Arsene Wenger delivers his final European disaster class™

by .

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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.

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Leedsgunner

“On another note. I wouldnt want Mertesacker anywhere near the youth team. Hes entitled to express his feelings but for someone to say theyd rather be sat on the bench or in the stands rather than play whilst contracted i dont want anywhere near the club. ”

Hear, hear. Agree 100%. Per is a nice enough fella but I think Wenger gave Per the job because he didn’t rock the boat and his international track record.

Isn’t Bergkamp available? Bring him back!!!!

Guns of SF

Ozil’s world is about to get a lot tougher and his salary may not look as appealing to him soon enough.

Spot on…. this fella might even put in a transfer request before we know it! lol

TR7

I am no fanboy of Ozil, rather I have been one of his vocal critics on here but I don’t understand why people are criticizing his performance when the match was lost due to absolutely horrible performances from Monreal,Bellerin and Welbeck. I have lost count of instances in which Monreal had 4-5 team mates in the opposition box to pass/cross the ball to and he absolutely fluffed all those opportunities. We don’t have players who can dribble through the lines or even wingers who can beat their markers. Thus the only way to build attack is to ensure enough bodies… Read more »

Leedsgunner

My take on Özil is this? Would any of our rivals love to have him? If the answer is yes… he still has a purpose for us — although he has been very disappointing with his performances especially in the Europa Cup. If he wanted a supersize salary, he needed to understand that he needs to step it up and scruitny and criticism comes with the territory… especially as our marquee player. He has everything to suit him to a tee. Preferred position – check. Highest earner – check. Super mobile strikers to feed – check. Star player – check.… Read more »

Leedsgunner

*is this.

Champagne charlie

Pedro

I’m a bit baffled people think otherwise.

Arsenal are sexy, we’re just that kind of awkward dude that was crazy popular in school but still dresses the same and uses wet look gel despite being a 10 underneath. We need a bit of wax, some new threads, and a splash of paco.

We’re about to be Justin Timberlake of 2007, it’s happening.

Gunner2301

Leeds

He is but i think it sets the wrong tone. Given that its not clear what the club stands for i can see how such a comment from someone who has captained the first team can be swept under the carpet. Hopefully a new manager with clear philosophy will change that and it will filter through the whole club.

Guns of SF

TR7 you are right, the entire team played like hell… but we are talking about a well rested, hardly played, fit Ozil in the biggest game of his Arsenal career. We all should have some expectations of our players- especially our leader, and our superstar. With that big contract comes big game expectations. I just feel that Ozil would have been happy to give the assist that lead to the one goal…. even if we ended up losing. He is playing for himself. This man has taken no accountability this season. When we needed a big time performance from him,… Read more »

gonsterous

poor Wenger. over the next couple years, he will have plenty of free time to reflect what went wrong and I’m sure he’ll find that he never build a back four strong enough to win the league, and that will fill him with regret…

Bob

Replace the shit of wilshere and Ramsay with draxler and Nabil Fekir and let’s see how ozil plays with world class players around him.

Arsnil

Ozil should only be on £35,000 a week. He’s already added the zero himself!!!!!

Leedsgunner

G2301

I was amazed when Per’s comments first came to light… from our captain as well. Then I was even more amazed when Wenger and the Club didn’t reprimand him.

Could you envisage Adams and PV4 saying such things?

Wenger has utterly devalued the office of captain at our club. It used to mean so much, now it means you are a crock… and unlikely to feature in the season.

Guns of SF

we need dynamic midfielders. Bob I like your picks Add to that NZonzi or a strong tall DM and lets see what happens. Get another speedy winger in the mix…

Replace back line
Drax
Fekir
Nznozi
Dembele

Pipe dream but oh man!

Zfree

CC Do we really have money to spend? Top 4 is gonna be a dogfight next year. We could very well be staring at 3 years outside the CL if we don’t get things absolutely spot on next season. I do think arsenal is an appealing destination for a manager. Less appealing for world class footballers so we’ll have to rely on Sven there to find some diamonds. I’m more of the belief that Arsene is leaving the club in the sort of shape that it will take 2-3 seasons (hopefully on 2) to get back into CL and have… Read more »

gambon

Arsenal are a huge name, and will always be able to get big players and big managers (as long as the money is good), However there is no doubt Wenger has done an absolutely dreadful job in recent years. He has slowly decimated the quality in the squad, and we are not 6th because of bad luck, we are 6th because there are 5 teams with far better squads out there. While both Manchester clubs have a lot of money, there is absolutely no way we should just sit back and let Spurs, Liverpool and CHelsea build better squads than… Read more »

Marko

I don’t understand why people are criticizing his performance when the match was lost due to absolutely horrible performances from Monreal,Bellerin and Welbeck.

