So the great new dawn is upon us. We have rid ourselves of Arsene Wenger and his gang of incompetents, and replaced them with high class people that can bring us the success we deserve.
It’s absolutely fantastic. The players are drinking water, smiling,training hard, young players are involved and the manager is hands on on the training ground. These things never happened before , now did they?
That there have been major changes in personnel is undeniable. That they are all top people in their fields of expertise appears to be the case, they are certainly experienced with good track records. Its more people with more individual responsibility and a coach with much less. Modern football? Or should I not say that because “modern football” is frowned upon by the “we want our Arsenal back” hoards. But I digress.
The point is almost every fan is happy, us included, the future looks bright. But what has actually changed other than our perceptions?
We have spent about £70m up until now, I suspect there will be outgoing and our net spend will be considerably less. So are we spending more? Is the new regime spending the money Arsene refused to? Seems not ?
Have we dipped into the £250m in the bank that should be spent on making the team as good as it can be? Seems not ? Perhaps that’s not for spending then, or not anywhere like that figure?
Are we competing for the likes of Marhez ,with City, or are we still buying from the second shelf ? It seems we are not and we still are ! So what’s the big change?
Have we tied Aaron Ramsey down to a new deal, or is it dragging on? Dithering?
Now here is the rub, the moment many readers start shifting uncomfortably on their seat, searching for an answer that doesn’t destroy all their hard earned narratives.
If you are happy with all things Arsenal now, you have a certain Stan Kroenke to thank.
Without spending any more of the clubs money, and of its reserves ,or dipping into his own pocket for a single silver dollar, he has given everyone what they wanted ? Without being a football man or spending time at the club he has granted the wishes of the permanently malcontent.
His useless puppet (Ivan) is now the dogs bollocks. We are Kroenke FC , being driven by Ivan, and he is the very image of a none football man.
So if everything is rosy in the garden, and I hope it is, then we should be very much KROENKE IN ? He has come through big time and perhaps all the hate was for nowt?
Positively Arsenal 
Don’t shout at me if I’ve got this wrong, but is the current level of access to pre-season training a totally new thing?
Feels to me like it is, and also feels like the club are keen to let us all know how gruelling and physically demanding it is at present.
My guess is that Wenger had a say in how much of pre-season was shown, and preferred a minimal touch; so that could account for the change if Emery or Gazidis are happy to show a bit more…which itself would create an impression of more work being done.
My sense is that it’s something a bit different to that ,though.
It may well be true that they are being pushed harder than Wenger preferred to, but that to me is a different thing to the club wanting to show everyone this is the case.
If in fact these videos and tweets of intense physical work are common every pre-season then, obviously, ignore all this.
I feel like I’d remember it if that were the case but could easily be mistaken.
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Bit of context:
“I recall Tony Adams and myself, in our first Wenger pre-season, going to see the boss just before the start of the campaign,” Lee Dixon wrote in 2003. “Our feeling was that we had not done enough running. We were concerned that the team wouldn’t be fit enough. The manager calmly explained to us that it was all scientific and that the team would be fine. ‘Have faith,’ he said. Sure enough, 10 days later we flew out of the blocks all full of energy and raring to go. That man knows what he’s talking about.”
Dixon and others spoke less and less like that in Wenger’s later years. In a similar vein, if it’s the case that Emery is going for more running and working the players harder, that again will be viewed, like all else, as a success or failure depending on results and each person’s own definition of success.
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Yes Rich the PR is gushing out.
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I’m not happy.
feel thoroughly alienated by the element of the fanbase (not supporters) who created the toxic atmosphere (to the great detriment of the team) and ultimately forced out our greatest manager ever. They deserve no success.
Renewed my season ticket but with little enthusiasm.
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George, not my imagination then.
Makes me uneasy. Maybe I’m overthinking it.
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Pete. I find that element hard going on twitter and like, so can’t imagine what it’s like sitting by them in ground.
