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Arsenal – better or worse off without Arsene Wenger?

Graham Fisher in Editorial, English Premier League 21 May 2009

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This has been a difficult season for Arsene Wenger. For the first time ever he has come in for a fair amount of criticism from his own supporters at Arsenal. Latest news from The Emirates suggests that he will be staying with the club but the criticism and rumours won’t go away.

Bad

It isn’t that Arsenal have had a particularly bad season. I can think of about eighty-nine other league clubs in England who would be absolutely thrilled with a fourth placed finish, Champions League qualification, Champions League semi-final and FA Cup semi-final.

The trouble is that for a club like Arsenal, one of the big four in England, another trophy less season after three similar campaigns is simply not good enough for some.

Rumours

Because of this scenario, rumours around Wenger leaving Arsenal are beginning to gather pace. The link with Real Madrid is becoming widely known, with one national newspaper saying he has been offered the job and has until today to make up his mind.

Certainly Wenger did nothing to dampen the speculation when he said earlier this week that managing Real would be “an interesting project”.

He has since been quoted as saying that he will stay at Arsenal, but when he was strongly criticized by sections of Arsenal fans at an open shareholders meeting recently, he was asked about a possible move to Madrid and he replied that he wanted to, “remain discreet on that matter”.

One man who knows Arsene Wenger well is former Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson. He has told the BBC that he is pretty sure that Wenger will stay at The Emirates.

“Knowing Arsene as I do, I don’t think he would ever walk out on a contract. When you sign a player like Arshavin for all that money and get a player like Cesc Fabregas to agree a seven year contract, the player and their representatives are surely going to say along the way, ‘where do you feature in this boss?’”

Wenger still has two years of his contract to run and he has always maintained that he would never break his deal with the club. However, the fifty-nine year old has never before faced what he perceives to be a lack of support from the Arsenal fans.

Wonderful

There is no doubt that Arsene Wenger has done a wonderful job at Arsenal, taking them to three Premier League titles and four FA Cup wins in his thirteen years at the club. On top of that he has been Premier League runner up five times, taken them to a Champions League final and UEFA Cup final as well as overseeing the move to a fantastic new stadium He has transformed the club into one of the most successful in England and Europe.

The problem for Wenger now is that he may have become a victim of his own success. He is determined to stand by the principles that have served him so well over the years, but the relative lack of success this has brought recently may well prove to be the end of what was a beautiful relationship.

Outsider

As an outsider and a fan of Watford, twenty miles from Arsenal in distance, a million miles from Arsenal in every other way, I find it absolutely amazing that some Arsenal fans would like to see the back of a man who has done so much for them. Obviously, as an outsider I don’t have the same feelings and emotions that the fans do and therefore am not in a great position to comment.

What I am unclear about at the moment is what percentage of Arsenal fans actually want to see Wenger go. Is it a small but vocal minority or is it a movement that is gathering pace.

If you are an Arsenal fan, let me know how you feel about the current situation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Graham Fisher


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  • chylo, Nigeria

    0 0

    Gooners ex-boss, Arsene must, no MUST go. He is a disgrace to the profession of football management. Sure we thank him for all his hard work for the football club but now is simply the time for him to go, as he has run out of ideas to the running of this club!

  • Ade

    0 0

    Brad its easy for u 2 say all dis wen u almost win champions league consecutively, yes no doubt arsene wenger a great great great manager but of recent hes had a bit of a brain twitch , mayb u havent been looking at the formations he playse against the top 4. u go n tell ferguson to try playin small boys against chelsea and we’ll c wer dat gets u. den if u feelin brave tell him to do it for a year like arsene n we’ll c if u have much to say afta dat.

  • Ade

    0 0

    c eh as much as i love arsenal and respect arsene wenger 4 every fin hes done come on 5 years no silver ware not even carling fuckin cup, sumfin has to change whether dats him leavin or not

  • Brad

    0 0

    Well whatever his faults, u cant deny Wenger is a great coach. If he leaves, who knows whatll happen to the Gooners?
    1. Fallout from Top 4……. ???
    2. Fallout from Top 10…..?????
    3. I aint sure i should even include this, but ill do it anyway: Relegation……???????
    Well that one waz extreme, i have doubts it could ever happen.

  • Brad

    0 0

    that wuz rude, zed, especially to ur own clubs coach.

