Well, this is tough.
It’s a real mixed bag of feelings when you step up to write a post about a manager who is dying a painful metaphorical death in an undignified manner. Arsene Wenger looked like a stray dog tonight. One hit by two cars on a Spanish motorway, writhing in agony, hoping a juggernaut would make it quick and easy.
It took 180minutes, but the outcome was never really in doubt. In 2018, there was to be no fairytale ending for Wenger. Simeone controlled the both legs, like a cat with a mouse between its paws. The real torture was giving fans hope that there was a chance of escape.
At every level, Arsene-al were exposed.
Madrid survived the first leg through dogged determination, exceptional planning and an intense dedication to the gospel of the clean sheet.
The second leg was a little simpler. Make it all about Diego Costa. The Spanish/Brazilian picked up where he left off at Chelsea (pre-cup final). In the opening 6 minutes, he brutalised our backline, proving he was the alpha male. From an Oblak hoof, he won the first ball brushing Koscielny over, then swatting Monreal away with ease for a lash at our goal. It was humiliating to watch, I felt like a troubled parent seeing his kids decked on the playground, I wanted to run onto the pitch with a blanket and shout ‘you monster’ at Diego for bullying my babies.
Sadly, no one could intervene in the inevitable, Thomas Partey (who was excellent) won the ball in the middle of the park finding Griezmann, the Frenchman released Costa in behind Bellerin, the chipped finish evaded Ospina, and flatlined our hopes. So predictable he’d have that sort of game against a team that’s never really come to grips with his real-life boogeyman persona. Almost cruel he’d do that in Wenger’s last European match.
I’d be foolish to put it all on bad Diego juju, but his leadership from the front inspired a world-class Atleti defensive performance that limited Arsenal to 1 Xhaka shot on target all evening. Really poor considering our MO is apparently attacking football. I will give credit to Chambers who performed really well after coming on for Kos, who sadly looks like he’s in very bad shape for the future.
Outside that, Arsenal struggled with the usual issues. Jack Wilshere and Xhaka failed to impact the game under harsh pressing from Atleti, Ozil melted into nothingness showing the club have indeed made a huge mistake giving him a mega-deal under duress this year, Lacazette was easily absorbed by towering performances from Godin and co. We didn’t have many options on the bench, not that Wenger had done any sort of scenario planning to chase the game if things weren’t going his way against a resolute defensive team.
There was one moment when a ricocheted ball found its way into Ramsey’s path, I counted 4 Atleti players who were alert to the ball, it was unreal focus and animalistic determination to keep the clean sheet that muzzled the chance. I miss that sort of care for defending.
It was an ‘almost’ game. One that we’ve seen so many times over the years against teams that don’t really like possession. You’re convinced there’s a shred of hope, but the reality is Atleti had a next level, Arsene Wenger’s side absolutely did not. Men against boys. We were totally schooled in tactics, intensity and desire.
What this exit did prove is this: The campaign to remove Wenger was entirely correct. The people that fought for his continuation in the face of damning evidence were enablers of the rot. Martin Keown made a brutal attack on Ozil after the game that’s stealing a lot of headlines.
“And it’s almost like somebody needed to grab him a long time ago and give him a shake and say ‘we’re trying to get the ball to you, we are working for you but you’re not working for us’.
“I bet he doesn’t play again this season. He’ll have some emotional breakdown and won’t be able to play at the weekend.
“I don’t know how many illnesses he’s had this season. The fella is not kidding me. That is not a proper performance. He’s not giving everything and there’s much more under the bonnet. Somebody else will find it.
I’m game for digging the German out for another insipid performance, but let’s take a step back, where was Keown when Wenger was tanking the side over the last 5 years?
This was him in 2015:
“Arsene Wenger decides when he leaves Arsenal. The topic of Wenger comes up all the time and I think we should allow the great man to decide when he goes,”
This was him Feb last year:
“If he was to go at the end of the season I’m not sure the club would be ready. Which manager they would turn to?
“We’ve seen Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola arrive at Liverpool and City and they’ve not been successful either in terms of winning trophies.”
