Good Friday morning Positive Arsenal fans,
A better performance last night than Sunday but the same scoreline against a set of attacking players who at this rate will tear up the Premier League record book easily. In spite of my early season scepticism, Citeh appear to be very serious contenders for the Champions League final. If there is a club or clubs out there who would have turned over our opponents in the form they were in last night then I have not seen them. I noticed all the pundits seemed to be cooing and gurgling about MC in contrast to their vituperative attacks on our players during the Carabo.
I have not checked the stats but last night I think Citeh had five serious efforts on goal and scored beautifully from three of them. We had probable five, perhaps seven, worthwhile chances, including the penalty, and yet did not trouble the scorer. In other recent games – against Palace and Everton we did to the opposition with our first half goal-fest in each game pretty much what the visitors did to us last night – we were home and hosed by half time. I therefore raise my footballing hat in admiration.
Having got that commendation out of the way I thought our lads did OK. Aaron looked fit again and it seems essential that if we are to put in a strong finish to the season he stays fit. Granit worked his arse off as always, Mkhi buzzed and earned his penalty. It is taking time for PEA to fit in and for us to play to his strengths but it is a positive work in progress. Hitting the back of the net though – that is what has let us down all this season. The problem has to be resolved – easily said – bloody hard to do.
In the world of strange football statistics I was informed last night was the worst sequence of three results AFC have suffered for 41 years, since February/March 1977, when we lost away at Middlesborough, Everton and at Highbury to the then very good Ipswich and the ‘appy Ammers. We then went on to lose our next two games. I survived the catastrophe 41 years ago, I suspect I shall survive it again.
So onward to Brighton for a Sunday lunchtime kick off and the chance to put two consecutive batterings by the Champions’ elect behind us. I did not see any additional injuries or fitness problems last night and Jack should be available if required. I look forward to a brisk start.
Enjoy your Friday.
Positively Arsenal 
my comment from the previous thread
of course passenal the caliber of the victor should be taken into account, that can explain losing to city, but what of the other 11 teams we have lost to this season
we have seen so little wengerball this season, and that is one of my main concerns with the team, even in the trophyless seasons we produced wonderful football on a regular basis, but most of what we have seen this season has been average or even boring. Midfield and Attack not clicking, and then when you add in that the defending has been woeful at times, even when we have lots of players back defending, it does not a good picture make. the team has lost its identity,
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And your answer to these deficiencies is eddy ? As far as I recall back in August we came into this season with – in my opinion – the strongest AFC squad for a decade – experienced players just back from Wembley having beaten Citeh and CFC to lift a trophy, everyone but Santi fit, a new shiny £50 million striker everyone had been going on about, Sanchez and Ozil staying at least for a season, and with no CL at least the chance to really concentrate on challenging for the PL.
Presumably, as I think Pass said, not booing ….
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I doubt there is an easy answer, although I know a few people who disagree with me.
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Everywhere I look the last two defeats to ManCity seem to have led to it being open season yet again on the manager (thankfully not here)
I’m not sure why that is. We were poor on Sunday but I thought we played well enough yesterday. We can play better but City just have that extra bit of ability and are riding on a wave of confidence. They beat us comprehensively, fair and square, but we gave a good account of ourselves. The two annoyances I have with the match was at the two ends. One Auba for a terrible penalty, and two Petr Cech who always looks such a liability with the ball at his feet. Maybe we could have been a bit better on all the goals we conceded but I’m not too concerned about that. I didn’t think it was terrible play on our part, though Xhaka maybe should have fouled Sane on the first when he slid in. City were just good.
The players showed a good response to Sunday’s performance, and despite the setbacks of the goals, kept at least putting in the effort. For me, that is an undoubted positive, and a sign that the public throwing in the towel isn’t reflective of the players’ attitudes. We’re down on our luck at this point and the solutions are likely to be complex and difficult. But it certainly isn’t going to involve giving up, or moaning about the manager or the state of the club. I expect to see us play well and win in the next game, and I think we’ll beat AC Milan over two legs.
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eduardo
Yes it’s true about identity. What sort of a team are we? Are we a counterattacking team, a possession team, a pressing team? It’s tough to say.
