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1. Gooner since '77

   Sep 19, 2011, 3:49 #13017

   Arsenal fans post-Premier League are funny. You think we are meant to win the title every second year. That's the problem with fair weather, bandwagon supporters. If you pick a team at the top you've only got one way to go. That's why I've always been comtemptuous of most Liverpool and Man u "fans". If you were a true, old school Gooner you'd know that we have far exceeded expectations during the Wenger years. Let me tell you about the '70s and '80s and you'd soon stop your bleating.

2. Stoph

   Sep 18, 2011, 17:30 #12982

   What a poorly written and pathetic article. This article smacks of thinking you know everything, but clearly don't. You have no idea about the internal running of the club.

3. Fozzy's mate

   Sep 18, 2011, 8:49 #12905

   Like you I don't trust this board to anything other than let this horrible status quo drift on and continue to trouser the clubs dough while acclaiming the clubs financial position. Kronke who like his stooge Gazidis says it is a risk to spend money and that other idiot Hillwood says as long as Wenger is happy so are they. I do not trust them to pick a new manager at all but something has to change as under the current regime of Wenger is god we will regress further and make last seasons defensive abyss appear pleasant. Your comments although reason have an admirable pro Wenger bias the way many have an anti Wenger bias and I have an anti board bias. But nobody can say Wenger has had too much pressure put on it as at any other major club he would have been forced out before. The reason no reasoned middle ground debate is around is that a lot of the so called AKBs swallowed the club propaganda of he can do no wrong which he supplemented with arrogant displays with our chairman at supporters groups and shareholders meetings. The rest were repulsed by this arrogance and complacency and refusal to see what was coming, the end of last season and start of this.

4. TENERIFE GOONER

   Sep 18, 2011, 7:47 #12897

   For me the root cause of the problem was Almunia,Arsene persisted when the huge majority knew it to be wrong,it's just got worse and worse.I now believe he has totally lost it.I thought Santos looked ok,but coming in to this shambles he never had a chance.

5. Ronster

   Sep 17, 2011, 23:17 #12894

   Mandy....maybe your uncle Ken could take over! :-)

6. Mandy Dodd

   Sep 17, 2011, 22:48 #12893

   Fozzy, as I say, if we get rid of him do you trust this board to find an adequate replacement? I do not. Some rumours suggest Ancelotti / Keown could be lined up in such an event, this board, I believe could just as easily bring in David O Leary. Do I see this team getting into the top 4 - at the moment, frankly no. I happen to believe something is fractured between Wenger and the board, and the players are picking up on it and have done for a while. I also believe there are those who want to force Wenger out but for whatever reason cannot yet do so, if true, Wenger would obviously know this. But I cannot back any of this up, tho it is clear something has gone seriously wrong. Whats to be done? Solution 1 - do nothing and most likely finish out of the top 4 Solution 2 - sack Wenger some would say but with this board, that is one hell of a risk at this stage. Solution 3 - Get a proper defensive coach. Wenger has proven himself more than adept at coaching forwards and attacking midfielders over the years but we all know where his blind spots are. Defensively, one could say he is a bit pants. He needs help in this area, even his most passionate defender has known this for a long time. It is now clear ,if he refuses such a coach or will not work on these weaknesses, then he is neglecting his responsibilities to the team and fans. But as I say, I strongly suspect there is a lot more going on than we know about, sacking Wenger may seem attractive to some after such a defeat but might not address the real problem. Things seem to have gone horribly wrong since Stan took over. Some may say since the CC I grant you. Coincidence? Is Stan putting more pressure on Wenger behind the scenes than our manager is comfortable with? Is this pressure justified? Maybe one day Wenger will write his book

7. philiip barnett

   Sep 17, 2011, 22:30 #12892

   None of the players arsenal currently have would get into any other top team

8. Mike

   Sep 17, 2011, 22:04 #12890

   Still waiting for people to suggest other managers, without stating Pep or the Special one. They will obviously be out of the picture - lets start throwing some realistic names about and see if there is consensus.....will prove for an interesting debate. Most people here are saying out with Wenger - put two names forward to replace him

9. Ronster

   Sep 17, 2011, 20:50 #12888

   The worst defeat in over 100 years....now the worst defensive start since 1963...what next?.....they say things go in threes...absolutely staggering.

