So today we can expect an official announcement from the club which will confirm that Arsene Wenger will continue as Arsenal manager for at least a further two years. This news will be met by varying degrees of enthusiasm and disappointment across the fanbase, media and social media.
First let me try to make my feelings clear – Yabba Dabba Doo!
This is absolutely a triumph of sense over stupidity. There is no way that our greatest ever manager ,being at the helm for an extended period, can be anything but a tremendous result for the club.
Make no mistake about it, Arsene Wenger is a colossus of an elite manager. In fact he is the very epitome of “elite manager”. I believe he is every bit as good as he ever was, all this bollocks about him being past his best is just that – BOLLOCKS.
Lets consider for a moment who wanted him out.
We can start with the easy and obvious target, the absolute melts on AFTV. Seriously, just look at and listen to this shower of Muppets. I seriously doubt any of them could tie their own shoelaces, and they must surely have supervised meal times. They have consistently embarrassed the lot of us by association to the club. They claim Arsenal are mocked by fans of other clubs, well too right they are, and they are the main reason. People defend Robbie, saying he gives the fans a “voice”, but he doesn’t, he give a select few idiots a platform. He cultivated the stupidity, it’s his garden, they are his weeds. He could have taken AFTV in any direction, but he chose to make it The Jeremy Kyle Show.
The vast majority of Arsenal bloggers haven’t helped either. These special leaders of opinion have taken every opportunity to show us how smart they are and how stupid Arsene and the board are. They spout their expert opinions on failures in tactics formation, fitness, players, finance, well everything really, and most of them are doing it for no other reason than to let the readers know how much they understand about football. The problem is it actually shows anyone with an ounce of sense the very opposite. They know nothing worthwhile. Nothing. Zilch !
Podcasters, see above, except they love the sound of their own voices as well. Again, I have to say “most of them” As with bloggers, there are some rare exceptions to the rule.
Pundits?!?!?! . We are served up with what can only be described as a bunch of tossers that think management is “paint by number” . Forget Arsene for a moment and see how they have now collectively decided Pep doesn’t understand English football. The qualification for the job appears to be that they once played football and are incapable of actually doing a job in management. Their stupidity is without bounds . To be fair, they get nothing right, it’s just we notice their crapness more when they speak about our own specialised subject. The Arsenal.
Twitter super fans. These might just be the worst of the lot, they are known for nothing in life apart from their hatred of Arsene Wenger. They are an embarrassing stain on Arsenal’s underpants.
Just watch them all start playing the victims now and claiming they did it for the love of the club. Well no, they did it because they are no marks that saw an opportunity to become somebodys. And guess what? They will all be fuming because the club has recognised they are nobodies and ignored their pathetic drivel. I don’t care how many readers, listeners of followers they have, they are important only in their own minds and to the sheeple that are stupid enough to be led by the nose and accept the bilge they spew.
Where do we go from here then? Do we say “let’s forget that they did everything possible to destroy our season and move on” ? Well no, because they won’t move on, they are defined by the toxic atmosphere they created. They are nothing without it. They will cling to it like Ishmael clinging to the wreckage of their sunken protests. There is no point offering an olive branch because they don’t want to grasp it.
All we can do is try to ignore them. Those that backed the manager and those that respectfully wanted a change can come together. The decision has been made. Lets move along together, And here is the important part – Give the club and the team the best atmosphere to thrive in.
Just last Saturday we got a glimpse of what the team is capable of. We saw Arsene’s vision of how he want’s his team to play. We have won 3 trophies in the 4 years since spending restrictions were loosened. But we are told we are regressing. Bloody hell. It makes my head spin.
I got asked a question on twitter (loaded of course) it was “do you really think Wenger will win the PL in the next 2 years”. My answer is no, I don’t believe he will. But what I do believe is Arsene gives us the best chance to defy the odds and win it. We might spend £100m in this window, but City (for example) with one of the best managers in the world. with a squad already packed full of hugely expensive players, will spend £300m. So I “expect” a team like them to win it. But I hope our continuity and the brilliance of Arsene can do the business.