I think Wenger has always been about promoting attacking play and moving the ball up the field quickly. I think the biggest issue we have in playing this way is that our defenders and midfielders buckle under any sort of a press. Either due to a lack of technical ability, or because of a mental lapse. Sort this out, and I think we’ll be a much better team. How to sort it? Better coaching maybe? More focused drills? But I have no idea what they do now. Better players? I vote yes, regardless of any coaching issue/change. But also, more time players play together the better they get at this. Our midfield injury problems haven’t helped at all with this.
On the defensive front we need to decide whether we’re going to sit back or go for a high press. And actually this needs to vary according to the opponents and through an arduous season. Wenger likes his defenders and midfielders to get interceptions. This involves players closing the passing lanes, but I think we have never been a team that exclusively presses the ball. This leaves us vulnerable to a long ball over the top and requires our defenders to be positionally aware and quick of foot to cover. It would also help if the keeper can read the situation well and also be a viable outlet for the backpass.
There you go. I’ve fixed all of Arsenal’s problems in about 5 minutes.
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I thought it was a line-up and performance which would prob have most likely ended in a high-scoring draw against the other top six teams.
It’s hard to assess a performance from when 2 or 3 goals behind as if the game was some other score at that point, but we had looked threatening before the goals and in the second half put in a lot of effort, not that there wasn’t plenty in first half also.
We were brave and much faster than we have often been on ball this year, including using one touch passes and eschewing safe balls to try more progressive riskier stuff; we ran at them; we ran after them harder and pressed more than we typically do; we were more aggressive than usual.
But again not only do we have to take score into account you also have to consider how unusual a team City are next to the majority of prem teams, or perhaps how different the top six games are generally next to the rest. We get space in those games, and get attacked with numbers and more quality than the rest can offer.
All our home games vs the top six games have had a fairly similar feel- high paced, dramatic, lot of quality on show, both teams going for it at times in a way that is now rare in the league.
Unfortunately, for all that, the stats are not good for us at home this year in those games, and away they are a lot worse. At home, we have carried plenty of attacking threat, but been hugely vulnerable in defence. Away, it’s been rougher.
Home
1-3 ; 3:3; 2-0; 2:2: 0-3 (5pts) (5/15 pts) (Leics 4:3)
Goals : 8-11 (-3)
Away
0-4: 0-0: 0-2; 1-3 (1pt) (1/12 pts)
Goals : 1-9 (-8)
Totals
9 games.
9 scored 20 conceded.
Points : (6/27)
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We are having a terrible run in a poor season.
One man knows this better that anyone and is best placed to put it right. If he stays next season I expect better, if he goes and someone else is tasked to do the “putting right” I’m fine with that too.
Whatever will be will be, but we must understand its our job as fans to help through support. It’s our only job.
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* mistake in there. 19 not 20 conceded.
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Do you know what is the biggest factor for Arsenal’s recent failures? It is not the finances, it’s not the players, it is not the managers, it is not even the referees or media (although they have played a major role). It is the club’s own “fans”!
Many so called Arsenal fan’s have a sense of entitlement. They think that they deserve to only support a club that wins titles (and bigger ones than those measly 3 FA cups and community shields we’ve won in past 4 years).
From 2004 to about 2014, Arsenal were severely constrained by financial restrictions due to the stadium building debt. But Wenger did an amazing job still keeping Arsenal competitive and finishing in the top 4 even though his immediate rivals such as Liverpool and Tottenham massively outspent Arsenal, never mind the likes of Chelsea and Man United. However, he was still constantly criticized for not winning anything even though he had devoted his life and career to Arsenal having turned down numerous options to manage other bigger clubs.
I used to be amazed that he was so consistently criticized in those days despite the clear financial handicap he used to operate under. Only recently in past 2-3 years there has been a tacit acknowledgement that he did well in that period – however this is coupled with the condition that the stadium-debt worries having now relatively eased, there are no more excuses.
Which conveniently glosses over the fact that given the spending of state owned/aided clubs (Man City, PSG , Barca and Real), salaries and fees have rocketed to stratospheric levels and Arsenal cannot really compete with them!
The fan’s inability to comprehend these two factors has created such a poisonous atmosphere that players, manager, youngsters, no-one is able to prosper. One bad half and the boos ring out. That so call “Arsenal Fan TV” is a joke! Do you think all the negative talk does not effect the players? They are only human beings!
