi though!) hope they dont go down the drain.
COYOs! Wenger in.Wobs out. Shake it all about. Os to survive!
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Nice link…..the WOB and their first world problems!
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please, we need a new post cos I don’t like this title… Makes my heart beat though I get the point…
WENGER IN!
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Team I admit IF I could think of anything that would be a decent foundation of a ‘post’ I would write it – the international break is dull.
What is there though ? Endless ignorant speculation by one uberblogger after blogger about bugger all. Click click click.
If I have nothing to say it is better to say nothing.
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odd to see journos saying “he is that kind of player, if he made that kind of tackle”, when its seamus coleman that gets his leg broken, but when it was Diaby, Eduardo and Ramsey, none of the players that did that kind of tackle was that kind of player
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Liam Brady suggests Coleman got his leg broken cos Ireland roughed up Wales in the first half and early second half – stamps and elbows a plenty – so Wales went over the top in response, Bale lucky to not see red for a bad, late and high tackle on O’Shea, and Taylor done Coleman.
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the coleman break is very Eduardo like, his leg was hanging off,
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Positively Arsenal @Blackburngeorge 10s10 seconds ago
Players go in to take the man and the ball. then wonder why the “taking the man” causes injury. They are hoping to injure them legally.
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http://www.espnfcasia.com/english-league-two/26/video/3088640/leyton-orients-emotional-arsenal-appeal
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so was that tackle from Neil Taylor the sort of “nasty streak” that Lee Dixon says Mesut Ozil needs to add to his game, a la Deli Alli
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Apparently the Irish don’t like it up em
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Sad to see for Coleman last night. Chilling as always to think any player-ie any of ours- could have their career threatened by one awful challenge.
When people stick it to Mesut or Walcott for being very cautious around premier league players and refs they ought to take that into account. The one Theo was vilified for last season against Kaboul was one where he had no way of knowing if the player, studs raised, would launch himself recklessly.
I back him and Mesut completely in their not trusting the opposition.
Maybe, hopefully, Uefa will show up the FA ,as other associations have done, by issuing more than a 3 match ban.
It also made a strong case for referees doing everything they can to try cool a game down by giving free kicks for non-dangerous pushes and fouls and making sure they book stronger stuff. Last week we saw what happens when you allow a dirty team to get away with a lot- they keep pushing and the fouls tend to get stronger.
Ireland reminded me 1st half of Everton earlier this year. Charging into everything full pelt, leaving opposition knowing contact would almost always come, maybe with huge force, even if they were shielding the ball.
This ref had his hands full with a game that was very dirty from the off, mostly from Ireland initially. It looked a direct product to me of the increased ferocity of the premier league and the increased leniency (most of the time) from our refs.
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I didn’t watch the match (why would I?) but heard of Coleman’s leg break. Now I wish I had watched the game. Sounds like a good hard match just ruined by one instance of a player being too soft and too quick or too skillful for his own good (that’ll teach him). Broken legs are just a part and parcel of football and what makes it such great theater and we must preserve the culture of tackling and keeping players honest and brave. Otherwise what’s the point? We might as well just award the match to the better players who’ll win just by passing, dribbling, shooting and tackling better. This was just unfortunate for a good honest lad that would never hurt a fly and I have full sympathy for him.
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@Anicol
Apart from being bloody boring, the interbloodynational break deprives us of Steww’s prematch chat!
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Do you have a permit for that withering sarcasm Shard ? (Wags fingers)
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MON must’ve taken his inspiration from England at the Euros during that 1st half, especially the targeting of Ramsey. He truly is a useless coach.
Who is most culpable for the injury to the kind of football player people like to see playing football: MON or the the ref who lost control of the match, or the opposing for losing control and retaliating – was there an attempt to get the superior Welsh down to ten as a speculative/provocative tactic from MON? A bit of all of the above IMO.
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Shard
IT wasn’t a good match.
Ireland’s tactics were disgraceful.
We have plenty of Stoke and West Brom players, the only highlight of first half was Glenn Whelan elbowing Joe Allen in the face, which the ref could clearly see, and the two stokies nearly coming to punches about it.
Wales must have bedn told by their manager at half time that the ref is soft, and Ireland need to be put in their place, and the Welsh players should dish out what they had been on the receiving end of in the first half.
One bad ref, two bastards of managers.
One very talented and decent player crippled for at least a year.
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Certainly the arseblaggers partisan blagging and bleating this morning absolving his own national coach for such an awful set up and approach would’ve caught Shotta’s eye.
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Fins
The leek munchers were not feckin superior, their only chance came when monkey boy broke away on a counterattack and launched a screamer from 30 yards that just brushed past the outside of the far goal post. Ramsey did not want to go involved in any of the extra-curricular activities that were breaking out all around him in midfield, I don’t blame him for that.
The rest of the Welsh are a pub team.
It is a shame MON is turning Ireland into one.
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Sarcasm anicoll? Not at all. I was serious.
By the way, I am hoping to gain employment as a football pundit. Do you think I have what it takes?
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