Any ( honest ) views on Mr A Wenger ?

Mr Happys Reaction:

"It's difficult to explain," he told BT Sport.

"Just before half-time we had two good chances to score. We came back and played well. In the second half we lost Koscielny very quickly - he came off at 1-1 - and finally we collapsed.

"It's difficult when we collapsed - and Bayern were the better team as well. I felt the third goal was a killer for our players because after that we had no response.

"The real problems were after the third goal. We lost our organisation and we looked mentally jaded and vulnerable from that moment onwards. The last 25 minutes was a nightmare for us."

Wenger also agreed that his side now require 'miracles' to make the last eight, and will be pouring over the footage in search of why his defence fell to pieces as Bayern ran riot.

"The two goals (second and third) were difficult to swallow - 53 and 56 minutes," he added.

"We have to analyse that. It looked like we lost our organisation. Not only did we lose our centre-back, but a combination of mentality and organisation. Before that, we controlled them quite well."


Can he also explain what happened against Watford ?

He's always got some excuse as he had when Bournemouth were 3-0 up !!!!

He's doing a damn fine job. I'd like to see him sign a new contract and become Arsenal manager for life.

Just imagine Sofaking, when we get in a proper manager you will be
trailing in our wake for another 20 odd years.

Wenger inherited a great back four when he took over at Arsenal and Dennis Berkamp, who Bruce Rioch brought in the previous season. He made a couple of astute purchases and we had a team. But on the pitch the team required very little managing as Tony Adams et al did that job for him. Sol Campbell did the same job a few years later. Wenger did let the team express themselves and his new coaching techniques and diets extended the life of some of the older players.

He has done a great deal for Arsenal. They now appear in every top ten list in the world concerning finances, support etc etc. The new stadium and training grounds were also built under his guidance. We made a lot of money, we were always in the Champions League.

But for me he has never been a great coach. As soon as those great players were gone he was exposed. Just look at our team sheets in those early days as well, it was a magnificent squad and compared favourably to any in Europe. We should have won more, we never won a Champions League with that team and they were good enough. Ferguson would have led that team to glory in Europe.

He has now outstayed his welcome and is rapidly undoing the good things he did with the club in the early days.

Agree totally Muttley, but the Italians were at the forefront of diets etc not Wenger.

Yes, but he was the first to bring those methods to England with supplements etc.

Feb 16, 2017 -- 12:07PM, muttley123 wrote:

Wenger inherited a great back four when he took over at Arsenal and Dennis Berkamp, who Bruce Rioch brought in the previous season. He made a couple of astute purchases and we had a team. But on the pitch the team required very little managing as Tony Adams et al did that job for him. Sol Campbell did the same job a few years later. Wenger did let the team express themselves and his new coaching techniques and diets extended the life of some of the older players. He has done a great deal for Arsenal. They now appear in every top ten list in the world concerning finances, support etc etc. The new stadium and training grounds were also built under his guidance. We made a lot of money, we were always in the Champions League. But for me he has never been a great coach. As soon as those great players were gone he was exposed. Just look at our team sheets in those early days as well, it was a magnificent squad and compared favourably to any in Europe. We should have won more, we never won a Champions League with that team and they were good enough. Ferguson would have led that team to glory in Europe. He has now outstayed his welcome and is rapidly undoing the good things he did with the club in the early days.

Not necessarily.  What makes you believe that the new manager would be an instant success?  The players are as much to blame as Wenger.

Feb 16, 2017 -- 11:34AM, Blackrock wrote:

Just imagine Sofaking, when we get in a proper manager you will betrailing in our wake for another 20 odd years.

Was quoting Blackrock there.

Sofa - its Wenger that buys the players, forms the tactics, organizes the formations etc on the training ground. There is so much wrong that its difficult to know where to start.

He's had his day and its time for him to move on. Arsenal need a new man to move the club forwards. It might not happen straight away, may take a couple of years.

muttley excellent summarisation

It's very simple.
This man manages a football team.
The team is in the Premier League.
The team is in the Champions League.
Unlike some teams, it does not a sugar-daddy with £250m a year to spend on new players.
In the absence of a heap of money, such as Chelsea and Man City, who would do better?

It's very simple.
This man manages a football team.
The team is in the Premier League.
The team is in the Champions League.
Unlike some teams, it does not a sugar-daddy with £250m a year to spend on new players.
In the absence of a heap of money, such as Chelsea and Man City, who would do better?