Contrast this to the clubs like Liverpool and Tottenham? What really have they achieved in the past 10 years? Still their fans think theirs are the best club in the world and their support doesn’t waiver. This has created a virtuous cycle for those clubs where the media and consequently the refs treat them kindly whereas Arsenal are ridiculed and get bad decisions by the officials knowing fully well that most fans would join in the criticism of Wenger and the players instead!
So take a bow Arsenal “fans” for helping the club enter this vicious circle of mediocrity!
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Sammy, that should be a blog.
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I wonder whether this group of players need more prescriptive tactics.
Arsene’s approach, described by several ex-players such as, Fabregas, confirm that he tries to find “intelligent” players who need less coaching on tactics. I heard time and again players say that Arsene tells them to go out and express themselves and “play their game”. I expect few managers are brave enough to have and stick to that philosophy. If this is the case Mourinho is diametrically the opposite, so too is Pep.
Perhaps, when confidence is low, Arsene needs to be a little more prescriptive with his players till performances improve?
Or, most of the current squad don’t have the level of “football intelligence” as Fabregas, Rosicky, RVP, Santiago Cazorla, Viera, Petit, Pires, Henry….
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Sammy,
I agree with the meerkat that was an excellent comment. Thanks
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Eduardo, the point I am making is that there is always a reason for every defeat. Sometimes that is down to AFC, but not always, which is what the malcontents are trying to claim. As supporters that is our only job. We can share our opinion about the game, but it is just that. We have no idea what is really going on within the club and the players minds, but the negative atmosphere is certainly not helping them. No amount of ‘analysis’ AKA whining and moaning online will make a jot of difference. It’s down to the club and manager to identify what isn’t working and come up with a solution. I’m just concerned that even this place, which is supposed to be a haven for positivity in support of the club is becoming too much like too many other places i.e. constant focus on negativity and making statements about what is ‘wrong’ with everything Arsenal.
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Sammy, you’ve hit the nail on the head. I was so angry when I was leaving the match last night and saw those parasites from AFTV no doubt revelling in another defeat, surrounded by their minions. If only they put as much effort into supporting the club they claim to love.
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In the manager’s pre-match press conference, he urged “perspective” in assessing the cup losses to City and Ostersunds. His point was that reaching the domestic final and losing to the runaway league leaders did not constitute an abject failure, while qualifying for the next round in Europe was more important than losing one leg limply at home.
Some prominent observers shot back, saying Wenger’s perspective was too selective — what really matters are the poor results since late fall.
But that view is just as limited, and deliberately so. What about the perspective that sees a small cadre of 20-to-35-year-old elite athletes deploying their physical and psychological gifts to the best of their abilities, but ultimately not achieving the expectations they have for their collective efforts?
That seems like a more reasonable portrayal of this season, which is of course a small amount of time in the history of the club and one from which only the presumptuous would draw definitive, broad conclusions. Or speculate without any evidence about the commitment of these players to the manager or the motivations of the manager himself.
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I’ve no doubt I regularly fall foul of not being positive enough for these parts, as well as being very into analysis of our games.
Can only apologise to those who don’t come here for that and don’t feel it fits ethos and purpose of site.
I was always looking for- or rather i was pissed off at not having- somewhere that offered fair-minded, rational, reasonable, grown up and less negative than elsewhere discussion about the club. Also that called out plenty of the bullshit around us.
This was and still is best place I found.
In my mind, I can just about square being a bit too gloomy for a site with Positively in the damn title on the grounds that it’s still a whole lot less negative/ more positive than the majority of stuff out there and, hopefully, it’s fair, reasonable,etc.
Though admittedly there’s a selfish element to it and, worse, a bit of ego,too.
It helps me to try figure out where we stand and, specifically, what happened if we play a bad game or suffer a painful defeat. The ego bit is wanting to be right about your (weasely- about ”my’) ideas, as a tiny consolation prize or something, and maybe wanting to show that to others.
Anyway, that’s more than enough mea culpa-ing for anyone I expect.
I’ll try cut down on the negative stuff.
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Nothing he matter with a little constructive criticism nor a little wailing at the moon, keeps the mind sharp. Watching the closing stages of the game last night I wondered whether the boss might not thing about resting Mesut on Sunday to keep him fresh as a daisy to face the Italians. He did look a little weary in the final 15 and there has been concern about his immune system (?)