Arsenal has missed out on so many great managers over the last 6 years because of enabling comments like the above, along with the consistent drumbeat of ‘well, who else is there?’ from so-called experts. Now where are we? Our team is in tatters, we’re 6th in the league with Burnley breathing down our necks and our rebirth job is going to need £200m, but we only have £50m to do it with because we wasted £150m on a manager who has been a disaster with the chequebook.
… but here’s the thing. At least the Arsene Wenger chapter of our story is now over. I’d take any scenario over his on-going tenure. If the cost of him leaving is a stand in his name, so be it. I’ll carve the name plaque tomorrow and arrange the party to announce it.
Being predictably humiliated in major competitions will now be a thing of the past. I’m not saying we won’t have bad moments, but we’ll have less of them, and if we’re being beaten consistently in the same way, the manager will pay a price. We’ll be like a real football club again.
We’ll hire a manager who can build a defence, imprint an attacking philosophy and provide innovative answers for the issues that happen on the pitch. We’ll move away from thinking values trump results. It’ll be magnificent.
I’m not saying I want a win-at-all-costs scumbag in charge, I’m just saying I want someone at the helm who can offer up an intelligent path forward for a club desperately lacking an identity. I want an exciting philosophy, I want a disciplined pressing style, I’d like someone to bring joy back to the Arsenal.
A club of our size and reported ambition should be fighting to be the best. We should be an excitement cauldron everyone wants to be bubbling in. We should be challenging past March. We should have a chance of winning major trophies when we’re in the semi-final. We should never be beaten before the game has started.
That’s coming.
Arsene going out of the Europa League a failure is sadly what he deserves, it’s what the club deserves. Why? Because sentimentality has no place in elite sport, and we’ve allowed the ‘thanks for the stadium’ tour go on for far too long. Our legendary manager had three chances of a glorious send-off over the past 4 years and he greedily middle fingered them all, with no one around him gutsy enough to tell him to quit while he had an open top bus parked outside Colney. Instead, he tried to make progress bend to his regressive whims, foolishly thinking the past was his future accountability. He treated the club like his own personal fiefdom and Arsenal became a weird lifestyle job for a rich old man no one could ask to leave. The ending was never going to be pretty, but now it’s well and truly over.
Wenger: 22 years in charge, 22 seasons of European football, 2 finals, 0 trophies.
A sorry return when all is said and done.
… but, I can promise you this, the next 22 years will deliver more.
We are The Arsenal, and things are about to start looking up. The future is bright, and now we can start getting truly excited for the next chapter.
See you in the comments.
DM
Bankz is here for the Tr4phy again
Hello
Tr4phy
4th
I told you guys, when it goes back to 9am there aint no stopping my tr4phy
No end product last night there is a big job this summer
Dammit!
6th is new 4th
nicely coined title, no passion yesterday, no belief and out of ideas relatively early on.
Hey DM. This was before 10am. What happened? The Atletico game making you skip work ? Wenger in!!
Ozil is done for me the guys is lazy he was walking most of the night
MrT, I never said I can’t do BEFORE 10am – many of my tr4phies have been at the 9am post. I just can’t do AT 10am as I’m always driving or away from my desk between around 930 and 1030
Excellent post Pedro
3 Euro finals combined actually
Wenger leaving is like winning a trophy.
Honestly, this feels more and more like kicking the man, the team and the fans while they are down. I dont think Wenger was to blame for either the home result or away performance (both performances were overall, pretty strong).
I will be glad when this season is over, Wenger is gone and I might be able to come back to this blog, which I do enjoy. Honestly it just feels like ‘i told you so’ and the kicking of a once great man while he is down.
After the first leg and their away goal, we needed to attack from the start and really have a go at them even if it would mean them scoring but no, all because of the bloody Wenger way.
We had ONE shot on target!!!!
Thank god he’s been sacked, just such a shame we had to suffer crap football for so many years like last nights display.
Awful and useless.
