The next Arsenal boss will be a head coach in a framework. I’m not looking forward to AW’s departure. But I am looking forward to a time when the club’s identity is a sort of permanent shared vision rather than the philosophy of whoever is in charge at the time.
To which I say, thank f**k that AW has been here so long, to be able to reshape the club from top to bottom. It’s not time to speculate about his future, but his biggest gift to AFC will be that identity – style of play and faith in young talent.
The consoling thing about his departure will be seeing his ethos inherited by a group of people. That would bring a sort of permanence to it, instead of passing the baton to one bloke who has his own way of doing things.
I’m thinking of Mourinho coming in at ManU and shitting over Ferguson’s legacy (yes, AF was a rule-bending, pragmatist and I can’t stand the man, but his football was generally positive), or Monk at Swansea, abandoning everything the club stood for, style-wise.
I’m also looking forward to a time when there isn’t a constant referendum on one man. If we’re bad in the future there will be a whole cast of characters to blame! Again, none of this is to say I’m looking forward to AW leaving. But I think he’s the last of a different era.
Stolen from birdkamp
Positively Arsenal 
Copy and pasting my response from the end of the last thread!
Birdkamp, I’ve long had the feeling that AW seriously considered leaving at the end of last season, hence the long delay in agreeing a new contract. Clearly the club was not ready for the handover last season. I suspect he agreed a 2 year extension (1 year would have created too much uncertainty within the squad) to allow time for the building for the future that we are seeing at the moment. I’m sure he’s fully involved in the arrangements. His recent comments make me wonder whether if the right man is available for next season might he leave before the end of his contract for the first time in his long and illustrious career?
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Pass, I have it on good authority that Arsene was of a mind to leave and had to be persuaded to stay.
I am not ITK, but I believe this source.
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Copy and pasting
passenal
Because I can’t like forsome reason
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Also copy-pasting.
George, well thanks. Reading it back, I always use too many commas, but it’s no big deal.
Passenal, I don’t know. Best case scenario would be for us to pick up this season, and for him him to see the deal out at least. Maybe get more time to work with these new signings, and if these new guys are there to take over from him they’d definitely have their feet under the table. But say the next few months are bleak (and say that results are a deciding factor), and he does call time in the summer…given the huge upheaval going on behind the scenes maybe this last season will be seen in a different light in the future.
Prefer the first and still think it might be more likely. Last season was also looking grim in March and we salvaged a lot of pride in the end.
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I hope he goes to the end of his contract because I would really hate to see him leave on a damp squib as most of this season has been. Thus I’m hoping for the Europa League to salvage something and allow him to leave on a relative high.
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Eddy
I wouldn’t call it off yet,but the snowfall is increasing and knowing the way England deals with snowfall of this magnitude (well any really) and with City leaving it till Thursday to travel any hitches in travel aside from in adequate snow clearence with ‘Health and Saftey’ in mind(I just don’tknow how I survived when I was a kid, you’ll have someone’s eye out with that was Health and Saftety) it is looking like 70/30.
Further reports
I am
When we were Boring
Positively Arsenal Weather special report News Flash LIVE
London
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Rich,
Just quickly, because I’m a bit behind. I don’t think it fazes him, which is what’s most important. He’ll remind journalists in press conferences what he’s achieved, but I think the people who matter are already aware.
Here and there you’ll find people trying to rewrite history, saying the Invincibles weren’t that good, or that he could have spend tens of millions after the stadium move (when I think he did his best work) but they’re all on the margins and doing it to get a rise. The hypocrisy may be irritating but when he does call it a day I think the coverage will be positive and respectful.
As for dealing with abuse, that’s something that nearly every manager, or anyone in public, has to deal with now, and it can swing by the week. Right or wrong, I think he’s completely inured to it. I’d like to think I wouldn’t bat an eyelid if I’d achieved half of what he’s done, and I don’t think it’s affected the way he’s operated, which would be the worst outcome of being bombarded by opinions.
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Too try Birdie… too true.
The day Arsène hangs up his coat will be a very sad day. He may not be bigger than Arsenal but a giant he is indeed, and I already see the likes of Wright, Henry and Campbell (Sol and no doubt that nut job Kevin too) sitting around a roundtable, beaming smiles, talking about what a great man Wenger is and how he changed the way many view the game. Hypocrites.
To echo Pass’ words, hope we throw the whole load into Europa, it might be little comfort but it will still be a bang if he lift that trophy.
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I think he will be the Maggie T of football, never mind who it is or how it transpires that Arsenal perceivably screw up in the Future in any way imaginable they will find a way to blame Wenger for it
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Those aforementioned so called legends should be reminded in no small measure that they took the Sky or BT or BBC pieces of Silver to contribute to the destruction of the man who built the teams they won so much with. Arrogant twats
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Like loads of the world football is subject to change and to fashion. As football clubs have got bigger, and they are unrecognisable to even the business that Arsene joined in 1996 inevitably the requirement is for more experts to control and drive forward different parts of the enterprise.
