Well, the match day wasn’t quite the emotional response we expected from the players or the fans. Empty seats, a muted celebration of Wenger that only came when we were winning and a pretty bog standard 2017-18 game from the boys on the pitch.
The real interest was focused on the post-match comments. Wenger played the pity card, guilted a fan base he felt betrayed by and made it 100% clear the ‘resignation’ was not his idea.
Here’s the thing, there’s no point in getting riled by it. The man is broken by his firing, he’s still in shock, and I don’t think he’s ever been told he’s underperforming. No one likes to be told they’re dispensable and no one likes to lose their job, even if there’s a sweet £9m payout.
“I feel this club has a fantastic image and, for me, that is absolutely vital. We can speak and speak and speak but sport is about winning and losing and you [the supporters] have to accept you will lose games, even when I will not be here any more. But it is about something bigger than just winning or losing and that was always a worry: how the club is perceived worldwide, for kids playing in Africa, China and America and the dreams it can create for young children who want to play football.”
Bleating on about soft-targets that elevate the job of Arsenal manager close to religious leadership is great for the soundbite, but the reality is, football is about winning trophies. Sadly, the kids in Africa are more inclined to pay attention to the colour of the jersey lifting a Champions League trophy than they are to the intangible values Wenger trumps up every time things don’t go his way.
As I’ve said many times this year, there are no fallbacks this season. He failed on all fronts. He stopped making money, he showed his Midas touch with talent – young and old – had gone, and he had fans staying away from their prepaid tickets. Not just that, look at the state of our team. No direction, character, structure or joy. He’s left the squad a wreck, which is why we’ll be so incredibly appealing to every coach on the planet this summer. The only way is up.
The West Ham game didn’t offer up much we don’t already know. The player’s hearts are only in one competition this season, so anaemic performances in the Premier League outside United will be par the course.
Monreal, our superstar striker put us 1 up when he smashed home a left-footed volley from a Xhaka corner. A really tidy finish for a left back. Arnautovic drew West Ham back in 13 minutes later, a car crash of a goal that started from a classic Ospina punched clearance. He really is a shoddy keeper. Not that our defence or midfield showered themselves in glory in the ensuing melee of Sunday league defending.
Ramsey popped up with our second, scoring his oddest goal of the season when he tried to find Aubameyang with a flaccid cross that slipped through the West Ham defence past the hapless Joe Hart. God help us if he’s England’s #1 this summer.
Danny W started the move for our third, making a quick one-two with Xhaka, he found Auba who played in Lacazette at a tight angle, the Frenchman belted a deflected shot that beat Hart at his near post. More poor keeping if we’re honest.
The West Ham collapse was completed when Auba played Ramsey into the box, some silky quick feet from the Welshman and an incisive pass to Lacazette allowed for an easy 4th, taking his goal tally higher than Morata’s, 3 behind Lukaku and 2 behind Firmino. Not a bad return for a player who missed 2 months out injured.
A lot of the post-match whining from the press focused on the lack of singing from the fans. Please. This really has to stop, the never-ending gratitude some folk in the media think we should show Wenger is incredibly indulgent. The response was muted because he overstayed his welcome, he used his past glories to steal undeserved contracts and he sucked the joy out going to Arsenal for at least 6 seasons.
I love the notion that this is because of the ‘modern fan’. Average age of a Premier League season ticket holder was 43 last time I checked, old enough to have sat through the George Graham years. It’s such a bourgeois notion to think that Arsenal fans should just suck up the depressing 14-year decline because Wenger can titillate the Crouch End press core with occasional pithy anecdotes about philosophy or Brexit.
What is the expected behaviour? Start a 40-day celebration of Arsène? Sacrifice a few chickens in the ground? It’s very unique that Arsenal fans, who had the longest serving manager by 19 years, are critiqued as being bad fans so often.
Our loyalty to the manager was borderline sycophantic up until 2 seasons ago. We let him go 9 years without a trophy, 14 years without a league win (or even getting to March competing), 7 seasons not making it past the last 16 of the Champions League, as well as never winning a European trophy. Not to mention ‘Arsene knows’ became a religious turn of phrase amongst Arsenal fan to explain any and all of his actions.
Wenger’s comments on our fans had a few people finger wagging at AFTV.