Hardly a solution to them, but if things are going well I’m sure it’s less of an issue, and I sure hope things go well this year…
Guess it’s always same deal, is for me anyway, that the highs are worth any lows, though I’m sure the experience within the ground when people are behaving badly is a different thing entirely.
Not the same thing, but when I watched Wales internationals around 2000-2003 always wished the atmosphere was better. There was decent noise for any decent efforts/ goals, but aside from that just a dirge-like chant of ‘Wa- les (Way-els). Really didn’t do it for me. Would have loved a bit more vibrancy and reckoned nearly everyone must have felt same and yet couldn’t come up with anything.
If I remember right, people weren’t overly critical of team or know it all’s, at least. That was something. I’d have found it really hard listening to idiots talk shit about Wenger and the team in recent years.
Anyway, let’s hope again for a great season. I figure it’s the only way those you mention won’t be too much of a pain, though of course they won’t change.
Also you don’t have to listen to that ‘Wa-les’ chant.
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But I feel really alienated. My interest in the club is as low as it has ever been.
Stopped reading blogs, indifferent to transfers, no opinion on Unai… for various reasons I can’t make many of the early games – and don’t care!
I hope it comes back? But the pa4sionis certainly not there now.
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Emery says Jack left due to the tactical and technical decision that he would not be sure to select him in our starting 11
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Rich, it’s at least 95% PR. The club were not so ‘in your face’ about what went on in pre-season, but there was plenty of evidence of hard work and double sessions if you go back and look for it. It feels a bit like they are trying to pander to the element that thinks they have a right to know everything that goes on at the club. Feels like a slippery slope to me because the more they share, the more people demand, and where does it end?
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This is what of the most cleverly written, damnably sarcastic blogs George has ever written. Am afraid I am not that kind of writer and must express my admiration for my old mucker for pulling it off.
In response let me be my usually blunt self. Apart from replacing Wenger with Emery, nothing has changed objectively for Arsenal football-wise. We remain 4th in spending power and there is no prospect of us overcoming our three bigger rivals in the near future. For example City has just spent £60 million on arguably a luxury player in the form of Mahrez. I have read somewhere this has brought total spending by Pep at City to nearly £500 million. As for the other big spenders, I suspect they will do their big signings at the end of the world cup which is the norm.
The second critical factor that is unchanged is the refereeing. Mike “Game 50” Riley is still in charge of the PGMOL and, as I have documented, he personally and his organization have a bias vs Arsenal. History shows Riley was installed by the predominantly pro-United element in the PL and the LMA led by Scudamore and Ferguson. The PGMO is now a rogue organization who do not engage in fair, unbiased refereeing but to game management in favor of certain teams. Without reform of the PGMO and implementation of VAR, Arsenal will find it heavy going in the PL next season.
Arsenal may be lucky given that Chelsea seems to be in disarray and a number of the bigger teams have several of their stars still participating or recovering from the world cup final. Given what is financially at stake in the PL, I doubt luck will have much to do with our final position.
Given the tendency of fans to be overly optimistic at the beginning of each season, I suspect many may not be happy with my point of view but it is over optimism that leads to the excessive bitterness and pessimism when things start going badly, usually in the winter months.
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Nope. We do not thank the yank. We portray any victory as the hero Emery dragging it from the clenched tight fisted, power hungry, non football bastard that is Stan. But for now, we’ll keep quite about that because we have to be seen to be happy. So we keep the happiness going by bringing up how bad we had it the years before. When it gets worse, we’ll say Wenger did it worse. When it gets better, we’ll say Wenger would never have done this etc.. It’s not complicated. Just convoluted.
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It bothers me that it all seems to be geared to discredit the outgoing Manager, who might be primarily responsible for that? Over to you Ivan and Josh….
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Rich
We definitely have more access than years past. Personally, I’m enjoying it. Why wouldn’t I like seeing more content? Note that this does not imply any judgment on how it was before.