Feb 16, 2017 -- 10:47PM, Tinjakko wrote:

It's very simple.This man manages a football team.The team is in the Premier League.The team is in the Champions League.Unlike some teams, it does not a sugar-daddy with £250m a year to spend on new players.In the absence of a heap of money, such as Chelsea and Man City, who would do better?

Leicester City.

20 years ago,he was 10 years ahead of his time

Today, he is 10 years behind the times

Arsenal must have outspent Chelsea by quite a bit in recent years in terms of net spend.

Wenger has spent like 200m in the last 3 seasons, and I'm pretty sure more was available if he wished, so the idea they don't have the money to compete is a myth.

Their wage bill is enormous as well like the likes of Theo Walcott on £110,000+ per week.

Last 3 years Arsenal's net spend is 188m.

Chelsea's net spend is 15m over same period.

And yet people still roll out cliche's how they don't have the money. It doesn't help that Gary Neville pretty much said this on Sky Sports like a week ago, maybe someone should show him those figures.

Arsenal actually spend quite a bit of money when you consider they barely make anything back on transfers themselves. And like I say I'm pretty sure Wenger could have easily spent another 100m over that time frame if he wished, but chose not to which would take them in line with Man Utd (280m) and Man City (322m).

And wages aren't a massive factor either. Utd, City, Chelsea are paying around 10% more in wages which equates to around 20m.

At a European level which is relevant given recent events it's even more embarrassing as Arsenal are paying higher wages than Bayern Munich and have far outspent them in the transfer market (62m net spend over last 3 seasons).

Interesting. Unpleasant reading if you're an Arsenal fan though.

Arsenal are the seventh richest club in the world with huge cash reserves, saying they can't compete the transfer market is nonsense.

Trouble is, imho, since Dein left they don't really have anyone above Wenger with any football credibility, so Wenger has been left with more powers than any other manager I can think of. They have an owner in Kroenke who is in it just for investment purposes and therefore having reliable old Wenger there delivering CL qualification has kept him past his sell by date. When Wenger does go, which is probably in the summer, Arsenal have more than just a managers role to fill.

arsenals two richest owners have around 5 times as much money as roman abramovich

one is a tight **** and the other cant gain control of the club

the money argument is absolute ****

Feb 17, 2017 -- 1:15AM, ghostlygunner wrote:

arsenals two richest owners have around 5 times as much money as roman abramovich one is a tight **** and the other cant gain control of the club the money argument is absolute ****

So who would you guys like to replace Wenger?

Eddie Howe?

Kroenke has to be a big problem. I always see him get quoted as saying "he didn't buy Arsenal to win trophies". If that's true I don't know how there aren't mass protests against him.

It won't surprise me if Arsenal struggle after Wenger, and then people will play the "see shouldn't have got rid of Wenger" card. Firstly I don't trust the board to make the right appointment at all, it's often cited look at Man Utd, but Man Utd was because they made an awful appointment after Fergie, but can easily see Arsenal doing similar. Secondly the next manager could easily be coming into a rabble, Sanchez definitely looks like he will be going for starters, and they might not even have CL football.

Can easily end into a situation that will play into those that are for Wenger staying's hands down the line, when in truth that is probably the argument for why he should have gone years ago, he could have left a club with strong foundations years ago, instead he'll likely leave a club in turmoil losing some of its best players. If Sanchez goes Arsenal will likely need to splash the heavy cash to truly replace him which likely means £60m+, £200k+ a week on 1 player, but can you see that actually happening?

Who Arsenal employ will likely be telling.

Here's the PP market for next permanent Arsenal manager:   My pick is Piers Morgan 500/1.


M Allegri 7/2 R Martinez 40/1 Harry Redknapp 100/1 T Tuchel 4/1 Paul Clement 40/1 David Moyes 100/1 Eddie Howe 5/1 Roy Hodgson 50/1 George Graham 100/1 Diego Simeone 9/1 Jurgen Klopp 50/1 Andre Vilas-Boas 100/1 Rafael Benitez 12/1 Phil Scolari 50/1 Martin O'Neill 100/1 P Vieira 12/1 Jose Mourinho 50/1 Dick Advocaat 100/1 Joachim Loew 14/1 Pep Guardiola 50/1 Ruud Gullit 100/1 Ronald Koeman 16/1 Dragan Stojkovic 50/1 Steve McClaren 100/1 Carlo Ancelotti 20/1 Boro Primorac 50/1 Martin Jol 100/1 R Hasenhuttl 20/1 F De Boer 50/1 Glenn Hoddle 100/1 L Enrique 20/1 M Pochettino 50/1 Jean Tigana 100/1 Roberto Mancini 25/1 Slaven Bilic 50/1 Sir Alex Ferguson 100/1 Laurent Blanc 25/1 C Puel 50/1 Sam Allardyce 125/1 Thierry Henry 25/1 Remi Garde 66/1 Raymond Domenech 125/1 Brendan Rodgers 25/1 Louis Van Gaal 66/1 Tony Adams 125/1 Jurgen Klinsmann 33/1 Frank Rijkaard 66/1 David O'Leary 150/1 Didier Deschamps 33/1 Sven Goran Eriksson 66/1 Jeremy Clarkson 400/1 Steve Bould 33/1 Michael Laudrup 66/1 Gunnersaurus 400/1 Guus Hiddink 40/1 Fabio Capello 66/1 Piers Morgan 500/1 Dennis Bergkamp 40/1 Marco van Basten 80/1 Nicky Henderson 500/1 Manuel Pelligrini 40/1 Marcello Lippi 100/1