We needed a goal we struggled to create all night had one shot on target and for the wages he’s on he was awful and keep in mind he’s been rested a lot lately being kept for the Europa league. In saying that Ramsey was 10 times worse. But for some reason the focus is never really on him

Marko

Alderweirald is another who’s on a free this summer. No excuses really the defence should be sorted

TR7

People here say replacing Bellerin should not be at the top of our priority list as we have bigger issues in our squad. Ballerina is as big a liability in our squad as Mustafi and Xhaka. Got to be offloaded. Costa goal was entirely on him and he is horrible going forward. He has fucking average for over 2 seasons now.

Marko

Its also massively noticable that Aubas shots per game has dropped from 3.6 in Germany to 2.2 at Arsenal. For a player to be taking 40% less shots is worrying.

We play tippy tappy shite and barely create or shoot. Once Wenger is gone that’ll be fixed. But yeah why does he hate signing legitimate wingers? Why has he never addressed the DM issue? Why has he been awful at recruiting defenders? Why has he never truly appreciated the goalkeeper position? Why did he last so long? How happy are we all now that he’s finally fucking off

gambon

Wenger doesnt in the slightest care about the captaincy. In fact, if you look at his ideas about socialist pay, and a lot of what he says, he probably despises the idea of someone being “in charge”. He probably got bummed by the prefect at boarding school, and thats driven his mindset ever since. Its just another of the little things Wenger has done to ruin the playing squad. Almost like “marginal losses” Imagine in 2004 after we won the double: ARSENAL BOARD: Arsene, spendid job. This team is incredible, we shouldnt change a thing. ARSENE: “No, I disagree. I… Read more »

Guns of SF

Gambon
Your post was a classic 17:36!!!
LOL

I will turn my back on physical midfielders. We need technical midgets, but most importantly they must be slow technical midgets.

I will avoid wide players like the plague. I think we should find as many central attacking midfielders as possible and try to put them in the same team.

Marko

“It’s possible yes,” Wenger told Sky Sports when asked whether an absence of Champions League football could affect Arsenal’s ability to make signings.

“But I think we have enough quality inside the club, and you always find one or two players who are happy to join.

Really going to miss him and his one or two max signings bullshit he’s always peddled. Good riddance

Guns of SF

I do feel that Wenger after the CL final, became delirious and copied the Barca blueprint of technical midgets.
I mean we had some good ones for short time. Hleb, Cesc, TR were not too bad.
Nasri…Arshavin

It just never worked.

Ive always said, he should never have diverted from the invincibles blueprint.

steve

@Gambon

The beginning of the end for Wenger started when Mourinho came into the league in 2004. Wenger has been a nervous wreck ever since. Like you said before he’s probably been heavily medicated since then.

Freddie Ljungberg

So we have quality in the squad and only need 1 or 2 players? To do what exactly, scrap for 6th again next season?

The clubs around us is not going to stand still, they will all work on improving their squads, so deluded. Thank Jebus we don’t have to endure another transfer window with him in charge, it’s been a nightmare every summer for yonks.

gambon

Steve

Yeah, Ive always said Mourinho destroyed Wenger.

Wenger built what he thought was the perfect team. Mourinho came in, eclipsed that team, showed Wenger no respect, constantly beat him, called him a voyeur and Wenger collapsed into a prison of his own mind.

Ever since then hes been sitting in an old rocking chair dribbling, constantly saying ‘super super class’ to himself while wanking off to his picture of Abou Diaby.

gambon

As a bare minimum we need:

GK
2 x CBs
2 x Full Backs
2 x CMs
1 x world class wide attacker

Its not just about positions though, its about the characteristics needed.

Everyone we bring in needs power, pace and work rate.

Guns of SF

Gambon
Great ideas but also, ages 21-25…. we need younger! But not too young
We need players who are of a different breed.
I hate liverpool but lately, their blitzkreig style is awesome to watch. would love to have players of that strength and determination…

Gunner2301

Leeds

Could you envisage Adams and PV4 saying such things?Wenger has utterly devalued the office of captain at our club. It used to mean so much, now it means you are a crock… and unlikely to feature in the season.