10. Fozzy's mate

    Sep 17, 2011, 20:10 #12887

    Mandy and Clock end Paul. As you will know I am no fan of the Wenger of the last 5 years but am even more scathing of our supine dire arrogant board who laughingly refer to themselves as custodians of our club. But I am afraid after the latest debacle if Wenger who believes nobody can teach him anything about football refuses to get rid of the pathetic legion of yes men he surrounds himself with and get a backroom who actually bother to work on the defence he must be shown the door. You or I could do an equally good job with what on paper today was a decent side and bench. But making the likes of Blackburn and Swansea who are relegation material look good over the last 2 games is worse than being destroyed at Old Trafford. They say no plan B but I say now no plan A either. This cannot be allowed to continue. 16 points in 16 league games, is a relegation battle so hard to contemplate? Arrogance and complacency has led us down this road and I am afraid no matter how much Mandy and those like minded to her wish for it, the Wenger era has been over for some time. It just how low we go before his "bosses" open their eyes. Mandy, as his most passionate defender do you really see us in the top 4? For a club in our self proclaimed fantastic position this is a disgrace!

11. Mandy Dodd

    Sep 17, 2011, 19:35 #12886

    Clockend Paul, the unpleasantness of your tone is not warranted. I do not agree that we should sack Wenger but I will go as far as saying he sure as hell needs a Keown / Adams / Bould / Campbell to help him out and maybe he should be told this in no uncertain terms for his own good. Sacking Wenger - many Arsenal fans on here and other sites do not seem to rate the board so highly, so would you have confidence they would make an effective replacement should they sack Wenger/ I know what I think on that one.

12. clockendpaul

    Sep 17, 2011, 17:31 #12885

    Mandy dodd and the rest of you wenger drones, how ****ing bad do things have to get before you take your head out of your god's ars. Nothing will change until that inept fool goes.

13. Graham Yates

    Sep 17, 2011, 16:12 #12882

    Take a look at Wengers years @ Monaco and you will see it is happening again. Historically he has never resigned from any job he has had. The club will have to sack him

14. Alex Woyt

    Sep 17, 2011, 14:56 #12881

    It's all true. There is no more place for Wenger and his "strategy" in Arsenal

15. Cloggs

    Sep 17, 2011, 12:28 #12879

    To Graham H and others that hurl personal insults towards fellow gooners with another opinion, saying they're plastic fans, moaners who should support the spuds without giving any substantial argument why their beloved deity should reign for another decade; You make one basic mistake, you apparently are big Wenger fans, so why not raise an Arsene Wenger Fanclub instead of hijacking Arsenal FC as a platform for it. Arsenal FC is much bigger than our manager and the so called 'matchday experience' belongs to all fans. Fans may express their concern with the way things are going at the club. Other fans don't ruin my matchday experience, they make it. The so called unconditional support from Plymouth fans didn't prevent them from relegation, we're committed fans who pay thru their bloody noses to have the privilege to watch London's biggest Football Club and a great part of them aren't just ignorant fools that will unconditionally accept anything that is going on at the club whether it will be the price of a ticket or the results on the turf. Whether you like it or not, some day your deity will go. Accept it. We're not going forward but are steadily sliding down the sippery slope into mediocrity, Wenger is past his sell-by date and he won't change. It's time for him and for us to move on.

16. TheWineMouse

    Sep 17, 2011, 4:26 #12876

    Everyone knows we are a sinking ship.Why are we so scared of change?I love Arsene but enough is enough.He is suffering with us,let him go and lets start anew.Arsenal are who we support and ill support any team in our colours through thick and thin.Change has to happen before January,theres a multitude of options to take us forward and more importantly unite the fans behind the team again.31/08/2011 was a watershed moment in our history.If that last throw of the dice somehow pays off then ill be ecstatic like any true gooner but i know we have cocked it up for quite a while.Its sad but we need to remember that Arsene isnt Arsenal.He lives and breathes the Arsenal air just like us but his time is up.So sad but true,time to start a new period in all our lives.