‘Personally, I believe this club is respected all over the world, much more than in England … our fans did not give the image of unity that I want in the club all over the world, and that was hurtful. I feel the club is respected. Overall the image we gave of our club is not what it is and not what I like.’
I think people are giving Wenger a bit too much credit for his web browsing habits here. Bellerin gave you all the insight you needed about what the players/coaches think of AFTV. It’s football panto played by a group of fun characters. It’s not serious like the issues we’ve had in the ground with the banners, the planes, the empty seats, the booing, the shoddy atmosphere. That’s the message of unity he’d like us to have improved on.
The ultimate sin that killed Wenger wasn’t rage, it wasn’t over passionate displays of pantomime childishness, it was antipathy. When the fans stopped caring, that’s when the club had to act.
The comment also highlights that Wenger doesn’t really understand why this firing happened. He can’t see what he did wrong, he hates that his stellar reputation and past deeds can’t control fan feelings, he’s devastated he could no longer reimagine failure in a pithy sentence the fans would buy, he’s absolutely baffled that setting the bar isn’t enough, unless you can maintain it.
Ultimately, Arsenal fans have had 6 years to get used to the idea Wenger shouldn’t be manager. He’s been a bit of a squatter lately and a progress blocker, so good riddance is obviously going to be the vibe, and that’s why you’re not seeing disingenuous shows of gratitude right away. Still more comments like the one below will get the fans back on side.
“I’m happy when the fans are happy and I’m even ready to suffer to make them happy. If sometimes they make me happy as well [by singing his name], I will take it. Every single decision I made during my 22 years was for the good of Arsenal and every single decision was with the priority of doing well for the club. I tried to influence the club on structure, development of players and style of play. To combine the three is not always easy and I believe I leave a club that is in a very good position.
“My target was always to do that and give continuity to the guy who comes in after me so we can be better in the next 20 years. That’s my wish.”
I like the way he talks about sacrifice like he’s the Jesus of Arsenal. Hopefully, a godly performance against Atleti will see out his career!
Right, that’s me done, see you in the comments x
1st
1st
tr4phy out!
tr4phy
4th
Tr4phy
Damn! No treble for me
surely this tr4phy thing will be gone next season?
Comments by Wenger yesterday must surely rule him out of
an upstairs job.
Perhaps he will creep back to Japan he’s favoured choice many
years ago.
‘Spoilt brats are the Arsenal fans. With his departure, you’ve lost a comrade in me (I’m not going to follow football anymore btw – I’m burying it with Arsene).
Remembering one of the greatest managers of all time, one of the best human beings around would cost you, would it? The lack of support in his last few matches is appalling.’
—–—————–—————
A comment on the match report in the Guardian. I kid you not, this guy got 40 upvotes for the above post. And they say there are no more AKBs?
Wenger is such a scum bag. Blaming fans for his sacking, yet it was his considerable lack of managerial ability that caused it. Maybe if we werent 6th in the PL he would still be in charge. Maybe if we hadnt gone 14 years without a PL trophy he would still be in charge. Maybe if he could get past the CL round of 16 he would still be in charge Maybe if he knew what the word ‘defence’ meant, he would still be in charge. Wengers incoherent babbling yesterday showed why it was the right decision. We are a… Read more »
Pedro
“The real interest was focused on the post-match comments. Wenger played the pity card, guilted a fan base he felt betrayed by and made it 100% clear the ‘resignation’ was not his idea.”
1 – he didn’t play the pity card
2 – he’s leaving reluctantly, but I’m not sure that’s the same as saying he was pushed.
Now that wenger is gone . The competition for the ‘tr4phy’ is goin’ as well. no?
Great post, Pedro. Spot on.
Totally right on(as per usual) the media and it’s obsession with bashing arsenal fans. It’s a very mawkish reaction to Arsene and they’ve also given limited analysis to his failures and poor performance mistakes over 10 years (build him a 500ft statue! Chop Chop!). Alan Shearer(awful pundit,failed manager) was having a go despite saying earlier in the season that the players no longer listened to him.
Pedro, what’s the manager shortlist now? Sarri takes a boost after last night?
Good post pedro.