seems to be a happy go lucky cocoon  at arsenal for so long and have a squad that should do better .. he has taken them to high places in c.l  that they may not get under a new man ..
maybe an IDEA to    nurse in a bright future manager to assist . M r WENGER    .. TO SEE HOW ROPES LIE .  ?? ..been in the french  vane .. thats struggled of late .. but PSG  are turning the corner after a good show mid week ..  ..which has been on the cards for some time ....interesting now as the Spanish  Sides getting older ..  if the new breed are really ready to step up to the plate ..
all to play for at Arsenal if they take shackles off .. no idea where they start .. and neither do present owners ..??  GAME IS COMING INTO A TRANSITIONAL  PERIOD WHERE MONEY WILL GET CUT .. FOR T.V.

David Moyes 100/1 
Roy Hodgson 50/1
George Graham 100/1 
Steve McClaren 100/1 
Martin Jol 100/1

PMSL when I saw them

True price should be about 1,000,000/1

wenger been v ery clever today saying he,s staying management even if its not with arsenal,imagine him been successful somewhere else whilst gunners getting bored to death by raffa for example

I've got a sneaking feeling he will resign at the end of season ? Nothing personal against Mr Wenger but he's taken the club as far as he can in my opinion and anyone placing money on his team should think again.

Sportinglife Today :

He confirmed at his press conference on Friday morning that he would make a firm decision on his position in either March or in April.

But he said he would not walk away purely because of the Champions League defeat in midweek and that he would look to manage elsewhere if he opted to against signing a fresh deal when his current contract expires in the summer.


When asked if he ever feels like he has had enough of management, he replied: "No. No matter what happens, I will manage next season, whether it's here or somewhere else. That's absolutely for sure.

"On a night like that, of course I hate defeat and I hate to lose games. I want to do extremely well for this club and I feel a big responsibility.

"You do not stay somewhere for 20 years to then walk out after a defeat like that. I think what is important is that the club makes the right decision for the future.

"I do not work here for 20 years not to care about this club, because I had many opportunities to go somewhere else during that period and I care about this club and I care about its future."

If Wenger is to leave, and barring a miracle turnaround in the second leg against Bayern, he will end his reign without being able to deliver the Champions League to the club.

But he insists the expectations of the increasing number of supporters calling for a change in manager should be evaluated based on where the club were when he first took over in 1996.

"Even if I go, Arsenal will not win every single game in the future, that is part of it, you have to accept that as much as it hurts to lose games," he said.

"If you look at the history of Arsenal, Arsenal had less Champions League games when I arrived than I had in my career already, and since then we have done a few.

"So I hope in the future we can win this trophy, or Arsenal can win this trophy, but it is not like I arrived Arsenal had already won the European Cup five times - they had never won the European Cup. They played maybe 10 games in the history of the club so you have to take into perspective some demands.

"It is very important that the club is always in safe hands, whether that is me or someone else, which I am sure it will be."

With the post-mortems of the devastating defeat in Bavaria still ongoing, Wenger moved to quash speculation there had been a dressing room disagreement following the heavy loss.

"No. Not at all," he said when questioned about a post-match row.

"Everybody was of course deeply disappointed and affected but there was no incident in the dressing room apart from a huge sadness and disappointment."

While being derided by a number of supporters, Wenger has also seen a number of former Arsenal favourites offer their opinions on his future.

Lee Dixon and Martin Keown, who were working as television pundits for the Bayern match, speculated over whether Wenger would quit following the nature of the defeat.

But he said was not concerning himself with anyone else's opinions over his future.

"I am used to it," he said.

"I am here for 20 years and I think in life it is important that you do what you think is right.

"All the rest of it is judgement and I am in a public job and I have to accept that.