Wenger was old school. Training did not involve cameras. Training was all about training. It’s the same as him being against pre-season tours, preferring instead to head into the Alps. But as things changed, he understood the necessity of it. Now, both tours and showing training sessions is part of the drill. All clubs do it. Some Italian clubs even have live cameras on the roof of the building streaming the whole training session. It’s probably all just routine fitness work which is no secret, but it gives fans more of an involvement. (And Italian clubs need all the money they can get)
Also, what is different is that Emery can just pass on contract and transfer talk if he wants to and put it on the Gang of 3. This can have its advantages, as it adds a buffer between the coach and the player. If, say, a player wants a raise or a transfer, Emery can still keep him onside with the team by saying that is between you and the boardroom. It can also, if not managed properly, lead to a disconnect between the players and the coach. But I don’t think that will happen in Arsenal’s case. Again, no complaints about how it was under Wenger. That system evolved because it needed to. Simply ‘giving up his power’ would not be a solution.
I want Emery to succeed at Arsenal. This season, I think it means a top 4 finish, and maybe a cup.
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https://www.arsenal.com/news/merci-arsene
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“To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club.
“My love and support forever.” – AW
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on the training video’s, and pictures, what have we seen except just longer clips or more pictures of the same stuff we always seen, guys in the gym, or doing runs, the coaches having a word here or there, don’t let a five minute video just showing us what we used to be shown in 1 minute clip, fool you into thinking we are being shown more.
Have we been shown any actual tactical work, even any football training, no, and we won’t, its a narrative, its an illusion.
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shotta my big fear re PGMOL is that they know VAR is only a season away, so this season is the last one that they can really help Kane and Alli win the BPL. The narrative needed to sell it, might have been made just a little harder with England not winning the world cup, but I expect instead of World Cup winner kane allie dire etc, it will be world cup hero kane alli dire etc we will be hearing from the commentators and all media, every time a ref gives them a favorable call.
If I was a betting man I would be tempted to put a few bob on spurs winning the BPL this season
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I am fascinated to know that the pictures of player training means something, or is part of an agenda or a strategy ? I thought it was just pictures of players sort of doing things in the sunshine, to keep the voracious 24 hour appetites of the global AFC fans sated. I see Mark believes it is all part of a calculated plan to “discredit the outgoing manager”.
Thanks for putting me right.
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Arsenal’s PR was at rock bottom at the point of Arsene’s departure.
In a media-led age, poor PR can be fatal and the ‘players are even drinking water’ meme is symbolic of the club’s current determination to strengthen and improve its image.
All clubs need their fans to be onside so the revelation that steps are being taken to redress this weakness should be of little surprise to anyone.
One important aspect of Sir Gareth Southgate’s recent success with England is his complete mastery of PR, bringing together the holy trinity – the players, the fans and the media – all onside in line with the national cause. It was the difference between ‘our boys’ returning home as heroes or failures. Access, expectations, image – all contributed to a memorable tournament, and percieved success, despite our ultimate failure.
That Wenger was drummed out of the club regardless of the very real successes of his last five years is testament to the club’s failure to mount an effective defence of a manager for whom a perfect storm of unchallenged negativity saw him leave the club he did so much for.
That he was left to sink under the weight of poor PR is perhaps a question for another day.
That the Kroenkes – especially Josh, aided and abetted by Ivan – are going about their Arsenal business with such apparent gusto is now the story of the day.
And the PR buzz they are creating around the club is certainly no accident.
Ultimately I feel it wasn’t just the fans that let Arsene down.
The whole Wenger ‘end game’ leaves nothing but a bad taste in the mouth. Like the earlier commentator, it’s hard to generate quite the same enthusiasm for a club that is evidently capable of so much more.
Still, it was a great ride and I loved every minute of it. I’m looking forward to our next phase, but until VAR is finally introduced, I will struggle to worry quite so much about the club as I once did.
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And eddy you are right – with Spurs not wining a major trophy since 1992, indeed at any time in the PL era, it really is the last-chance-saloon for the English refereeing conspiracy to kick on and get Tottingham over the line.