I hated Wenger before last night and now I hate him even more.
https://arseblog.com/2018/05/no-european-trophy-no-happy-ending-but/
Summed it up nicely. Can’t wait for the season to be over. Announce the new coach and get on with planning for next season.
At the game last night. Apart from the goal, we defended okay. Thought at times we created some good openings but final pass and ability to get a shot off were nowhere near good enough.
I am in the Wilshere out camp, we need to make room for an upgrade, but I thought yesterday was his best game in a while.
We do need a home grown quota so I think that will save Wilshire I would rather get rid of welbz the guy is shocking
“Honestly, this feels more and more like kicking the man, the team and the fans while they are down. I dont think Wenger was to blame for either the home result or away performance (both performances were overall, pretty strong). I will be glad when this season is over, Wenger is gone and I might be able to come back to this blog, which I do enjoy. Honestly it just feels like ‘i told you so’ and the kicking of a once great man while he is down.” ___ Well what do you expect? Wenger has brought all this on… Read more »
Allegri is the one, demanding, charismatic, bold, and a winner.
We have a superb footing for the future, I don’t care what any halfwit wants to say about that.
The right managerial appointment plus a few (note few, not wholesale) changes and we can start next season with renewed enthusiasm and excitement of times ahead.
“All the criticism he’s getting is warranted”
Except it isn’t. Never has been, he’s frankly always been the whipping boy for ALL of Arsenal’s faults/failures.
That’ll become ever clearer moving forward, but Wenger has gotten far more flak than he’s deserved. He leaves our greatest manager, we’re in great shape, people could do with just drawing a line and looking forward.
Watched the game from the box at the Emirates and Thomas was their best player in the first leg.
Come through the Madrid youth system.
Pedro pushing the Keown narrative to cause a stir.
You could wheel out quotes from all ex arsenal pundits veering away from criticising Wenger.
When you’ve played for a manager and won things with him it’s a lot harder to call for his head.
The criticism for Ozil remains valid and are TWO DIFFERENT things.
Sentimentality has no place in business.
But it remains with individuals.
Good bye Wenger and have a good rest
Absolutely don’t agree with many points in your post,and the worst one is when you said “The campaign to remove Wenger was correct Don’t agree that Simeone controlled both matches.We had many opportunities in both legs,and did’nt get the the result because of some inaccurate finish in the final third and NOT because of Simeone controlling the game.It looks that some people are exited that Wenger is leaving but I can assure everyone that He will long be remembered for his Philosophy,in making Arsenal from a BORING TEAM to a FOOTBALL TEAM ADMIRED AROUND THE WORLD.Gooners do NOT FORGET THIS… Read more »
” I’m always driving or away from my desk between around 930 and 1030″
So just like Arsenal you also can’t perform whilst travelling away DM?
@CC
“we’re in great shape”
___
Yeah I know right? Such a great shape really. Hahahahaha.
@CC
“He leaves our greatest manager”
Erm no he doesn’t.
@GOONER4EVER
“It looks that some people are exited that Wenger is leaving”
Of course we’re excited he’s leaving. Why the fuck wouldn’t we be?
Ozil’s attitude is an issue, but for me it’s just that he is way more limited as a player than people realise.All this attitude talk deflects away from the real issue, which is that he is limited in several areas and becomes extremely predictable and one-dimensional against a certain standard of defensive structure.No amount of effort from him will change that. In fact the more he tries to force things the worse he gets. Keown can’t seem to make his mind up what his issue is with Ozil. On one hand he talks about not working hard enough, and on… Read more »
Absolutely dogshit performance last night. We watched it with my mate who himself is a competitive team sport player. The moment the camera showed the team lined up to walk out onto the pitch, the moment we agreed their body language was all wrong. Heck, you could even tell that how eager they were to walk out. You would think they were Leyton Orient coming out to play Barcelona. So inspired. Not! I particularly did not like the look of Koscielny leading out the team. He genuinely did not look like he wanted to be there. Real shame about the… Read more »
Why was Ozil given a new contract.