"I have to behave with my values and with the way that I see my job and accept that everybody can have an opinion on it."

With their Champions League hopes all-but extinguished and hopes of a first Premier League title since 2004 dwindling after losing two of their last three games, the FA Cup could again offer salvation for Wenger.

He has won the competition six times, a joint-record, and takes his side to face non-league Sutton on their artificial pitch at Gander Green Lane on Monday night.

"I always had in my head that it was a very important game," he added.

"In my head I have a team that will start and play there for a week or 10 days now. That result we had at Bayern Munich will not influence that selection.

"The FA Cup is one of our targets. It's the next game and for us to bounce back after the game we just had, it becomes a very important game. But it always was, in my head."

yes I have an honest view,well its an opinion,i think that mr Wenger will become the next manager of Sunderland football club and will start employment on the first day of july 2017.

Listening and reading his body language since the humbling defeat midweek he sounds a shadow of his usual self.

Some thing definitely happened in that post match dressing room for sure and perhaps things got personal with some players.


For Mr Wenger own health he should leave his post. No job is worth your health.

hes not the only person whose health will improve if he goes

Honest view?

He has been a fantastic manager for Arsenal. When he first came on the scene he was so refreshing. The football Arsenal played was breathtaking only surpassed imho by Barcelona I think the 2005 varity Ronaldhino, Messi and Eto' o up front.

Since then though the football has not been as good no matter what the pundits say. Arsenal are not direct and if you are not it doesn't matter how much you pass it around ( tika taka excepted but that was boring ).

He is phenomally stubborn, which, actually can be a good trait in a leader. The most fristrating thing is that since around 2005 Arsenal fans have know what they needed... a world class centre forward, caombative centre midfielder and a beast of a centre half. We still haven't got what we need. One thing Arsene lacks is a degree in the art of the bleedin obvious.

He put too much trust in his players and has not challenged them enough. I like the way Eddie Jones runs things with English Rugby. Every guy knows his place is under threat. We thought we had a formidable second row with Launchberry and Lawes and then we got Kruiz and Itoje go figure that one! The Captain of the team is on his way out and everybody knows it. Arsenal players are too comfortable for me.

I like Wenger and what he has done at Arsenal. He has put the club on a fantastic footing top challenge the very best in the World even those owned by dodgy billionaires.

I think Klopp should have been groomed as his replacement as he is a good clubman and could have stayed for a long time. That option has gone. I don't know who could replace Wenger right now. I have no opinion.

One honest view I do have is be careful for what you wish for. I remember the Mensa qualified Charlton supporters who on 5live 606 would go on about how Alan Curbishly had taken Charlton as far as he could. They were so right!

Honest opinion great business manager but has no ambition owners love him for a reason how much bonus does he get every year off them is anyones guess.Cheates the fans who must be mugs because they still get 60000 fans every home game.

Should be sacked as he must be held accountable for the sissies now playing for Arsenal, spineless arrogant bunch of overpaid underachievers.

Nice guy, probably the time to call it a day though. Sorry if it's been said, haven't read the thread...

Fergie would have put his first team out against sutton ozil should have played after his performance against munich players have it too easy now and have little ambition if i was a fan i would've hated for the last 5 years at least keep hearing what he has done for the club that just baffles me.

Flat track bullies has been mentioned before on here. On the day they can beat anyone. Unfortunately, apart from beating the might Burnley by sheer luck, they come up short when push comes to shove. Patrick Vieira and Tony Adams come to mind of the players they should be looking for, but no way Utd or Chelsea would have shipped 5 against Bayern. But I digress; the man is retirement age, but for some reason, football managers don't seem to be susceptible to that age warning.

mighty, even

Been wasted at Arsenal for so long. Now we have foreigners doing the job, would have been the ideal England manger for me.

The job is sucking the life out of him now. He doesn't look 67 does he ?  I know I've been harsh and I apologise for that because that's pure frustration as a backing punter. But I don't want  the guy to fall ill over basically a job.

lol wtf would wenger bring to England? working with inferior players and with zero tactical or defensive nous. what would england have then? they need a manager with exactly those qualities, wenger possibly the worst fit

Wenger brought cheating into the English game and for that I can never forgive the alleged pervert.

Before he arrived on the scene there was no showing of a card by players and no diving.

The likes of Wilshire Chamberlain and Walcott could have been stars but they spent so much time on the training ground being taught how to roll around that they never reached their potential.

Arsenal have so many injuries to the lower legs that it is obvious that the training is wrong.

He will not be missed...

