I’m lapping up the hottakes on whether Arsenal can win the Europa League. Ballague reckons there are some positives, mostly highlighting that they have a threadbare squad and have had some issues defensively. Dennis Wise reckons we have a good chance, I’m struggling to take him seriously.
I think the biggest worry is Wenger teeing up the press with excuses before we’ve started. His line of attack is focused on player fatigue. If we go to the final, it’ll be 61 odd games this season.
“Fatigue is a little bit of a concern,” said Wenger. “You look at [Manchester] City and they look a bit like that in the second half of games recently. I do rotate much as I can. Unfortunately, some players have to play all the games.
“It is very difficult. Not only are you physically very jaded but also you are under huge pressure each time to win the game. It is mentally maybe tougher than physically.”
I’m struggling to buy this. Arsenal had the luxury of one game a week most of the season. The League Cup wasn’t a priority until the final. The FA Cup failed at the first hurdle. The Europa League has been a second string affair until the knockouts.
Not only that. It’s also worth noting we have a £200m squad propping up this half-baked campaign. We shouldn’t be putting up excuses around fatigue. Wenger shouldn’t be giving the players a pass we know they’re more than capable of taking. The manager should be firing up our chances in the press, not trying to craft a plucky underdog narrative.
I think he knows this is going to be very, very tough. He has to hedge his bets, and hope Josh and Stan are so ignorant about this season, they take his excuses and let him have another go next season. In my humble opinion, I really think the best we’ll land out of this is maybe a one leg victory… or going out on away goals.
Still, it’s hard to gauge what this means for his future. Jeremy Wilson ran an article with a title suggesting his career is on the line, but had no substance in the body copy. It’s telling that the only two journos with skin in the game on his future are Honigstein and Laurens who both say he’s staying.
If Wenger goes out to Atleti, there is no story. There are no excuses. It has to be over.
Unreal that it likely won’t be. If you haven’t seen the Juve doco on Netflix, I implore you to do so. It’s a bit cheesy/American, but damn, it’s good. It shows the absolute gulf between Arsenal and Juve. As a club, we have no culture for winning. There is no pressure. When you watch how seriously the Italians take it, it’s inspiring. All the players talk about the immense levels of pressure placed on them to succeed. The CEO has the players in his garden in preseason and he lays down the law about expectations.
Can you imagine Ivan doing that?
The next manager can’t just be a great thinker, he has to be a change agent. Someone who can create a new culture at the club, stump out the averageness, and regear us for the next 10 years.
Allegri would be perfect. The right age, fantastic experience and a huge presence.
We can but dream…
(written in an iPhone on the red eye)
1st
Ha
Hello
Bankz is here for the Tr4phy again
2nd
No
BOOOOOOM
Blngdadadang! top four !
Doh. I thought I had a clear run.
Well done Bankz
3 POSTS IN A ROLL.
I am the Messi of Legrove………where is the competition?
Thanks groovedaddy.
I’m back and better.
Fatigue my arse!
yeah, can’t blame tiredness. not even sure any of our top players have played two games in a week this season.
Nice podcast the other day, Pedro.
Kudos to you and Matt for being reasonably coherent while half-pissed.
Physical fatigue my arse!
Considering very few of the Arsenal player’s(and manager) know what it’s like to put in 100% effort each and every week, they should still be running on a reasonably full tank.
If Wenger goes down the path of further excuses, then we’ll definitely fuck it up against AM.
Wenger is dredging the depths of his long list of excuses with his latest outburst on tiredness
He also says playing Sundays puts huge mental pressure on the team to win
Sounds like he would rather not be in any competitions
Wenger with his pathetic excuses. Embarrassing.
Wenger is staying. He says he intends to stay and has heard nothing from the club’s executive to suggest otherwise. He can point to a league cup final and a first European semi-final for a decade as ‘evidence’ of progress / relevance. He has his final third uptick in PL form, occurring in tandem with a putatively significant shift in approach at the club (this season two premier signing in January and a clear-out; last season, the shift to a back three). There’s enough who will buy it, once again, as ‘having turned the corner.’ With all this, there’s enough… Read more »
About 4weeks left this season any update on wilshere’s contract issue?? I’m starting to wonder if arsenal even made a new contract offer?
Fatigue of course. It’s to blame for everything really.
Saw the PFA nominations today and Ryan Sessengon of Fulham at 17 years of age has 14 goals in the championship this season. Somebody nab him quickly
He’s actually got some cheek using fatigue as an excuse. We’ve been ghost walking through league games for weeks now always starting off slow and not really putting in any effort until we’re a goal down so fatigue is no excuse
He also says playing Sundays puts huge mental pressure on the team to win
He is beyond shame
Are we talking about the same Juventus who bribed officials and was thrown out of the top league?