Im my opinion everything that is happening now with AW is the clubs fault. In February 2011 after the 89th minute goal by Obafemi Martins to win the League Cup, AW should have been replaced as the manager the following season. It was obvious then that he wasn’t the manager to take the club forward and everybody ignored it saying be careful what you wished for and this is what it comes to.
*In
Wenger’s delusion has to be the biggest worry, from all of this.i think you’re spot on with this paragraph, Pedro. “The comment also highlights that Wenger doesn’t really understand why this firing happened. He can’t see what he did wrong, he hates that his stellar reputation and past deeds can’t control fan feelings, he’s devastated he could no longer reimagine failure in a pithy sentence the fans would buy, he’s absolutely baffled that setting the bar isn’t enough, unless you can maintain it.” Without doubt Wenger is utterly baffled how his minions “all of a sudden” lost faith in him.… Read more »
Lol Wenger is now trying to play the martyr, the messiah who ‘died for our sins’ lololol. Psychopaths usually does that, they play on emotions to garner sympathy. Nice try, Arsene.
I think that some of the posters should be reminded how other major clubs have performed. Man Utd the richest club in global football have not won a league title since 2012-3 season.That is now 5 seasons. Liverpool have not won a league title since 1989-90. They have gone almost bankrupt not so long ago.That is now 28 years. Tottenham Hotspur have not won a league title since 1960-1 and for that matter a FA Cup since 1990-1 season. That is now 57 years. So our disappointments should be put into context. We have not been able to rely on… Read more »
Wenger – “I’m not resentful and I don’t want to make stupid headlines,”
But you did, because yet again you made it all about you.
ES
Ok, but I’m not sure what your point is. If anything is sounds like you’re skating around a point that you’re either not confident or comfortable in saying.
If fans had not spoken out, Wenger would stay until,they carry him out in a stretcher. That’s the type of clueless individual he is.
I’m sick and tired of all these attempts by some here to enforce an atmosphere of tributes.
Time may heal some wounds but don’t try to force it.
I respect the people who aren’t faking anything more.
emirates stroller Leicester won the league with a funds lower than the top teams. so I do Think Your Argument is pretty stupid.
*With Funds Lower Than The Top Teams.
In the end Gazidis and Co played it very well. They slowly and methodically changed the structure around Wenger, and the walls around the Frenchman began to close in, leaving him with no choice but to either manage under a new structure or leave; knowing he was too arrogant to do the former.
They used his own ego against him.
Great post pedro, pretty much sums up my thoughts.
Carts
The point is that some people who post on here are not being objective.
The reaction to Wenger’s departure is justified, because he had been too long
in job and was past his sell by date. Also the club should not have renewed his
current contract.
However, there is no guarantee that when Wenger leaves there will be overnight success. Man Utd have thrown a lot of money in the transfer market, but have actually performed worse than us in last 5 years.
Irrespective or Leicester wining the league or not, the fact is that Arsenal never ever looked like winning the league. Armed with £300m or signing just a goalkeeper, Wenger simply lacked a strategic forward plan. This has been the case for at least 7 years!!!
I am far from Wengers biggest fan, but did anyone here actually watch the post match press conference in full? Yes he mentioned the fans, but he did not let rip on us whatsoever, he agreed that at times he deserved criticism but got praise, and other times he got criticised when he didn’t deserve it. He was being honest. I am absolutely glad hes gone, but tbh it wont be long before Le Grove turns on whatever manager we get in next, this forum just follows the same media bullshit and loves to create drama, sort your shit out… Read more »
This is what virulent Wengerism looks like.
This is what “victorious” would have looked like if Wenger had stayed until 2037.
https://youtu.be/aFRXfxTcTQM
Draw a line. Move on.
emirates stroller
Funny that you didnt mention Chelsea or Man City?
Carts
Agreed.
That is why he should have gone some time ago.
The point I am making is that Arsenal is a massive rebuild job and unless the
club is able to offer matched funding with the likes of two Manchester clubs
winning league titles is a pipe dream.
My guess is that both Liverpool and Spurs will be under intense pressure to
sell their best players and it is debatable how long Abramovich will continue
to pump money into the team at Chelsea as they are now planning a new
stadium.