I appreciate he is a key player but perhaps with Aaron’s fitness proved yesterday and Jack back after a rest we could at least leave him on he bench at the Amex ?
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From Europsport – Arsenal v Manchester City wasn’t even the biggest clash of the evening. That honour went to a bizarrely terse exchange of words between Martin Keown and Sun journalist Neil Ashton, on BBC radio before kick-off. Here’s the transcript of the business end of the conversation – and no, this isn’t made-up.
Ashton: “So many people want change here, but everybody still believes this dream. Martin almost believes in the dream that somehow, Wenger’s going to pull it out of the bag.”
Keown: “Who’s saying that, Neil? Listen… have you been drinking tonight? You’ve come in here, shouting the odds (?) about other people. Listen, do it with some rationality, yeah?”
Ashton: “Some rationality? Go on…”
Keown: “Yeah, maybe.
Ashton: “Go on…”
Keown: “You didn’t last long working for Sky, did you? Maybe you should be presenting programmes. Do you know what you want to do on this show?”
Ashton: “I do work for Sky.”
(Brief pacificatory intervention from presenter Jonathan Overend)
Keown: “He’s linking me with Arsene Wenger, saying that I’m a massive Arsene Wenger fan. Of course I have been; we’ve won many things on the pitch. But that moment of Wenger ending is getting ever nearer.”
Ashton: “But the point…”
Keown: “But some of us show some respect and some dignity, and maybe you should do the same.”
Oh just fucking hit him
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anicoll
If only…
Still, good on Keown. Merson, Wrighty and others would be making pals for the evening with Ashton and probably try to outdo him.
Strachan deserves honorable mention for saying on Sky’s Debate programme tv companies are likely to turn the sound up on any crowd booing. Presenter told him not to be silly or something, but Strachan didn’t back down.
Amazes me how much a small moment like that stands out. To me that’s down to Sky and co selecting against genuinely different voices, working hard to get their people to stay within certain parameters, and not using those who don’t comply.
Newspapers the same for me. Superficially, a variety of characters with different opinions, but not really.
Strachan famously ridiculed the situation when Wenger was sent to stands at Old Trafford. I’ve no idea if he’s actually a great guy or anything, nor if he’s an admirer of Wenger. More likely just being a decent, reasonable and fair-minded person, or at least one who is uninterested in being a company man, sticks out an awful lot in the football world
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5452605/Gordon-Strachan-accuses-Sky-turning-volume-fans-boo.html
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Strachan knows what it is like to be chased by the lynch mob of football hacks and their ignorant ex pros having done a few managerial gigs himself.
For any of you who have forgotten Strachan’s take on Arsene and the plastic bottle;
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anicol 9.56am
yes we went into this season with what looked like our strongest squad for some time, but here we are on the 2nd of March and we have 13 defeats, and stats show we are not doing well in defense and we are not doing well in attack, most seem to think we are not doing well in midfield either.
as I stated in the first post, this team has lost its identity, Wengerball is seldom seen.
If we had changed manager last summer, and had these results and performances, many here would be saying
“I knew we’d drop a level without AW, and that we’d get this football that is a hundred miles away from Wengerball”
just why we are not seeing much Wengerball, this season with the great man still in charge, is a massive concern.
the training sessions are said to be based almost wholly around pass and move, high speed passing, (wengerball). So why its not translating to games, I can only surmise the reasons.
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Rich I have always found Gordon Strachan to be no yes man, he is not afraid to stand against the rest of a studio panel. I’ve seen him laugh at the silly opinions of other pundits, and he is always looking to put forwards a “manager” view.
Maybe that is why we don’t see him much as a pundit.
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anicol re martin keown – last night throughout the game, he only stopped hating on Ozil, when he was hating on Ramsey, it was disgraceful stuff.
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the Guardian making some very big claims
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/mar/02/arsenal-players-arsene-wenger-meeting?CMP=share_btn_tw
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The “we need more help” quotation from the Guardian article is interesting – and of course is being interpreted as a comment that the coach is not doing his job. But what if the player was actually saying “we need more help in the form of not entirely legal supplements: how can we be expected to compete against sides that have those advantages?” ?
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The squad was in no way stronger at the start of this season compared to two years ago:
Minus Arteta senior experienced pro with years in PL
Minus The BFG. Had his own song from the off, I need add no more.