17. goonernick

    Sep 17, 2011, 2:31 #12875

    What I object to most here is the idea that Arsene's Arsenal never had 'athletic and mental strength'. 2004, and we've gone out of the FA Cup and Champions League in quick succession. Half time at Highbury and Michael Owen has put Liverpool 2-1 up. We know what happens next but this comment is typical of the sort of flourish that is far too common at present in posts about Arsenal. It's an airbrushing of history that would have made Stalin blush. Basically put, Gooners need first and foremost to get behind the team. Sorry, but to see so many people leaving at 1-0 last Saturday with 5 minutes to go annoys the hell out of me. We remain a very successful club and the test of a true fan is the ability to roll with the punches. This is not to paper over the obvious deficiencies in the squad in the last few years, but I do feel that some people are actually aiding and abetting the clear delight in certain parts of the media for this 'Arsenal in Crisis/Meltdown/Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Scenario'. If you want football despair, talk to Plymouth fans, who stay to the end and cheer by the way. The reality is that we have promised a lot in recent years and not quite delivered. By all means decide that Wenger needs to change his tactics (if you actually understand them rather than simply shouting "shoot" like Ashley Cole in a changing room), criticize the board's structure or question whether some players could put in more of a shift. But when I hear someone in a red and white shirt call Robin van Persie the c-word in an Arsenal pub because he missed a penalty and Rooney didn't, well...are you a Gooner or simply a Moaner? If it's the latter, there's a place for you just a few stops up the Victoria line.

18. DW Thomas

    Sep 17, 2011, 1:08 #12874

    Remember no one has a crystal ball to see the future. If one team can rebuild like the phoenix from the ashes, it is Arsenal. I too am very pessimistic lately, not wanting to be, but when so many glaring issues are staring us in the face, how can we as fans not be unsettled? Only time will tell and we should look at it one game at a time. By the end of the Spurs game we can tell how things really are I think. With Cesc's latest comments or non-comments, I am reminded of the last 3 seasons and how we were so close. Those failings for me are difficult to move past without real success in the near future. Not to kick a dead horse, but the Carling Cup or league title any of the last 4 seasons would have kept the club's reputation intact. Fresh ideas are a good thing and I keep waiting for Arsene to show something new. Pat Rice yelling from the sidelines Tuesday is the kind of energy we need and is in stark contrast to Wenger. All we really want as fans is a passionate display each game from the team and the manager to start talking and acting like a sane person who accepts responsibility for his actions or lack of. Or is that too rare a thing to ask for in this world?

19. AFCasap

    Sep 17, 2011, 0:10 #12873

    well said ivan!!...all true and plain to see, anyone disagreeing is just farting in the wind...the greedy lazy board handed over the club to wenger thinking it would pay dividends coz thats all that matters to them....things did'nt work like that...wenger is not a genius in the football world what he "knows" has proved a waste of time and money, spent on his signings who turned out to be lazy substandard mercenary failures (due to his coaching/zero tactics)...unfortunately i see wenger sticking round AFC for years to come after stepping down, spouting his nonsense and voodoo economics and making life difficult for the next boss.

20. GoonerGoal!

    Sep 16, 2011, 20:39 #12872

    Jekyll believes we're not playing at the same level as the sugar daddy clubs, and Man U don't have one. Think again, it's only until next week apparantly, when they will be purchased for £1.6billion by the Qatari royal family according to 302 hews reports on Google. (16 Sep 2011 20:25) Some reports say its such a serious possibility that Man U are even considering delaying their Singapore share release scheme. Meanwhile, Arsenal's very own sugar daddy, and the second largest Arsenal share-holder, is prevented from even taking a place on the board by Messrs Kroenke, Hill-Wood, Gazidis, and Friar. The train is leaving the station and we are not boarding. In fact, we are not even on the platform. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Hell, everybody else is laughing at us, perhaps its time for us to join them. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