It’s clear there has been a disagreement at board level about something. However Arsene is unlikely to either tell us about it or allow anyone else to do so. Whatever it was Arsene has prevailed. There will be no Director of Football selecting transfers and deciding who should be sold, sense has won the day and whatever faults Kroenke might have he has backed the proven winner. There may be casualties, but at least we can be confident that when push comes to shove, Stan knows what is in the best interests of our great club. And that is Arsene Wenger, all day, every day and twice on match days.
That’s it then, everyone that can come behind the manager, players and club have this opportunity to do so. We should take it and ignore the proven failures that refuse to want to support unconditionally.
Did I mention I was happy?
Positively Arsenal 
Great article and fantastic news indeed.
Let’s hope everyone gets behind the club now and for those that don’t, please go support Spurs.
AFC TV just love to hate because it’s contentious and gets them clicks / views from all the rivals and papers as well.
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Correct.
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You wonder whether any of them do anything unconditionally.
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I’ve not commented for a long while but I just have to comment today because Arsene signing on for at least another 2years is the best thing that can happen to Arsenal today. I’m so happy this great club isn’t run by fools.
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“Oh, the meerkat, babe, has such teeth, dear
And he shows them pearly white…”
Wonderful wonderful post.
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Mr Wenger will be the best signing we make over the next two years I have no doubt about that. Also controversially the board should be applauded for not having a knee jerk reaction to some very loud crazy people shouting abuse, marching abuse, flying planes abuse and general Arsenal football club abusers by replacing the boss with some over-rated, excessive money spending managerial mercenary.
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Great post.I don’t understand some of those fans on arsenal TV always arguing about ticket prices as if someone is pointing a gun to their heads forcing them to go or arguing about tactics being employed as if they’re the ones who spent 22 years managing arsenal.Seeing dickheads like that DT on arsenal tv makes me want to buy a plane ticket just so I can punch those know it all’s straight in the face.Every manager and footballer,retired or still playing, praises Arsene Wenger for the job he’s done.That’s because they know how difficult his job is yet our agenda driven fans think know better than them as well !!!.
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Good stuff. I especially like the paragraph , ‘I get asked…do the business’
For me, I’m desperate for us to win the thing each year, and my disappointment is pretty extreme if it’s not to be. Quite obviously though, it’s the job of a functional intellect to try and deal with those emotions, keep me reasonable,etc. Sometimes I do poorly before rallying.
Meanwhile, the dream is alive again of winning in the best possible way, with excellent football, without Mendes’ and the likes, without embracing supreme cynicism, under Wenger.
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Well done PG… u basically nailed it especially the various categories of (non)experts.
lazy lots…
We continue to back AW… wish they had made this 5 yrs so we don’t have to start this whole tedious process a yr plus down the road!
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Brilliant news……………again, pity it is no ten years instead of two.
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Great news. Great post.
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Spot on – I agree with every word. Thank goodness the Club is owned and run in the way it is – with logic and common sense overriding knee jerk, attention seeking claptrap.Think Positively!
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Nice one man.
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BBC reporting that Wenger has signed a two year deal, that it has no break clause, and that neither Wenger nor Arsenal see it as his last contract.
so George your article title is spot on
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Spot on? As ever Eddy, as ever.
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You really put the boot in PG. And just like the Arsenal board, you don’t give a #covfefe. There’s nothing better than letting the idiots know nobody gives a fuck about them nor their opinions.
Its a pity the new season doesn’t start next week, our boys has been on such a roll these last 2 months, playing with the wind at the back and huge smiles on the faces. It all came so wonderfully together and for once it seems that everybody was behind them.
One can only hope we manage to seamlessly carry this momentum into the new season. I doubt the idiots even know how losing the great man could’ve undone all of the blood, tears and sweat that went into finding that winning formula.
I have a feeling our main rivals are aware of that, even their friendly pundits… and it fuckin scares them.
Arsène Wenger, now feeling lighter after getting a lot of stuff off his chest, being angry and vowing not to forget, will be blowing fire next season.