Minus Cazorla. Had his own song from the off, a very popular song too.
Koscielny with one ankle? Not really the same player, especially for one whose game was based upon his great ability.
Mustafi, no PL experience, brought in to be Kozza’s replacement?
Xhaka likewise? No way a newbie to the PL can replicate the older experienced Arteta from the off.
Both these two relatively expensive signings (for the Arsenal) given their ages and experience were indicative of a more extensive rebuild of the squad? Looks that way with the benefit of hindsight (the Xmas window).
Those panic buys we’re alright eh?
Further swapping Chamberlain, even though the club wanted to keep him, for the less experienced Iwobi who needs a few seasons to progress underlines this understanding of where the squad is.
This persistently hysterical coverage surrounding this solvent insitituion primarily led by a media that push an ideology or a belief or a religion of peoonage, unsurprising given their owners, is definitely in Salvador Dali territory, nevermind our favourite plundit Alan Partdrige.
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Tim
You and your crazy conspiracy theories! I dunno…
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Not the first time Keown had given a hack a public dressing down with a slight growl.
As this one wasn’t televised it would’ve been hard for people to see the fear in the hacks face.
Always liked Martin! Still do!!
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< forsomeone whose game was based upon their great agility!
That typo was autocorrect. Honest guv.
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This really is a superb blog. I feel I know each and every one of you – and how you will react as events unfold. It’s like watching a Harold Pinter play, but with less of the farce! (I would have said a David Hare production, but I fear that would mean my understanding much less of your goings-on.)
Here’s my take on recent events for what it’s worth.
Although the views expressed are my own (of 57-year vintage), they have undoubtedly been shaped to an extent by my 23 year old son – a passionate Arsenal supporter, history teacher and “soft lefty”- who has a much wiser head on him than I did at his tender age. I hope I therefore embrace the views of the young and the old.
AW is truly a legend: he will go down as an Arsenal Great, up there with Mr Chapman as a true visionary. He has probably made more impression on UK football than anyone else over the past 20 years. He is also a decent, wise, honourable and highly-intelligent man, albeit not a good loser (probably a required trait) and someone who can be spikey if not a little arrogant at times (again, probably a necessary trait for a leader).
BUT… (you knew there was going to be a but…), I do believe that in the absence of a new contract, which I cannot see happening, to enter a final year would risk unsettling the club and unwinding – just a little – that great legacy. Even if AW were to do well next season, it would give rise to endless questions/speculation each week (each day?) – and add pressure on his eventual successor. In my view, AW entering a final year would be much worse than a key player entering a final contract year. I do not see any good coming from it – indeed the reverse. I suspect most of the board feel likewise. The issue then becomes how the club manages the succession in the critical months ahead, which I’m confident it will do, whatever is said or reported publicly. And when this comes to pass, I hope everyone will stand united as one (yes I know there will be many hypocrites among them) and bear testament to a true giant of the game. He deserves nothing less.
As has been said on here before, AW’s legacy is that Arsenal is now a global brand with a distinct way of playing and doing things. We are not just another club. Nothing must be allowed to diminish this – and in my view AW entering a final year would risk doing this very thing. Much as we just want nothing more than to be royally entertained by the team, the reality is that world soccer has become a global brand worth billions. It’s big business. “Our Arsenal” is a multinational whether we like it or not. Personally speaking, I think it would be futile fighting this – and what’s the problem anyway in having passionate supporters across all the continents whether they go to games in North London or not?? We should instead be fighting to make sure our great club has values that mean something despite the media onslaught and negativity that surrounds so many things these days.
On a more negative note, this site has always – and always will be I hope – a beacon of positively. A much needed refuge for people like me. I really am grateful for your daily contributions, and to each and every contributor out there, for enriching my experience of “the Arsenal”, which is unashamedly a key part of my life. (I would be in self-denial if I said otherwise, even though I realise it’s a foolish thing for a middle-aged/old?? man to say – being someone who should know better.)