I was thinking that that’s why I posted the comment and No I can’t. Did Per even play after that statement or did he play once? I haven’t been following. Nice if you can get it. We’re obviously running a charity/convalescent home.

steve

@Gambon

“Ever since then hes been sitting in an old rocking chair dribbling, constantly saying ‘super super class’ to himself while wanking off to his picture of Abou Diaby.”

Haha. It’s pathetic how Wenger just seemed to completely capitulate. Just gave up pretty much. He could only compete when it was a two horse race. Enter Mourinho and that was enough to finish Wenger off.

gambon

Steve

Yep.

It was a 2 horse race and we usually finished 2nd.

It became a 3 horse race and we started finishing 2rd & 4th.

It was a 1 horse race in 15/16 and we finished 2nd.

Its now a 6 horse race, and we finish 6th.

Wenger just rolls over and lets any new challenger finish ahead of us.

If Everton had invested more in recent years Wenger wouldnt just accepted 7th.

UTarse

“we’re in great shape, people could do with just drawing a line and looking forward.”

What a dumb comment.

Gunner2301

Gambon 17:36 Cracker You missed this one from Keown when he was coaching the defence in 2006 and we all saw the difference it made and because Keown was getting the plaudits Wenger binned him. ‘There was one player who was making positional mistakes that were costing the team goals. I wanted to flag up these mistakes to the player by showing him the footage but Wenger did not want him to see it. ‘In Wenger’s view, if a player sees himself making mistakes the problem becomes even bigger in his own mind.” It kind of explains why we’re seeing… Read more »

Marko

Dele Alli is shite at Fortnite

salpardisenyc

That is where it all went wrong, had Wenger gone a with a little extra in summer 2008 and brought in Xabi and a keeper, we are very close to winning a title. Instead he fucked Xabi by not upping £3m, never got a keeper and bought AA23 with that money late in January. And it all went south from there and major questions started to arise regarding Wenger’s ability to take us forward. I then found Le Grove.

Marko

Also refused to sign Mark Schwerzer for 2 million.

Gunner2301

Sal

As much as I loved Arshavin he was totally the wrong purchase given what we needed the stats at the time showed that we were suffering defensively therefore that needed addressing not any offensive position, but we seen this time and again over the years from the fraud.

azed

” I then found Le Grove.”

Would you say Le Grove was the birth place of the #WengerOut movement?

salpardisenyc

2301

No doubt there, believe we fielded this back four in the semi at Old Trafford in 2009. Sagna, Toure, Silvestre, Gibbs with Almunia in net. Cost us the tie.

Azed

It was for me!

salpardisenyc

Oh ya and Song pinning the MF.

Bamford10

gambon

Great post at 18:04. “A prison of his own mind.” Spot on.

Dissenter

Would anyone take Marion Lemina from Southampton on a fire sale if they go down?
He played for Juve before moving to Southampton and looked fantastic before he got injured.
He still has four years left in his contract so won’t be cheap. He cost them £15 million from Juve.

Freddie Ljungberg

I’ve also been reading le grove from the start,
I wasn’t hardcore Wenger out at the time but doubts was starting to creep in.

Always enjoyed reading the more balanced posts from Pedro as opposed to Geoffs angry, sometimes incoherent rantings, but have always highly enjoyed reading the comments section, hugely entertaining for the most part:)

Dissenter

Southampton have had an eye for exceptionaly good value midfielders.
Mario Lemina may be the next one off that escalator

Rambo Ramsey

It has been reported Rui Faria, 42, is on Arsenal’s shortlist to replace Arsene Wenger, who will leave at the end of the season after 22 years in charge- BBC

Jose Mourinho’s assistant. The names we are being linked with is disgusting.

Dissenter

Arsenal are trying to get Burnley to agree to a guard of honor for Wenger in his last home game.
Do we realise that Burnley aretrying to get that 6th. There’s money and avoiding Europa league qualification on the line. Burnley should reject the request.

Guard if honor can be done after the game by former players.

salpardisenyc

Not to worry boys AVB has taken to running the Dakar rally so we can eliminate him from perspectives list.

