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
I think Josh has brought forward his master plan and not waited until the end of the season. That would of been the old Arsenal way. There must have been some recent internal discussions over the last few weeks and a decision made, because nothing was leaked to the press and this would of come out. Best kept secret, ever !
Only cretins will still be saying that “be careful what you wish for”
How low should we sink before making a change?
Anencephalic dimwits are still saying “be careful what you wish for”
Holy shit boys, it’s happening!
Now we should go and poach Pochettino from the Spuds. It would be worth it for the comedy value alone… 😉
“be careful of what you wish for”
Vicuntious is as pathetic as his master was during this last decade.
Just get Rafa Benitez to come and stabilize th club for the next three seasons.
That’s what I want.
A big name manager ho can organize a team and wash off all the stupid myths of Wenger.
One that can work with a DoF and can calm and players attention because he’s coached at bigger clubs.
Rafa for me. Make it happen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwWfE4DAyao
Friday 20 April 2018
Arsene Wenger to step down as Arsenal manager
Saturday 21 April 2018
Arsene Wenger will join the board of Arsenal and announces the appointment of Steve Bould as manager.
Worth noting that Vieira has lost almost as many games as he’s won.
That said, its not as big a job as many have said.
The new manager wont be responsible for identifying players, signing players, fitness, contract negotiations etc. There is a team for all of that now.
That said Guardiola and Enrique were risky signings that worked out. It really is about getting football people to understand just how good Vieira is.
I would like to see people like Bergkamp, Adams, Henry getting more involved in the club now the dictator has gone.
Viera should absolutely be given his chance IMO
1. He’s still relatively young and knows Arsenal well.
2. He knows the culture of the club.
3. Don’t see Viera as a yes man.
4.Players would respect him for his playing years.
Frank Mc will be forever be famous for being the man that delivered the good word on Le Grove!
Dissenter
No way to Rafa – another yesterdays man. If you want a safe pair of hands then Ancelotti would be a far better bet.
Dream10
“We need a two or three year caretaker manager. We have a squad full of squad players, some youngsters & a finite budget.”
I’d be happy with Rafa. disagree on the squad. genuine quality in Ozil, Mkhi, Aubameyang, Lacazette & Monreal, and would be interested to see what another manager could get out of Bellerin, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Mustafi & Ramsey.
What brilliant news. Finally we can get excited about summers again. I’m buzzing
Leeds Gunner; careful with that tune mate, it was blairs’ anthem and look how that played out!
Agree with Samesong about Vieira.
No to Brenda Rodger I know we have a few fan boys of his here but please no!
It feels like the Berlin Wall just came down
Just checking my calendar to see if it’s not the 1st of April today
‘all the best guys are big, charismatic characters. ‘
Wallace, AW wasn’t this when we appointed him in 1996.
Ancelotti has never been a big personality.
I don’t consider Henyckes a personality either or even ZZ particularly, why is this important for you?
“Just checking my calendar to see if it’s not the 1st of April today ”
Same for me when I heard the news lol
You just know its gonna be D.on Carlo
gambon
Good point.
A new manager can be FIRED EASILY.
People need to stop using the SAF analogy. Ferguson was a dedicated winner.
The manager taking over from Wenger is taking over a club that’s 33 points behind the league leaders and is jamming in the Europa league.
It’s not that big a job.
I’d be interested in any of the following:
-Allegri
-Jardim
-Marcelino
-Sarri
-Rafa
-Nagelsmann
-Tuchel (lesser degree)
Rudi Garcia (lesser degree)
Patrick Vieira (brings much higher level of risk but could prove masterstroke)
Pedro
Thanks to you and your Pa
You gave many of us a place to safely vent our frustrations all through this madness.
Probably saved the world from the brunt of a few AKs.
We won’t heard the “we want you to stay” song again!!
Can’t wait for Maureen’s reaction lol
Wow what a bittersweet day…finally a decision w balls…waking up here in US had to jump to Beeb and Guardian to make sure it was real….and the saw his quote ” take care of the club’s values”…dont worry we plan to!!
