To make a bad weekend even worse, tragic news just dropped the Jose Antonio Reyes passed away after a car accident. A tragic loss of a young life. He was one of the most exciting ‘out of the blue’ signing from way back when and certainly an unsung hero of our invincibles era. Thoughts are prayers of everyone at Le Grove are with his family right now.
Onto football.
I took a pretty big swipe at our ailing manager yesterday, and many people felt I should focus more of my energy at the family running the show.
So let’s talk about what running a club with vision and purpose looks like. What better place to look than Spurs and Liverpool? (I know, it hurts so bad)
5 years ago, Arsenal had just finished the season in 3rd place. Spurs and Liverpool had finished 5th and 6th respectively. Neither team had broken 60 goals.
Arsenal were ahead of the game. We had built our stadium, we had better players, and we were still enjoying our superb run of Champions League football.
So what happened? As we wrote extensively at the time. The Kroenke family were happy to watch their fortune grow because they are real estate people. Sadly, they didn’t pay attention to the reality of what was going on pitch side. They couldn’t recognise the decline in the football, they didn’t understand what the influx of money was going to do to the competition in the league, and they only paid attention to the standard health metrics of the business… namely, that all financials were ticking upwards.
That said, here’s where so many fans get things brutally wrong. They’re not bloodsuckers. They have invested ample funds in Arsenal. We have had exactly the same chance at greatness as the rest of the teams around us. The single biggest failure of Arsenal was to keep Wenger on way beyond his sell-by date, the second biggest failure was on Ivan Gazidis for his cuck like behavior in not at the very least building an elite team around him. The third was the missed opportunities. Sign Sven Mislintat and Jurgen Klopp 5 years ago when we could have, we’re talking about a different Arsenal. We could have had Pep Guardiola. The list goes on.
Ivan didn’t have a real football vision for the club. He had some really nice platitudes that he’d parrot at the AGMs, but there was zero know-how for delivering his substanceless proclamations that we’d become like Bayern Munich (‘be like them’ isn’t really a vision).
No vision, no philosophy, no structure, and a bad manager was a recipe for criminal wastage… not just that, we had a placid fanbase that didn’t understand the damage their father like manager was doing (even now, people still talk about him like he’s an absent dad and it’s f*cking creepy).
Spurs and Liverpool didn’t have the same issues. They both embarked on a similar plan of attack. They hired in two managers that boasted vision, coaching skills, outrageous charisma, and absolute belief in the project they were taking on. A manager is step one, it’s always the simplest way to impact a club. Know what you want to do, then find people with the energy to deliver it.
Spurs wanted to bring through young players and coach them to elite levels. They wanted a core of British players that loved playing with each other and felt deep affinity to the manager and club (Arsene > Project Youth). They had a good crop of kids that blended in with very smart buys from around the globe. The football might not always be that technical, but the work ethic is a sight to behold. Their players are more than the sum of their parts, they are an uncompromising beast of a team.
Liverpool, it was simple, they wanted to play heavy metal football. Klopp made great strides in season one and slowly built players around his exciting vision. Power, pace, flair, aggression and warlike mentality from everyone was the absolute standard. No one has more fire than the manager, he’s someone they all love, and he loves them back.
Also, the fans knew what was coming, they bought into the energy and they saw actual progress on the pitch.
Both managers galvanised the fanbase.
‘But, but, but…’
The money, right? Stan K doesn’t invest, he’s a leech, he’s going to bring us down…
Not quite my friends. The Kroenke’s biggest weakness now is the one that’s going to sting them very badly moving forward. They didn’t take the time to understand what was going on at shop level. My guess is they haven’t wanted to be bothered because they’re making magic with The Rams. They don’t really get football, they’d like to succeed, but they’ve entrusted average people with the fortunes of the club, which was fine when elite average could get your top 4 every year, now the bar has shifted.
Arsenal has a net spend of €288m over the past 5 seasons. We’ve dropped almost €500m on players.
Liverpool, a team everyone calls cheque book these days, has a net spend over 5 years of… €204m! €84m less than Arsenal! Their outlay over 5 years is €710m, but 50% of that has come in the last two seasons because… the vision they implemented started reaping financial rewards!
Spurs success, as much as it pains me, is even more staggering. Their net spend sits at €42m over 5 years. Think about that, we’re out here crying that poor old Emery only had €83m to spend last summer! Spurs total player expenditure over a 5 year period has been €328m. (Numbers sources from Transfermarkt)
Wages paints an even starker picture. Liverpool has spent £990m on player wages (Swiss Ramble sourced) over 5 years, with Arsenal right up behind them having dropped a STAGGERING £975m. Spurs, a team in the Champions League final, having just built a new stadium, have spent £576m!
Let me put this into a harsher light… Spurs wage bill is actually £18m lower than ours was FIVE YEARS AGO.
Our weak leadership has consistently thrown their hands up and said we can’t compete because of money. As you all know, we’ve been saying that’s a loser mindset. The best thinkers always find a way to at least get themselves into the mixer. Atleti, Dortmund, Ajax to name but a few.