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The news is great on it own but I am absolutely loving the wobs meltdown. Oh it’s been glorious. I hope their misery persists.Bloody fuckers.
For those who missed it from the previous thread, here again is a reflection of how I feel about Wenger AGREEING to extend his contract:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=85&v=57qfNOZ6GGA
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Pedantic George at his fighting best, destroying stupidity and building unity behind the club and its manager.
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Now I will make an admission here,
if yesterday Arsenal FC has made the opposite decision and said
“Thanks Arsene, but we are not renewing your contract we have decided to hire a new manager”
my reaction would have been the same as it was
when Rioch was replaced,
when Graham was replaced,
when Howe was replaced,
when Neill was replaced,
when Mee was replaced,
a certain amount of sadness at seeing our boss leave, a certain amount of excitement at the thought of who might be our new boss, it would have been the king is dead, long live the king.
But above all else not one thing in my support for Arsenal FC would have changed, I would still love and support the Arsenal just as much. I only have one precondition to supporting Arsenal, no Jose Mourinho, thats it. Who ever plays for the club gets my support, who ever works for the club gets my support, whoever runs the club gets my support, who ever attacks Arsenal is my enemy, especially fifth columnists. I’ve never been embarrassed by Arsenal, I’ve never felt the need to deny I am an Arsenal supporter, I have never felt I could not defend the Arsenal cause in a football discussion, and I feel anyone who can not stand up for the Arsenal are not really Arsenal supporters.
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Ornstein and Wilson reporting it has now been physically signed.
Great news after a 2017 of uncertainty, a season which has certainly ended on a high.
Congratulations Arsene Wenger, , the last of a kind at this level.
They have their work cut out this summer, but already look to be on the case with recruitment.
The extremists will never be satisfied for very long, but many more who may have questioned things after a bad spell will be bought back on side by performances and results. and looking around, going forward, Arsene Wenger looks best placed to achieve that for this club…by a long way, Except of course in WOB world where Senor Allegri really, really was prepared to leave Juve and join us….ditto Simeone, a recently sacked manager or two from Germany could step in and win things straight away, Eddie Howe was ready to step up to this job…..then Moyes, Coyle, Martinez, Mancini Henry , Vieira, God, and the others
Continuity is not always exciting, sexy, but the right decision has certainly been made.
Looking forward to next season already, but first, a glass or two of something French and fizzy this eve
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Your best post ever George – love it!
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I have seen a number of WOB have a go at Arsenal supporters over Wenger’s new contract, and they have come out with the most stupid of stupid statements
“don’t blame us for the toxic atmosphere when we lose two games next season”
well excuse me, there will be no one else responsible for your actions, don’t fucking try and excuse your dereliction of responsibility for your actions. Don’t claim to be an Arsenal supporter and then blame someone else for your inability to support Arsenal.
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eduardo792,
Your position is not unique. Most of us would not change our position or support whatever the decision. I must say though, that I disagree with the notion that the board “decided” to extend Wenger’s contract. I believe it is Wenger who has agreed to continue to manage the club. They were always going to extend his contract. This is what kills the wobs (to my absolute delight, I must say): the fact that Wenger has got a job for life and there is nothing they can do about it.
I have enjoyed our triumph on Saturday immensely but I am enjoying this even more. There is something about the wobs being sad that just lifts my spirit.
I really hate those wankers. They give us sensible Arsenal fans a bad name and make us subject of ridicule to other football fans.
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But still not confirmed on the official site. Maybe too busy celebrating. Hope the WOBs now just fuck off and die. Not to mention Le groan.
Any cricket followers/lovers in the Positivista’s ranks….especially who like to see the game spread around the world? In Oulu, Finland, (just about as far north as you can go,near the border with Sweden) they’re trying to raise funds to get a matting wicket laid.For the cost of a pie (5 Euros) you can help. See http://www.gofundme.com/oulucricket. with a good background from my friend’s wife, Piiastiina. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yc34TvC4sk&feature=youtu.be Love to see the pitch laid out before I get laid out. Thanks.