We are…oh, just checking.
Wenger for the 26 years at Arsenal. Only another four to go.
If a professional footballer is tired after a 90 min kick about, perhaps they need to work on their cardio.
I honestly wonder why so many footballers, even after one run or five minutes are blowing up and acting like they just run 50 miles through wet sand.
Footballers aren’t fit.
Wenger knows that only military action can depose a dictator…that’s why a couple of chumps booing and waving A4 paper at him doesn’t really faze him.
Does Wenger live in a house or does he just stay in his office? Just wondering.
I think we need a new photo for the next post, Pedro.
Playing Sundays goes against Wenger’s religious beliefs.
That’s his only excuse.
Someone tell Wenger that working on a Sunday is not a sin, especially when you’re getting paid around £27k for doing it!
GOH
In a bubble!
“Can you imagine Ivan doing that?”
No, no i cannot Pedro. Gazidis is a sniveling coward of a man and pretty much everyone that posts here, bar you, knows it too.
12.19.04.
Well that’s you told guv 🙂
Cheers Groovey, I’m a bit embarrassed about the swearing and ranting. But whatever, lesson learned!
The more the months passing by, the more I have dark thoughts about the very possible probability that I will never saw my club becoming great once again before dying.
Don’t know if the fans of my generation have sometimes the same feeling…
Depressive stuff, to say the least.
Chelsea are imploding
Wenger will use a 5th place finish to sign a 5 year extension. Watch this space.
Pedro,
I found it quite entertaining actually. And Ahern’s air of dry bemusement only added to it. 🙂
But Dissent you must shudder at how the Chavs do this every once in a while? From Champs to Chumps? From Conte being a Football Genius to Having an emergency bag packed always expecting the sack? Quite strange. Funny thing is, we all keep saying that Chelsea will do the right thing and change the Manager, but surely after a while they will run out of good Managers that will want to go there? The job there is a Poisoned Chalice (a good paying one though) Hope Conte gets to at least sign off with the FAC before he leaves… Read more »
“But Dissenter” I meant to say (loz)
Giroud pulls one back 2-1
Oliver Giroud is the dagger that struck Southampton dead
Mark Hughes has set anew record that will probably never be equalled.
He has helped to manage two premier league clubs into relegation … in ONE season.
Giroud showing Arsene what a clueless manager he is becoming
A bit old.But something different to take one’s mind of things.
(Keane and Vieira)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGAQhCAMV1k
As I post The Chavs decide to go all “Alamo” on me? Silly Buggers.
Giroud truly is the best super sub ever since Solskjaer in Manure. Crazy stuff.
Chelsea not imploding!
Funny thing football.
Southampton managed the Van Dijk situation very badly.
They held unto the player to prove a point and he messed up their pre-season, then they sold him mid-season for a world record fee without replacing him.
Giroud’s goals per minute ratio this season must be the best in the world.
Well that’s Southampton down and Mark Hughes in a position where he’ll never get a job managing again. Can’t wait to see him pop up as a pundit where he’ll be deemed as having “expert” opinion.
Who does the hiring at clubs and TV stations?
And a lot of idiot fans can appreciate Giroud too now as well
Giroud is certainly a much better striker than Morata.
Michael24
I know this is going to sound strange but we need Chelsea to have a bit of form at the moment to make sure they win the FA Cup. ManU knock the Spud’s out in the semi’s and then we get to Mourinho lose the plot over his old team.
When supporting Arsenal at the moment you have to get your pleasures where you can!
Marc
Generally, those people who think they know best but actually know FCUK ALL!
Michael24
I know but it’s the fact they get paid for voicing it that pisses me off.
Marc
Spuds have ton go through Chelsea and United to win the FA cup. That will be a big task for them.
They aren’t going to win anything as usual.
Dissenter
I take the view that whilst this current Spud team is good it’s not as good as hyped by the media etc, however if they were to win a trophy it could kick them onto to achieve more.
There’s loads of talk about Poch and Real Madrid – he goes and there’s a good chance it all falls to pieces.
Giroud’s header for their first goal was absolutely phenomenal. Such a tough positition to score from. Probably top 3 striker in the world with his head.
Looks like Chelsea’s contrasting form can only be down to Conte.
Bombing off Costa, the way he did, set the wheels in motion. As well as questionable signings.
Europa league beckons; as does a handful of players who have become disillusioned.
Carts
Conte will go in the summer and they’ll challenge next season.
Has anyone had the pleasure of meeting Ivan Gazidis in person?
Just wondering.