21. David

    Sep 16, 2011, 20:34 #12871

    When he goes you welcome in a new manager and look to see what he can do that is a given! what I'm saying is right now is there really a manager who can do a better manager considering everything against him financially ? Rijkard and ancelotti have reputations based on Milan Chelsea and Barcelona not really an arsenal prototype so who knows and hiddink? Are you sure? Why is everyone so keen to use almunia as a catalyst for how poor a manager he is ? Yet forget about the invincibles he created oh and then of course players like overmars, Freddie L, viera, Pettit, Anelka, Fabregas, van Persie and of course Henry there are other successess - then bringing through the likes of Ashley cole and Wilshire??? But no you are right let's just sack him because of signing almunia and a few bad results it's not like Barcelona went six years without a trophy or a few years ago Fergie was to old to manage UTD so yep out with arsene and bring in a new manager and arsenal will win everything woohoo

22. Graham H

    Sep 16, 2011, 19:57 #12870

    I bet your one of the muppets round me that have moaned from day 1 in the new stadium. I also bet you didnt have a reg place at highbury, your one of the 'new fans' that have appeared, only knowing glory, and expecting it every match. Arsena has achieved miracles, entertained us beyond belief, and asked nothing but given aplenty. NOW we need to back him, to give him the belief we are behind his decisions, as if they arent working he WILL change them as he only ever wants and needs to be a winner. I pray moaners like this find some other thing to attract them as they are spoiling my matchday experience. Lond may you reign AW. I trust you

23. David

    Sep 16, 2011, 18:31 #12869

    Keith when Wenger finally goes are you going to say keep the managers post vacant because no one else can do the job Wenger is doing.Will you get real.This is a manager who has kept Almunia at the club for 7 years.Who gave £50k a week contracts to Denilson Diaby Song and Bendtner.A manager who plays one upfront at home v mighty Swansea.He is tactically bankrupt.We havent finished in the top 2 for 6 years and havent finished top London team for 7 years.The guy is no good anymore.The facts dont lie.And youre saying Hiddink Ancelotti and Rijkaard couldnt do a better job.

24. Nigel

    Sep 16, 2011, 18:04 #12868

    Arsene's Arsenal died on August 28th 2011.After 6 years on life support and the best efforts of Dr Cesc Fabregas the life support was finally turned off fittingly by the Surgeon General Alex Ferguson.Wenger has been a dead man walking for 6 years but no one at the club had the balls to put an end to the suffering.But the body will not be buried until 2014.So although Arsene's Arsenal is dead an embalmed Wenger will still be sitting on the bench.But we wont notice the difference

25. win AFC

    Sep 16, 2011, 17:25 #12867

    Wenger should go sooner or later i can see the fans protesting outside highbury house and then the board and directors will have to take notice. I still think Arsenal will win silverware this season.

26. Mandy dodd

    Sep 16, 2011, 16:50 #12865

    Paul - man utd buy quality - not always I could give you a very long list. We are not on a level playing field with them, to keep their best player from citeh last year, they had to fork out around 250pw, we cannot do that. Man us debts mean they literally cannot afford to fail, and they spend accordingly in a way which we have not been able to. Usmanov could solve all that but for now, we do not have him. As for other posts, I cannot see wenger leaving next year unless there are problems we do not know about. If he did and all was well with him, psg would snap him up. Only my opinion, but I do not see this being the end of the youth policy either, with the likes of ox, ryo, jack, Rambo, frimpong around. But looks like this time around, they will be supplemented by more experience, can't be a bad thing?

27. Keith

    Sep 16, 2011, 16:47 #12864

    Well Paul arsenal went for Mata couldn't match his wages apparently an surprise surprise chelsea did 80 million is great to have but if you can't offer the wages you still not gonna be able to get some players! I can never forget the 8-2 demolition just pointing out that if you take out song Gervinho, sagna, Wilshire, frimpong, Nasri, Fabregas (or their replacements) kolscieny, that's pretty much a first team there! do you really think any team losing that amount of players is gonna go to old Trafford and not get hammered? Not dissalusioned I know arsenal can't compete with the big boys in getting the players Just saying is there anyone else out there who could do what Wenger does with out just goon out there and getting whoever they want offering them whatever they want? I don't think there is!