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Arsenal star Santi Cazorla out for another five months after fresh surgery
By FootballEspana
Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla is set to be sidelined until at least November after undergoing an eighth operation on his injured right ankle.
The 32-year-old has not played for the Gunners since their 6-0 victory over Ludogorets in October 2016 and now looks set to miss over an entire year of action.
“It’s been a difficult season, since I have not played since November,” Cazorla told Cadena Ser’s El Larguero.
“I’ve been through surgery eight times, the last one on Monday and hopefully everything will go well following that.
“Since November I have had complications: there was a bacterial infection from surgery which infected the bone and then the scar did not close.
“I have not been given any deadlines, but at the moment we are probably looking at a period of at least another five months without football.
“It’s easy to throw in the towel but my desire is to play football and fight.
“Arsenal have been fantastic with me and I am delighted Arsene (Wenger) is staying for another two seasons, he embodies the club.”
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on the Cazorla news, most of his 8 operations have been skin grafts.
him being out for at least a few months of next season means Arsenal really should not be counting on him at all next season, and then if he returns its a bonus,
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reports in Germany say both Arsenal and Bayern Munich have bid £30M for Emil Forsberg the RB Leipzig midfielder
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He will go to Bayern then. Whoever he is.
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If skin grafts were required that suggests the infection of the bone was not picked up until a late stage. The underlying damage caused as a result of the delay is likely to be much more serious. Disappointing news indeed.
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That Santi news confirms signing another playmaker is our greatest priority this summer.
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I laugh at the media stories that Arsenal have given Wenger a £100M transfer budget this summer and then they go on to list targets that include a player, Mbappe, who seemingly Real Madrid have had a £100M bid turned down for.
as for getting a Santi replacement in, maybe that is what the Forsberg move is about, although the rumored Fornalls move would seem more likely. Anyway maybe we will stick to the 3 at the back and mean we are less reliant on a santi type player in the middle.
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seemingly Atletico Madrid have had their transfer ban upheld, not sure if they can now afford to let star men like Griezmann leave, rumor had it that they were replacing him with Lacazette, but now its likely neither deal can be done.
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Arsenal twitter have a sense of humor, we are waiting for official confirmation of the wenger contract extension and they are retweeting this
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Eddy: It is absolutely vital that the club sign a top quality playmaker with or without the current system. Currently we are over-reliant on Ozil. He will get tired or injured over a long season. Moreover teams will devise schemes to neutralize him. Our recent history shows whenever we lose a key playmaker long-term(Santi) our season goes to pieces. Some think the youngster, Iwobi, can fill in. Let’s not delude ourselves. He has great potential but far from ready.
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Great post George.
That news was as good as the cup final. Why wouldn’t you want to secure the last of a dying breed. A true gent, with a word as strong as a xhaka piledriver. Who would do a better job? I doubt anyone. Wenger knows the board, the squad the constraints. I honestly think that there’s such a lack of intelligence that the fans crying out for a new manager believe that new manager means re-build and therefore lots of shiny new players and star names. If that’s what they want then they need to find a new club, this club is not about that and as long as the board remains, never will be. Wenger is the perfect manager for them as it’s not his MO either.
More of our softly, softly approach as we slowly creep back-up to a cohesive and well knit squad. We’ve had massive financial issues but it’s building up. We just need to make sure that some of the more financially motivated players are on board and we can take another step toward being the force we all know Wenger can make us. Make no mistake he can get a squad together on a budget that is capable of more than what we played on Saturday. That alone is reason to celebrate the great man.
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It may be a little early for dipping a toe into the transfer pool but I agree we need another playmaker. A Santi player. I doubt it could ever happen but Douglas Costa would be the only guy I could see doing anything close to Santi. Luckily I don’t have the job as scout because I also don’t have a clue. Interesting to see what we do. Especially at the back.
What’s the chances of Merty in the middle of the three, Kos and Mustafi either side – doing all the running? That could happen, couldn’t it. Tighter than a ducks arse that.