Dissenter

“Dissenter Sounds like you want to suck Lemina off“

Sounds like you got dropped on the head in infancy and then served as an alter boy in your local parish

Guns of SF

shit im tired of waiting to hear who the new coach is. 3 more weeks seems like an eternity.
Im feeling more ok with Enrique and his massive salary… aside from that part, i do think he would be an massive upgrade and can pull some named players with him. I think he would have a vision of success that would be a good change. I mean others coaches would too, but I also feel he would bring the excitement factor too

Dissenter

Honestly if we are still at the lengthy shortlist stage in our search for manager then we are royally f* cked.
We should be at the 2-3 names stage by now.

Guns of SF

are Arsenal allowed to talk to coaches currently under contract or have to wait until the season ends? I suppose they seek permission from the other clubs- but are there rules around this, that current coaches cannot talk until season ends?

Bob

Out:
Welbeck
Wilshere
Ramsay
IN:
Nabil Fekir
Draxler
Dembela
Let’s see if ozil can improve then

TR7

Rui Faria? Just fuck off!

I wouldn’t have Mourinho as our manager, let alone his assistant – I mean I can’t think of a more underwhelming name for the job.

Guns of SF

The list is good Bob- just wish we can find the $$
Ramsey needs to be sold. For his own sake. He is stagnating here. Jack too.
Time to let them all go, if we are rebuilding.

Ozil would be benched after a few weeks…
Ozil is not the quickest player…

I would like to see much more speed and power in the team and midfield. Ozil lacks both

Bob

Jack wilshere and Ramsay have had almost 9years at arsenal I’m sorry but time to go with Wenger. Jack has 8 league goals in 8years

Guns of SF

Danny- 15M
Wilshere-15M
Ramsey- 40M
Mustafi- 20M
Iwobi-10M
Xhaka-30M

There’s some money here . Plus the 50M
180M money to spend

Vintage Gun

“poor Wenger. over the next couple years, he will have plenty of free time to reflect what went wrong and I’m sure he’ll find that he never build a back four strong enough to win the league, and that will fill him with regret…”

You reckon?

The only regret he’ll have is not following through on his plan to smear Novichok on Gazidi’s door knob before he got the chance to sack him.

After all, it’s all Gazidi’s fault for coming to a “Mutual agreement” with Wenger for him to leave at the “wrong time” . (How’s that even possible?)

Coach 15

Just got hold of a copy of the match day souvenir for Sunday’s game.
The front cover reads 22 Gun Salut,The remarkable 22 year career of Arsène Wenger.
That’s stretching it in anyone’s language.

Vintage Gun

Wilshere’s contract runs out next month. No money there.

Redtruth

The players and not Wenger are to blame when they lose and the players and not Wenger are to be congratulated when they win…….spot on Victorious

Carts

gambonMay 4, 2018
17:23:19

Spot on post!

Ray in LA

Thank you “gambon” [17:36:40] first genuine smile from me since the final whistle yesterday afternoon 🙂

Cheers

David Smith

Only needs a couple candidates to fall through and Stan will probably rehire him for his final year! Won’t be paying any attention to the sentimental claptrap coming up this weekend, this is a sad selfish man who has made survival at this club his life’s mission at the expense of all else. His MO wasn’t to win things, it was to get as far up Stans Arse as possible and stay there. And despite it all, Stan had to send his son to do the dirty. Josh Ks words about not sugar coating things were telling, Wenger had clearly… Read more »

HillWood

Bellerin only does 2things
Gets 10yrds into opposition half and passes backward
Or gets further forward and crosses to to absolutely no -one

David Smith

Any truth in reports Juve have contacted Ancelotti?

Buckhurst gun

So , after yesterday’s game , Wenger states that the team doesn’t need wholesale changes to be competitive – this kind of thinking is exactly why he has suffocated this club – we have been turned over , year after year in the exact same manner and even with his final days as manager he’s still got his head stuck firmly in the sand – and who better to reiterate just why wenger is going and put an end to any Europa hope than Diego Costa , who , just like drogba , Rooney and absolutely any 17/18 year old… Read more »

Bob

Ozil a German on £350 aweek 3 British players wilshere,Ramsay,welbeck put together don’t earn as much as ozil in aweek.

The britsh media find that hard to take.
On top wilshere is offerd less money

HighburyLegend

“Mesut Ozil says he endured a “frustrating, sleepless night” as Arsenal crashed out of the Europa League.”

You were sleeping on the pitch Mesut, that’s why you couldn’t sleep after the game.