28. Paul

    Sep 16, 2011, 16:11 #12862

    Keith dream on.We wont finish within 20pts of City or Utd.Its blind fans like you who are keeping Wenger in a job.Utd not better than us your joking.Was the 8-2 a dream?United can go out and buy whoever they want you say.Yet we pay £12m for an untried Chamberlain from the 1st division.We had £80m to spend with the sales of Cesc and Nasri and the £30m transfer budget but did we buy a Hazard or Mata?No Utd buy quality.And the only reason we did buy was the battering at OT.We have had 6 years of maybe's and this time's.Thats why most of us have settled for a 4th or 5th place finish at best

29. David

    Sep 16, 2011, 16:10 #12861

    Jekyell, Man Utd do not have a ‘sugar daddy’ but they are still on a different level to Arsenal financially, largely due to their global market appeal. This elevates them to similar levels as Chelsea & City and supports Keith’s point. Arsenal are a big club in England and with European renown, but do not compete on the same level globally as United (or Liverpool). Arsenal continually has one of the best defensive records – last season was 4th best. You do not have the fourth best defence in the Premier League without any organisation, surely?

30. Keith

    Sep 16, 2011, 15:58 #12860

    Jekyll apart from the Alumnia situation (must admit can't believe they haven't just released him doh) I have to completely disagree with everythig else financial restrictions have a lot to do with it - it's easy to say there is no leadership in defence go buy someone well who Man U went an bought Ferdinand 30 million and loads of wages arsenal can't do that the wage structure is there and they can't afford the really top players who would make that difference that's not wengers fault that's the boards rules and he has to go with it. Everyone was saying buy Cahill he got destroyed by Man U Mertsacke is a good buy and hasn't done to bad in his first few games but he needs more time to really get it. Less than a year ago arsenal beat Barcelona no other team did - they have only lost 3 players from that team Nasri has been replaced by Gervinho who I believe is better Arteta and benyanoun has replaced Fabregas (can't replace him unless 40 million and over 150000 a week unlesss its Gotze who dortmund refused to sell again hardly wengers fault) judging a ravaged team playing with very little experience against a rampant team in form I not really a good basis let's see how arsenal do in the next few months before cruicifying arsene? If Chelsea beat man u which is possible it's only 5 points with 33 games to go hardly disastrous

31. Jekyll

    Sep 16, 2011, 15:31 #12859

    Keith, we're not playing at the same level as the sugar daddy clubs. And Man U don't have one. It's not financial restrictions that kept Alumnia at the club for 7 years. It's not financial restrictions that mean there is no leadership or defensive organisation. It's not financial restrictions that made Wenger play in that wide open way against Man U. Like the editor said in another post, we've spent 10% less than Man U the last 7 years. Look at the reality of what this team is now. We're not competing this season.

32. Keith

    Sep 16, 2011, 15:06 #12858

    Which manager could possibly have achieved what Arsene has with the financial limitations placed in him? Fergie? The special one? Please they have never been placed under restraint They could go out and buy who they want and pay him whatever was needed Arteta is a prime example having to take a pay cut just shows wengers genius at getting his team to play at the same level as the other big teams who have some rich billionaire daddy to buy whatever the spoilt child wants! 8 points behind with 34 games to go is hardly the end of the world look at Arsenals, Man U and Man C games in the champions league and then tell me who had the better opposition by a long way! Once arsenal get going they'll be up there at the end of the season yet again

33. Ron

    Sep 16, 2011, 14:38 #12857

    Come off it, Wengers no lame duck. Its his 'project'still albeit one with a slightly different agenda. Hes acted out of character bringing in slightly older heads and a big guy at the back. His agenda is to gain some respectabilty again and maybe win something before he departs. Im convinced hes off next Summer and has told the Board. This means that plans and moves are already afoot to bring in his successor. Its a case of who and when, not if.It will be a sad day when he does go however much his halo has slipped.