Emirates “However, there is no guarantee that when Wenger leaves there will be overnight success. Man Utd have thrown a lot of money in the transfer market, but have actually performed worse than us in last 5 years.” You’re being extremely disingenuous to enrich your own pseudo guilt. I’ve never read a single post here that suggest anyone is expecting “overnight success” after Wenger. Stop the utter nonsense. It’s going to be slow grind after he leaves. Bad contracts have to be disentangled. An unbalanced and overpaid squad isn’t just going to just disappear. We do expect the squad to… Read more »
“Wenger made this club” ??
A big thank you to all the morons akbs whom reminds us that the Arsenal FC didn’t exist before le senile twat was hired.
Why is not winning a trophy for many years suddenly the reason He was sacked? I was there yesterday and all His supporters agreed it was time for him to go. We are stale stagnant and easy to play against. That is not the Arsenal I know and love. We never won the League for years after 1971 but we never got thrashed half a dozen times a season and we always were the team others didn’t like playing. I want us to be in Cup Finals and win trophies but the truth is I want us to be solid… Read more »
ES Respectfully, that goes with out saying, though. Name me one poster that has already submitted their unrealistic expectations? It doesn’t exist. If anything it seems like you’re creating a false narrative. Wenger has had unprecedented power over Arsenal PLC for far too long. What he, essentially, created is unfathomable among other top European clubs. He isn’t leaving us with 4-5 top players. He’s leaving us with next to none. The rebuild alone will take 2-3 transfer windows. The implementation will take at the very least 1 season. To regain top 4 might take at least one season. Therefore, anyone,… Read more »
“there is no guarantee that when Wenger leaves there will be overnight success. ”
We are more than ready to accept that fact.
CHANGE AT LAST!!
Ha! Ditto, Dissenter!!
I would have reluctantly waxed lyrical about Wenger if he had left in 2013 after the FA cup win against Hull city.
Since then Wenger displayed an utter lack of awareness that dictators typically show. He’s played the victim too often and pulled emotional tug strings in a very classless manner.
Expect some more musings from him. There are still 6-7 press conferences to go.
Gambon
“emirates strollerFunny that you didnt mention Chelsea or Man City?”
There you go..
“So our disappointments should be put into context. We have not been able
to rely on the unearned wealth poured into Chelsea and Man City by their owners in the last 10-12 years.”….
Dissenter
There is no pseudo guilt.
My criticism of Wenger was based on the decline of the team, because of poor
decision making.
However, that does not mean that I believe that Arsenal would/should have
won league title in last decade.
Let’s be realistic clubs like Man City and United can now spend a £100 million
on a single player and over £200 million + annually on refurbishing their squads.
Arsenal’s current horizon is spending a £100 million annually and even that
figure is not a certainty.
Wenger was definitely pushed out, that’s for sure. Fair play to Gazidis, didn’t think he had it in him.
ES,
Manure, when they realized Moyes or Van gaal weren’t working, they moved on. If Mou doesn’t compete for the league or the CL, he’ll be let go as well.
We should follow the same. If our new manager doesn’t work out, sack him.
We were never going to compete with Wenger in charge. That’s the point.
Romford
Welcome back. Another elite poster is back.
“it wont be long before Le Grove turns on whatever manager we get in next”
Only if he’s incompetent. In truth, it’s Wenger’s devotees and loyalists who are most likely to criticize the next manager.
“this forum just follows the same media bullshit and loves to create drama”
It’s actually the opposite. The media get their narrative from the fans in and around the stadium, from an AFTV, from a Le Grove.
Just ignore messages from Emirates stroller. He’s a clown.
Emirates
Carts and I have challenged you to point out ONE single post that suggest that there will be “overnight success”after Wenger.
Whatever you wrote was to soothe your own conflicted internal state. It’s not corroborated by anything that’s being said here. I hope writing that made you feel better.
Dissenter, thanks! Trust you’re well.
Hallelujah
Here’s to a new and hopefully exciting chapter starting in three/four months
Romford
I’m good.