Shotta has some very persuasive data on this.
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And you are right Andrew – the ‘drinking water’ series of photographs was a particularly subtle PR stiletto thrust by Ivan. I had forgotten about that.
What often puzzles me though, with this dynamic Ivan inspired PR coup, with the nonsense that the bell-end uber bloggers churn out, with Morgan, AFTV, the mainstream media and TV punditti that everyone purports to hate and/or despise – is why so many seem drawn to it, day after day, like moths to the flame ?
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you miss the point anicol, I was stating that when VAR comes in spurs chances of any success should be lessened, as they are a diving cheating shower of *****, so if they are to finally win something then this year will be their last best chance and to do so the PGMOL will have to aid them even more than they normally do. they will have to go along with a narrative that England hero’s don’t cheat,
we’ve seen it already with the diving panel how it simply does not apply to certain players and even how the pgmol hamstrung it to start with, the BPL finished it off. One big white elephant, lip service, narrative.
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I agree with Arsenal Andrew.
However, it would be silly if the new regime didn’t use PR to imply that everything is better.
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Lessened ? They have not won a trophy since 1992 and they looked no nearer winning a trophy last season than they ever have. If, in some cunning and underhand way, all English referees are conspiring to hand the Lilywhites a trophy then it is a funny way to go about it !!
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yes george, its about time Arsenal PR set the Narrative, better late than never and all that, but it is sad that they did not swing into action for Wenger.
I hope AFC’s higher media output is continued all season, and that it stands up to the jouno’s and fights its corner
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I don’t follow why you think pictures of players drinking water or running about in the sunshine is “better” G.
“Better” than what ?
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Anyway, game tomorrow folks.
I’ve got a feeling if Emile Smith Rowe is given decent minutes in pre-season he is quite likely to propel himself right up to first team door and even beyond.
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The ‘drinking water’ meme was a particularly memorable satirical tweet by @leo who posted it in response to tweets from others who had spent half the summer pointing at supposed evidence of the changes underway at the club, post-Wenger.
It wasn’t a dig at Ivan per se, but a response to those who have woken up to their own irrelevance, now that Arsene has gone.
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again anicol you deliberately miss the point, yes they have not won a trophy in a decade, but they are higher up the table than usual, and of course a team that dives and cheats and par takes in rotational fouling should have their chances of getting away with this “lessened” once VAR comes in, and so “lessen” their chances of breaking their trophy drought.
refs ignoring the diving, cheating of spurs has contributed to spurs finally finishing above AFC, to them being in their best condition for decades, certainly their most high profile, kane, alli, and co can dive and cheat without fear of repercussions. Its got them CL, its got them the notion(perception) that they were in a title race, its aiding their club.
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Anicol, I understand you’re unlikely to have seen much of it because of the good decision not to, say, read * moth sounds* comments section of Daily Mail articles on us (yep, guilty, and no good excuse *), but they make clear that many people are taking the content from the club as very clear evidence things- everything- is now better.
The water thing surely isn’t the right one to focus on, as that was clearly a joke (though amazingly not all got it), and a pretty good one, with the express purpose of making fun of those with the tendency to interpret everything now as proof of us doing things differently, and better, than before.
What’s more, it led to accusations of the tweet in question being against Emery,etc, when again clearly it wasn’t.
*morbid fascination, know-your-enemy stuff, and perhaps an unhealthy addiction to all things Arsenal. I don’t listen to Talksport at least.
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I strongly believe it will require a lot more more than the wicked cabal of English referees to wrest one of the silver trophies to N17. For us I would hope we can reel in the 14 point difference that was in place at the end of last season between the clubs. A few points on the road would have produced a different outcome so, PR aside, I imagine the players (new and old) and the coach know where there priorities lie over 18/19.