34. DJADBMc

    Sep 16, 2011, 13:29 #12854

    I read this site every day and in the main contributors are extremely negative towards AW. Rightly so maybe? And if I am being honest the club needs a change of direction. AW has made many mistakes and there is no point going over them all time and time again. Our current is the weakest in years. Whether AW is solely responsible for the state of the squad remains to be seen, as does anyone other than the board and AW know how much finances he has at his disposal. IMO if we lived in a booming financial climate then I would tend to side with the fans calling for AW’s head. However times are tough, and expected to worsen in the coming months. A manager who can work successfully within a limited budget could be worth his weight in gold as we are on the brink of FFP being implemented. For me it would be a mistake replacing AW during this period, and solely based on the fact that he is our most successful manager he should be given some further time to put things right.

35. Dan h

    Sep 16, 2011, 13:18 #12853

    The boardroom down are all to blame no real investment in the team assets in the bank but not on the pitch.With regards AW the one thing his great teams had were pace,power & height what made him change a succesfull template to the complete opposite that doesn't work?@Ronster hits the nail on the head with his analogy of Clough/Taylor & Wenger/Dein.Clough declined without Taylor to lean on for support & trust sadly it's happening with AW.

36. Stale

    Sep 16, 2011, 12:47 #12851

    i long for a change of manager and an improvement in the board's make up to get some ambitious people on it who want afc to win trophies. currently we are a club drifting without plan, targets, leaders, totally rudderless, shadow of our former selves

37. Mike

    Sep 16, 2011, 12:09 #12849

    @Ivan - please put your neck out and suggest two managers to take his place and await the responses.....

38. Richard Ansell

    Sep 16, 2011, 12:09 #12848

    Steve - how bad does it have to get? How much longer are you prepared to put up with this rubbish? I suspect you are a Spuds fan just trying to wind us up.

39. Steve

    Sep 16, 2011, 11:52 #12847

    what a load of rubbish. one of the worst articles I have ever read on here. Arsene Wenger is STILL the manager whether you like it or not and long may this continue.

40. Bob

    Sep 16, 2011, 10:41 #12844

    The season was written off with the first three games of the season just thrown away.And us now 8pts behind City and Utd already.The Management of the club this summer by the board and the manager was nothing short of scandalous.With the manager telling us we wouldnt be selling Cesc or Nasri because we can no longer be called a big club if they leave.When everyone knew they were leaving.Then after 3 months of doing nothing Wengers signs 5 players after the 8-2 humiliation.But according to Wenger and Gazidis this was not panic buying no of course not we believe you..We have as much chance of winning the title as Swansea have.The next two years are just playing out time until Wenger's contract finally runs out.The club is like a rudderless ship.Going nowhere.But dont worry we made a profit on transfers this summer and the fans coughed up the 6.5% ticket hike without any protests.And thats what Arsenal 2011 is all about.Profits not trophies

41. Ronster

    Sep 16, 2011, 10:26 #12843

    Some of you may argue that Wenger isn't getting the respect he deserves from a section of the fanbase.However,you've heard of the sayings,'what goes around,comes around' and 'you reap what you sow.'I will always hold Wenger in high regard for the success and style of play he brought to the club.However it is human nature not to forget the 'caviar and sausages' and 'never worked one day in football' comments that were arrogantly tossed at those that totally underpin the great institution that is Arsenal Football Club.I can't recall great Arsenal servants like Bertie Mee,Terry Neill,Don Howe and George Graham openly mocking a knowledgable fanbase.I've never totally worshipped at the altar of Arsene Wenger as his shortcomings were there for all to see even in the early days.Wenger did have my backing right up until the Carling Cup Final fiasco which was the straw that broke the camel's back.However,I would like to think that I would still be standing shoulder to shoulder with Mandy Dodd defending Arsene if he had shown some humility,perhaps acknowledging that defensive organisation is not his forte and promoting any number of the legendary defenders(he had the priviledge of observing day in day out) to assist him at London Colney. The club has not helped in this respect by placing him on a pedestal when commisioning the bust....no statue of Sir Alex alongside Sir Matt just yet outside Old Trafford.Brian Clough had Peter Taylor to keep him in check and this was possibly a role David Dein undertook in the early successful years.It's a tragedy that no one at the club had the foresight and intelligence to recognise this and therefore allowed Wenger total control.Fifteen years is more than enough for one manager.....old Red Nose he is not.

