Friends, Romans, Arsenal men, lend me your ears I come to praise Arsene, not to butcher him. There is feeding frenzy involving second rate hacks, Billy big bollocks bloggers, podcasters and hate filled attention seeking halfwit fans, all picking over the not yet dead corpse of our greatest ever manager. A man that is a legend in the game, a visionary and easily the most intelligent, classy man I’ve ever know in football.
They say he must go! Nay, he must be driven out, ridiculed and his greatest moments disparaged and downgraded.
After 22 years at the helm his work is done, we need him no more, off with him, drive him into the wilderness, once we have tarred and feathered him of course!
But here is the thing, it’s with a heavy heart that I accept the end is near, and that a tipping point has been reached. I don’t think he has the time, or the backing from the board, fans and players that he would need to turn the ship again. Perhaps after 22 years a new voice is needed. Maybe it is all stale. But what I don’t accept, and will never accept, is that Arsene Wenger is not a great manager, let alone that he never was one. I’m simply calling bullshit on that much used soundbite.
How many times has José Mourinho gone stale at clubs? I can think of three occasions where he has been sacked, where his tactics have failed, and he has been cast aside. But what happened next? Another massive job. People claiming he was one of the world’s best managers, and yet he couldn’t survive beyond 3 years.
Were people claiming he was not the manager he once was when he won the CL in 2004 with Porto?
No, they were not. They were using this 14 year-old achievement as evidence of his greatness.
Jürgen Klopp lasted almost 7 years at Borussia Dortment before flirting with relegation and being sent on his way. Did people say he used to be great and now he isn’t? No, they didn’t, and it doesn’t look much like it either, now does it?
Carlo Ancelotti, currently unemployed after being sacked for the umpteenth time. Yet many people are suggesting he could replace Arsene. Why, if not keeping success going is evidence of a decline in managerial abilities?
Even Pep Guardiola ran out of steam at Barca and needed a year out, and felt 3 years at Bayern was enough before he got stale.
So if we accept that Arsene’s race at Arsenal is run, it does not follow that it’s because he is no longer a great manager, visionary and football intellectual. In fact I suggest the very opposite, that he has taken 22 years to reach the point that these so called great mangers reach in a fraction of the time, means he has most likely proved he is greater than them, rather than their inferior.
Oh and by the way, there is only one ARSENE WENGER.
Positively Arsenal 
Yes indeed, There is only one ARSENE WENGER!!!
only one ARSENE WENGER!!!
only one ARSENE WENGER!!!
and he’s still the manager of Arsenal Football Club!
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And if I were Stan Kroenke, I’d give him TWO more years!!
“…retires after 24 years” has a nicer ring to it, methinks.
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As always, the claptrap says more about the critics than it does about the man himself.
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I think that covers it
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Shoulder to the wheel Andy.
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The San Siro beckons, and if as seems to me the case a lot of AFC cant get excited about playing one of the biggest club sides in the world, then they are doing it wrong.
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PG the buster of myths.
Wenger build the foundations, anyone taking over and having success will be the picking the fruits of his blood, sweat and tears soaked labour. His name will outlive us by generations.
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Here here. I ease the pain of how this is happening by noting who is saying what and doing what. And saying and doing nothing. Detecting who is pulling strings, because strings are most certainly being pulled.
There are two camps within the club now and one lot have no compunction in hounding and undermining a great manger. I console myself that when the dust settles the snakes will remin, visibility, snakes and Arséne’s legacy, him turn of phrase, his successes and wonderful out-performing succession of 4rh place trophies will live on. Never to be expunged.
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Thank you for at last some sensible comment regarding Wenger. You see my Arsenal “supporters” and the o so itchy press, the real, real problem lie much, much deeper and come a long, long way. In fact it can’t be discussed – it is simply a no-go. After all he is French is’nt he? You really hear what i’m saying? Now you can crucify me!
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Looking forward to the showdown @ the San Siro.