A lot here missing the point he's a chairmans dream manager in the EPL, I'm sure the Arsenal board would like some trophys but what's more important is champions league football GUARANTEED every year, ranked as one of the best teams in country for last 20 years and doesn't want crazy money to spend.

paulio di canio turned up for away matches than this motley crew absolute waste of talent,lifes to cushy .people were bigging up oxo after 2 games against southamption reserves and sutton,didnbt turn up in munich,chelsea,l,pool etc,as for wallycoot disgrace of a footballer

He was a great manager 20 years ago & a really good manager up to 10 years ago but now he is average...his time has come & gone (managers get old..their abilities diminish....Fergie the obvious exception) and Arsenal should be looking at a young manager like Edie Howe who could take over the reigns & be successful if he is allowed complete control like Wenger...however, the new manager whoever it is will not have have that level of authority...problems will continue...no win situation for them

dambuster • March 5, 2017 5:29 PM GMT
Sadly, i was happy with the drubbing last night, and Wengers decision to leave out Sanchez, it now shows everybody that his mind is gone,
instead of the few on here who've known it for the past 7 years. Hopefully, Bayern will rest some big guns and still beat us convincingly,
in front of a 3rd empty stadium..We can all see the players have lost any belief they had in him, and are going through the motions,
only the fans can make Wenger leave now, by protesting as much as possible and making his job untenable, the dinosaurs and money grabbing owner want him to stay, as they know where their breads buttered..They've forgotten about the fans, but the fans are now rising up against the heirarchy
Of the club, its a bit like Brexit, the quiet ones all came out the cupboard and the noisy ones in charge couldn't believe what happened..
I was really hoping that Wenger would leave before it made him ill, as unfortunatly it seems to have, when the 2nd goal went in yesterday, he looked totally bereft of any ideas (again), and he even started talking to Steve Bould, now there's a first, although he was probably asking him what his name was !!!..
I've supported AFC all my life, first game 1968..but in the past when we lost, it was only 50p in the schoolboys and £1.50 a seat..
even when it was £10 to stand and £15 a seat, we never moaned much, but when you see the money they earn and the money they charge, we have every right to want and demand the best, and if we don't get it, then at least TRY and do your best..The biggest loss the club has had in the past 10 years isn't any of the players, it was David Dein, without him, Wenger reminded me  a Tall Grandfather clock, without the pendulum...
it just doesn't work anymore.

twice !!. i'll get good at it one day ..sorry

That genuinely sounds rather sad dambuster. You've given a very honest view from a long term paying supporter. Ian Wright looked a rejected figure on the panel afterwards answering questions.

Wrighty thinks the same, he's  just not the kind of guy to say it, in case he upsets Wenger or other supporters.
It is difficult to say, but , its the long term future of the club that matters, and we're not going forward under this regime

Once again Wenger introduced diving and cheating into the modern game in England.

His training methods have killed many a career through lower leg injuries practising gaining free kicks and penalties.

His over reliance on a certain type of non-white player that has no leadership skills has cost him dear.

However Arsenal have a shiney Stadium.

Apparently Arsenal have a verbal agreement with Allegri if Wenger doesn't sign the two year contract offer on the table...Wenger must have a good agent putting these stories out to the media

At his age he should be retired by now to be honest. He probably can't even remember some of the players names..lol

The problem is the owners. To them 2nd is a bonus. With Abramovich, second is a disgrace.

Huge difference between the two clubs.

What amazes me is that Pep and Jose have both been available in the last 5 years... TWICE! Arsenal have not even tried to land one of them. I find that extraordinary. Not to mention Conte and Pochettino..

The problem is that if he goes now the new manager will have a very tough job rebuilding. If they'd made the change 3 or 4 years ago I think it would have been smoother.

He has now lost the dressing room, evident to me when long term players like the Ox talk about his future etc, others we know are obv not happy, Ozil playing like a crab and Sanchez another who is obv not a happy camper, crunch time for AW, Lincoln could just push him over the edge, times up now and those top 4 guarantees will be a thing of the past if he continues, and so will most of the top players.

They were never going to go for Jose and Pep as long as Wenger was under contract. He honours contracts and so do the club when it comes to him. Pep would have been out of our league also but might not be after City.

But yeah he is not doing anyone any favours by staying, except in his head he is. Just making it harder for the next manager and leaving more of a mess.

London Evening Standard ;

Arsene Wenger today insisted Arsenal’s Champions League thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich will not significantly influence his decision whether to remain at the club next season.

The 67-year-old is under mounting pressure to walk away after the Gunners suffered the heaviest aggregate defeat of any English team in the competition, losing 10-2 on aggregate.