42. Fozzy's mate

    Sep 16, 2011, 10:00 #12840

    Ivan the Wenger era has been over for a few years and the Carling cup debacle was the final nail etc. A crying shame that a heroic manager made all powerful by a pathetic spineless supine board who fed his ego to such an extent to allow him to totally redefine success and even argue about the definition of a trophy, will go out with a wimper and a wave of sympathy. Although Arsene must shoulder some blame the board are a dough trousering disgrace who thought Wenger was the ultimate Golden Goose. With proper support and governance he may have continues to prosper but damage limitation is all that is left now.

43. allybear

    Sep 16, 2011, 9:38 #12838

    Well done Ivan,the team reflects the manager who is well and truly finished.AW has been finished for a long time and his methods dont work,did they ever? Even when the team played well they never had the mental strength or physical ability when things went against them. Hope this is AW last season and for me it cant come quickly enough.

44. Mandy dodd

    Sep 16, 2011, 9:32 #12837

    I cannot agree with this article. The cost of getting rid of wenger would be a lot less than failing to get into the cl next year if wenger were really the lame duck you suggest? Nor can I see wenger hanging on under such a condition. If anything recent events have lessened his over all clout, maybe he will just have to change if he is to in anyway challenge the financial dopers. I think you are confusing a drastic revolution with a more gentle evolution currently going on. Usmanov may come one day and bring success but until he does, we have to compete on something that is far from a level playing field. Cannot think of many managers who would do better than the one we have in such circumstances

45. CD

    Sep 16, 2011, 9:26 #12836

    Transition Arsenal, more like "Chickens come home to roost Arsenal". Even the most die hard Wenger supporters would have to admit our current predicament was so easily preventable had he invested in the squad with quality experience in positions which were so blatantly obvious to everyone on the entire planet but him!! This is why we now find ourselves in the position we are in, as had he invested we would probably have gone on to win silverware. Players like Nasri and Fabregas could still be playing for us, as why move if you are already in a winning team(other than money, but again our wage structure also needs radical change). The problem now is persuading top players to join in the future, especially as currently it seems unlikely we will finish anywhere near the top 4, and somehow preventing what few top players we have left staying. How many of you out there would wager RVP still being at the club come the start of 2012/13 season? Not many I would guess, especially as we know he will only have one year left on his contract by then, and come 2013/14 the same could possibly be said of Wilshere and Szczesny unless there is a radical change of direction which does not involve Wenger. Your last sentance sums it up perfectly Ivan, alas we currently have mid table team thinking at manager and board level, and hence as you put it we are in and will remain in transition.

46. Pete

    Sep 16, 2011, 9:19 #12835

    What nonsense! You expect us to believe that AW is "not in charge"? Of course he is! You may or may not like him being in charge but to deny he is is equivalent to saying the sun rises in the west or the earth is flat!

47. Richard Ansell

    Sep 16, 2011, 8:41 #12832

    I have written off this season anyway, Ivan, and like you am just waiting for a new manager, or even better, a new manager and a new Board of directors which would include Usmanov. Arsenal resemble a rudderless ship under Wenger now and as you say we just have to hope this season is the last we have to endure with a manager that has completely lost his way.

48. rowland

    Sep 16, 2011, 8:33 #12831

    you need to get your head checked,beaten 8-2 is not the end of the world,name ten coaches better than arsene in the whole world,and if you can't,then you have a very poor sense of ****uation,arsene is still the best thing that has ever happened to arsenal and he will prove it again.

49. Phil

    Sep 16, 2011, 8:04 #12829

    Bore off and support your team and fantastic manager. The less said about the board the better.

50. terry

    Sep 16, 2011, 7:44 #12828

    cesc was right we need 3 sighnings usmanov dein maurinio

51. tim smith

    Sep 16, 2011, 7:39 #12826

    I somehow get the feeling that you have an agenda against AW. You make it out as if you are a genuine supporter but in fact you rather have hits on this site at the expense of the good of the club by causing divisions amongst the true supporters and the plastic ones.