Really curious to see what Gatuso’s team is made of.
Not happy Auba’s cup-tied but at least it should force some changes.
We need to keep things tight.
I expect:
Ospina
Bellerin – Mustafi – Kos – Kolasinac
Elneny – Xhaka
Mkhi – Ozil – Iwobi
Welbeck
+ Cech, Holding, Chambers, AMN, Jack, Rambo, Nketiah.
(Maybe Rambo for Iwobi).
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Rambo is fit he 100% will start.
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Great post PG.
First of all i still dont accept Wengers reign at Arsenal is over. The man is a beast imo. He may get another extension which would be no over statement.
Also you should have mentioned what Wenger has done at Arsenal in these 20 years which no other manager has ever achieved(I am sure everyone here at PA knows what achievements i am refering to)
Also how can we say Arsene career is at a tipping point? I think his last 4/5 years have seen more sucess than his middle years 2009 to 2013. Winning 3 FA cups in the last 4 years has been an upward curve instead.Obviously one bad year out of 20 is no judge that Wengers managerisl abilities is on the decline.
He has come back strongly from bad positions so often and consistently that another rebound is not unthinkable.
In wenger i trust.
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Superb post.
You’ve a talent for concision I decisively lack.
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If we’re posting line-ups, my favourite, though it suffers from being untested (I think) would be normal back 4, Elneny, Xhaka, Wilshere; Ozil, Ramsey; Welbeck.
It’s not essential we win there but it is, near enough, that we don’t crack early or lose heavily.
Mkhi may well be a better player than Elneny but as yet we are nowhere near cracking the code with him and Ozil together.
A more likely option meanwhile is prob Xhaka with Wilshere; and Ramsey, mikhitaryan, Ozil in front. Ramsey tasked with operating ostensibly from right as he did for some time, often to good effect.
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“Superb post.
You’ve a talent for concision I decisively lack”….said Rich, with no apparent sense of irony.
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Ok George. I have to admit, that is fantastic. I mean I always thought this, and I think we all did. But I just never thought to view it quit like that. Cuts right to it and unfortunately for you and the blog, leaves not much more to add to it.
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Shard
If you’ve seen many of my posts you’ll know it was a factually accurate statement *, on average at least. Exception to rule and all that.
As it happens, (intentional) irony not my forte, though. Read definitions of it plenty of times but still can’t nail concept down fully in all its apparent guises in my mind. Apparently, Alanis had it wrong in her famous song and they were all examples of sod’s law instead, which might be ironic.
*when I care about something I tend to want to cover as many angles as possible and sometimes go on way too much.
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You and me both, Rich.
By the way, I hope it was clear that I wasn’t mocking you. I just thought it was funny how contradictory that comment was.
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Ramsey it is then Meerkat…
Ospina
Bellerin – Mustafi – Kos – Kolasinac
Elneny – Xhaka
Mkhi – Ozil – Rambo
Welbeck
+ Cech, Holding, Chambers, AMN, Jack, Iwobi, Nketiah.
Rich,
Jack & Aaron together rarely fills me with confidence.
In a 1st leg @ the San Siro against a tactically astute Italian side, I’d prefer the defensive nous of Elneny. Can’t be bombing forward too much can we.
Continental footy also suits Mkhi a tad more than the english game.
Don’t forget ze part he played in delivering zis same trophy to ze Spacial Twerp last season.
AW knows
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Hear hear…. Completely and totally agree. Unfortunately a reasoned argument will always fall on deaf ears in this dumbed down world of instant proclamations and snap judgements…
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Shard
After a momentary jolt, I trusted no offence meant.
You’ve no form for being rude and you were right it looked funny.
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Well said, George. Well said.
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Aman
Whatever the chosen personnel, I just want to see us tweak it with the aim of being stronger around middle of pitch rather than ahead of that.
Bar those two rip-roaring home games, where we raced from the blocks and blew them away, early our aim to dominate through three attacking mids has worked poorly of late.