Dissenter For me it was after the villa cup final he should have left. Superb football, superb performance… I still believe that is the best football I have seen from one team in an FA cup final in my lifetime… Of course you will get idiots on here saying we should thrash them as villa were near the bottom of the prem but I have been to Wembley many times to see Arsenal lose against inferior teams… Swindon Ipswich Luton Leeds (twice) West ham Leeds So for Arsenal to put such a perfect performance in a cup final was a… Read more »
Now that Wenger has finally been laid to waste…can’t his band of sycophantic lunatics go with him?
The cult of Arsene has got deep roots around Arsenal…let’s hope those terrible fans either wake up or fuck off.
Arsene was a bit of a charlatan who rode a wave of loyalty for a LONG time but my genuine hatred is actually directed to the so called fans who kept him in a job he was terrible at.
Arsenal fans out!
Romford Pele,
Are you the same poster mate. Did you leave Ozil out of your name?
Anyway, good to see the old timers back. WELCOME BACK.
It’s going to take more than Wenger leaving to restore enthusiasm in Arsenal.
There are many who know the problems go further. Wenger didn’t get those extensions at gunpoint, the deluded and apathy inducing majority share holder gave it to him.
We know there’s a lot of condescension of fans from the board of directors.
We know there’s very little football IQ at the board level.
Until these issues start to change, some are still going to stay away.
People are waiting for more moves than easing out Wenger.
Akilan The real point is that Wenger should have left several years ago when he failed to react to weaknesses in his squad and our team lacked robustness. Both the club’s senior management and Wenger himself should have recognised this and not hung on. However, that does not mean that we would have won league titles had we replaced him. I don’t think that Arsenal could have won league title in last decade apart from when we finished second to Leicester, but I do think that we underperformed on several occasions in Champions League when we could/should have performed better… Read more »
Akilan, haha yeah same person mate. Been well over a year that I forgot what I last had it down as.
Excited by the news. Rented out my ST this year so looking forward to going back to games next season with renewed optimism.
“Until these issues start to change, some are still going to stay away.”
Nah people will come flooding back in masses now. Obviously things are still far from perfect due to reasons you’ve alluded to but structures are beginning to take place. It’s still a work in progress of course but with the new backroom team, the new manager is someone who just needs to focus on the football.
Hopefully akb cunts like Pierre, Wallace Cc et al fucks off as well and supports whatever the specialist in failure decides to do next.
Emirates One, we didn’t even contend for a title in that time period. Surely you agree that we could have at least done that. Two, while we do not have the same resources that a City or United have, we still have ample resources: it is not unreasonable to believe that we can win a title every ten years. Three, Leicester combined smart signings, defensive discipline and razor-sharp counterattacking football to win a title in that time; if a club of their size could do that, so too could Arsenal. (Atletico have won a title in that time as well,… Read more »
‘Nah people will come flooding back in masses now.’
Depends on who is appointed. Could still get all messy real fast
“Depends on who is appointed. Could still get all messy real fast”
Quite possibly but what I think the team needs more than anything is just a new voice. The bar has been set so low that anyone is gonna get time, even if some don’t agree with the appointment. We need to give the new manager time, whoever it is, unless he’s seriously underperforming (worse than what we’re doing now).
Romford Pele
Yes I am sure that a lot of season ticket holders will renew and also reappear.
However, I think that Arsenal has a problem with its club level. It is too expensive and many of these seats were taken up in past by fair weather supporters.
This was the most barren part of stadium at yesterday’s game.
Emirates – yes our commercials are rubbish (another big part of why Wenger had to go). While the empty seats had been paid for, it still didn’t look good for our brand, especially as we’re trying to negotiate loads of new deals atm. Kit sponsor with Nike/Adidas being the main one. Also there’ll be massive upheaval from a player perspective. We got rid of loads last summer but still have many remaining to shift. For example, even Per retiring and Santi going will free up the best part of £200k in wages, so while we may not have loads to… Read more »
Good point, Romford.
Who would you like to see? Looking at Simeone, Pep, Zidane and the success they’ve had with their former clubs, I would love to see an Arsenal legend given a chance. Surely there’s gotta be one who can make a great pitch and present new,interesting ideas.
Bamford 10
Your last paragraph is precisely the point I have been making.
Arsenal became a weak and fragile team with little substance.
Our performance in last two games against Newcastle and West Ham reinforces that point. Modest teams came onto the pitch intent on bullying us
and succeeding.