Henry Winter twitter thread on Arsene Wenger over the years. Probably worth a read. It begins:
“David Dein invited 9 of us correspondents into Highbury boardroom to meet Wenger in 1996. Arsene spoke for 50 mins, and we were spellbound by his attacking philosophy, belief in nutrition (broccoli!) & obsession with Arsenal as a community club. A visionary had arrived.” – @henrywinter
Speaking of new managers, I’ve just been on Arsenal.com and I can’t seem to find an application form anywhere?!
WE
Wenger’s got charisma, so has Ancelotti. just read Pirlo’s autobiography for confirmation of that. I just think it’s a big thing these days. the demands of managing a big club, dealing with the media…it’s maybe not essential, Rafa & Poch both quite low-key, but I think it definitely helps.
Correct Wenger Eagle, Frank Mc will forever be the herald of our deliverance. It must be like beating Bankz and DM to 4th. Hopefully 1st is the new target.
Thanks to Pedro and all on here who told it like it is for so long.
Enjoy.
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11787/11338821/celtic-will-allow-arsenal-to-approach-brendan-rodgers-says-clubs-majority-shareholder-dermot-desmond
lol
Be careful of what you wish for, CIAO Arsene Wenger, Arsenal’s GOAT
Another good thing about all this is victorious is likely to fuck off some place and waste away into a puddle of tears. Yeah we’ll be careful alright. Even if the next manager finishes 20 points off city and 10 points off spurs next season he’s still an improvement on goat Wenger. Old goat alright
Tony “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.” And what happens if we don’t improve ,what happens if we don’t get to 4 cup finals in 5 years (maybe 5) …what happens if we don’t compete for the title or champions league ………your son will turn round to you and say ” dad, you’re an idiot …you brainwashed me with your anti Wenger crap , you never allowed me to enjoy our cup final wins , why… Read more »
What a beautiful day in every fucking way!!!!
Hear hear, bring back the real legends ostracized by the dictatorial regime!!!
Love to see them take a gamble on Viera!
Love to see TA, the real Mr Arsenal given a role!
Love it Love it Luuuuuv it!!!!!!!!
GET IN THERE!!!!!
Wallace
I mean it’s a bonus but when you hear stories about AW basically leaving the HT talks to the players as according to players such as Dixon, Vieira and Henry, makes me question just how big of a character or personality that he really was.
Sure he gave the press some juicy/witty quotes over the years but he was never this inspirational leader at the club.
Am I really alive and awake? Somebody tell me please 🙂
Europa League now becomes of far greater significance.
We’ll give the new gaffer a better start if he receives a club in the CL.
Counter-argument would be that it will help a new manager to be able to concentrate on the PL (fielding reserves in EL), but it’s obvious any incoming coach would choose the CL.
I’m trying to find a way to be classy towards Wenger ….it’s not working.
I crossed that point several seasons ago.
No nostalgia from me.
The SAF -Moyes analogy is so wrong.
The second iteration of Wenger has already done the Moyes thing to the first version of Wenger (1996-2006).
The first decade was a hungry progressive manager; afterward s it’s been a fearful, excuse generating, lying wimp of a man who’s slowly eroded everything the club stands for.
Dissenter
“It’s not that big a job.”
you serious? currently City are rivalling our great sides for playing the best football we’ve ever seen in this country, Liverpool under Klopp are looking very sexy, and Utd can spunk 350m every summer until they get it right. it’s a f*ckin’ huge job.
‘what happens if we don’t compete for the title or champions league ‘
Not like we’ve done either under AW for the last 12 years.
Just got the news…. Holy smokes!!!
It cant be can it???
Thanks for everything Arsene. Move over Herbert, Arsene Wenger the greatest Arsenal Manager.… https://t.co/iVZXV5QOEi
I am now 100% behind the team for Europa
Absolutely no to Arteta. No to Vieira for me. Jardim is my favourite but anyone of Enrique, Carlo, Tuchel, the Schalke and Hoffenheim lads or Marcelino who’s done a good job at Villarreal and is doing a good job at Valencia (he can bring Kondogbia and Guedes with him). It’s so exciting
Just got the news. I can’t believe it! A great day!
Fucking hell everyone being linked to the hotseat.
I thank Arsene Wenger for the good times and memories, and the sexy football of course. Looking forward I hope Arsenal fc management will seriously consider Diego Simeon as a replacement for Wenger.