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David Squires runs his pencil over the past week;
https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2018/jul/13/david-squires-on-the-stages-of-world-cup-woe-and-reasons-to-be-cheerful
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“The truth is an offense and not a sin.” – Bob Marley
It has been my pleasure sharing with my friends the unbiased data. I did this on the premise that too much of football (as well as politics and economics) is dominated by vested interests, who, utilizing the mainstream media, prey on our emotions, locking us into a false narrative that has nothing to do with the facts.
So despite all the spin currently emanating the PR department at Arsenal, it is very apparent that the talent gap with Manchester City is widening not narrowing. Based on the resources available to United, we can easily predict they will do some spending before start of season. Chelsea is currently in disarray but there is still time for Roman to splurge on behalf of his PR project.
As the PL has demonstrated, the level of bias in refereeing has a critical role at the margins when teams are evenly matched. It was interesting to observe during the world cup that Alli and Kane, serial divers from Tottenham, had to abandon this part of their game with predictable results; England’s goal-scoring, apart from hapless Panama, was nothing to write home about. Less discussed but equally apparent was that serial wrestlers, Alderweireld and Vertonghen of Tottenham, had to clean up their act act or VAR would have made mincemeat of Belgium. It may not be measurable as Penalties For or Against but as Clattenburg admitted “game management” by the PGMO is an important part of their refereeing. Based on this fact alone one wonders how the PGMO will manage Tottenham games next season since they won’t have the electronic scrutiny of VAR.
Stan and Josh have played their hand; they won’t be spending more money than usual. By the way, I think that is a quite sensible decision. But having Ivan and his spinmeisters suggest it is a brand new day is just preying on the emotions of those who are susceptible to that kind of fact-free nonsense. Sorry but I am not buying that narrative.
When free and fair VAR is implemented, when the PGMO is reformed, then and only then will we know the conditions have changed.
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How is the English referees reform movement going Shotts ?
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The reason pre season training seems more accessible is the amount of retweets and likes on social media. In reality training videos and pictures are there every preseason and every week. It’s another myth put about by wobs as a new era but actually they never bothered looking for it in the first place.
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George this is an excellent piece and highlights the hilarious position of those who criticized all at the club. It’s like the old (Racist) joke about how to confuse an Irishman, put him in a circle and tell him to piss in the corner. Basically the Anti ARSENAL ARSENAL and confused as fuck right now on who to praise and who to slag, joyous times he he he.
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Hi Andrew,
Are you happy that the partisan, pro-Manchester United PGMO is as entrenched as ever? Is this the caliber of English refereeing you are happy with?
For long I have been awaiting some facts and data to dispute my findings.
Cheers.
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Armstrong Okoflex has turned down Arsenal’s scholarship offer and signed for Celtic
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I for one am excited about the new season.A new young vibrant manager with fresh ideas.He seems to be a manger who has good tactical nouse who is defensively minded as well as attacking.We have identified new signings early for a change and for the first time in years we look to be ready to go from the first game rather than panic buying as the transfer window closes.
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Armstrong Okoflex is as worthy a superhero name as any.
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shotta
Reasons to be optimistic.
Our attack was upgraded (despite the sad loss of Giroud) in the middle of last season. Both Miki and Auba have shown they can hack it in the league. Laca is fit again after his injury troubles and surgery.
Not many of our players went deep in the World Cup and will be back early.
We’ve added some experience in defense with the philosopher and the stoner. (We’ve got magic) We’ve replaced players who played very little or not at all last season with some exciting talent. However they turn out, just availability is a plus at this stage.
Wenger believed we could win the league. While it’s true that referees remain an obstacle for us. Maybe even an insurmountable one. We have to admit that last season we didn’t do enough to have won it. If the major reason we don’t win the league is the referees, it would still represent a good season of progress (Do not take this as anti-Wenger) Which is what I am looking for, and am hopeful about. I know nothing fundamental has changed in the club’s philosophy. I support this.
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Ah – pro Manchester United – that strategy seems a bit off course then. Is it running parallel with eddys pro Spurs bias or is it a rogue faction in the cabal ?