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Woohooooo!!!!!
It’s official!
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http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20170531/club-and-wenger-agree-contract-extension
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Haha the video on arsenal player really doesn’t give anything away. It certainly doesn’t look like any of these perceived essential changes the media have knocked up have been given any thought either.
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shotta_gooner
Correct
I feel wee need a center forward (as I have said many times) that is like DW but scores . If we are to keep Welbeck (I honestly love him as a guy) but he will never get the goals we need sadly. Santi replacement is a desperate need(In reality can you really replace Santi? I have my doubts), that will be what our season will balance on.
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Got me thinking; Arsene did not join in the Emirates end of season parade but he sure did have a good time strutting his stuff around Wembley! I’m so glad he’s staying. Great post as usual PG.
This video is worth a watch.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20170531/-this-club-cherishes-the-values-i-love-
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Arsene – 2, WOBs – 0. Never in doubt.
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Top draw George!
Andy Nic-your comment today about people thinking unconditionally was also great-got me really thinking.
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‘Our aim is to win the Premier League’
We spoke to Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis on Wednesday about Arsène Wenger’s new two-year contract, the ambitions of the club and what the future holds.
Here is a transcript of his exclusive interview with Arsenal Player:
Ivan, the club and Arsène have signed a new two-year contract. What’s the thinking behind that decision?
I will start by stating what the ambition is. The ambition is to put this club in a position where we are winning the Premier League, where we are competing to win in Europe and pushing forward. Football is constantly evolving and we need to evolve and move forward and improve with that. That is the objective that the club has, that our owner has, that the board has and that I know Arsène has. Arsène is somebody I have worked with for over eight years now, and I know the quality of the man, I know the quality of him as a football person and I know the quality of him as a human being as well. Those values that he has, those qualities, are world class in every respect. His DNA is the same DNA as this club. He is driven to move forward, he is driven to evolve and he is driven to achieve those objectives of winning for this club and making those fans proud. When you look at the world of football, and you think about the great candidates that there are – and there are many great coaching candidates in the world and Arsenal is a club that all of them would want to work for because of the things we represent in football – but when you look around and make that assessment, you don’t find any better candidates than Arsène Wenger.
According to reports, there was a contract on the table in the autumn. Why didn’t the announcement come earlier than this?
It is not really a question about contract discussions, that is not the issue here. The issue is a deep conversation on Arsène’s side and on the club’s side about what is right for Arsenal Football Club. It is not about people, it is not about contracts, it is about Arsenal Football Club. It is a very mature conversation that involved conversations between people who have deep respect for each other and who care about the football club, and want to make the right decision to push the club forward towards its goals. That is a decision we wanted to think very deeply about: is this the right decision, both for Arsène and for the club, but above all for the club. That is the reason we have reached the decision we have, because I think on both sides there is a recommitment to the future and to moving the club forward, to evolving and to improving. We have the right person for that and I know Arsène is committed to that. Looking forward this is not a sentimental decision, this is not a backwards-looking decision, this is all about looking forward. Arsène does not look backwards, and neither does this club. We are looking forward and we are confident about the future with Arsène.
It’s a two-year deal. Do you know yet what happens after that?
We don’t. Football is constantly evolving, constantly changing. This is a two-year deal so we are looking at at least the next two years. Again, at some point of course we will have to transition to the era beyond Arsène and that is not a sentimental connection that we have, that is a connection that is driven by what is best for the football club. I will say this, this is not just the club not being sentimental, this is Arsène not being sentimental either. Arsène would not make this commitment if he did not believe he could push this club forward. That is an assessment we continue to make as we move into the future, and who knows what the future holds.
You’ve talked about building on the manager’s work and going to the next level. What constitutes the next level for this club?