The German possible replacements feel experimental. Diego is tried and tested,very tactical,knows how to beat pep and mourinho.
It feels like the Berlin Wall just came down
Brilliant
The best thing about this is that if we don’t improve we can just move the new manager on without any of this sentimental bollocks.
From here on out we can be far more ruthless with anyone coming in.
Think some of you are delirious.
Yeah we’ve wanted Wenger to step down for years and thought he’s lost his way a it but if you really think Rodgers or Vieira would be better then I think you’ve also lost it.
Sources tell #beINSPORTS that Arsene Wenger has recommended Patrick Viera to replace him. The Arsenal board are split down the middle on his advice.
I don’t like this brendan rodgers talk at sky atm.
Dissenter, you’re acting like a teenager that smoked pot for the first time.
Get a hold of yourself.
The biggest achievement of Wenger is his longevity
There’s very little else
He doesn’t have a single European trophy to his name, not even a UEFA cup or cup winners trophy before they were phased out.
There’s no back-to-back league championship
We need to be careful with all these emotional nonsense about celebrating what he stands for.
Give him a dignified exit bit don’t go overboard because you’re essentially setting the bar low.
rumours that Wenger has recommended Vieira to replace him.
Vieria???
Allow it maaaaaaaaaaan!!
Rambo
Nope I’m not.
I just don’t like fake tears.
No to Enrique, Marko.
There’s a reason that he was never particularly popular at Barcelona despite his achievements.
They won the double in 2015/16 practically in spite of him and he made some awful signings of which has seen Barcelona’s squad suffer in quality in the last few years.
Also was far too reliant on MSN, he never really had a footballing philosophy or strategy past banking one of those 3 to win matches for him.
There’s talk that Vierra has submitted his letter of resignation to city. He’s never going to manage them.
I have a feeling it’s Vierra with a very strong cast of assistants.
Dissenter, neither do I. There’s the other approach- stay silent.
The battle is done, let it go.
Ancellotti indeed RR!
Wallace
We do have quality in the attacking areas. However, we’re well short of it at GK, at the back & CM. Cech, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal & Cazorla past their best because of injury/age. That’s five starters. Despite their regression, they’re still better than Ospina, Mustafi, Chambers, Holding, Kolasinac, Wilshere, Elneny. Think we’ll find it difficult to shift players. They’ll stick around for at least a year after they are surplus to requirements.
Dissenter
“The biggest achievement of Wenger is his longevity
There’s very little else.”
🙂
Fucking hell everyone being linked to the hotseat.
Been saying it for years it’s a great job honestly. Good fan base nice and meek. Money available. Prestige and history. Pressure but not too much pressure.
“No to Vieira for me. ”
Sure, better bring Brenda instead!! lol
Funny how this huge news has allowed Victorious to show his true face…
By the way, how many suicide attempts on Untold so far ??
Simeone would be fascinating, imagine having all of Pep, Klopp, Mourinho, Conte (presuming he’ll be gone but you know that Chelsea will get a big name replacement, possibly Allegri or even Simeone himself) and Simeone in the same league?
Exciting new chapter ahead for Arsenal, lots of hope and anticipation for the summer and beyond.
End of an era stuff, it’s been a privilege to witness first hand some of the memories given to Arsenal through Wengers stewardship. Wish him the very best with whatever he does next, Arsenal legend.
The factors which might fast forward a Patrick Vieira appointment are: 1. He has been Manager in New York for 2 years and it would be unlikely that he wants to prolong his stay there. 2. He is unlikely to get the Manager’s job at Man City in foreseeable future with Guardiola at club. 3. Would Vieira want to be manager at a second rate club in EPL? 4. Wenger arrived at Arsenal having worked in Japan. So Vieira’s management career in States is frankly not that different. 5. Arsenal have always had a preference to recruiting from within the… Read more »
rumours that Wenger has recommended Vieira to replace him.
He would. There’d be sections pinning for his return after every defeat.
A Carlo with Vieira as number two could be the way to go
My top 3 hopefuls…
1. Allegri
2.Ancelotti
3.Simeone
@TYAG apparently Wenger is brick laying for Wimpey homes after the WC….
“seg
April 20, 2018 10:09:25
Un-fuck….g-believable!”