So what’s my negative note? It’s that we should not assume that every criticism of the club – and AW in particular – is wrong or misguided. Sometimes I sense that our disposition is always to kick-out at anyone that does, or has the temerity to suggest this. We can, and will I hope, embrace the change that I believe is coming soon, and which I think is needed when everything is considered. The club really does need to take a serious look at the tail-off in performances, and I am not just talking about the past week. Our away performances in particular – all of which I have witnessed from beginning to the end – have sometimes been very average at best. (Poor might be a better word to describe many of them.) As I say, this is not a recent phenomenon – pre and post Sanchez. Many performances have lacked the technical qualities that were once our trademark, particularly when allied with speed of thought and movement. An artistic joy to behold; for me up there with the greatest of art forms. For whatever reason, the current team (and I stress the word “team”) have not been able to demonstrate this save for all-to-infrequent but joyous bursts. For me, that mantle, and it hurts me to say this, is currently held by Liverpool. (I refuse to talk about “MCFC” as this is a state-sponsored team with geopolitical interests – let them go and display there jewels and cash elsewhere – I want nothing to do with them.) I realise that Liverpool have won nothing and that they may disappear in a puff of smoke – but they currently play with a panache that was for many years owned by us. This hurts, but things never stay the same. By the way, I am not one who will say “but Liverpool have won nothing” as if that means we should therefore discount everything they do. We on this site have embraced and witnessed the beautiful game. I for one would much rather that Arsenal won little silverware but entertained us by scoring a hatful of goals and played with great style, than to become a “MUFC clone” – heaven forbid – to win trophies by attrition & cynicism, offering nothing of the artistry and values we hold dear. Let them have their silverware if this id what it takes (My MUFC rant is directed at their manager, not the club itself, who are financed like any other big business from what I can tell, and who have in the past looked to play reasonably progressive football, and to look to score a second and third goal rather than to kill the game. My how the mighty MUFC have fallen.)
But back to the Arsenal. My rallying cry is “The King is dead – long Live the King” and to embrace the change that is coming. In saying this I am not in any way disrespecting the legacy of AW. Indeed, I hope the great man will still be associated with the club for years to come. To many “AW is Arsenal” – but things change, and we on this site, I would respectfully suggest, should be looking to make sure his legacy and spirit lives on.
Overall, I’m very, very, positive even if this season should fail to deliver. I believe we have a first rate board and infrastructure, and that the recent off the field appointments and changes have gone some way to laying the foundations for another dominant spell at the very top. We also have a much stronger squad that many give us credit for, a great academy & scouting system, and a “strong and stable” (did I really say that) balance sheet. We have a global brand, history and tradition, and money (whether from the middle east or eastern Europe) simply cannot buy this. I’m sure we are going to be a major force for many years to come, whatever this season brings. (3 points on Sunday – and more importantly for me a performance – would be a good start.)
To you, the contributors, thanks again for this site.
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Former Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood is claimed to have said on Wenger to @DavidWoodsStar: “He has done fabulously well, it is just he has overstayed his welcome.”
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There’s no escaping the fact that it’s been a difficult few days for everyone connected with the club.
Successive defeats to Manchester City have dented confidence but, ahead of Sunday’s trip to Brighton, Arsene Wenger is determined to deliver an improvement in our away form.
“Yes, certainly yes [there’s an issue with our form on the road]. That’s down to us to change it,” he said.
“I’m always ready for a fight. I’m of course very disappointed but I’ve experienced these situations before.
“I’ve faced difficult situations in my life and [experience] helps to deal with that. [It is down to] experience and a desire to change things, and to continue to help the team.”
We will face AC Milan in the last-16 of the Europa League four days after our trip to Brighton, so how will that affect our team selection?
“The game after always has an input, and you always have that in your mind when you play so many games one after another,” Wenger said.
“But I think we are in a situation where we first have to try to win the next game rather than make these calculations.”
Copyright 2018 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 https://www.arsenal.com/news/wenger-im-always-ready-fight#AHPSDy1bAB0Gvi56.99
Read more at https://www.arsenal.com/news/wenger-im-always-ready-fight#l1ol0wgVXE3ALZ4d.99
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Stephen Page
This site will embrace change when it inevitably comes, but I’m fucked if we will be complicit in hastening it.
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Will Wenger going mean aftv go away? If so I will drive our most successful manager to the airport and bring Owen coyle back on the return journey
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If those Guardian claims are true then I think Wenger will leave at the end of the season. One, because it was leaked, so obviously someone wants to send a message out to insulate themselves from the fallout of Wenger’s departure. But more importantly, two, that no manager can survive players losing faith in their methods. Talking about when he first came to the club, Wenger himself said that his first job as a manager is to deal with the people and win them over to his ideas.
