The most important announcement of Le Grove’s entire history.
Arsene Wenger has left the club.
The greatest manager in our history will leave at the end of the season.
I’m speechless.
We knew things were going to get tough for the big man this summer, with the imaginary reviews. But it looks like our theory about Josh K being the grim reaper were true. He was sent over by Stan to takeover the club, and the PR team probably told him the best way to start a new era is with decisive action.
Wenger is going, but the side story for me is this announces Josh Kroenke is now going to be a more solid part of the club setup moving forward.
Ivan Gazidis finally pulled through. After being near-fatally wounded last summer by a horrible back alley deal between Wenger and Stan K, Ivan worked some behind the scenes magic. He hired Raul Sahnelli, Sven Mislintat and attacked Wenger’s power grip on the club. I was told he actually tried to take things further, but a furor was caused by some of the proposed additions to the team.
Those moves made it very difficult for Wenger to work his political magic this summer. The new guys came in, ripped out the deadwood of the squad in January, they added new blood and high-quality names, and the rot continued.
At the heart of it, Wenger had no fail-safe.
He was damaging the club financially. We lost a huge amount on Alexis Sanchez, not only in cash, but in pride. Losing your best player for under half price is a terrible look. Not just that, because contracts were so badly organised, Mesut Ozil was allowed to hold the club over the barrel.
Going beyond just those two names, Wenger has been hoarding average players for years. He’s been fattening them up on a hideous socialist wage structure which has left the club nursing a £200m wage bill, whilst Spurs are above us competing on £60m less. Wenger was no longer offering value.
Not just that, he was destroying the careers of young talents. Project British core was an out and out failure. Kieran Gibbs went to shit, Jenkinson shouldn’t have been in it, Jack Wilshere lost interest in the game, Theo Walcott never fulfilled his great potential, Chambo went to Liverpool and made a semi-final of the CL, and Aaron Ramsey was always injured.
The club stopped being a sporting entity. The objective wasn’t about greatness, it was about an old mans ego and his rampant desire to hold onto power. The club didn’t exist for trophies and elite glory, it was a vessel for a long retirement. When you stop operating on a sporting values level, it makes it dull for fans who’ve been paying huge amounts of money to see their heroes compete at the highest level.
When fans don’t show up, don’t expect sponsors to. The empty stadiums started in February this year. That’s not because of bad fans, it’s because they’re seeing the same old dross week after week. The ultimate protest is not going to a game, the ultimate show of how Arsenal had fallen is fans couldn’t give their Arsenal tickets away.
The time had come. The Champions League Top 4 trophy didn’t arrive, Wenger wasn’t developing players, the fans were bored and not showing, and the football was drab.
I think ultimately, the success of The LA Rams helped push this move. Stan is enjoying the great press around his LA team, and I’m sure he wants some of that over here.
Wenger is gone.
It’s the right move for the club.
The next two years will be tough, but at least we’ll be watching an exciting project.
I’ll write more on Wenger at a later date, but damn, I’m going to enjoy this moment.
A new Arsenal will rise, and we’ll look back on the banter years and wonder why we didn’t do this sooner.
Have a great day. x
Fucking hell. Been waiting for this news for years and I’m totally numb. Can hardly function at work.
To be honest I think this is the closest to a genuine “mutual consent” situation you are likely to see.
Even Wenger would have seen that he was fucked and wouldn’t get an extension beyond next year. Better to get it over with for both parties.
To be honest right now I don’t really care how or why – I just want to see what happens from here on in.
Lets hope Josh and Ivan look after the club properly, they should be fully supported unless they fail to do so.
This is so exciting, tonite I’m going to party like its 1996
This come as a relief to me, that Wenger stood down without much fuss or drama. I was half expecting that with the calls of him being a dictator and all, he will have to be dragged from his seat or something.
The decision to step down is the right one, and 1 season late in my opinion.
But I am against the grain over at Le Grove. I am always sentimental about the old man.
All the best Wenger; from yours truly AKB guy.