The next level is to get us from where we are, to competing deep into the season for the Premier League. If we are at that level and of that quality, then we can compete in all competitions. That is what we want to do, and the differences in football are not massive – I know the judgements are black and white, but in reality the differences can be down to small details, periods when you in bad form but find a way to fight through, a player who is available as opposed to injured, the right mental decisions and right mental approach through the year, unity within the club and the support base – all of these things play a part and make a difference at the end of the season. So we have to get all of those things right across the club, on the pitch and off the pitch, to make sure we are in a world-class environment and have a world-class attitude with that goal in mind. Again, I would say we have discussed this very deeply, we have faced uncomfortable truths within the club, inconvenient facts, and we are looking at them squarely in the face and working out what we need to do improve and step up from where we are to that winning level. I am convinced we have the right person to do that.
The critics have said that a top-four finish seems to be enough for Arsenal. I presume you would say nothing is further from the truth…
I think that’s just absolutely not true. The objective is not [just] to finish in the top four. I know people will jump to that conclusion because we’ve done that so consistently for so long, but that’s not what where we’re moving to. If we think about where we finished last year, we finished in second place, invested over £100m in the transfer market, the biggest investment this club has ever made. It was made to push ourselves forward. There’s a lot of things happening under the surface that are not public. The new facilities we’re building, the new improvements we’re making all around our support staff, as well as on the field. All of this is driven towards the ambition of winning the Premier League. Does it mean you can win the Premier League every year? Of course nobody can guarantee that but that is the ambition. I think in football, the judgements are so black and white that often, if you don’t fire your manager, then you’re seen as being unambitious. I think that’s ludicrous. You don’t fire good people, you don’t fire people who are world-class, you don’t fire people who are driven to improve. What you do is work out how you can improve together and how you can move forward. That’s what this club is doing and we have a very clear ambition that we want to deliver it in.
You’ve touched on the fans’ frustrations this season. What message have you got for those fans?
I would say that what we want to deliver is pride to our fans, the kind of pride that we had at Wembley Stadium this weekend. Those are magnificent moments that live in the memories and the history of the football club forever. To me, that feeling of unity that we had at Wembley, that support that we had from our fanbase, made a massive difference to that performance and the way the players were able to respond. We’ve had a tremendously strong end to the season where we’ve seen some of the divisions that we’ve had put on the side for the sake of the football club. Again, I would say let’s put the football club above everything else. Let’s get behind this team because they deserve our fans’ support. Together, we can achieve great things. Remember, the motto of this football club is ‘Victoria Concordia Crescit’, victory through harmony. We need to restore that harmony by getting behind the team to achieve success together. That’s where we have a chance.
What happens if the fans continue to criticise the manager and the board?
We have to deliver performances to get the fans behind this team. We’re very conscious of that. It’s up to us to lead through the commitment we have on and off the pitch. We need to show that to the fans and we will. I’m convinced that our fanbase will put the football club at the top of their priorities and will get behind this team. Together, we are much, much stronger than we are when we are arguing and trying to prove who’s right and who’s wrong. Let’s get behind the team, let’s get behind the club. We’ve seen progression at this football club in the last few years and Arsène’s seen us through a very difficult period where financially we didn’t have the kind of capabilities that we have today. In the last three or four years, we’ve seen an era where we can sign players like Mesut Ozil or Alexis or Granit Xhaka and others. We’ve seen the club move forward and we’ve seen vast improvements across all our support operations underneath the surface as well. All of this had led to three FA Cups in four years. I don’t say that to say that’s our ultimate ambition and we’re satisfied and feeling self-satisfied about that, but I do think that the environment we’ve been in at times has been very difficult. Again, I would say that we can achieve a lot more together so let’s come together and push this team forward.
Where do we need to improve as a club on and off the pitch, and how do we go about reviewing that?
We do this continually by the way. We talk continually about how we can evolve and what’s happening in football. It’s constantly evolving and we need to be not only evolving with it, but we need to be ahead of it. We’re very conscious of that and we’re going to be very proactive again to improve both on and off the field in all areas. Today’s not the day to get into the specifics of that. I think you’ll see that commitment in the months ahead and I think you’ll see that commitment coming into next year.
What are your hopes for next season?