  • zed

    0 0

    am an arsenal fan… sick n tired of all the petit excuses of wenger… a unch of excuses can’t replace a trophy or even won’t sustain the “efficient” usiness plans of the owners… supporters n business partners surely need some stimulus to carry the club on… 5 years… oh my god… i wish that club was in africa… where u can practice ur emotional drives without much restraint… where it would be morally acceptale to shoot adeayor, diaby, bendtner on the back… and the loser ebue (with a typical africanized mentality… midiocre and loser) on the neck… and wenger… too incofident to sign big names on the forehead….
    i hate u losers

  • John

    0 0

    I can’t imagine Arsenal without Wenger. This young and inexperienced side has made to two semi finals and a forth place finish. we did not win any trophies but we should definitely consider this a successful season. An improvement in the defense i.e. a world-class goal keeper, a central defender and a central midfielder will silence the critics. Wenger stays!

  • Brad

    0 0

    I am like kenmwu, a bonna fide MU fan, and yet have a great amount of respect for other clubs, especially Arsenal- for standin firm in their recent tough times- and Liverpool- for havin a strong fan base.
    I have never known an Arsenal without Wenger, and personally think that if he leaves, Arsenal will no longer be the team we all know, might even fall out of the Premiership. I may not be a Gooner, but I would like for Wenger to stay at Arsenal for the rest of his career.

  • Patrick

    0 0

    I bleed Arsenal, Gooner til I die! For Arsene Wenger to leave would be disastrous. What other manager can maintain this level of competition with the resources that we have? Not a one. Without Wenger, we would be a mid table team, Man City, Everton, Aston Villa, and (can’t believe I’m saying this) Spuds, I mean scum, no I mean Spurs, would finish ahead of us.

    There IS a lack of support at Arsenal, and the new Emirates Stadium is to blame. ZERO atmosphere. Highest prices in England. Half the stadium’s tickets are allocated to businessman and investors, not real fans, who don’t sing, cheer, or support the club in any way. Many of them leave early. The move from Highbury to Emirates means that there are now less Arsenal fans at games. I blame the board for forsaking the fans in favour of proftis and savvy business deals.

    In Arsene we Trust, anyone who says differently has either a short memory or no understanding of football. That said, I wouldn’t mind a tactician being hired to assist Wenger, especially for those big games against tactical managers like Hiddink.

  • kenmwu

    0 0

    I am a ManUtd fan to the fullest, but I still have the greatest amount of respect for Arsene Wenger, and in my opinion, Arsene and Arsenal are the same thing to me. Every long term manager will have a spell where their system or technique seems unsuccessful, but the game moves in cycles and when it comes around, those who wanted him gone will be singing his praises. Just like Kay4wenger said, look at Sir Alex for ManUtd in the early 2000’s.

  • zhetman

    0 0

    Iam a strong arsenal supporter and i believe Wenger must stay at arsenal because he is the best coach for the club despite the failure to win any trophy this season.

  • chacha j. m.

    0 0

    Wenger should stay at arsenal. No one can change the pasts but we can change the future.It is Wenger to do it for us .The future is bright.

  • chacha j. m.

    0 0

    Wenger should stay at arsenal. No one can change the pasts but we can change the future.I

  • Kay4wenger

    0 0

    I think its not fair that now is the time to call for Le bosses neck..i remember early in the season and at one time Sir Alex was criticized by the very supporters that today sing praises of him. Lets give the man a chance to finish what he started then after its done we can then all speak our minds…i think and believe Arsene is a very good coach!

  • kinyua, Nairobi

    0 0

    Arsenal will be worse off without Wenger. It has taken him time and genius to model the young team. Lets be patient because in Wenger we trust.

  • kinyua, Nairobi

    0 0

    As an Arsenal fan, I will die for Wenger and to me this man has outdone all the managers in the English Premiership in terms of the quality of the game despite the current dismal performance. Wenger is a real genius but any man will have some weaknesses. I believe Wenger will stay at Arsenal.

  • kinyua, Nairobi

    0 0

    As an Arsenal fan, I will die for Wenger and to me this man has outdone all the managers in the English Premiership in terms of the quality of the game despite the current dismal performance. Wenger is a real genius but any man will have some weaknesses. I believe Wenger will stay at Arsenal.

  • kinyua, Nairobi

    0 0

    Arsenal will be worse off without Wenger. It has taken him time and genius to model the young team. Lets be patient because in Wenger we trust.

  • Kay4wenger

    0 0

    I think its not fair that now is the time to call for Le bosses neck..i remember early in the season and at one time Sir Alex was criticized by the very supporters that today sing praises of him. Lets give the man a chance to finish what he started then after its done we can then all speak our minds…i think and believe Arsene is a very good coach!

  • chacha j. m.