Dissenter

Northern idiot
Do you have any footballing contributions to make?
You want to expound on your “risk averse open football”
That’s what we played yesterday right?

Come back when you’ve managed to dislodge Wenger’s dingus from your pharynx.

Terraloon

Buckhurst. The worry isn’t so much that AW is saying that it’s if the hierarchy at the club actually believe that and I get the feeling they actually do. The fact that Holding has been given a squeaky new contract, the fact that there is talk that Jack has an increased offer on the table and yes the rumoured £50 million budget suggests to me that they think the January window was better than it actually was. There is no way that more than a couple , maybe three at most players will be bought in in the summer and… Read more »

MGooner

We now hear that there is no money or only 50 million. Come on, even minnows like West Ham spend more than that and they do not charge the highest ticket prices in Europe.

How is it possible that Wenger was not spending money when we were sitting on a pile of cash and now we have no money?

PS. I was Wenger out since 2007. I was also for Usmanov, not Kronke.

Bob

If the British core players work hard one day then can make half as much as ozil makes in aweek.

Vintage Gun

@Buckhurst Gun

Fully agree. He’s still peddling out that line like he’s still gonna be here next season!

I got why he USED to say it (to pre warn fans that dismantling his failed team(s) ain’t happening during the summer(s) and thus keeping players who

Guns of SF

at least 5 players need to be brought in as starters.

Vintage Gun

@Buckhurst GunFully agree. He’s still peddling out that line like he’s still gonna be here next season!

I got why he USED to say it (to pre warn fans that dismantling his failed team(s) ain’t happening during the summer(s) and thus keeping players who
he trusted around him, regardless of their ability. All so he didn’t have to buy many proven players whom not only wouldn’t owe their career to him, but also would know what a modern tho club and training programmes should look like and thus exposing him much earlier.

He knew what he was doing.

HillWood

If there are thousands of empty seats on Sunday Wenger will just shrug it off as being a Bank holiday weekend

Buckhurst gun

Terra

I’m hoping that there’s no way , Sven and Raul are sitting there thinking the same as wenger – surely they are of sound enough mind to see what we’re lacking – Raul said he was excited by the project , that can’t involve not competing for the foreseeable future , can it ?

Guns of SF

Bring on Luis Enrique

Marko

Any truth in reports Juve have contacted Ancelotti?

That’d be nice. Allegri could be on then

MGooner

Bring on Luis Enrique

He would cost half of the transfer kitty for next year and deman at least 200 – 300 to build a new side.

Therefore, AFC will say he is not fit for the role and poke holes in his CV.

Terraloon

Buckhurst

You’d think but we are talking about Arsenal.

MGooner

Vintage, the shit players you refer to allowed up to compete in the CL for 10 + 10 years. Look at the back 4 composition when we beat RM with Zidane, Beckham & co. We had SENDEROS and FLAMSTER in that back 4!!!

We failed to make it to the CL when we bought “TOP PLAYERS” like Sanchez and Ozil.

Sanchez destroyed our chances to be in the CL last year. His performance this year also was poor. With Lucas Perez and another average but committed midfielder in place of Ozil, we would have been in top 4 as usual.

BacaryisGod

In a strange way, Arsene has done the incoming manager a big favor. When Moyes replaced Fergie, Man United had just won the title and had the same squad in place. With Arsene leaving, his replacement will have Aubameyang for the full season along with a lot of very talented players (if someone told you 5 years ago we would have Auba, Mkhitaryan and Ozil in our starting XI everyone would be salivating). He’s also leaving the new manager with the following to compete against: 6th in the league (hopefully), EFL final and Europa League semi-final. That’s a pretty low… Read more »

BacaryisGod

So who are the main opposing players to cause Arsene so much anguish in the last 22 years. Off the top of my head there’s Drogba, Messi, Rooney, Costa, Harry Kane. Any others? Here’s a list of the most goals scored in Premier League by players against Arsene. Most of them don’t really register with me as being Voodoo players other than Drogba, Rooney and Kane. Rooney (12) Crouch (9) Drogba (8) Anelka (7) Bent (7) Hasselbaink (7) Kane (6) Sheringham (6) Yorke (6) The ones I remember most though are by players like Harewood, Carroll, Tiote, Bridge and Alex… Read more »