As for standards of refereeing did you watch any of the World Cup ? Mistakes left right and centre from the best officials on the planet, allegedly, game after game. Looked just like an average PL weekend as far as I could see. Lucky VAR was on hand to bail them out.
Getting back to the reform you mention – what is it – what concrete ideas are you proposing ?
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I suppose Mossy is for the chop under the new regime – with his 2.86 points average ?
Pity really, I have always thought Jon did his best for us.
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I might put discussions about refs in the same place as smiley faces at this rate. Talk about covering old ground, it’s like the western front, we are all dug in and going nowhere,other than waiting to die.
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1.More refs.
2.From a larger geographical spread.
3.Better communication about the rules from the refs to the public, both through
a)mics or
b)through the media where they already have their spokespersons behind the camera.
4.Ref interviews post game
5.More info and feedback on diving/suspension/dubious goals panels. Again basically, communication to help build understanding.
6. VAR
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By the way shotta. The new guys in charge of AC Milan apparently want to hire Brutus..Uhhh Gazidis to run their club.
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Stan Kroenke- our saviour!! thought provoking to many!
Different supporters, and maybe haters will have different reactions, I was sad to see Wenger go, hoping he would at least see out a final contract, but it was not to be.
Cycles come to their end, Wengers tenure is something to remember fondly and celebrate, he had a good run, and great success , 3 trophies in his final few years.
We may never know the exact circumstances, cannot back up with evidence, but I suspect that towards the end, Wenger was losing support, if not the respect of SOME key board members who ultimately would lean on the maj shareholder. Pure speculation, perhaps some in high places wanted more change than Wenger was minded or even correct to give them, maybe empty seats, commercial factors or whatever. Maybe wenger just didnt hit his targets last season. Maybe it is another Kroenke who the anti wengerites should hail their saviour.
Whatever the truth, none of it is the fault of Unai, seems like a decent manager who I hope will uphold this clubs values, though initially I would expect a slightly more pragmatic playing style. He deserves our backing. As for Wenger, a man who has run most aspects of the club for so long, would it even be fair to expect him to work on an equal power sharing with The Holy Trinity, no matter how hard I am sure he tried for the sake of his club? Maybe too much change for the last of a breed, he may have gone along with these appointments as part of a succession, but would they have really bought out the best in the great man? Penny for his true thoughts, doubt if he will ever risk damage the club through a book.
Regarding the PGMOL, wonder how they will take to our new Inglorious Bastards? Read something by a top European ref who said Lichsteiner was one of the most unpleasant players he had ever dealt with. Sokratis seems to have a bit of an edge as well, just hope they done get Xhakad.
Spurs – they do seem to get a very easy ride, serial divers in their numbers,but unless Poch is a medic psychologist magician, I expect a serious world cup hangover with some of their key players, phisical and mental. There is only so long they will keep that side together without trophies.
A new season beckons, whatever has or hasnt happened in the last few months at the club, whatever PR/spin, I just cannot help being excited, football is about to begin for the summer
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Think Okoflex makes 4 now who have left us before scholarship for Rodgers’ teams.
Him, Ejaria, big fellow Mich’el Parker and highly rated kid, Dixon-bonner, who played for Engu17’s last summer who, strangely (thought rules against that unless local), made move at 14.
Could be coincidence or maybe it’s one of those agent things a couple of you have mentioned.
No big deal to me either way, but the link with DaSliva also going to Celtic is a more painful one.
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Good Evening.
Wrote a post yesterday– which I felt was in line with the thread.
It was ‘Awaiting Moderation’ and– apparently did not pass muster.
Looks to have been deleted.
If it was for the WordPress ID? I’ve used it for ages– since WordPress began actually. If it was the email address? It is as old as dirt– and looks to be phishy– but it’s valid.
Please email me to confirm if you’d like.
But I would like to post here occasionally.
Thanks
jw1
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