    0 0

    Wenger should stay at arsenal. No one can change the pasts but we can change the future.I

  • chacha j. m.

    0 0

    Wenger should stay at arsenal. No one can change the pasts but we can change the future.It is Wenger to do it for us .The future is bright.

  • zhetman

    0 0

    Iam a strong arsenal supporter and i believe Wenger must stay at arsenal because he is the best coach for the club despite the failure to win any trophy this season.

  • kenmwu

    0 0

    I am a ManUtd fan to the fullest, but I still have the greatest amount of respect for Arsene Wenger, and in my opinion, Arsene and Arsenal are the same thing to me. Every long term manager will have a spell where their system or technique seems unsuccessful, but the game moves in cycles and when it comes around, those who wanted him gone will be singing his praises. Just like Kay4wenger said, look at Sir Alex for ManUtd in the early 2000’s.

  • Patrick

    0 0

    I bleed Arsenal, Gooner til I die! For Arsene Wenger to leave would be disastrous. What other manager can maintain this level of competition with the resources that we have? Not a one. Without Wenger, we would be a mid table team, Man City, Everton, Aston Villa, and (can’t believe I’m saying this) Spuds, I mean scum, no I mean Spurs, would finish ahead of us.

    There IS a lack of support at Arsenal, and the new Emirates Stadium is to blame. ZERO atmosphere. Highest prices in England. Half the stadium’s tickets are allocated to businessman and investors, not real fans, who don’t sing, cheer, or support the club in any way. Many of them leave early. The move from Highbury to Emirates means that there are now less Arsenal fans at games. I blame the board for forsaking the fans in favour of proftis and savvy business deals.

    In Arsene we Trust, anyone who says differently has either a short memory or no understanding of football. That said, I wouldn’t mind a tactician being hired to assist Wenger, especially for those big games against tactical managers like Hiddink.

  • Brad

    0 0

    I am like kenmwu, a bonna fide MU fan, and yet have a great amount of respect for other clubs, especially Arsenal- for standin firm in their recent tough times- and Liverpool- for havin a strong fan base.
    I have never known an Arsenal without Wenger, and personally think that if he leaves, Arsenal will no longer be the team we all know, might even fall out of the Premiership. I may not be a Gooner, but I would like for Wenger to stay at Arsenal for the rest of his career.

  • John

    0 0

    I can’t imagine Arsenal without Wenger. This young and inexperienced side has made to two semi finals and a forth place finish. we did not win any trophies but we should definitely consider this a successful season. An improvement in the defense i.e. a world-class goal keeper, a central defender and a central midfielder will silence the critics. Wenger stays!

  • zed

    0 0

    am an arsenal fan… sick n tired of all the petit excuses of wenger… a unch of excuses can’t replace a trophy or even won’t sustain the “efficient” usiness plans of the owners… supporters n business partners surely need some stimulus to carry the club on… 5 years… oh my god… i wish that club was in africa… where u can practice ur emotional drives without much restraint… where it would be morally acceptale to shoot adeayor, diaby, bendtner on the back… and the loser ebue (with a typical africanized mentality… midiocre and loser) on the neck… and wenger… too incofident to sign big names on the forehead….
    i hate u losers

  • Brad

    0 0

    that wuz rude, zed, especially to ur own clubs coach.

  • Brad

    0 0

    Well whatever his faults, u cant deny Wenger is a great coach. If he leaves, who knows whatll happen to the Gooners?
    1. Fallout from Top 4……. ???
    2. Fallout from Top 10…..?????
    3. I aint sure i should even include this, but ill do it anyway: Relegation……???????
    Well that one waz extreme, i have doubts it could ever happen.

  • Ade

    0 0

    c eh as much as i love arsenal and respect arsene wenger 4 every fin hes done come on 5 years no silver ware not even carling fuckin cup, sumfin has to change whether dats him leavin or not

  • Ade

    0 0

    Brad its easy for u 2 say all dis wen u almost win champions league consecutively, yes no doubt arsene wenger a great great great manager but of recent hes had a bit of a brain twitch , mayb u havent been looking at the formations he playse against the top 4. u go n tell ferguson to try playin small boys against chelsea and we’ll c wer dat gets u. den if u feelin brave tell him to do it for a year like arsene n we’ll c if u have much to say afta dat.

  • chylo, Nigeria

    0 0

    Gooners ex-boss, Arsene must, no MUST go. He is a disgrace to the profession of football management. Sure we thank him for all his hard work for the football club but now is simply the time for him to go, as he has run out of ideas to the running of this club!

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