Guns of SF

Can someone tell me where this 50M (pure whole number) comes from? Has this been mentioned by IG? Is this the media?
How is the 6th richest club in the world strapped with only 50m?
I think we all tend to not question this stuff, as we have had a penny pinching manager for decades. But really…. where is the 50M coming from?

with some player sales, and the 50M, we might be able to get 2 good CB’s and a Keeper…
Keep Bell and Nacho

Anyhow, Id like someone to actually verify this figure

salpardisenyc

Wenger’s also leaving new manager with a back 5 that needs replacing if were honest, not even touching on the MF or left side of attack. No question we need a new spine barring our central attack. Enrique’s no fool, he knows whats needed and with those demands very likely taken out of conversation. Gazidas surely has a man selected and my money’s on minimal experience with loads of ‘potential’. Which translates to less managerial wage and more power for Raul and Sven to maneuver. Those days of pure managerial ownership over all depart with Wenger as Gazidas new structure… Read more »

Guns of SF

Sal

The shit players were Wengers babies. Im glad that when he leaves, they are fair game to be sold. Sven Ivan and Raul have no strings attached to them.
I am hoping we get a big name coach…. I think this club needs a kick up the ass and the last thing we need is a young coach getting run over by the larger personalities at the club…. everyone vying for more power and control.

gnarleygeorge9

I hope you are right Pedro with your call to arms!

Allegri for me, tho I don’t trust the board to do the proper thing.

salpardisenyc

In this order for:

Allegri
Jardim

If were going deep dive left field, fuck it the Bosnian. Imagine the banter when we turn Klopps Liverpool.

Billp79

how about we let Bouldy take over for the last few remaining games…???

David Smith

Still think it will be an Italian whose last name begins with A

leon

The big question for me is how much power will the manager have because Wenger had far too u h power at club, I thi k they have brought in a technical directer. But one thing is clear they need someone who can motivate the players because I dontbsee any intensity or hunger from these players.

Herb'sArmy

This decision will make or break Gazidis in terms of his relationship with the fans. With season-tickets up for renewal, he has to get it right. Sacking Wenger is a bold move, especially with the cost involved, but to make such a statement and then gamble on a manager with no proven track-record could easily negate the Wenger decision and blow up in their faces. They are well aware that the fan-base is fractured and deeply disappointed, and for the club to have any success they will need the fans on-side. To really push Arsenal on though, and to ever… Read more »

BacaryisGod

The 50 million hasn’t been attributed directly to anyone but it’s probably a reflection of our recent net spend amounts plus the lack of Champions League. It doesn’t also specify if player salaries (eg. a Ramsey increase for renewal) is part of that 50 million. Probably fair to see that the 50m amount is probably nonsense. Ivan and his goons have a massive excel spreadsheet with all the different variables plugged in and its a fluid amount based on all kinds of things, including sponsorship changes, loans to and from other clubs, player negotiations and releasing various players. It’s just… Read more »

BacaryisGod

The one major advantage we have is that Spurs are about to face a shitstorm. They have a large group of players who won’t accept taking second-tier salaries and they’ll have a stadium loan to repay. Right now, it looks like City are set for a period of dominance unless Pep walks away as he’s done at Barca and Bayern. Man United and Liverpool have the global brand recognition, ambitious owners to stay in the top 4 without too much stress. It leaves us fighting with Chelsea and Tottenham for that 4th spot and Abramovich seems to have tired of… Read more »

El Tel

Good to see so many old Grovers return

Pedders, will you scrap the Le from Le Grove when He is gone? The site will need rebranding

Rainman

Comment of the day from Gambon, described Wenger down to a tee.

Dissenter

Zidane is a real prick for not allowing Real to gibe Barca the guard of honor when they meet in el-classico on Sunday.
Apparently. Zidane is angered because Barcelona did not see his side out on to the pitch after they won the Club World Cup in December. There is not expectation to give a guard of honor in the middle of the season because Real won a Mickey Mouse competition.
It’s astonishing because Barca are four games away from going an entire league season unbeaten.
Barca gave Real the honour in 2008 when Real had just won the league.

Freddie Ljungberg

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/700638/Arsenal-to-offer-Arsene-Wenger-successor-huge-transfer-budget?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+daily-star-football+%28Daily+Star+%3A%3A+Football+Feed%29

200 million budget and Allegri is the favorite?
Yes please. Not very likely at all though. We do need to spend about a 100m net though to get anywhere near the top of the table again.