We tried something different in cup final- hold firm, pick moments- and it was looking very promising till the goal, so perhaps that’ll be what we go for on Thurs.
Though, just remembered (feels like while ago already..), that was with three cb’s, so can probably forget that one.
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Yikes. Sorry for that jolt Rich. You were being complimentary to George for his concision, and I meant that you deserve that compliment too. My sense of humour is a bit silly and can often lead to people getting annoyed with me. But honestly, it is generally a sign that I feel comfortable enough to joke with them. I only realised that it might be misconstrued after I read your response.
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Shard
It’s all good.
(I’m getting the hang of this brevity stuff now. So long as I don’t start talking about the team, balance, our ex players, the press,etc)
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Using the Finsbury trick here of starting a new post to keep post length down.
Just saw on twitter Dixon called a supporter, and a damned good one in the best sense of that word, a ‘silly, silly man’, for saying, simply ‘Dixon knew his audience’
These guys are so willing to tear into the lives, characters and achievements of others but so damned sensitive to any kickback from it.
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I just read a report originally from France that PSG will look to appoint Wenger next season if they don’t win the CL this season.
A part of me accepts the premise that it’s gone stale and that it will be better for all parties if they part ways, a part of me just finds it wrong for Wenger to be at another club.
Armed with oil money and the best players to execute his vision, I could see Wenger replicating the magnificence of the Invincibles, or the early project youth era. And I just had a further dark thought that unless we sign him on an extension soon, Aaron Ramsey might well be the first to join him there. I’m not sure I could take that. I’m sure alabamagooner couldn’t. (Another example of a joke. No offense)
See george. All your post leaves room for is some dark dystopian future where Wenger and Ramsey win the CL together in Paris.
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I’m a brief.
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Better than being pants.
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I’ve harboured that dream for Arsene of going to PSG should he leave for quite a while.
Right down to him addressing the charges of hypocrisy, given stance on financial doping, at first opportunity.
Some clever Gallic version of ‘you know what… fuck you. If any manager in the world deserves the chance to spend gratuitously, it’s me.’
I wouldn’t want him to beat us if it ever came to that, but the thought of him meeting other English clubs is especially great.
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Arsenal FC
Verified account @Arsenal
52m52 minutes ago
#AFCU18 team to play @ColU_Official: Virginia, Daley-Campbell, Ballard, Medley, Thompson, Burton, Smith Rowe, Amaechi, Coyle, Saka, Balogun
Subs: Barden, Omole, Smith, Benson, Swanson
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Jeorge Bird
@jeorgebird
Mar 5
Arsenal U23s have been drawn to play Villarreal in the semi finals of the Premier League International Cup.
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Jeorge Bird
@jeorgebird
4m4 minutes ago
Colchester 0 Arsenal 1. Smith Rowe opens the scoring just before half time.
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Brilliant post, perfectly articulates a painful and difficult subject for all of us on here.
Agree with all you say, the man is a legend, he always will be, he has taken on and fought off so much for this club.
Agree, I do not think the timing, fan situation, some players ,and quite possibly the board situation is conducive to him staying for his final year. Sounds like there is some rancour behind the scenes, and board members reportedly conspicuous in their absence in the last couple of games, ok they may have had their reasons..but.
I would like him to be able to stay,but being realistic, I just cannot see it. Would love to see him leave on a high, but should he not, who cares, he has done,so much else.
Still a very decent manager there, I am sure he can be successful elsewhere, but in the circumstances, probably not beyond this year at Arsenal . His work is coming to a close at this club in the near future, but what he has helped build will remain as long as we have people looking after the club, I hope when he has gone, it remains in safe hands.
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I expect if he did bugger off to PSG he’d take Ozil with him
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Jeorge Bird
@jeorgebird
8m8 minutes ago
Colchester 1 Arsenal 1. Colchester get a penalty early in the second half and Jones scores it.