Did you just blank out the “in” from “fucking” LOL!
My top 3:
Vieira/Ancelotti/Simeone.
In which order ?? Who gives a fuck ?? HAPPY DAYS!!
Vieira would be intriguing because you have no idea what kind of players that he would go after.
Any of the other managers you would have to assume would raid their former clubs for a player or two and have an MO of the types of players that their coaching style would suit.
Finally.
There are no words to describe this feeling.
I am not a religious man but….. Halle-fucking-lujah, praise the lord!!!
The day has finally come, well done to all of you who stood with us and made your voices heard to try to encourage change. It is a day that we have waited far to long for.
Hopefully we can put the last 5, or so, years behind us and begin to repair the divisions within the fanbase.
We have the pick of managers in world football now. This is a massive job for an ambitious manager.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CPlF-IEkXQ
I reckon the empty seats at the Stadium game after game recently, was the straw that broke the camel’s back… life just became more interesting for the better.
Champagne charlie
“End of an era stuff, it’s been a privilege to witness first hand some of the memories given to Arsenal through Wengers stewardship. Wish him the very best with whatever he does next, Arsenal legend.”
agreed. don’t see anybody topping the pleasure and excitement watching his two great sides gave me.
“End of an era stuff, it’s been a privilege to witness first hand some of the memories given to Arsenal through Wengers stewardship. Wish him the very best with whatever he does next, Arsenal legend.”
Indeed.
Bring back PADDY!!
Quick look on facebook and the only ones who seem to be gutted about the news are other clubs fans.
“seg
April 20, 2018 10:09:25
Un-fuck….g-believable!
”Did you just blank out the “in” from “fucking” LOL!”
Just noticed this – amazing lol
Why pretending there was only happy days under Wenger ?? I’m just curious…
Press conference at 5pm new manager possibly to announce new manager
It would be interesting to see how our odds for winning the EPL has changed from pre Wenger’s announcement to after…. we are taking the first steps to competing again rather than just making up the numbers.
Which names are trending on Twitter as the hot favourite?
Hmm, what has Wenger done to me? I couldn’t even type my name correctly in my post earlier!
I’ve been reading reactions to this announcement online and it’s a departure like no other. I’ve wanted this for years but now my eyes are misty, sat at my desk in the office. A part of me is genuinely sad.
The question was for Wallace, Champagne and Franck…
I’m not keen on Vieira just yet. NYRB to Arsenal is equivalent to a championship manager getting the Arsenal job.
I’d take the following before Vieira:
Jardim
Allegri
Conte
Zidane
Enrique
Rodgers
“Quick look on facebook and the only ones who seem to be gutted about the news are other clubs fans.”
My Spurs mates (yes I do have one or two!) are currently crapping themselves. Quite funny really.
lol Zidane, of course it makes sense!!
Yep, Spuddies will be rightfully put back in their place!
I’ll like to thank Wenger for saving the club from another failed season.
I’ll like to thank Wenger for the incredible memories of the first 8 seasons.
My best Wenger day was winning the league at United in 2002. That’s the one that wont go away.
I’ll keep searching to find things to be thankful for.
What a happy day.
What a great day, I feel vindicated after all those years of wanting Wenger out.
Well done Pedro, great job
Now the players and the fans need to go all out to win the Europa Cup. It would be an ironic bit of icing on the Wenger cake.
WOW
It finally happened. I never thought it would.
It’s like when I was a kid, and Terry Waite was a hostage in Lebanon. And eventually, one day, he was released and it was over. I’m not sure if I’m comparing the club to Waite, or just the disbelief that the situation ever resolved itself, but either way…
As for the identity of our next manager, I expect an imminent announcement.
Wenger was probably supposed to leave at the end of last season itself but because the club was seriously underprepared, he stuck on for another season.
I think the club have been working at the big appointment for the most part this season.
No to Rodgers…
I just wonder if Tuchel has buried the hachet with Diamond Eye… just a bit too coincidental that after Bayern announces their new manager for next season this news breaks.
Although Tuchel wouldn’t be my first choice he would definitely get the best out of our German contingent, never mind Auba. 😉
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Tuchel was announced shortly in the next few days as our manager.