Luckily for Arsenal, all is not lost.
I have very little faith that current leadership is going to fix this mess. The vision for the club is meek at best, I don’t understand the action plan, and there’s no timeline against it. The shift we made this year is at least there’s now a loose idea of how a football club should be run, the problem is I’m not sure we have the expertise to deliver, even to the ‘proud’ part of it.
We’re going to feel the brute force of how a well-intentioned structure will always fail when average people are attached to its success. Arsenal is littered with people that don’t know what they’re doing, don’t understand the values of the club, and will ultimately fail. Also, please don’t think I mean that about everyone, the club is also full of a lot of absolute heroes who love the club and want to make it better.
There is hope. We are an institution, we are London based, we generate tremendous revenue streams, we have class, values and integrity… and we are a beautiful sleeping giant. When the Kroenke’s finally wake up, pull the wool from their eyes and take positive action by making people truly accountable for something exciting, we’ll be able to make the climb back up to the top.
… but what we can’t keep doing as fans is continue to celebrate average. We can’t keep groaning that it’s impossible to attain greatness. We can’t have such embarrassingly low standards.
Strong leadership shouldn’t be hard to find with the resources we have available. An exciting vision isn’t that hard to formulate if you are talented and ambitious. Moving Arsenal up a level in every department should be low hanging fruit.
… I just don’t think the reality has kicked in with those that own Arsenal.
Today is a dark day for Arsenal. Two teams that five years ago were in much worse positions commercially, financially and on the pitch are in the final of a trophy we’re not even good enough to qualify for.
The exec leadership can either lie down and accept it, or they can pull their finger out and get a little more serious about implementing an exciting vision for the future of our great club.
Let’s see where this summer goes, but for now, let’s all hide in a box and pray the worst doesn’t happen this evening.
x
Origi too has been quite shit
Waiting for spurs to score, Liverpool look awful.
Next goal wins
Nearly fucking threw up there..
Liverpool, so below par.
Spurs have started operation shoot on sight.
Lloriente to score own goal
Lol Charlie same,
Effing mistake
Penalty
VVD The difference. Spurs more composed in attack, liverpool are shitting the bed here.
Whoever scores next wins this game.
thank god outside
Will be weird if a bad referee decision decides the CL.winner
Salah is a BTEC Robben
omg this is Eriksens moment to give me a massive fuck you…
Love you really mate, top quality
That’s why they spend so much on a goalie
Sound save Allison
Thank you….
This is Sunday league, GK’s ;literally hoofing it end to end and the rest rushing.
Chess Un naai? Seen more elaborate games of connect four mate.
ooooops
Sigh of relief
That’s it
Thank fuck.
Oriiigggiii
Thank you and goodnight !!
If we buy Doherty and Chilwell we are close to liverpool/city level in fullbacks
yes 2-0 ….sorted!
GET IN
Close up on Spurs fans please….
Thank Ickes for that
We dodged a massive bullet here
Could have been the banter club of London forever
Poch is a fraud. Never won anything!
Yes!
Fcuk of Spurs cuntz..FCUK RIGHT OFF!!
Yes shots already of Spurs fans in tears.
They actually thought they could win the CL loool
World class finish that from Origi.
As much as I dispose the scousers, thank fuck for that
Yes!! C’mon pool of piss you can do it!!
I was holding back posting to avoid jinxing anything!
Origi the hero
VVD and Allison have proven their worth in the last twenty minutes.
Stepped up big time.
Must be said the all English final is one of the worst in recent memory
That’s more like it
Fucking hell, i can enjoy my night now.
What a relief.
Despise *
No way would I have ever tolerated seeing the scum win tonight.
Always said origi was quality.
Even when he was out of favour at liverpool and being loaned out.
Yep liverpool owe VVD big time.
Lol how low have Arsenal sunk? The gloating is embarrassing really.
To quote Prince…this is what it sounds like when spuds cry…
Come on in your best scouse accents:
“We shall not, we shall not be moved”
VVD and Alisson have been stand outs. Worth every penny
And there you have it. Klopp master class with the subs.
It’s been like a pre-season friendly, total opposite of what was expected.
Thank fuck that lot didn’t win though. Nevertheless, fuck Liverpool and their mouthy cunt fans.
Fuck them both, up the Arsenal.
Spurs were unlucky with the referee
Not that I care
VVD now ahead of Messi in the race for Ballon D’or. Massive massive player
Thought they had their name on the trophy… Jammy pricks who should have finished 5th
Wow.
So happy it aint spurs
May be telling how low we ve sunk but fml it aint spurs winning the UCL.
Thank god
What’s peoples man of the match?
Liverpool’s Danny Welbeck is better than our Danny Welbeck
Thomas
‘The gloating is embarrassing really.’
Not at all.
Kane shouldn’t have played. Pochettino should have kept the spirit of the side that got them so far.
Worrying about what the neighbors are doing while the house is on fire.
The reactions on here really shows what small club Arsenal have become thanks to the specialist in failure and his loser culture.