But, there are still several games left this season, and still one trophy to go for. If Arsenal can go out and do themselves proud in those games, maybe all this discontent goes away. Seems a big ask considering the way the season has gone, but if there’s anyone who is up to the task it is Arsene Wenger.
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Shard, I was hoping a player would call it out as bullshit.
Such a crap development if one of them went and said that to press. Would presumably mean others will be annoyed or furious with whoever did so.
Also gives the press bums great ammunition to try turn heat up even more.
Not to mention what you say about implications if it actually happened like that.
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Rumours, what rumours? Should I read the Grauniad?
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Georgaki
Ed gave a link to it last night, at 8.11
Supposedly details from players’ meeting last week
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Thanks for that Mr Page and it is a pleasure to read such a measured contribution. One minor point regarding criticism of AW of which there are two types that I thought I’d come back on.
The first that he makes errors in terms of strategy, tactics, choice and treatment of players and most of that is fair enough, although generally comes with the benefit of hindsight. He does however make mistakes and it is I might go so far as to say that it is a right and a duty of every football fan to speak his mind. Indeed I would encourage people to get what they want to say out as we all see the game and the team in different ways.
The second type of criticism is of AW the man, and some of this is highly unpleasant, unjustified and at times downright bizarre. And personal abuse of this manager, or indeed any manager of Arsenal football club, is not going up on here – ever.
(anicoll5 places his dead body in prone position)
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Within the context of what it takes to put together a tight team of players who know how to play together at the highest level one must accept that at this moment in time we are operating right around 6 out of 10. Too much drama and too many changes have happened to this team in the past year.
I only just watched the last game yesterday and was quite glad to have missed the live broadcast. Without the overriding real-time emotions, I saw a team that was out of sync in so many ways but also a team that without much ado and a solid preseason would be absolutely scary to play against. Coming off the Alexis saga and with the naysayer mafioso @ peak strength, AW has to be commended for the squad he’s managed to assemble for our enjoyment, bar 1 to 3 weak links.
This season is already over really. Not because we can’t win the Europa league but for that next version of Wengerball we all crave. AW needs a short rest, some recharge time and archery practice with Sven, IG & his backroom staff to re-tool and recalibrate this team.
The absolute worst mistake the Arsenal board can make is to let go of our legendary manager before he finishes off his contract and delivers Wengerball 4.0.
So, yes, against the best team in the land we lost back to back 0-3s and an earlier ref-assisted 3-1. But lest we forget, Liverpool lost 0-5, Spurs 1-4, Chelski 0-1, Man Utd 1-2, Leicester 1-5, Napoli 2-4, Basel 0-5, etc to Pep’s £713m Abu Dhabi FC. Nothing to be too ashamed of considering our circumstances.
At various times in the past I’ve been confused about AW’s take on things post-loss but in this situation I must say I completely get his version of the state of things. I might have to quit watching Arsenal games live. The commentators, AFTV, naysayers et al rarely rattle me for the most part and are entitled to their opinions regardless. My sole spot for the best opinions, high intelligence, continuous education and the highest ethics in Gooner world happens to be here with you Positivistas.
So long live PA.
Long live AW… if but for one more year.
Wengerball 4.0 must be allowed to be delivered.
COYG!
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Stephen Page
Good to read your post. Echo what Anicoll said about it.
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Thanks to all for your thoughts on my incoherent musings. I hear you loud and clear, but to look at what is happening and take cognisance of it, are not the same as endorsing it. I would never, ever, condone a “witch hunt” or abuse of AW – or of anyone for that matter. But change is a coming, and I want to make the batten hand-over as dignified as possible. Until then, AW, the players and the board have my full and unmitigated support. More importantly, so does AFC, which will live on beyond all of us. And a good thing to. We should never denigrate ourselves by embarking on personal abuse of any kind. Perhaps my way of looking at things is out of fashion these aha because abuse is rife in all walks of life. That’s not to say I don’t have strong opinions – I do! I also care passionately about AFC. The club, players and staff will always have my unwavering support. And I will always look for the positives. As I articulated yesterday, the future for AFC is bright – very bright. We need to keep pushing this line against those who seek to criticise and run down the club on a daily basis at ever opportunity. And make no mistake, whether AW stays or goes, the abuse will continue unabated.