Well, what I hope is that we can start the season strongly, we can have that sense of togetherness and hope that drives football at every football club. And that we can achieve great things together. I want this football club, Arsène wants this football club, our board and our owner want this football club to be competing to win the Premier League. And that’s my hope for next season.
Before that we head off on tour – first stop Sydney. How excited are you about that – have you been before?
I have, I lived in Sydney for three months when I was a student and it’s a city that I love. It’s absolutely spectacularly beautiful. I’m delighted that we’re able to visit Sydney and I can reacquaint myself with it. I’ve got relatives there and it’s going to be a brilliant preparation for the team, a great way to connect with the very big Australian fanbase that we have and a wonderful, wonderful place for our players to visit that we’re looking forward to.
Let’s finish with that incredible day at Wembley. An FA Cup win is always special but what do you think made this year’s success so satisfying?
You know, I’ve spoken to so many fans, many of whom have been fortunate enough to see many Arsenal FA Cup victories, as many as 10 and 11. And all of them say that this was the greatest one. I think it’s partly because of the difficult period that the club went through and the team went through, partly because we were the underdogs in the match, playing against the champions who were coming off an absolute high, having finished the season so well and having won the Premier League. We ourselves had picked ourselves up and had an incredibly strong run of results towards the end of the season, but in the end had that disappointment, really profound disappointment of missing out on the Champions League places by one point. So for the team to have the leadership and the strength to pick themselves up and to come back, put in a performance like that for the fans, which really was such a strong performance against a top class team in a top class game, and to have the fans completely unified behind them, was an incredibly powerful statement about what we can do together. I was phenomenally impressed, not just by the performance of our players, but also by the way that our fans got behind the team and I’d love to take that forward into next season.
Copyright 2017 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/20170531/-our-aim-is-to-win-the-premier-league-#O8jCQQlvjKArd3Er.99
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Club and Wenger agree contract extension
Arsenal Football Club and Arsène Wenger have agreed a two-year extension to his contract as manager.
Announcing the news, our majority owner Stan Kroenke said: “Our ambition is to win the Premier League and other major trophies in Europe. It’s what the fans, players, staff, manager and board expect and we won’t rest until that is achieved. Arsène is the best person to help us make that happen. He has a fantastic track record and has our full backing.”
Arsène and chief executive Ivan Gazidis have conducted a full review of our on and off the pitch activities to identify areas for improvement to build a sustained title challenge.
Arsène, who lifted the FA Cup for a record-breaking seventh time on Saturday, said: “I love this club and I am looking forward to the future with optimism and excitement. We are looking at what we do well and how we can be stronger everywhere. This is a strong group of players and with some additions we can be even more successful. We’re committed to mounting a sustained league challenge and that will be our focus this summer and next season.
“I am grateful to have the support of the board and Stan in doing everything we can to win more trophies. It’s what we all want and I know it’s what our fans around the world demand.”
In addition to the record £110m investment in players last summer, we have made almost £40 million investment in facilities at our London Colney training centre and the Academy at Hale End in the last two years.
Ivan said: “There is no complacency anywhere at this club. Our goal is to compete for and win trophies here and in Europe. Everything we do is designed to make that happen and we will be working hard on and off the pitch this summer to improve and make a strong challenge next season. The club has grown beyond recognition in every aspect in recent years and we have the platform to be successful and meet the ambitions we and our fans share.”
Copyright 2017 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/20170531/club-and-wenger-agree-contract-extension#oWm0dJLI6Uyzkdel.99
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‘This club cherishes the values I love’
Arsenal Football Club agreed a new contract with Arsène Wenger this week – and you can watch the manager’s reaction right here.
Here is a transcript of his exclusive interview with Arsenal Player:
Arsène, you and the club have signed a new two-year contract. It’s a big moment, how are you feeling about it?
I’m happy and excited. Happy because I can work where I love to be. As well because this club cherishes the values I love. I’m excited because I believe that our end of season is a big springboard to go for more. We have created a dynamic that is very positive and we want to build on that and transfer that positive end of season [form] to the new season.
In the end, was it an easy decision or a difficult decision?