Because you need a big name to attract big names who aren’t there just for the money
1 Aubemeyang
2 Ozil
3 lacazette
4 Ramsey
5 Monreal
6 Xhaka
7 El Nieny
8 Bellerin
The rest can be sold to raise money for new signings .
Just add 5 good players .
A playmaker ( Cazorla’s heir) for the mediocre Wilshere .
2 centre backs to replace our shambolic backline
1 defensive midfield brute
1 left winger .
With a good defense , we can get away with the goalkeeping issue .
Those
Paulinho
No, I think the issue is that our trio of Xhaka, Ramsey and Wilshire are not suited to play Wengerball in the mid.
By Wengerball, I meant the really beautiful possession based football served up during the kiddo years, 2006 to 2011.
The only time Arsenal played Wengerball in the last 7 years was a very brief period when we had Carzola-Coquelin as the core. That last like 9 months out of 96.
Agreed with you Pedro about Wenger giving the middle finger and refusing to leave at any one of the opportunities presented to him the last 4 years.
I feel nothing for him tbh. A fitting end to his career at Arsenal that perfectly illustrates the last 10 years under him.
ThanosMay 4, 2018 09:29:07
We do need a home grown quota so I think that will save Wilshire I would rather get rid of welbz the guy is shocking
Wilshere had had his chance . Time to send him elsewhere .
Let Maitland Nyles have a go at the quota . Heck I would have Mr Cajones from watford in his place
Black Hei – That’s an overall issue, which I agree with, but I’m talking about Ozil.
You probably think he is some perfect ‘Wengerball’ player. I don’t.
“He leaves our greatest manager, we’re in great shape, people could do with just drawing a line and looking forward.” Huh? How? We’re currently in the worst shape during Wengers ENTIRE reign. We’ve literally lost EVERY away match since the turn of the year regardless of opposition This defeat means that he leaves us out of the CL for the last two years as domestically we’re stuck in a pathetic 6 place damn near FORTY!!! (hahaha) points off the champions. And our playing squads a custard coloured,overpaid, tactically inept, pass the buck, pass the shot mess. So yeah, Great shape… Read more »
But anyway: glad this death by a thousand cuts nonsense is finally coming to an end. Been all for sacking Wenger for the best part of the decade.
Now it is up to the club to get it right. I think this team is better than its performances, so it is not like we have to go into fire sale mode, followed by a trolley dash.
Three more to go and this season is mercifully over. The only bonus is that Wenger’s Arsenal career is over in three as well.
What an absolute mess Wenger has made of recent years. Honestly, over the next 2 years I think we need to get rid of pretty much every player in our squad. This squad is a reflection of its manager, a bunch of frightened, kids with no accountability and no drive who are just happy to compete, not win. What the fuck are we going to do about Mesut Ozil? He is an absolutely dreadful player. Im sure the inevitable pre-assist he gets on the last day of the season will have all the AKB hipsters telling us we dont know… Read more »
Hooray for optimism! Wenger’s reign is over.
But let’s not get sentimental about him, his love affair was always with himself. Still is. He’ll be strutting his stuff with some other Club or country soon enough.
The idea of anointing him in any way is anathema.
The tie summed up his last 10 years, had we scored so would they as Pedro said over 2 legs it was cat with a mouse stuff. As for the mess he leaves …..well I still think a proper modern manager can get more out the squad. Let’s not kid ourselves he leaves a solid team / squad it’s nothing of the sort. This seasons away form and goals conceded tells you all you need to know.
PaulinhoMay 4, 2018 10:12:51 Black Hei – That’s an overall issue, which I agree with, but I’m talking about Ozil. You probably think he is some perfect ‘Wengerball’ player. I don’t. Ozil is the “icing on the cake” kind of player . He is kinda of a luxury in this mid table arsenal team . Give him to Liverpool though and you will see a different beast . What is obvious in the last year is that tactically, we have not seen the roving around ozil who has no fixed position. This has to do with the absence of cazorla… Read more »
Paulinho
The perfect Wengerball players are Carzola, Rosicky and Fabregas; IMO.
They pass, they move, they overwhelm.