On the purely first team managing side in the First Division/PL we’ve had a phase of young track suited managers, mostly players who had recently retired and who had returned to their original clubs, then we had a phase of dabbling in overseas managers, then a phase of older managers, 50+ some home grown and some from overseas, and now we seem to be on to appointing youngish coaches with a back up of various business/organisational experts in the team around them.
I can see the outline of who we will appoint, mid -late 40s, almost certainly European but with good English language skills. A proponent of attacking, possession football. A knack of working with young or at least developing players. CL experience and ideally in his own league(s) some silverware. Probably not currently employed in England in club football.
He is out there – I know he is – although he can sit tight until about this time next year.
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I do not think I will be sad when Arsene finally completes his service, although at times it may have seemed like a sentence. He has carried a mighty burden for a very long time. No man could have done more, nor for so long. His opponents have dropped by the wayside yet Arsene has rolled the rock up the mountain that is football, season after season. The day must be celebrated in the same way the marathon runner has to be cheered.
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I don’t think he will be Maggie T, i think he will be Hillary,
“but the emails…”
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* liked * comment at 12 Andrew.
When it all is done for him I hope he gets to play beach volleyball in Brazil for as long as he wants to. He deserve it. The man has been the punching bag for the board, owners, coaching and medical staff, players and Doris for too long.
Pep went on a sabbatical when the burden of expectation became to heavy for him during his Barça stint. José goes into meltdown mode after 2-3 seasons. Klopp nearly relegated BVB when it got too much. Rafa went to find himself with Newcastle. They don’t build them like Wenger and Fergie anymore.
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More like Obama
Oh he gave us hope
righted the ship
Blamed by extemist for everything from Planes crashing into buildings to Ebola, creating the worst time of ‘Our’ lives.
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We are all aware the club has made some structural changes to change the first team. As we can see that the changes need time to take effect as with any beamouth, because that is what Arsenal has become, manly thanks to Mr Wenger. With any Super Tanker it takes time to change course , I think the changes have been taking place at a pace, but not without thought as incumbent are left to give a full hand-over. There seems to be a genuine attempt at smooth transition and corperate developement symutaniously. A very tricky and delicate path to travel in full glare of the football spotlight. Identifiying the correct people to put in place the right type of Leadership.Which brings me to …
Nacho Monreal
It has become ever clear that Nacho Technical Leadership is fundemental to this team, as this team had it’s structure re-engineered he has been the most reliable player once again . He is a bit of a ‘Cheat’ player his abilities help solve issues the team has, he improves players around him. This team cannot afford to be without him for any length of time . Milan is two weeks away and the team is searching for an identity. To see if the club get the correct playing staff we’ll have to see.
He has a disc problem and any body with a Back problem will tell you how well they go.
Oh the hope
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Markyb
Likening Arséne Wenger to Margaret Thatcher will have me turning in my grave….
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when Wenger goes for me it will be
The King is Dead
Long like the King
if its one of our former players that takes over from him, I think Giovanni Van Bronkhurst is the most likely.
As I have stated before I don’t go with all this ” long term replacement” stuff, as so very few managers no matter how successful seem reluctant to stay at any club now.
And remember the ASB will not have gone away, just as we will support our new manager, the WOB/ASB will be the first to attack the next guy, and the next guy and the next guy, at the first sign of poor form.
When Wenger goes the players just might become more targeted, or at least some of them will get even more targeted than they already are.
But if one man is the focus of the ire of the ASB, it will be Kroenke, after all these people seem hell bent on a pointless campaign, so they will change their focus from Wenger to Kroenke, it will be just as futile and pointless, and it will get them the same attention and twitter fame they get now, and of course it will make AFTV the money they make now too.
as for the lists and lists of possible managers, all I will say is if its an ex liverpool manager that comes in I would think its more likely Benitez than Rodgers.
If its a former player who has no or limited coaching/managerial experience its more likely to be Arteta or Berkamp than Henry or Vieira (thank God)
I think the link with Low is way off base, as he is 14 years out of club management,
as Birdkamp mentioned we will be looking to continue a club way of playing – attacking football at its prime target – so think that rules out the likes of Simone and Jose (thank God).
To sum up, I think maybe Van Bronkhurst, but I would think it more likely will be Rafa with maybe Arteta as his assistant, and possible successor (well don’t the ASB want a succession plan – you know like how the Dutch national team have and look at how that is working out)
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some comments from Wenger today – from football.london
On if his position will be reviewed at end of season
My position is my position. Honestly, that’s the last worry I have at the moment. My worry is to focus, to get the team ready for tomorrow’s game.
On if there will be a review at end of season
I just told you, I just gave you the answer of what my way of thinking is. It’s the next game. We are in that kind of situation where you want to focus on the next game. I don’t ask you if your position is reviewed at the end of the season.
My job is to focus on performing and my job is to perform. It’s for other people to judge me, it isn’t for me to evaluate that.
For clarity – are you expecting to remain in charge next season?
I just told you the answer. If you need clarity, I can repeat exactly the same answer. Exactly, that’s the clarity. Does it stop you to sleep that my position is uncertain or would not be certain, or is certain? No.