“I can see most top managers throwing their hat in the ring now that Wenger is leaving. ”
The club is a mess, it needs to be rebuild, for a start.
Don’t expect any great names for the beginning of the new era.
But the most important thing is now done, thank God.
Le Parasite is gone, fuck off with that respect talk.
“The decision to step down is the right one, and 1 season late in my opinion.”
1 season late ?????? lol
In other news, Untold is closed this morning.
Honestly, never thought I would see this day.
“In other news, Untold is closed this morning.”
Ha ha ha
gambon
That makes sense. I just wonder if there was something specific that precipitated the timing, as the timing is undoubtedly a little sudden, jarring. Could it be that they know they want so-and-so but to get so-and-so they need to act now? That kind of thing. Could his arrogant comments yesterday morning about empty seats have prompted them in some way?
Anyone else excited for Big Sam?!
Highbury
Lol, cut me some slack, Wenger stepping down gives AKBs me like me an out of jail card.
Wow can’t say I expected this when I got out of bed this morning.
I really hope he can go out on a high and win the EL also gets the club back in the CL for the new manager.
On that note Eddie Howe or Brendon Rogers will be a disaster.
Personally I have suggested for a couple of months that I would like to see Patrick Vieira be appointed Head Coach. Frankly I would prefer to see a relatively young manager [Vieira is 42] with a great football background and experience come in. Vieira is an Arsenal man and still has a home in Hampstead. Let us give him the chance to prove himself at club. The worst that can happen is that he does not turn the club around and then leaves after a couple of years. Most of the other coaches touted are either has beens or have… Read more »
ES
Maybe, I’m sure the details will drift out in time.
Just told my 9 year old son and he’s ecstatic.
At least you can start enjoying going to matches again, and my son and I can start enjoying the father and son football connection whether we win or lose games.
Wins will be something to savor and the losses something to learn from, as we get back to being a properly run and coached team again.
Black Hei
“over at Le Grove”? Are you copying and pasting from somewhere else?
Long time reader of Le Grove, I was saving my first comment for this very day. This is how I feel right now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR8rvnaTb9k Super excited heading into a massive sandstorm. There are so many questions still up in the air: who’s going to manage next season? Will Ramsey, Wilshere sign a new contract? Will we finally get a proper GK, CB and DM? Will the team pull together and win the Europa Cup so that we can have a taste of European greatness and let Wenger leave on a high? Anyway, at least we’re finally moving forward instead of… Read more »
Just waking up to the news.
Its going to be an awesome weekend.
Is it too much to hope that we are going to kidnap Simeone when Athletico arrive and hold him hostage until he agrees to take over?
What can we expect from the 5pm presser?
Does anyone think they’ll already unveil the new manager by then, or will that just be Ivan adding his two dollars’ worth about the news…
Bamford
Nah, I post 90% of the time in Le Grove. 10% over at 7am.
I am just waiting to leave work.
So now Wenger is gone (going), do people still want us to lose in the Europa?
What a beautiful day here in the UK. In more ways than one. About 15 years too late but I look forward to Arsenal getting back to being a football club again.
Wenger in!
@ Jim – I never wanted us to lose in the Europa, as tbh I never thought it would make a difference either way.
Our European record is so poor I really want us to win the damn thing
I have already felt somethings yesterday when Wenger mentioned that Patrick Vieira can manage Arsenal. I believe that Josh K is the deciding factor. He has witnessed first hand how the once great club has been falling. Now I hope that the fans are patience with the change and may Arsenal be great again.
SamesongApril 20, 2018 09:12:42 I reckon its out of Viera and Enrique. Thoughts?? ——————- I think the job for Vieira has probably come too soon.There’s a lot of crap to shovel out.Unravelling the mess that Arsene has wrought will take time.That said,I guess Vieira,will simply be given the task of coaching the team,tactics,etc,etc. Other stuff such as contracts,identifying targets,players to be sold would be dealt with by other staff brought in by Gazidis. At this juncture,it would be nice to see him brought in as a No.2 to a more established manager(Allegri as an example).Given he was a leader of… Read more »
Fuck him. Fucking parasite
Jim LaheyApril 20, 2018 09:56:46
So now Wenger is gone (going), do people still want us to lose in the Europa?