When it clicks, it is really good to watch.
The last 7 years has been dry in football beauty, despite the trophies.
Oh and good post pedro.
Diego Costa made it look like we were defending against a nephilim at times last night. Completely out powered and fair play to him his Bane performance scared our bunch of Robins and Catwomen.
Bullied his way to the final
One strategy I noticed from Athletico Madrid over the two legs is what they did with Bellerin.
I can imagine Simeone saying .
” Look at that guy Bellerin, Let him have the ball and don’t get too close . He does not know how to cross. Just keep a eye on him but concentrate on the other overlapping fullback “
Great post, Pedro.
can’t wait for wenger to come out and blame his announcement to quit arsenal as the reason why we didn’t win the EL or finish higher…
Paulinho
What’s your take on Ramsey?
People still defending Wenger. I find it amazing. Psychologists should study the devotion to the man in the face of all the evidence of disaster.
Great piece, Pedro. I honestly don’t understand feeling bad for a guy who has done so much damage to the club. I can’t wait until he’s gone so the club can start the process of rebuilding. What a mess he’s left.
“I honestly don’t understand feeling bad for a guy who has done so much damage to the club. I can’t wait until he’s gone so the club can start the process of rebuilding. What a mess he’s left.”
Hyperbolic nonsense. Get a grip, Jesus…
Charlie – You do realise Ramsey and Ozil are held to two entirely different standards?
By the footballing world, and by virtue of the fact one earns about three times much as the other.
Ramsey has certain qualities and flaws. If I list his flaws no one will bat an eyelid, so there is no point.
We have a superb footing for the future, I don’t care what any halfwit wants to say about that. The right managerial appointment plus a few (note few, not wholesale) changes and we can start next season with renewed enthusiasm and excitement of times ahead. On the technical side of things I’d agree on the playing side we need major work. Literally need two new keepers, definitely need two new starting CB’s you could argue a back 4 with the only dependable defender we’ve got a 32 year old LB. Need a new midfield. Need a winger or two really.… Read more »
champagne charlie
You should know by now that everyone is fixated on their positions.
For us, we will always have good will towards Wenger.
For the majortiy at Le Grove, they feel nothing but contempt and jubilation.
Let it go man; we have seen some peace and tranquility over the last few days….there is certainly less fighting now that Wenger is leaving.
Our woeful defensive shape on their goal last night provides a good picture of one of Wenger’s greatest failings / deficiencies: his inability or unwillingness to impose discipline and shape upon the XI. If his early Arsenal sides had well-defined shape and discipline, it is fairly clear that this came from the players themselves, not from Wenger.
GalaxyGooner
“Give him to Liverpool though and you will see a different beast”
Liverpool would never sign Ozil. He is not a Liverpool type player.
Liverpool like effort and energy players. That doesn’t mean non-quality of course. Just that they value highly those traits.
Coutinho had and has much more buzz and overall energy about his game than Ozil.
Paulinho
I didn’t ask you to qualify Ramsey via Ozil, I asked your thoughts on Ramsey.
Because the scene is very clear, he’s in the last year of his deal and either he gets sold to fund a rebuild, or he signs a fat deal. Curious where you think the club should head given the landscape.
Our starters are weak powderpuff players and our bench is generally speaking poor. It’s not hyperbolic to think that this squad needs major work because it does. Even if you think Mustafi could do it under a new manager or think Xhaka can do it under a new manager or Ramsey could you still need the areas around them filled and that’s still a lot. This team is not one midfielder away from sorting out the midfield or one defender away from sorting out the defence there’s big work to be done
Charlie – Wouldn’t be too bothered if he was sold, especially if we revamp the squad and bring in more direct goal scoring wide players.
His importance for me was always linked to the state of our current squad. We need him with our current personnel.
Disappointed by his performance last night and last week though. He was shit.
Pedro
Regarding Keown, it’s very rare you get an ex player directly calling for a manager to lose his job.
It’s part of the footballers code.
Marko
I disagree, but lets avoid the can of worms because we’ve been there and done it.
