Never has Le Professeur had to endure such scrutiny. The 7
year absence of a major trophy at Arsenal had previously been overlooked in
appreciation of Wengers long term strategy. Not anymore.
His tenure at the
Gunners has seen the transformation of English football during the 90’s and the
transition from “Boring Boring Arsenal” to “The Invincibles”. Yet as fans and
critics alike continue to voice their concern, the question still remains, is
the Wenger era finally coming to an end?
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| Black Scarf Movement Protest Before Swansea Game |
Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to Swansea was the latest setback
to what has been the worst start Arsenal have made in any Premier League
Season. The pre-text to the game was played out by the “Black Scarf Movement”,
a supporters group who staged a protest aimed at the commercialisation of the
club and the roles of the board room clique as key decision makers. There’s
certainly unrest at Arsenal and Wenger has to shoulder at least some of the
blame.
After fifteen games,
the Gunners now sit fifteen points off table topping Manchester United yet
Wenger insists his side are credible title challengers. Drawing six games
already this season, the likes of Sunderland, Stoke, Fulham and Aston Villa
have all shared the spoils with Wenger’s men, teams that the Arsenal of old
would have breezed past with relative ease. Add defeats to Swansea and Norwich
to their record and the problem is evident: failure to keep hold of key player’s season
after season.
The departures of Nasri, Fabregas, Song, Clichy and most
crucially Van Persie have degraded Arsenal from a side where players will
migrate to with aspirations of silverware and success, to a club nothing more
than a stepping stone in the eyes of ambitious world class players. Many have
jumped ship with the foresight of it sinking. Wenger needs no reminding, the FA
cup triumph over Manchester United on penalties in 2005 represents Arsenals
last major trophy success and patience is now in short supply.
But surely a man who guided Thierry Henry and Co. through
the undefeated season of 2004/05 deserves more time? Once described as “quite
simply the most fluid, devastating team, the British Isles has seen” by Alan
Hansen, “The Invisibles” remain a poignant high note of Wengers era.
This, the
same manager that has delivered three Premier League titles and four FA Cups to
Arsenal fans, not to mention overseeing the construction of a new stadium and
all the financial implications that follow. Surely the reward of loyalty and
faith in a manager has never been more merited, than in the instance of Arsene
Wenger. The 63 year old has led the Gunners to thirteen consecutive Champions
League campaigns, reaching at least the last 16 at every attempt, a feat that
only Real Madrid can better. Wenger seems keen to associate this stat, as remarkable as
it is, with success at the Emirates. Many Gunners would disagree
The issue over finance remains a grey one. If there is money
for Wenger then why isn’t he spending it? If there isn’t the money then fans
will want to know where it’s gone. Implementing some of the most expensive
ticket prices in the Premier League, disgruntle Arsenal fans will point to the
lack of funding in the form of transfers and squad improvements as the basis of
their argument for change either at board room level, managerial or both. This
comes a month after owner Stan Kronke was forced to defend the board’s strategy
after fans criticised his vision for the club at Arsenal’s AGM.
On the issue of finance, the clubs new £150m sponsorship
deal with Emirates Airlines will be spent “In the right way” according to
Wenger. One can only guess his interpretation of “the right way”, though it is
positive news as the busy December period looms large before what Arsenal fans
will be hoping is an even busier January transfer window. The potential loan
signing of Thierry Henry for a consecutive season during the January transfer
window would give fans a temporary boost, but it will remain just that, nothing
more.
Some might say Arsenal’s run up to Christmas has been kind
to them; West Brom, Reading, Wigan West Ham and Newcastle will not intimidate
Wenger and Arsenal. But it has been such fixtures in seasons gone by, that has
saw the Gunners slip up all too frequently.
Contract negotiations with both
Sagna and Walcott are still in negotiation with the latter looking ever more
like the Van Persie predicament all over again. Wenger will have to delve into
16 years of experience to solve many difficulties at Arsenal, certainly lots to
think about for the articulate Frenchman.
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| Wenger in protest. His coat really is that long. |
The case in support of Wenger is a strong one but so too is
the one against him. Arsenal’s longest serving manager has achieved so much
during his 16 years at the club but now more renowned for his touchline antics
than his touchline tactics, his oversized coat than his oversized success, it
maybe that his days are numbered.
Le Professeur is approaching a critical time during his
Arsenal “project”. He had a clear hypothesis and his methodology initially led
to results. Now, the chemistry has changed and the results have disappeared. We
await the conclusion.
Dale Moon
We need two marquee but intelligent signings in the January transfer window (Huntelaar for £8m- Thank you) and we need to cut the dead wood. I would be annoyed if I was Walcott if I looked at the team sheet and new Squallaci was on 5k more than me. There needs to be a complete overhaul of how the back room does 1) It's negotiations and 2) how the wage structure is balanced.
ReplyDeleteWenger has gone for the "We're a team so therefore the wages will be close" - I'm not sure (especially the way that Football is going in the moment) that this works. If he had halved Squallaci's, Almunia's and Park-chu young's wage bill based on appearances then we would've been able to offer RVP well in the region of 150k a week, We would've kept, Nasri, He would've kept Clichy, we would've kept Ashley Cole.
Keeping Walcott is a must. He is a lynchpin of the English quartet that Arsene is bringing through at the moment, if he goes thee as one of the major "youth' signings of yesteryear it will send out the message that Arsenal doesn't care about reaping the rewards of years of turmoil and training that these young players bring. What would Theo leaving say to the Ox, and the two young stars coming through at the moment- Eisfield and Gnabry? To a lesser extent Jenkinson, Gibbs and Wilshere will be effected, they are fans and players, supported the team as youngsters, live nearby. Regardless they will never leave by their own choice.
With all that being said I do think that the economical philosophy that Wenger has put in is 1) Sustainable and 2) Healthy. I don't want him to go and spend £30m in January on one player(Unless it's Gotze), it would go against everything that Arsenal have become in my time supporting them. He is a fantastic manager and probably one of the only managers in the world who could steer Arsenal out the mess they're in at the moment.
If he is to go then the only manager I would be interested in having would be Jurgen Klopp at Dortmund. Young, intelligent, similar economic and youth policy- would fit the Arsenal mould well. + Scouting links to Germany is better than the French Ligue ATM.
The problem with all this is mainly the fans, at the moment the league is a three way race, 1- Man Utd, Citeh and Chelsea (Although they may soon drop out of it, 2 (Arsenal, Everton, Fulham, Spurs and West Brom (They too may drop out) and then everyone else. It's going to be tighter than ever this year but I still think we'll pull through.
Rant done. Want to talk more Arsenal you can follow me @christianbaker0 - Dale you can msg me on FB for more debate/thoughts and feelings.