Despite currently sitting outside the top four having fallen 16 points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea, a two-year contract extension remains on the table even amid fan protests urging the offer is retracted.

Those calls increased after Arsenal’s embarrassing European exit but Wenger once again defended his European record and reiterated his belief a combination of bad luck and poor refereeing were to blame.

“It’s in the first game that we failed,” he said. “In the second game, we had good moments and were a bit unlucky with the decisions of the referee. That will not be a decider. We have seen last night that at that level it can be very quick.

“A game can go one way or the other. I looked a little bit at the Champions League history, I think in the last seven years we’ve played six times against Barcelona or Bayern Munich, who are the two best teams in Europe. You have to take that into consideration as well. In the last nine years, we were only one time the worst team performing in the Champions League from England.

“When you’re present at that level, you can be punished as well. Basically there are many teams who are not there - they cannot be punished.”


Is Mr Wenger trying to blame the ref for Tuesdays heavy defeat ?  You can see why Arsenal fans are turning on him. It's a shame as he's now devaluing all the great stuff he's done over the last 20 yrs.

Rumours in the press :

Arsene Wenger has agreed to help build the structure to replace himself as a trade-off for being given a new two-year contract at Arsenal. But Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil will be sold as part of a reinvention process that could see a huge overhaul of players at the Emirates this summer.

It seems just like Thierry Henry , Robin van Persie , Patrick Vieira , Cesc Fàbregas and many other top class players. Wen
Sanchez and Ozil will be going...


It's not the players who are not winners. It's Mr Happy who's the problem. But as pointed out many times on this thread by most. The power he has at the club now is incredible and NO ONE can touch him anymore.

Most of the posts in this thread are embarrassing. The opinion that somehow Wenger has "held Arsenal back" to "only" manage top 4 every year is a complete misunderstanding of the situation at Arsenal. Wenger is the best manager they have ever had, and are ever likely to have. He has got the MAXIMUM possible out of the club every year he's been there. Yes, you heard that right. Let's look at the facts: When Arsenal and ManU were the wealthiest two clubs in the country during most of the 90s and early 2000s, Wenger kept them in the top two (His reign started in 96 of course). Sometimes winning, sometimes coming second, but ALWAYS GETTING THE MAXIMUM from the potential that the club offered. Then Abramhovic happened. Everything changed, being a well run and well managed club no longer mattered, the money Chelsea had was far in excess of what Arsenal and Man U could match, despite being "bigger clubs". Then Mansoor happened. Arsenal were now only the 4th richest club in the country, and the spending power was WAY behind that of the three clubs above them. So now, as a distant 4th richest club, Wenger duly managed to keep them in the top 4 year after year. Sometimes OVER PERFORMING to finish 3rd, or even 2nd. Whilst Wenger was busy still getting the MAXIMUM from the potential of the club, others were stumbling to find consistency. Despite all the hug money, Chelsea Man City and Man Utd (especially Man U) all had the occasional season where they did not fill their own potential that their spending power offered. This was due to them not having managers as good as Arsene Wenger. Arsene Wenger has always got the MAXIMUM from the club. It is not a case of "we could have won more" it is a case of without Wenger we wouldn't have been a champions league club for 20 years straight.
In recent seasons Wenger has had more to contend with. Manchester Utd have twice signed players for £60 million and now have signed a player for £90 million. They have at least 3 players currently on £300K a week.
Man City have the money to spend hugely too, buying players for £55 million and paying many of their players over £200k a week and most of them over £100k a week.
Chelsea too have players in the £200k a week bracket and are always in the market for multiple sinings in the £30-40 million bracket.

Arsenal in their history have signed 2 players for over £30 million and they are both our biggest ever earners at £140k per week.

Do you see now?

Wenger doesn't do it for the bants. The money simply isn't there to compete with those other three clubs. There may be a bit in the bank, but if he splurged it in one go then it would take 5 years to get it back, and we would be saddled with a massive wage bill that we could not afford. The other 3 clubs above would have it back in a year, or their owners would just pull it out of their back pocket.

The only chance for Arsenal to turn it around, and be in the mix each year at the business end of the season, is for Alisher Usmanov to take control of the club. This does not look like happening as he says he has already tried but Stan Kroenke will not sell up. Unfortunately for Arsenal fans Kroenke is happy just to own sports "franchises", he has no particular interest in investing heavily and making a success of them. You only have to look at his teams in the US. It isn't good reading for us.

In the current climate Arsenal are in a fair fight with Liverpool and Spurs for league position, anything better than that is a huge bonus. Every year we finish highr than fourth it a hugely successful year because we have finished above at least one club that had no right to.