My take is simple, a different manager gets 15 more points AT LEAST from this season over Wenger. The players we have are by and large of the requisite quality.
Additions needed, yes.
Coaching needed, yes.
Except that it’s true.
GUNNER4EVER You wrote “It looks that some people are exited that Wenger is leaving but I can assure everyone that He will long be remembered for his Philosophy,in making Arsenal from a BORING TEAM to a FOOTBALL TEAM ” What a classic!!!! It looks like some people are exited!!! The only one that is “exited” is Wenger and thank f*** for that. A team is always in the likeness of the manager and given that he has been here for 22 years the ccase is doubly so for this team. Can’t blame anyone else. They were a sheep in sheep’s… Read more »
Marko
Agreed 100%.
This is the most lightweight arsenal team I’ve ever known. Athletico showed that last night.
As someone who has defended Ramsey here, I too thought he was poor last night. I don’t think it would be a huge mistake to re-sign him (at 180k or so,) but I also wouldn’t have a problem with his being sold.
I would sell Ramsey considering everything and a new contract for him would mean a potential fuck up like Ozil as in a player on a fat contract only showing up when he wants to. Besides he’s apparently waiting to see his options and all that which doesn’t sound like a player up for the cause which was evident last night. Sell him and replace. And even though his contract has more than a year left sell Xhaka too no way he should survive. He had somewhat of a good game last night because I noticed two instances of good… Read more »
Paulinho
Tend to agree, outside of this past seasons additions I think anyone is game as far as squad turnover goes.
Honestly id sack off anyone thats wishy washy about being here, talking Ramsey who’s supposedly stalling on a new deal, Bellerin who wanted to go to Spain last summer, Mustafi who wanted Italy.
That’d be my first days objective as manager: who the fuck is desperate to do well for this club? ‘oh not you?’ gone.
Hey Guys, I have not posted in ages on this site, but last night I guess I was expecting this result and the way the match went on Mustafi I know he was going last summer but last min change due to we not getting a replacement. he has been really out of form even last night he got done 3/4 times by costa and throws a sliding tackle not even composed compare him to godin, that is the kind of defender we need Xhaka he did okay, but atletico were ready for us they defended deep closing gaps in… Read more »
Who absolutely, without question must be replaced in the XI for us to compete for top four next season?
I’d say Cech, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal and Xhaka.
Wilshere is also obviously unneeded.
Additions needed, yes. Coaching needed, yes. So we’re in agreement. Perhaps not on the number of additions but still agreement. You see for me I look at last night and think for so long it’s been easy for it to just blame Wenger for the shite on the field and a lot of it is justified criticism because he believed in these players by and large bought them and stuck by them and created this no accountability you see at the club. But at the same time that shouldn’t excuse the players for having zero fucking fight for the jersey… Read more »
if I was gazidis, I would speak to all the agents of our players and see if they can be sold and we can get something of our money back this summer I am not expecting big money signings but want smarter signings we need that pace and power next season we need physical players in the middle and a out and out winger the only problem is these players will come at a price Ramsey and Bellerin have sell on value so that could help but we need to be making deals like James to Bayern if we want… Read more »
Who absolutely, without question must be replaced in the XI for us to compete for top four next season?I’d say Cech, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal and Xhaka.
New starting keeper, two new starting CB’s and two new starting Midfielders.
Bamford10
I would honestly get rid of
Ramsey
Wilshire
Ozil (wenger tried making a team based around him but look at the state of us)
Ospina
Cech
Mustafi
Koscielney (his injury means he will be with us)
Bellerin
Monreal (too old now)
Welbeck
Jenkinson
Guys the question is
who can we buy this summer?
I know Sven loves his diamonds and we need those smart signings
but who would want to come to a team in Europa league two season in a row now
the only thing is which manager will we have, can they attract the top players
Honestly id sack off anyone thats wishy washy about being here, talking Ramsey who’s supposedly stalling on a new deal, Bellerin who wanted to go to Spain last summer, Mustafi who wanted Italy.