Supporting Arsenal nowadays is something that should be refunded by health security lol
Gazidis doesn’t have the power to dismiss or replace Wenger without Kroenke’s approval, so I’m not sure what it is that people want from him. He publicly stated that the manager needed to be “a catalyst for change”. He has hired a DoF in contradiction to Wenger’s explicit public remarks on the matter, and he has replaced our chief scout. When Stan Kroenke took the executive decision to re-sign Wenger, what would you have had Gazidis do? Resign? State publicly that he disagreed with the owner’s decision? Don’t be ridiculous. Both of those actions would be excessive and imprudent; Gazidis… Read more »
@Michael: ask Pedro, he’s a close friend of Ivan, aka “the fraud jr”.
Always said Olivier Giroud was best as a substitute. 😉
Le fraud revving up the propaganda bus early….. but let’s respect the “man” for his achievements 10-20 years ago eh lads ?
Bamford,
“Gazidis doesn’t have the power to dismiss or replace Wenger without Kroenke’s approval, so I’m not sure what it is that people want from him.”……
How about not insulting even the limited intelligence of most Arsenal fans by claiming we are over achieving as a club by finishing 4th and not competing for a title for 14 years ? That would be a good start no ?
Nah Gazidis is a worm. Man could have done more over the years. Certainly could have been more vocal in the last two seasons instead of coming out with perlers like there’s no better man for the job than Arsene not to mention that over achieving nonsense HE came out with. He’s another spineless coward who doesn’t really care for the club and who’s only in it for the wage
Yeah, Dale, we should have been happy with Giroud as our starting CF for 3-4 years. No, we were right to be unhappy about that, as the guy was never good enough to be that. And that is why he received the criticism he did. If he had only ever been a substitute or a second-choice CF, he wouldn’t have come in for the criticism he did. So take your complaint to Wenger, as he is the person responsible for making Giroud unpopular with many supporters.
Bamford10April 14, 2018 13:53:20
The hate directed at Gazidis on here at times is even more irrational than the hate aimed at Kroenke.
————-
Oh do f**k off-you nauseating prick..
You’re like a wailing banshee..
Someone please put Antonio Conte out of his misery.
Just watched the Sky interview.
“My life is over. I have nothing left to give and nothing left to live for”
Ffs, go and work a normal 9-5 job and concern yourself with your council tax increase like the rest of us.
UT That’s called “singing the company line”. I agree it’s not terribly honorable from a certain perspective, but it’s also sometimes a practical necessity. I believe he has also made it clear at times that the club both wanted and expected more. Yes, he definitely has made statements to that effect, including saying that the manager could not continue on forever if his relationship with the supporters was broken — that this was not “sustainable” — and saying that the manager needed to bring about change. I realize that this is/was not enough for some here, but I still think… Read more »
I once saw Gazidis jumping into a taxi outside London Victoria.
Should I have run and got his autograph?!?
“My life is over. I have nothing left to give and nothing left to live for”
Did he actually say that? Someone should tell him finishing 5th ain’t the end of the world. Just ask Arsene he did it and now is aiming for 6th and he doesn’t have a care in the world
‘UTThat’s called “singing the company line”. I agree it’s not terribly honorable from a certain perspective, but it’s also sometimes a practical necessity. I believe he has also made it clear at times that the club both wanted and expected more. Yes, he definitely has made statements to that effect, including saying that the manager could not continue on forever if his relationship with the supporters was broken — that this was not “sustainable” — and saying that the manager needed to bring about change. I realize that this is/was not enough for some here, but I still think some… Read more »
That’s called “singing the company line”.
That’s called being a spineless pussy.
I still think some of the vitriol aimed his way is a bit silly.
He actually gets away with a lot. You rarely hear of people demanding that he steps down its always Wenger or Kroenke.
Bam,
You’re kinda contradicting yourself now….. a certain Lacazette was doing exactly that in the press yesterday and you castigated him ?
Don’t know him, never met him, but always comes across as a bit of a prick when interviewed.
Then again, most people I’ve met, who are in position of power and wealth, have a honours degree in Prickology!
It seems Arsenal FC is a hotbed for…..PRICKS!!
Bamford is a joke. Wants Lacazette to be sold because he expressed his solidarity with Wenger but Kroenke is good owner whose only fault is his irrational support of Wenger. Do you even read what you say on here?
Let’s get this straight. Giroud was and is, fucking rubbish. “His goals to minutes ratio must be the best in the world” “Top three players in the world with his head” 1. If player A plays just 1 min and scores a goal, then takes no further part in the season, does that stat mean that player is a goal machine? No. This blog is obsessed with stats that actually mean very little. The only stat that matters is the W at the end of the game. 2. To suggest Giroud, under any parameter is top three in anything, is… Read more »
UT
Well, that depends a little on the context. If Lacazette was explicitly asked, “do you want to win the EL so that Arsene can keep his job?” then yes, he was pretty much required to say “yes, of course” and “sing the company line”. However, I don’t know that that is how his statement came about; my sense is that what he said was more unprompted and more a statement of sincere belief on Lacazette’s part. And that is worthy of genuine contempt, as Wenger is fucking dreadful.