People say "oh yeah, gooners with no ambition, settling for fourth". Well that isn't it. It has nothing to do with not having ambition and everything to do with understanding football today. Ever noticed how it's the intelligent, calm, well-spoken type that defend Wenger on all the Radio phone ins, and it's all the rabid, ill-educted, shouty, loutish types that call up looking for him to be sacked?

In time these idiots may come to realise that finishing 4th is an acceptable season for us, and above that is a successful season. This will come into sharp focus over the next few years I suspect as the club struggles to reach it's potential (ie 4th) under a new face. I have no doubt at all that the idiot Wenger out mob will be on the back of the new manager in his first season if we are 8th place going into christmas, but this is what will happen. The grass isn't greener.

Does all that explain why afc are struggling against the Watfords at home and West Broms of the league and fluke wins against the likes of Burnley

chelsea, united, city have bigger budgets than arsenal and usually finish above them, everyone else has a smaller budget than arsenal and they all usually finishe below arseanl, arsenal usually finish 4th, this tells you wenger is doing a very ordinary average job, finishing in a position where the expenditure says they should finish, it's clear if arseanl want to win major trophies he has to leave because he has proven he is not good enough to get the best out of the players and to punch above the clubs weight, if they want the ground hog day every february/march of being KO'd of the 2nd round in the Champions league in an embarassing fashion and drifting away from the title race, they have to go and get a winner, wenger is not a winner, he wants to win, but can't, he is not ruthless or clever enough.

if they want the ground hog day every february/march of being KO'd of the 2nd round in the Champions league in an embarassing fashion and drifting away from the title race they keep wenger, if not, they have to go and get a winner, wenger is not a winner, he wants to win, but can't, he is not ruthless or clever enough.

The thing with Wenger is they never really punch above their weight. I know they will sometimes finish 2nd like last year, but they were never actually in with a shout of winning. Same in CL, never actually in with a shout of winning, when did they last beat anyone of note in the KO stages? If it wasn't such a soap opera, it would have actually become boring by now, as it's the same thing every season.

Wenger's record gets way overplayed these days. You would think Arsenal were nobodies before he came in the way some people defend him these days. He's won 3 titles in soon to be 21 years. George Graham won 2 titles in 6 years. So pound for pound Graham's record was much better. You can't just suddenly ignore 13 years of Wenger's record when discussing his overall record.

Also Utd do not have 3 players on 300k a week. There is very little difference between Utd's overall wage bill and Arsenal's. At the start of the season it was said Utd's wage bill was £20m higher than Arsenal. Since then Utd have offloaded Depay, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger so their wage bills will be virtually the same now.

Also the reason Arsenal will struggle after Wenger is because Wenger at this point is ruining the club. It's why I'm surprise he doesn't want to leave this summer, because it's clearly a sinking ship at this point. It looks a perfect time to get out with his reputation somewhat in tact. If Wenger leaves on the back of 3 6th place finishes or something, it's absolutely clear he took them on the downwards spiral, and the "be careful what you wish for" brigade won't be able to blame the new manager.

The Gunners beat the non-league side 5-0 at Emirates Stadium on Saturday to reach the FA Cup semi-finals.
It came after they lost 5-1 to Bayern Munich at the same ground on Tuesday.
"We have been short of confidence after some disappointing results recently," said Frenchman Wenger.
"When the confidence was there in the second half, our quality came back.
"It was all us in the second half but you have to congratulate Lincoln for what they have achieved in the FA Cup."


yep well done Arsene, we were back, well after 45 mins of not knowing who were the non league outfit, back down to earth at the hawthorns though eh.

Some of his quotes after games are hilarious, after the Liverpool defeat and a tactical change, very rare for AW to take the opposition into account btw,
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "Our performance was not at the level we expect in the first half but that is down to a lack of rhythm, we have not played for a while.
Moans about having a 9 day break, priceless, drops one of the only players who puts a real shift in. Yep he the man to take us forward,

A few have known for 5 yrs the manager isn't a winner .

Some knew 3-2 years ag things were going wrong.

Last 2-1 years they've caught up.

A manager of a big fan base , plenty of dosh and sadly for the paying fans is ripping them off.


He has become a punters worse enemy.. A big horse trainer would have been pulled into the stewards by now.

Anyone who backs his team deserve to lose .

Get angry but a few knew 5 yrs ago the manager wasn't s winner.

and what, precisely, are  you going to replace him with?#
#
It is about time the players started pulling their weight

just like the Palace players did for sam

Be careful what you wish for. Things can and will get a whole lot worse when Wenger departs for pastures new.