One of the reasons that I want Wilshire offloaded is that apart from being a
mediocre footballer he is easily pushed off the ball and then spends time
lying prostrate on ground. Too many other players were equally fragile.
In other news, there are some good football games this week:
Liverpool v. Roma (Tuesday)
Madrid v. Bayern (Wednesday)
Arsenal v. Atletico (Thursday)
I think fans would want to see improvement in certain areas of the team and purchases suitable for this improvement and in a timescale that would not be considered as plenty of time for maybe others. This doesn’t mean winning or genuinely challenging for titles in quick time but showing shoots of improvement in areas which have been lacking. The manager has been gotten rid of because he has been very weak in certain aspects which everyone knows about for a long time. These weaknesses need to be addressed pretty quickly. If we see goals flying in everywhere at both… Read more »
ES,
That’s the point mate. We’re a massive club.
IMO, one league title or a genuine CL run will absolutely galvanize the entire club. Heck even a league challenge like Liverpool would absolutely unite the fan base. That’s why the Leicester season was a huge missed opportunity. It’s on him and him alone.
Players I would definitely keep:
Aubameyang
Lacazette
Ozil
Ramsey
Monreal
Koscielny( for the experienced pro role, cause every team needs one )
There is a decision to be made with regards to all the remaining players.
Underrated Coq, i’m really not sure you know. As glad as I am that Wenger is going, 22 years of watching us under him has naturally shaped the way I watch football so it’d be nice to have an attacking manager who plays good stuff but with better structure and positional sense. With that in mind, Sarri (Napoli) and Tuchel (PSG?) spring to mind. None of them have a great history with trophies although you have to start from somewhere. Ancelotti I feel is getting quite archaic from a tactical perspective although he’ experienced everywhere and has won the PL… Read more »
I am getting fed up with this whole debate of not honouring Wenger by singing his name now that he’s gone. Yes he did a lot for the club but he got selfish and put his own needs above the club halfway through his tenure. He was too proud to try to get help around him and also maintained some false stability with mediocre staff and players. When he came to Arsenal, he had a great idea of how football should be played and also improved diets of players and applied a lot of technology in terms of stats for… Read more »
Romford
Welcome back, lad. Hope all is well!
Underrated, hard to assess RE players. Some may have just stagnated loads under Wenger and need reinvigorating under a new manager. Also I don’t think we can afford to have so much upheaval in one summer. We don’t have the money to bring in that much personnel. That said, those i’m definitely shifting:
Cech/Ospina (Ideally shift both but that might be too much in one summer)
Per
Mustafi
Kolasinac
Chambers/Holding (keep one, preferably the latter)
Jack *sighs*
Akpom
Campbell
Jenkinson
Brammall
Perez
Santi
Iwobi
Welbeck (he’s trash but a new manager might like his versatility)
Carts, good my man! Hope you’re well.
Carts
“He isn’t leaving us with 4-5 top players. He’s leaving us with next to none.”
Monreal, Ramsey, Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang…?
I also think the penny’s finally dropped with Xhaka w/r/t the demands of PL football, and would be interested to see what a new guy can do with Mustafi & Bellerin.
I want to make a point about Xhaka which will not prove popular on Le Grove.
Yesterday he remonstrated with the referee after Elneny got injured and got
yellow carded. This followed several very robust and in some cases dangerous
tackles from West Ham players.
Later in the game Xhaka was seen after we conceded the goal to remonstrate
with the other Arsenal players that should go forward and attack.
Whatever some supporters may think about him I do think that he may have
some leadership qualities noticeably missing elsewhere in team.
As mihkatarhan and Aubameyang are not playing on Thursday, Ramsey should be pushed further forward so it will probably be Welbeck, lacazette, özil with Ramsey making runs from deep.
Xhaka and maitland niles in the middle though Wenger will probably opt for Wilshere if fit.
The back 4 will be a liability that goes without saying… Have to hope kosielny is at the top of his game.. Depends if Madrid come to attack or play it cagey..
Again the line that the squad is ok seems lazy thinking again.
A new manager can improve the existing squad but to really challenge changes in the first XI need to be made.
Players like Mustafi, Xhaka and Bellerin could be cut out overnight and with a competent manager who knows what he is doing and replaces these with players that will be of more suitability in addressing weaknesses the team have shown in the past.