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It looks to me like there are is a choreographed campaign of leaks in place.
That is going to make life very difficult.
The latest, and perhaps most significant, from Peter Hill Wood, a man who has always backed our manager, and from a family who have been custodians of the club for generations.
IF he spoke as reported, it is very hard for an outsider to argue with him. He would have spoken knowing the weight of his words, IF this is accurate.
IF the players really feel they need more help, IF the likes of PHW say change is needed, IF other board members think te same, then Mr Wenger is pretty isolated.
IF all , or most of this is true and accurate, change is almost certainly coming this summer.
In that case, dignity must prevail on all fronts, we should back the manager for whatever his time left, and especially back the players, most of who will remain, and need to be motivated partly by the fans to remain. Those, not on this site who believe any success will prevent change, I strongly suspect that moment has passed.
Stay strong Gooners, what ever your persuasion, the club will need it going forward if such change really is in the air.
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Stephen is don’t understand why you feel the need to write:
” we should not assume that every criticism of the club – and AW in particular – is wrong or misguided”
Who or what would do that?
A PR campaign proceeded by the slur that anyone who was supporting their football club was an “AKB Cultist”, at the least that was the smear from a failed campaign a few years ago?
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A quick read of headlines from the Manchester Grunt going back a few years will tell the reader all they need to know regarding this rag’s coverage of Arsenal Football Club.
The headline from that football weekley earlier in this week was properly properly amusing.
It certainly is interesting. Fuck all to do with the football though.
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Andrew/Anicol
I was upset to see Giroud not start away at Stoke or West Brum (narrow pitches, opposition hiding in trenches…) and out of curiosity after those matches I trawled the interwebby to see if there was any simple critique of the football, talking about the football, out there on the numerous arsenal football blogs and football podcasts, and…there was lots of noise but when it came to a criticism or even just a blessed discussion upon or of the football, etc. nothing of note. Or worthy of a link or repetition.
Apart from Adrian Clarke’s Breakdown. Being in the employ of the club never stopped Robson from making idiotic projections, fortunately Adrian just wants to talk about the football. Going forwards I hope to see him follow his own path like the Bobby MacMahon’s out there and not end up mimicking a sick parrot from within the BT/Sky enclosure.
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Whatever the future holds, whatever the club does, whoever ends up owning the club (which is the real story here), I don’t think I the club are or will be or have been too precious or concerned about what sycophantic wally’s like James Olly have to say. Or scribble.
How do we know that the club have not already chosen the next manager?
There are comments from the manger last season that have never been explained to the public.
Whatever the story, we won’t learn much from the these hacks out there that chose to ignore how and why AFC recruited AW in the first place and tempted him out of a self-mposed exile. Unfortunately their hopes that the friend of the new high spending owner of Everton ( all together now: L.O.L.) will take over AFC are unlikely to be realised.
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My personal desire was or is to see AW boycott talking to these hacks. Like Ferguson when the BBC dared to report on some of his dodgy antics.
But AW has more class then myself. Or Alex Ferguson.
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Wenger should definitely boycott them , I often wonder why he doesn’t.
I think the problem here is the sheer amount of leaks coming out from all angles, I just hope the club are not behind them in any way, that would not be classy.
If they really have decided to change manager, do it at the appropriate time,and with respect, not via death by leaks or a hatchet job. Would be very interesting to know the source of that Guardian story, unless they have completely made it up, perhaps a players agent? We know some of them are very close to some media outlets
This club have always done their business privately, I hope it remains that way, especially if they really are in the process of changing our greatest ever manager.
Still amazed by those words attributed to PHW, if he really has said them, that is worrying for the manager, if he hasn’t, I hope his lawyers extract a lot of money from the publication and put it to a worthy cause.
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Mandy,
The Grunter’s slant has been consistent, as th record shows. Even if they had a genuine “leak”,given the fake Bellerin interview…then, who cares how they report upon it?
the last time AFC had good press was when Henry Norris owned his own paper. Interesting stories about what happened to him, and how it’s been covered since by the media. People have written interesting books upon the subject! Now those are worth reading if you are a supporter and lover of Arsenal Football Club.
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