—
That would be completely ridiculous to want.
tbh, anyone not wanting to show to games and support now through the last few games is just going to be toxic moving forward and should maybe consider White Hart Lane as their new home.
Jim
‘So now Wenger is gone (going), do people still want us to lose in the Europa?’
Nah, I want to us to smash Atletico Madrid in semis and go on to win the thing.
Tony D
You are right.
I will be going to West Ham and Athletico Madrid games and hopefully enjoying positive results.
Jim Lahey
Personally I have never wanted Arsenal to lose games. I am an Arsenal supporter.
“So now Wenger is gone (going), do people still want us to lose in the Europa?”
Can’t see why anyone would want the team to lose at this point – nothing to be gained by crashing out now.
I’d expect to see fans turn up to games again and the team to start playing better football again as well (hopefully).
“Arsenal say a successor will be appointed “as soon as possible”.”
With the 5PM BST Gazidis press conference, Pedro better be ready to have a new post out this evening, seeing as the new manager might be announced.
Jim LaheyApril 20, 2018 09:56:46
So now Wenger is gone (going), do people still want us to lose in the Europa?
————
I was indifferent beforehand.Now,it would be nice to win it.Good way to get back into the CL for next season.New manager on board,along with new signings ahead of the WC..It seems the feel good factor could begin in earnest.
But that’s with the caveat-no room for Arsene upstairs,or anywhere in the club.And a top world class manager is brought on board.
Jim
Red might still want us to lose. He always has to be the most “out” of the “outers,” reason be damned. 😉
Today will make a record breaking comment numbers on a single post on le-grove, unless Pedro comes up with another post… Shows how desperate fans were for a day like this.
No way will a manager be appointed at 5pm.
That would prove that Wenger was sacked, something the club will always deny, even though he was.
Fuck yeah!
So the board do have some balls after all. Now let’s see if they use said balls to go for one of the ‘up and coming’ managers rather than a ‘tried and tested’ one. They did it when hiring Wenger all those years ago. What a happy and glorious day this has turned out to be.
It would be funny if it was Conte appointed.He seems to be agitating to leave Chelsea at all costs.Nothing surprises me in football.
Yes!!!
Yes!!!
Yes!!!
It’s the first step towards getting our Arsenal back!
The future is bright, the future is Red and White!!!
PS : Thank you Arsene for the memories. Thank you for saying goodbye. Although it might be painful for everyone, you know it is the right decision for the club. I wish you the best.
Bamford,
Red wouldn’t want us to win Europa so that he can have a stronger case how GG was a much better manager than Wenger. LOL
Burnley game now sold out – when there was substantial tickets yesterday. Good sign, an emotional day can be expected!
I think that there are already three indicators of what is going on at moment.
1. Kroenke talked at great length about ‘Arsenal’s values’ as the reason for buying club.
2. Wenger talked yesterday for first time about ‘succession’ and mentioned Vieira as a potential successor.
3. Gazidis is holding press conference later today.
I’m so excited I don’t know what to do with myself
Ive already spoken to 3 people about getting back up to the Emirates for games next season.
Im hearing that demand for the upcoming games has just gone through the roof.
Yes, now to 5pm — and the question of how we optimize our chances of beating Atletico.
“No way will a manager be appointed at 5pm.That would prove that Wenger was sacked, something the club will always deny, even though he was”
To be honest they could easily say the decision was made in private a while ago so we will never really know unless someone from the club comes out and confirms otherwise.
Doubt it will be a new manager named today though – probably just some catalyst for change stuff….
His position had simply become untenable. That’s the facts of it.
Even his most loyal backers could see this. When his foundation of yes-men started to voice concerns, the board had no choice but to pull the plug.