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Jeorge Bird
@jeorgebird
3m3 minutes ago
Colchester 1 Arsenal 2. Smith Rowe’s free-kick restores Arsenal’s lead. He really is a very talented player.
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Jeorge Bird
@jeorgebird
2m2 minutes ago
Colchester 1 Arsenal 3. Schoolboy Bukayo Saka finishes well following a slick passing move.
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PSG, hope not , that goes against the grain, dopers and all that, surely everything he has stood against. Still a mans got to do a job.
I wish him every success wherever he goes, but rather than PSG, I would love to see him lift the World Cup for France, or England , but maybe me just being selfish, but if the club let go of him, he is going somewhere impressive, he will be energised, and rated by those at and around the team, seems quite the opposite to him at the moment
He could do well
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If AW may end up lording it at PSG.
I too have considered that as a desirable outcome given the sheer volume and lack of class on display from The Mob (both mobs innit).
But then:
Will a new AFC manager be able to find the bargains required to get AFC as strong a squad as they had a few seasons ago?
Petroclubs don’t go bust all the time and you don’t find abandoned gems like Cazorla and Monreal who might not have any interest in playing for the Madrid’s out there in every such case.
Arsene Vulture, the old bird he did well.
With the “panic” buys.
During a previous “Crisis”. Or was it a:
Panic?
Crisis! (Again)
Shambles! (Can be confused with shandy, if you’re an alcoholic…)
(You don’t need to have a PHD in PR Gibberish to spot a PR campaign loaded upon the repitition of key words – there’s a reason TV adverts are not shown as one offs…)
–
The club have tried to bring in some waxwork wings to eventually help a new manager but I’m not sure he’ll have the same ability to soar above the likes of Alexis Sanchez (whilst playing volleyball on da beach and infuriating his current critics who we must acknowledge; they have a good look!) and the Mesut Ozil’s out there. they’ll just have to keep on gambling with a smaller pot then even Liverpool which is the reality our copious and vociferous Experts and self declared Realists continue to ignore which is blinking weird. Bizarre! And yet people are ready to lap it up.
I won’t mention Jogi Low
Hehe.
None of the loudmouth self-promoters ever managed to mention Pellegrino on their records before he went to City. Hardly surprising. Let’s not be giving these Experts, pardon me, any ideas now.
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< I mean to say:
That if AW moved to PSG 'this summer then simply put the odds are not great that AFC will play him in the CL before he retires.
Those odds go up significantly if Ramsey re-signs and the club find a CB at the top level who isn't having to take pain killing injections far too often before a game (every game?).
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Jeorge Bird
@jeorgebird
7m7 minutes ago
Colchester 1 Arsenal 4. Arsenal surely through now as Balogun adds further gloss to the scoreline.
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Jeorge Bird
@jeorgebird
5m5 minutes ago
Colchester 1 Arsenal 5. Xavier Amaechi adds to Arsenal’s lead.
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Jeorge Bird
@jeorgebird
1m1 minute ago
Full time. Colchester 1 Arsenal 5. Arsenal through to semi-finals of FA Youth Cup, where they will face Blackburn (who knocked them out last season) or Blackpool in a two-legged tie.
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It all depends how much you believe in coincidence of course but funny how the likes of Sky and the Murdoch press have gone into full assault mode since Arsene raised the possibility that on occasions the officiating might be a little too partial….
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PSG edging closer to offering Wenger the managers job – PSG 0-1 Real Madrid (agg 1-4)
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Well it seems there is an opening in Paris – I bet Jose is watching though
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PSG owners are friends with Wenger, he has advised them in the past
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I stand next to the meerkat, as I have felt on numerous occasions in the past when he had drawn a line in the sand.
I do so again and back his support for the greatest manager Arsenal have ever had.
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Jeorge Bird
@jeorgebird
2h2 hours ago
Now confirmed that Arsenal will face Blackpool, who beat Blackburn 3-2 tonight.
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