For me it’s always easy on a loving affair because I identify myself so much with the club. When you can be where you love to be, that’s easy. It’s difficult because you want to respond to the demands of all the people who love this club. This is of course a job that demands 100 per cent commitment and you want to be at that level to make sure you can make everyone happy.
What’s your message to the fans after signing up for two more years?
The message to the fans is in aid of the club. Let’s be together to support our players, to support the club and all give our absolute best to be at the level that we want to be. We can move up to the next level, I’m convinced of that, by having faith in the way we want to play football and by supporting the players we have already. Of course we’ll try to strengthen our squad to be stronger next season, but we want to be faithful to the way we want to play the game. We want to support this way [of playing] all together.
What’s the owner said to you about our ambitions?
They are of course unlimited, our ambitions. We live in a very competitive world where you need the support of the owner as well. He’s highly ambitious and supportive as well so, on that front, we are all united with exactly the same targets.
When you look back at the 2016/17 season, how do you view it as a whole?
As a whole, I think the first part of the season was very positive. We went 20 games unbeaten, including the Champions League, and we finished top of the group in the Champions League. After that, the turning point was maybe the Everton and Manchester City games where we dropped our level away from home a little bit. We were unbeaten away from home for a long, long time. The negative side and other turning points were certainly the Bayern Munich games where we had very positive results at half-time but at the end of the game we were very frustrated. [It was] under very special circumstances but it deeply affected the confidence of the team. I believe the outside uncertainty over my situation had an impact on the team as well, and after that I think we regrouped. We could have been divided but we have shown great resilience and were united to bounce back very strongly. We finished the season in a very convincing way. We won 10 of our last 11 games and that is absolutely difficult. We played against all the difficult opponents, so we finished the season in a very strong way with a very strong dynamic. That’s why I told you that we want to transfer that into the new season.
In terms of the playing squad, what changes do you expect this summer?
First of all, we have a very heavy squad at the moment so maybe we might lose some players. We want to keep the strength we have and build on that. We will work very hard to find the additions of top, top quality. I believe that our squad is very strong and we will only look for top-class people who can strengthen our team now. The basis is there so we need the additions who will make a real difference.
Are you looking at any particular areas of the team?
First of all, we look at the top, top quality available. We have seen in the recent games against Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United that we are a very strong team. For us it’s very important that we only consider the players who can really make a difference, no matter where it is.
What other changes do you expect? Maybe on the non-playing side for example…
On that front, we always want to be better. We live in a very competitive world where everybody tries to get better. We look to be stronger everywhere. We want to perform better in every department, so of course we want to have the best team around the team. We look at everything. We forget that we have top-quality people already and, if you look closely at the players who left us, every player who came here became a better player. We have a very good record with the team and the improvement of the players here. We have to continue that but we are also looking everywhere to become even better.
Copyright 2017 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/20170531/-this-club-cherishes-the-values-i-love-#4K61UqXgPVC39d0s.99
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Henry Onyekuru has not been confirmed the malcontents are in melt down, last summer Mr Wenger tried hard to sign Mbappe,I suspect we would have had the same reaction .
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Like this from Ivan – I think in football, the judgements are so black and white that often, if you don’t fire your manager, then you’re seen as being unambitious. I think that’s ludicrous. You don’t fire good people, you don’t fire people who are world-class, you don’t fire people who are driven to improve.
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Just listening to that AFTV bloke with the hat ranting, poor arguments, like the oddballs at the Braun Haus(LG). Main point seems that hes right,and thats it! I have no idea why hes not in top flight management of a football team?
I suppose lots of views on YT goes to your head? Poor people that believe that guff. Lets face it,its easy to predict we wont do “anything”, so when “something “happens” its high-speed beating off time.
What that Mr Warhol…times up?
Biggest idiot of all is me for even listening to these people, life is way too short!!
ps. Apart from themselves, and odd balls thrown in by bored journos, who was even supposed to come in this season?
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Great news, but still no announcement of a DoF or whatever they want to call it although Wenger hinted that there may be changes on the non playing side.
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