It’s sad because he could’ve & should’ve left when we squeezed past Hull. Maybe with this announcement, it might spur us on to win the Europa League.
I’m fully behind the club now.
Un-fuck….g-believable!
Now Arsene is leaving,I wonder what will happen to ArsenalFAN TV now?
Great day for all Arsenal fans. One might imagine that we can only get better after this news. Hopefully it’s the case and we will finally see how the club will look without Wenger’s “values” and finally be able to tell who was first – the chicken (Wenger’s ideals of self-sustainability) or the egg (Kroenke’s tight pockets).
Whatever happens, it’s better than being stale as we have been for the last ~7-8 years or so.
No way will a manager be appointed at 5pm.That would prove that Wenger was sacked, something the club will always deny, even though he was.
Not saying a new manager will be appointed at 5pm gambon but if he is then to me it points to that Wenger was always going to leave at the end of the season and was not sacked, but the announcement was delayed until a new manager would be in the bag.
No to vieira or arteta. Too much of a job for a novice. Low, Jardim, Tuchel, Simeone, Emery, Rafa, or Allegri. Loads of exciting options.
COYG
If the seats at the Emirates suddenly become full again, is that an endorsement of Wenger’s reign or just sheer happiness that he’s going?
Tuchel seems to be doing the rounds as the possible successor.
Allegri might be my top choice closely followed by Conte.
Don’t want any Tuchel’s (PSG bound I heard), Enrique’s (Chelsea bound probably), Arteta’s and Vieira’s. Anyhow, as long as it’s not Pulis or Howe, we’re good boyz.
Be careful of what you wish for, CIAO Arsene Wenger, Arsenal’s GOAT
“It’s the first step towards getting our Arsenal back!”
the pre-Wenger Arsenal?
1-0 to the Arsenal?
defensively capable, stodgy & unimaginative everywhere else Arsenal? 🙂
Ye, really interesting.
Are people going to the Emirates from now until the end of the season, to say goodbye to their hero, or to celebrate the parasite’s removal?
I hope we don’t sign a manager who is very defensive in his approach, that’s all.
“defensively capable, stodgy & unimaginative everywhere else Arsenal?”
Better than defensively terrible, stodgy and unimaginative elsewhere.
The sun is out
Wenger is out
Hope the Club make the right choice
Just told my wife of Wenger’s resignation- her response – Champagne For Everybody!!! I am once again reminded of the good things in life, namely my wife.
Jeff,
Seats becoming full again is hopefully sign that people will want to say thank you (even if it should have happened a long time ago)
At last! Wow… never thought I’d see the day… can’t start enjoying watching Arsenal again
Tuchel would have been my preferred option. think it’s too soon for Vieira or Arteta. Benitez would guarantee improvement over the next 2/3yrs. too big a job for the younger European managers.
Can’t see what the 5pm presser would be about, other than announcing a new manager. There will be questions about this from now to the end of the season if it’s not dealt with already.
Some of the ITK’s have weighed in stating that Allegri is the man to come in.
Your Comment Here
“the pre-Wenger Arsenal? 1-0 to the Arsenal?defensively capable, stodgy & unimaginative everywhere else Arsenal? :)”
I’d take that if it means we are competitive.
Congratulations everyone !
The wait is over.
Well done to Pedro and Le Grove.
Mission accomplished.
• can start…. a bit giddy after hearing the news
Despite Wenger shoddy last how many years he deserves a good send off!
Legrove get their wish and surprise, surprise some shocking comments,instead of pouring encomium on a man that changed the face of English football, imagine the stadium will be packed now for a well deserved goodbye
Happy days are here again.
We can start another lease of life now.
Wenger has been lifeless for the last five years .
Arteta or Henry would not be the step forward we could make with a real visionary coach.
Good of Wenger to announce his resignation on a Friday so we can spend the weekend celebrating!
First time commenter, long time reader.
This day has finally come around after seeming like it would never would.