Absolutely. Don’t forget Ozil though who stalled on a new deal for about 18 months and who lets be honest here probably only signed once he realized no one else wanted him either wanted him or wanted him on those wages either way no way he gives two fucks about being here. Get rid
Gambon I was just about to type word for word your comment made at 10.19am If I look at those clubs that will finnish above Arsenal this season I honestly can’t see then wanting any of the squad that AW is leaving behind.People May argue about one or two players and that’s an opinion but O suspect other than a couple of clubs from lower down the league whose budgets ant possibly expectations are less who on earth is going to shell out on overpaid ,in decline Arsenal rejects? People say Chambers did ok last night but ok isn’t good… Read more »
Gunnershabs we shouldn’t have a problem attracting players providing the new manager is a good appointment
“but I also wouldn’t have a problem with his being sold.”
An interesting statement, Bamford. What has shifted in your thoughts regarding Ramsey to bring about this view?
Marko Off the ball we’re not good enough, that’s my biggest criticism of this side. Bellerin showed that yesterday (again) being 7/8 yards ADVANCED of Costa because his first thought was to break forward – totally neglecting the fact we had to defend and gain possession before that was achievable. 1-0 game over. A new manager fixes this, or certainly improves upon it greatly. Next you’ve got this mentality amongst the group, the apathetic stares, the refusal to point a finger and dig someone out. The nice guy culture embedded needs challenged, hard. Again, new manager can set the tone… Read more »
Did anyone ever think Thomas Partey was a top midfielder?
He’s been improving exponentially under good coaching at Atletico, something we have la key for the last 15 years.
We need to get this coaching decision right. We may not need to spend loads 9f money, just bring in a coach that really knows how to work with youth and give them time.
Look Wenger’s gone he’s literally going now in a couple of weeks but most of these players will (unfortunately) still be here next season and the performance last night showed they have no problems with playing in the Europa league again next season. They couldn’t give a shit what level of European football they would be playing next season they didn’t care. No fight whatsoever
Marko I do agree, I think we got the brand but I we need to be able to sell a project to the players and manager we need a good 3 year plan for now if we can get either Malcom or Leon Bailey we done well but we need to sell a Ramsey to fund that Max Meyer will be perfect, I do hope we already signed him because he would a straight swap with Wilshire and Cazorla replacement Defenders wont come cheap so this is where Sven has to be clever, get those hungry physical defenders around Europe… Read more »
The 2006 CL Final, and Wenger’s Barcelona obsession exposed all his flaws. But we didn’t have a Messi or anyone approaching that level, and Wenger isn’t disciplined enough to execute that plan. Wenger has coasted at Arsenal because there was no-one above him setting targets and demanding success. He may be a gentleman to some, for me, he became the most disingenuous man in football. Pound for pound, with the resources he’s had available, he is nowhere near Arsenal’s greatest manager. Since the Emirates move, he has achieved the bare minimum, now he can’t even hit those simple targets. Of… Read more »
GunnerShabz Given that we need 4-5 players, and given that we don’t have unlimited funds, I think people may have to accept that 2-3 of these new players might not be “big names.” This is not as much of a problem, IMO, as some here think, provided these signings are quality, no-nonsense players who play their role properly. Many here would have asked “who is N’Golo Kante?” if we had signed him in 2015 when Leicester did, and yet he was integral to two title-winning teams. And there are many other examples of players who are/were not massive names but… Read more »
Next you’ve got this mentality amongst the group, the apathetic stares, the refusal to point a finger and dig someone out. The nice guy culture embedded needs challenged, hard. Again, new manager can set the tone here and the floodgates can open exposing any personalities laying dormant. Another way is to bring in one or two that will make some waves. Agree with all of that and you’re absolutely right but at the same time Charlie it’s worth noting that some of these players are simply not good enough for us. I mean look going forward if our ambitions go… Read more »
He will long be remembered for his Philosophy,in making Arsenal from a BORING TEAM to a FOOTBALL TEAM ADMIRED AROUND THE WORLD.Gooners do NOT FORGET THIS GREAT GENTLEMAN for the STADIUM STATE OF THE ART,THE 21 YEAR CONSECUTIVE RECORD IN ECL,3 CHAMPIONSHIPS,49 RECORD UNBEATEN RUN,5 FA CUPS,1 FC CUP AND ABOVE ALL HE MADE ARSENAL THE PRIDE OF LONDON.I HOPE WE CAN FIND A REAL REPLACEMENT
thought I should repost this.