Interesting times ahead. Glad he is gone. Can we mow move on and talk about the future without talking about Wenger?
As for a new coach Jardim or Nagelsmann for me. dont think we will get either Sarri or Allegri.
Emirates
I thought Xhaka got his yellow-card for a bad tackle?
RP,
Are you sure of 4 consecutive titles mate? As of now, Napoli are the favourites for the serie A title. Juve play Inter & Roma away. Both are fighting for the CL place.
Pretty sure you meant 2 CL finals mate. Sorry to be that guy, just couldn’t resist.
EmiratesstrollerApril 23, 2018 11:00:03
“Whatever some supporters may think about him I do think that he may have
some leadership qualities noticeably missing elsewhere in team.”
Leadership qualities have to be backed up with leadership football by that player on the pitch.
It’s no good shouting and bawling on the pitch if you play like a goof too many times.
No-one is going to take you seriously.
Akilan – sorry meant 3 titles in a row and 2 CL finals he reached!
I’m hoping Napoli win the title though, they play amazing football and have great support. Would be their first title since the Maradona days o it’d be a great story.
Never put too much stock in the ‘top player’ myth. Ability is clearly necessary, but I’d argue suitability to a system is far more important – and THE summer objective for incomings.
Liverpool and Spurs show the benefits of precisely that.
ES,
Xhaka was carded for a oor challenge. The ref allowed the advantage and the game continued for a while. He booked him may be a couple of minutes later when the play stopped.
Though I agree with your general point. He’s been decent of late.
Very hard to see us getting past Atletico. You’d need Lolo to have the game of his life but his Achilles has pretty much ruined him now. Mustafi is a clown. Realistically we need to score and keep a clean sheet to have a chance going into the second leg so a 1-0 would be welcome. We have quite a good home record surprisingly despite how dysfunctional as a team we are but I feel like we’re gonna play right into Atleti’s hands.
Emirates
Xhaka’s leadership qualities are obvious, his mum trusted him with the house key over his older brother. #elite
Stroller
I agree, xhaka has been looking the part for a while now.
Also agree with the soft refereeing but that’s been going on for the last ten years and it ain’t gonna change whilst Wenger is at the club..
He has made too many enemies within the refereeing fraternity over the years starting with the Mike Riley, the boss of the PGMOL.
That has probably one of Wengers biggest mistakes in not following in Alex Fergusons footsteps and getting other managers and refs and the media on his side it always seems to be Wenger against the world.
yeah, with Mkhi out and Auba ineligible we’re basically going at it with the squad we started the season with minus Alexis, Giroud, Walcott & Coquelin.
‘I also think the penny’s finally dropped with Xhaka w/r/t the demands of PL football, and would be interested to see what a new guy can do with Mustafi & Bellerin.’
There really should be no place in the squad, let alone the first 11, for error-prone and unreliable players.
Bellerin is just the most overrated player, I don’t see what he offers? Looks so clueless when he goes forward in a supporting role.
People must remember that the Xhaka signing reeked of Wenger’s extravagant naive philosophy. As has been said before a luxury midfielder.
Now the man is going to leave the building it is puzzling why some still harbour good hopes for Xhaka and still in some cases laud him.
People moan about defence and the conceding of goals but yet they are still happy to have sitting in front of that defence a so-called holding/defensive midfielder who just doesn’t have the requirements to protect that defence in any consistent way.
At long last….
It should of happened years ago.
Mediocrity is applauded at the emirates . I really couldn’t believe some of the crap that our fans were clapping at the game yesterday.
And over hearing some 20 something behind me name Ozil in his all time Wenger 11 .
Ha ha …. just shows what the issue is.
Arsenal from top to bottom have lacked , heart, aggression , desire , a spine, and balls , for far too long.
“Can we mow move on and talk about the future without talking about Wenger?”
That would be too much to ask to some Grovers who also post on Untold.
Is Costa will be fit for thursday ?? If he is, we are screwed.
Mkhi a huge miss for the home leg, i think.
Ishola 70
He did not shout at the other players. He was gesticulating with his arms.
No wonder the players were crying .
Wallace
Fair enough, but even that is debatable among a lot of supporters.