Haha Thomas you are a dick.
You can never, EVER gloat too much about spurs not winning the CL.
You cunt.
@ Thomas Easy there. Spurs fans gave us hell when we lost to Barca in 2006. I don’t get some Arsenal fans? So what we can’t laugh at Spurs again!? Are you expecting them to be in the UCL final again next season? If we had taken our chances in the league we could have pushed them out of the Top 4 as well (Auba here’s looking at you) We lost to the Chavs and so we will take any joy we can. You think United fans would not have celebrated if Pool had lost? Get off it mate. Pool… Read more »
well deserved
fuck’em
You can see what it means to Virgil.
Poch, Poch, where’s your sauce?
Redemption.
Thank you Liverpool.
Liverpool bore most people to Champions League glory. Sign of a serious team tbf.
L’pool didn’t even show up today, just dared the scum to break them down. Masterclass from Klopp. He let them spread the ball to Trippier all day long. Only Seung posed a slight threat.
Awful game, bad advert for Epl. Spurs lucked their way to the final and it showed.
Takes some misery out of our misery
Klopp deserves this..
Wank performance but he deserves something for the work they put in
No team that loses 19 games in a season deserve to be champions of anything
Horrible game.
Van Dijk has been an absolute monster at the back. What a signing it has been for Klopp.
I think Poch made a massive blunder by starting with Kane. Delle Ali has been so toothless.
It is going to take a blowtorch and some pliers to untightened my anus
Kane looking more gormless than ever staring into the distance.
‘Thought they had their name on the trophy… Jammy pricks who should have finished 5th’
Rubbish ! I know you love to act as a super fan but Spurs are sadly miles ahead of us. Were the better side tonight as well.
Liverpool’s Danny Welbeck is better than our Danny Welbeck
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
World football is safe!
Thankyou Liverpool, The Arse has just dodged a bullet
Anyone else numb to seeing Liverpool actually win it?
Just turned it over, but the sight of them celebrating didnt even anger me, I don’t feel we’re anywhere near that level so it’s like watching Barcelona when in fact the emotion should be disgust vs absolute devastation if the other cunts had won.
We’ve got some shit to get sorted this summer, fucking hope we make some strides. This irrelevant shit is not the one.
Loyika
Thomas is Steve the rent boy cunt who comes here from time to time.
At least we can show our faces at work on Monday morning without some Spurs fan rubbing our faces in it!
Fuck them.
Liverpool deserve that and so does Klopp.
Hopefully we don’t have to listen to Jenas go on and on about Spurs.
BOREFEST SNOOZEFEST SNOREFEST.
Agreed-now they will have problems
Karius vs Allison
Glad we have avoided years of gloating from the wankers down the road.
It would have been unbearable.
Oxlade Chamberlain has “won” the CL
Liverpool deserve it but boy are they mediocre technically once you strip away their power and nerve.
Champagne charlie
“Anyone else numb to seeing Liverpool actually win it?”
Well we’re not jumping up and down are we.
They deserve a trophy though this season.
Any pretend rivalry with Liverpool pales into insignificance today.
Don’t be jelly welly of them.
@ TR7
Being the better side means fvuk all on the night.
No one remembers the losers…we should know.
Were Chelsea the better side when they won it? Were United better than Bayern in 1999?
Bro Pool are a better side than Spurs regardless of the day.
We are behind both.
Liverpool playing poorly shows what level Spurs are at.
CL finalist last year ,97 points in the league and the CL winner now- pains to see Pool leapfrog us by such massive distance.
but Spurs are sadly miles ahead of us. Were the better side tonight as well.
No they are not!
Paulinho
Agreed.
When you face their physicality with physicality on their level they struggle.
They need an actual ST, Firmino is good, but they lack an actual ST and they should go all out for someone like Havertz I think to bring something different at CAM.
Some players just love to cry
Watching the face of the Spuds despair just makes me smile.
A very small positive to our awful defeat to Chelski.
Spurs are not miles ahead of Arsenal, that’s a bunch of crock. A little better, yes.
Jesus, to think some of you dare to comment on the game. How the fuck did the Scum dominate this game. Pool just sat back and are gonna laugh all the way to the bank. Easy, peasy tactics.
My boss is a spurs fan lololololol I’m going to rub it in like no ones business. Arsenal are shite and Spurs fans always rub in our failures so fuck them, fuck them hard. Cunts
You can’t luck your way to a Champions League trophy………….scum lovers can go fuck off.
Er
Poch still not won anything!
Alexander Arnold looks like he’s a real professional, not overreacting, as if he belongs there.
Alexander Arnold and Wan Bissaka…England are a bit spoiled for choice.
Pessimistic pat
Hope you don’t get fired on Monday.
Klopp has been to 3 UCL finals, was bound to win one. So he and Pool deserve it.
They do things like a proper club and we should put our heads down and hope our owner sees sense to do whats necessary.
Pep will be pissed that they didn’t see Spurs off in the quarters.
Pool will push them all the way again in the league next season.
We will still be in transition mode sadly.