Yeah you're right.

Could've been 5 or 6 tonight without the great Mr Wenger.

Did well to keep the score down.

just how do you think things can get worse than this ?

ok league position in the 70s was lower but fans werent paying £2000 a season to watch the team then

last 6 away games we ve let 3 0 3 5 3 3 3  ffs

keep it up

only 6 months ago people were still saying wenger was a great manager, now it's noteworthy that they've all changed to 'be careful what you wish for'. that says it all.

i dont understand the thing about wenger leading arsenal to 20 top 4 finishes in a row, that means nothing if you dont win major silverware, hes had his time let him go and make way for new blood to steer them higher things because that aint gonna happen with wenger,the players clearly havent the fight anymore

Brendan Rogers in line for Arsenal

he's driving down the motorway in a lada when there's bentleys and mercs everywhere

lada's paid for those otheres on personal lease

Talksport were pushing for big Sam as the next Arsenal manager this morning. Now that would be funny!

Apr 10, 2017 -- 11:39PM, lurka wrote:

only 6 months ago people were still saying wenger was a great manager, now it's noteworthy that they've all changed to 'be careful what you wish for'. that says it all.

Be careful what you wish for is the biggest cliche line in all this. As it really has no meaning anymore. It's just something pundits say if they want to support Wenger without really thinking what they are saying.

Can things get much worse? The club's trajectory is clearly down. Their best player wants to leave. Half the team look like they're not playing for him. How can things get any worse? It's the one thing I find weird is why Wenger wouldn't want out now, as if he left now, and next year Arsenal finish 6th, people can use this to cite how great Wenger was, if he leaves off the back of 3 6th place finishes, it leaves no doubt to anyone that he took the club down.

The other thing that makes me laugh is like these links the papers say of Wenger with Barcelona/Real Madrid. Surely no-one actually buys this? But then again from listening to people, I know certain fans do think these clubs want him.

There is no way Wenger is an attractive manager to any club at the top of the totem pole anymore. Those clubs want and demand success or you're out the door very quickly.

It may have been the case a few years ago that Real Madrid were interested in Wenger, it's certainly not now.  The biggest indicator that he should go is that people within the game are now feeling sorry for him.  Whatever the mistakes made in the transfer market, tactics and team selection, the plain fact is that the players are not playing for him.  Very similar to what happened under Ranieri at Leicester and Mourinho at Chelsea.

Look at Chelsea. They want to win things and have made the changes required to do so. Arsenal should be demanding Premiership titles, to be going into a season happy with 4th is shambolic.

Wenger must stay to turn things around imo  - only he knows the club

Be honest ... in the last 5 years has Arsenal progressed , gone backwards or stayed still..

Would Wenger job had been safe at Chelsea , UTD , City or even Liverpool ?

He even gives himself a contract not the club.

i'm sure he'll get it right eventually - just needs the fans on his side

and the players

Apr 11, 2017 -- 7:36PM, Coachbuster wrote:

i'm sure he'll get it right eventually - just needs the fans on his side

He definatly won't because the players didn't try last evening and Wenger will be out of the door at the end of the season. The players want him out on the basis of last evening.

One of the guys in the local said his son works at the stadium ( sales office ) and it looks pretty much a done deal.  A two year extension. Could be rubbish talk but I sensed he was being honest.

He's proud record in qualifying for Champions League is over.

What excuses this time for another loss...

A , Ref
B , Pitch
C , Injuries
D , lack of funding
E , bad luck


We've heard it all before Mr Happy....

He hasn't got a clue anymore. It's one terrible decision after another. Got to go.

He WAS a genius

Must stay at the CLUB

Even Tony Adams says he can't coach.

Simply not a winner and he will lose FA cup final

He's done well so far to keep a hold of Sanchez.

don't think sanchez has turned up for pre season yet. might be jumping the gun there

Look what Jose has done in a short space of time at M Utd.  Some managers are simply winners like them or not.

The power Mr Wenger has within the club are huge and NO one there can say otherwise. Everywhere you look on the pitch ,some fans in the stands , director's, owner and staff member's ... All yes people just as Mr Happy likes it.

Anyone who disagrees with him and shows leadership soon know their fate very quickly.

He even gives himself a contract and tells the board of directors his decision... The real Arsenal fans who pay good money to watch their beloved team are being ripped off.

The taxi is waiting Mr Happy.

Rather sad really as he's already lost his wife.  Pride is one of the seven deadly sins.

He simply looks ill now which is a great shame.

Deserves a long holiday, maybe in Thailand.