What is interesting in football is the performances of football, the game you will see on Thursday night. That is what is important. All the rest may make headlines, but it is not really interesting.
On whether he can accept that if he doesn’t say anything now he’s just leaving the door open
No, look, I am just amazed that I have to always answer things that are exactly the same. I am here for 21 years, I turned the whole world down to respect my contracts. So I am still amazed that I still have to answer these types of questions.
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teams news
Mkhitaryan available after being cup tied on Sunday.
Monreal out with an injured disc in his back, will miss certainly the next two game, could miss four or more.
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Can only agree on this article. As the board say, we are self sufficient, and have to be smart to keep pace with dopers, and the phenomenon of a team or two in a freakishly good cycle.
We are putting good things in place as a modern club should. Sounds like there may be changes coming with the board as well, and maybe Kroenke Jr looking to have a more hands on role than perhaps his father, can only hope this will be a good thing.
Of course we still have a big trophy to play for, though based on most of 2018, the team are going to have to improve, significantly.
If Wenger does go this summer, and I have a strong hunch he will, it will be because either he, the club or both have decided it is time, you won’t find me arguing in that event. Instead, I will raise a glass of something classy and French and be thankful for what this amazing manager has bought us , and whenever the time comes, rather than be sad, look forward to the new manand what he may bring, but aware of the platform the Wenger years have provided him.
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the club announced its half year accounts today
Click to access Arsenal%20Holdings%20plc%20Interim%20Results%2030-11-2017.pdf
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We could have bought Neymar with that £12.6m
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12.6 would leave us just short of Lentini.
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Mandy
I dont agree with you that Arsene will step down this summer. I think Ozil resigned only after he got assurance from Wenger that he will be staying at the club for a couple of years or at least the next year when Wenger contract expires.
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Maybe Rosicky, cannot quantify it, just a gut feeling, mind you I thought he was going last summer as well
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well WwwB where is the weather forecast
is the game on or not
don’t tell me, you’ve been snowed in and can’t get to the met office to give your forecast
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that money mad Kroenke who has no principles is at it again, look at what he is doing at Walmart
The New York Times
Verified account @nytimes
9h9 hours ago
Breaking News: Walmart, the largest retailer in the United States, said it will stop selling guns and ammunition to anyone under 21
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A number of things make me really irritated at the moment about the club, but the thing that makes me most cross is its failure to set the media agenda. In fact, I would say that it seems to go out of its way to create situations where it is open to ridicule. Arsene himself must know by now how the things he says are likely to be interpreted, and yet he trots out lines that you just know are going to be willfully miss-represented.
Unless I am much mistaken it is painfully obvious that the club is in the middle of a full-scale shake-up of both players and back-room staff. It is has sold players who are good enough to maintain a cup win, 4th place sort of season, and has started to buy players who might take it to the next level. It is preparing the way for a new manager or coach. It has shaken up its youth set-up. It is investing heavily in its medical facility and its coaching operation. It is recalibrating its commercial operation. It is setting up all sorts of initiatives both overseas and in the local community. It is clearly, clearly a club on the move. And what is more, it is doing all these things at the express behest of Arsene Wenger, who knows more about change and innovation than most of us will ever know.
And yet it allows itself to be portrayed as a shambolic operation stuck hopelessly in the past while clinging to the coattails of a stubborn old fool.
About time that the club goes on the offensive, I think.
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foreverheady is seems that Arsenal FC believe that old saying about no such thing as bad publicity, and see any mention in the media, or online is good, even if its a negative mention.
I seen an article, think it was the Islington Gazette, which states that Wenger was at a Board Meeting on Monday, and then had a meeting with the coaching staff and then the players, where he is said to have warned them that failing to qualify for next season’s CL will see major changes at Arsenal, with many players to be shown the exit.
of course the article also implied that Wenger left the possibility of him being one of the changes too.
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foreverheady
I think he decided long ago to just be himself and answer honestly.
In the long run it may have contributed to his longevity and resilience as it involves no wasted energy on trying to anticipate how media will react, trying to cover yourself, calculating this or that. The more calculating managers, or at least the most calculating ones, also seem unable to avoid contradicting themselves badly over time- sometimes a week- and are guaranteed to be hypocrites- ‘they’re always crying’; goes on tv to cry for an hour. Fortunately for them they are rarely if ever called on it. Arsene would be
In same way the next manager is guaranteed to be more cynical on the pitch, likewise he will be when dealing with the press, and the club will follow suit to some extent, if he’s there long enough and has some success. Not sure there are many cases of a club not taking on characteristics of their successful long-term managers. Chelsea’s social media often read as if Jose was hitting the tweet button himself.
Sure I read it was part of Ferguson’s daily routine to spend time, with media officer, going over what was being said in papers/media. Suppose it didn’t affect his longevity but then he would have been very secure by the time it came to that, and knew he could literally ban papers or the BBC without attracting much criticism
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Good morning ladies and gentleman – Labo has produced a pre match for tonight’s game. Wrap up warm.
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