Bamford10
I agree, we need Sven and Raul to deliver with “smart” signings like the kante’s and dembeles
if we can pull of max mayer, that be a great start am hoping Sven has got his connections on that one he would be a great cazorla and Wilshire replacement
I am sure they some great potential from south America right now, hopefully our scouts are on the case
but yes, I am not expecting world class signings just good signings that will improve us
Frankie If you were to review my commentary on Ramsey, you’d see that it was never some kind of absolute for me. My point was always in response to some of the over-the-top (IMO) criticism of him from some here. My point was always that he was better than some of his critics here would have it, that he gave us engine, work-rate and technical quality in midfield, that you can’t sell the entire team wholesale, etc. And as I say, I also would still support his getting a new contract at 180 or so. But I also see why… Read more »
You can sell the whole team and we should.
There isn’t anything to build on.
Ramsay? Not that good.
Wilshere. Holy fuck no.
The defense? Errr…
Sell the lot and see what happens. At least it would be exciting.
marko Arsenal need to have the right tools to execute a particular system, and it’s here we’ve lacked big time in recent years. Very little width, absolutely no-one on the squad that can beat a man and produce a final ball/finish, not one good CM partnership, not one top ball playing GK, not one physically imposing CB. A lot of similar profiled players leading to much of a muchness, little to no variety in our game, and ultimately continued downfalls in similar scenarios. I hope we’ve decided upon the identity we want to assume from here on out and are… Read more »
Victorious Actually, he will long be remembered for the shambles our defensive/team shape was in games like last night (or against Monaco in 2015,) as well as shambolic displays like the 8-2, the 6-0,the 6-3, the 5-1, and the 10-2. He’ll also long be remembered for any number of inane, arrogant or dishonest remarks he made to the press and public. Of course he’ll also long be remembered for the great football Arsenal played when Arsenal were in fact playing great football, but he’ll also be remembered for the negatives I’ve highlighted above. His legacy will be a mixed one;… Read more »
Victorius
You can leave with Wenger.
You’re a fan of Arsene not Arsenal FC.
To have our wage bill and not be in the CL is criminal. Unless we do offload the shit from the club, how long do you think we’ll sustain a £250m wage bill?
I said it early this morning. The true scale of wengers reign of terror won’t become clear for a while…we are now the sixth or seventh best team in the league. The top five clubs are streets ahead of us financially, tactically, commercially and are established.
Arsenal are now irrelevant.
Charlie that’s exactly it. And you can’t all of a sudden turn these number 10’s into wingers who beat players or these deep lying playmakers to be defensive midfielders you can’t teach our defenders to have more of a presence if they’ve never had one so you have to bring in the players.
I actually think alexander golovin would be a good signing if we cant sign max mayer
he was really putting himself in the shop window when playing against us
Surely Zaha has to be considered?
I’d also chuck in a cheeky one for Pogba. Offer United Ramsay and cash and see what happens.
“Wenger looked like a stray dog tonight. One hit by two cars on a Spanish motorway, writhing in agony, hoping a juggernaut would make it quick and easy.”
I can’t lie, this got me because it’s so damn accurate.
Marko
Right, but where you advocate wholesale changes I’m of the opinion this team is transformed with 3/4 key ones.
Add me:
a Leno (quick, agile, imposing, good with his feet)
a Koulibaly (Physically dominant, defender first, leader)
a Max Meyer (tenacious, scrapper, baller)
a Malcolm (match winner, moment creator, committer)
Put them into the XI, and hand the reins to Allegri and you’ve got a very exciting season ahead full of optimism and genuine enthusiasm.