We have to get the appointment right, for me the ideal candidate would be Jardim but anyone young and upcoming is my ideal choice here. Lets make the club, younger, more energised and fresher. No more experienced heads please!
This 5pm press conference with Ivan is going to be interesting.
What a day. Thank you Arsène.
Jardim should be at the top of our list. He’s able to get results while the squad is being overhauled. Monaco over the last three or four years have been in rebuilding mode.
Next mission
Clear out the pompous old farts idiots on the board.
Cazorla… ‘Shiiiiiit, goodbye new contract!’
He could have left on a high note last year.
Now he’s leaving in the midst of failure and confusion.
Your Comment Here
It is going to be Patrick Viera.
He’s told City he’s leaving their American start-up next month.
Not my choice, but my money would be on Ancelotti
Make no mistake he was eased out.
He would have been fired had he not resigned.
Who are the mor*ns who were saying he couldn’t walk away from a £10 million yearly contract?
Dream10
“Jardim should be at the top of our list.”
love what he’s done at Monaco. only doubt for me surrounds his personality. all the best guys are big, charismatic characters. Jardim seems ‘studious’ at best.
Wowza lots of joy in North London, lots of O-faces this weekend I’m sure. Will there be a crew of Wenger Out babies born 9 months from now, like in countries that win the World Cup?
Good on the club and good on AW for making the move. While I agree it was time for him to go, we can now recognize his contribution and plan for the future. I think the players will kick on now and put in great performances now that this situation is finally resolved.
Goodbye Arsene.
Hope you have a long, stressfree life to enjoy.
Dicksenter ejaculating over the blog,calm down a touch you idiot,now the boogeyman is gone,lets see how ambitious the club really is
This is the moment we have been waiting for. A round of drinks for everyone here on me.
“Wenger has been a massive part of my Arsenal supporting life. So many unforgettable moments and at times took us to levels I didn’t think possible. This is a seismic moment in our clubs history and one that has come at the right time. I look back with huge fondness and respect, look forward to the end of this season with hope it ends on a high and beyond this season with excitement at a new chapter. As Del Boy would say, bon jour, Arsene.”
agree with this comment
I had no idea. Just heard from my step-daughter’s Crystal Palace supporting bloke in London. FFS. The evil witch is dead, the evil witch is dead . . . .
Maybe a bit harsh that last bit. I can now happily wish wish wish we win the EL, secure in the knowledge it will not provide a stay of execution.
“Be careful of what you wish for, CIAO Arsene Wenger, Arsenal’s GOAT”
Lol
Victorious shows his true colors
Many tears and grieving from him.
Do me a favor and follow Wenger back to Nagoya Grampus or wherever we got him from.
How can anyone still be arguing that “be careful what you wish for””
We are 33 points behind the league winners and struggling for 6th place with Burnley.
Victorious is really Loserious.
Now you know Josh Kroenke wasn’t just a tourist.
Better 1-0 to the Arsenal than
2-1 to Newcastle
2-1 to Brighton
1-0 to Tottenham
… that’s just from 2018!!!
Muddygooner
“Congratulations everyone !
The wait is over.Well done to Pedro and Le Grove.
Mission accomplished.”
Mission accomplished !!!…..you’ve been watching too much thunderbirds ..
Wallace
Wouldn’t worry so much about personality. We need a two or three year caretaker manager. We have a squad full of squad players, some youngsters & a finite budget. Need someone who can navigate through chaos.
Vic, dry your eyes and get a hold of yourself this is embarassing.
‘To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club’
He can’t let it lie can he? Still banging on about the values. Will his values stop him from taking an £8m pay off?
I note the club statement reads ‘stepping down’ and not ‘leaving the club.’
Viera may make for a good manager one day in the UK, but to be honest I would not wish upon him the microscope he will be under taking over for Wenger. That smacks of Moyes taking over for Sir Alex all over again. Bring in experience and a proven winner to stabilize the club before you bring in a relative novice like Viera. Hopefully those making the decision recognize this?
What a Time To Be Alive. Getting smashed this weekend.