Marko
Of course he didn’t say what I quoted but it looked like he wanted to.
TR7 if he did in fact criticize Lacazette for singing the company then yes he’s a total hypocrite
TR7
Actually, mate, you’re the fucking joke, because your thinking is so fucking simplistic.
“Actions matter more than words”. Right, because if you were in Ivan Gazidis’s position, you would have resigned or publicly undermined the owner. That makes sense.
What a stupid fucking argument.
Bam,
You’re being disingenuous now. You absolutely know that both statements are towing the party line and are equal in heir premise.
2. To suggest Giroud, under any parameter is top three in anything, is ludicrous. The guy represents Arsenal’s decline into mediocrity. Top three for sticking his tongue out, maybe.
Yup
And by the way, I already stated that I was being somewhat tongue-in-cheek with the Lacazette comment yesterday. Some people here are just fucking petty. Grow up.
UT
No, I’m not. And I’ve described the difference b/t the two. To my knowledge, Lacazette was under no obligation to say what he said. If he wanted to keep his job, Gazidis most definitely was. See the difference?
This is one of the issues we keep running into here: certain people’s inability to see nuance.
Actually, gazidis is lying whereas lacazette is just pandering up to the moron who picks the team. Gazidis comments are way worse !
Well, that depends a little on the context
Disingenuous to say the least. Gazidis gets a pass for towing the company line but Lacazette a player I (I being Bamford) dislike tows the company line and is criticize for it? Nah
Can we agree that both Lacazette and Gazedis are cut from the same gutless cloth and move on.
I wouldn’t want anyone who is involved with arsenal watching my back. They are all spineless wobble fish.
Bam,
Of course EVERYONE and ANYONE who disagrees with you or shows a counter argument are unable to see nuance ? Come on man, you really do not do yourself any favours.
Yea, Giroud better than Morata. I said it when some people here were championing Morata as some fearsome one man army. He was at Juve then. Saw enough to know that his mentality is no up to scratch, that’s where Giroud absolutely trumps him. Though Morata is considerably faster, he ain’t putting it into good use, doesn’t run in behind, doesn’t create space, can’t beat his man or create a chance with a dribble. Atletico vs Arsenal I think it’s win win for (some of) the fans. We win them then theres a real chance of a European trophy and… Read more »
It just seems these days like there are 8 or more posters waiting on Bamford to drop a comment so they can Jump on it. And boy, does Bamford deliver. ..lol
We sold Giroud ffs. We got him for 12m and he scored more than 100 goals for us. He was never meant to be a starter for us and he went on to be our main striker for 5 years, not his fault. Gave his all, fought for the club and assisted two cup final winners. He deserves nothing but respect.
Bamford
‘The hate directed at Gazidis on here at times is even more irrational than the hate aimed at Kroenke.’
Aren’t you all over the place.
Writes an essay on how Kroenke is actively stopping the CEO from taking the right decisions for the club.
Then comes up with the above stating hatred at Kroenke is ‘irrational’.
Arghhhh.
Giroud better than morata!!! So what!
It’s like comparing eating dog shit or cat shit…both are shite. FFS.
You have to compare Giroud to the best forwards in the league to make a genuine comparison. Giroud v Kane, Arguero, Lukaku. No comparison…Giroud is terrible.
14 37 42 post.
Yes a trout comes to mind.
Bamford again wriggling out a lie by saying Laca comment was tounge in cheek. You are a fucking liar and a hypocrite.
14 37 02
Mystic,
Morata is a pretty average striker. Has never scored more than 15 goals in a season and he’s 25. Giroud for all his faults is a genuine 20 goal a season striker and can actually lead a line.
UT No, that’s really not what is going on. There really is a difference between Gazidis’s situation and Gazidis’s remarks and Lacazette’s situation and Lacazette’s remarks (to the extent that the latter were basically unprompted). The former had to say what he said to keep his job, the latter did not. However, if it turns out that Lacazette’s remarks were prompted and were unavoidable, then I agree that he is no more to blame than Gazidis. However, one, that means the rest of you lot have to admit that Gazidis should also escape criticism for his remarks — otherwise you’re… Read more »
“Giroud is a genuine 20 goal striker”
When?
Is it free period on the psychiatric hospital computers?
This is this blogs major problem. Revisionists galore.