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1. Rocky RIP

   Sep 27, 2011, 23:16 #13401

   'Come together as one' as Primal Scream sang on Screamadelica. It should be our anthem or atleast played at matches. Victory through harmony.

2. Mike

   Sep 26, 2011, 15:48 #13366

   @CanadaGooner. Guess we are on the same page. Let Arsene fix the little mess he has got himself into, and scout a decent manager for the next season. Not the likes of Moyes, Hughes, O'neill, Redknapp, Coyle but someone who will realistically come with a decent pedigree. At the moment I still can't think of anybody - Don't even think Ancelloti fulfills my personal requirements. I do think that someone like Ray Wilkins as assistant manager might be someone of interest - he did an incredible job at Chelsea until dropping out of favour. The team needs some inspiration at the moment to get them back on track. Supporters are fickle, much like the players - they want things to happen now - even 5 years is not a long time in football terms, although I agree if nothing is done there will be nothing there for the next five years as well. A point to note - since the inception of the EPL there have only been 4 winners. Man Utd (11), Arsenal,(4), Chelsea (3) and Blackburn (1). I stand corrected but it think Arsenal have finished runners up 5 times. As an Arsenal supporter, I would have taken that with both hands had it been offered at the beginning of 1992 when it started. Chelsea are proof that the title can unfortunately be bought. The point is there are hundreds and thousands of supporters out there from the likes of City, Spurs, Liverpool, Newcastle who haven't won the league in over 20 years. Arsene can fix it, but it is time for a change anyway.

3. CanadaGooner

   Sep 25, 2011, 22:44 #13325

   @ Jimmy - nothing wrong with your comments Jimmy and I dont disagree with you either. If Wenger has to go, provided we give enough thought to his replacement all will be well; however, without the likes of David Dein in play, do you think Gazidis can find you the 'unknown' manager that will be able to do a good job? Now, that's my concern and that's why I cant agree with the 'Wenger must go' camp. We will need a knowledgeable board and management team who can handle Wenger's departure adequately. He's been propping them up for all these years and after he leaves, we will also discover the bulk of the problem wasnt wenger's fault. why do we suddenly need new back-players? is Achley Cole still not in football? Did viera and a few other players we lost dues to our crazy-policies not play elsewhere for a few more years after they left arsenal? - will credible defenders join arsenal when they know that soon as they're 30yrs old they'll only get crappy contracts?... All that said; I strongly agree with your closing statement: LET'S STAY TOGETHER AND SUPPORT ARSENAL/ARSENE AS BEST WE CAN TILL THE END OF THE SEASON - AS TRUE FAN'S WE DONT HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE. And when someone comes with a credible replacement + changes within the board, so be it Finally - I dont see Ancelotti opting to join arsenal (he knows the situation here with the board is less than ideal)

4. Jimmy

   Sep 25, 2011, 21:50 #13324

   To CanadaGooner - I'm not going to slate you for your views as they are admirable and I agree with many of them. However, I am firmly in the Wenger has to go camp now. I was running out of patience with his failure to address the defensive problems 18 months ago, but figured he was an intelligent man who would surely recognise what needs to happen. 12 months on and he's done nothing to stop the rot. I actually believe we've got a squad of half decent players (not the best he's ever had, but not bad) and if some attention was paid towards defensive coaching instead of the insistence on trying to outscore the opposition, we'd probably be a lot happier. Thats why I think there are a dozen managers who could probably make a difference quickly because they will spend time on the problem area. Ancelotti is probably top of the list, but there will be others. Whenever the question is asked about who will replace Wenger, I respond with who did you want to replace Rioch when he left. I'd hazard a guess that hardly anyone would have said Wenger. Why do you think there isn't a little known manager out there who could come in and do a job? You also ask what I want us to achieve this season. The answer is progress and not to repeat the same errors we've been making for the last 3-4 seasons. I accept we are not going to win the league or Champions League, so what I'd like to see is the team being competitive and not throwing away silly points time after time after time. I'm sick of reading on the official website how we will respond and learn from the mistakes made because quite blatantly they aren't and if they are not capable of learning from these errors then the manager should bring in players who can... from the reserves and youth team if necessary. I also accepty the reality that Wenger is probably here until the end of the season and for this time, I'll support him and the team, but that doesn't stop me being incredibly frustrated.

5. CanadaGooner

   Sep 25, 2011, 21:15 #13323

   @Mike - good man; glad to hear a few other sane voices on here @Ed - Ed, we need to keep this topic going for a month or two as I think as fans this is a very important conversation so we can all move as a unit and give the team the support it so obviously needs @maguires bridge gooner & others of a similar incliination: i have some very simple questions for you: (1) if we've waited 5 years for wenger to deliver, why is it 2011 that's the time for change? (loss of fabregas? or 8 - 2 hammering?) - who do you think has kept fabregas from leaving 2 or 3 seasons back? (not the fans) (2) what is your minimum requirement for wenger to be successful this season? what will satisfy you and others asking for his departure? (league win? - think again; man utd, man city, chelsea, liverpool and spurs are all after the same and sacking their managers hasnt got it for them so far has it? - the guy who keeps winning it (fergie) is the guy who's been there 25 years and has spent millions more than arsenal over the years). so, what exactly is our target for 2011/12? - FA Cup or Carling? if wenger won either we'll still say it's not enough. But from the team we have right now, only a maniac would say we can win the league or champions league - regardless of who our manager is (3) To answer your question about my choice to 'contain my anger' yes; if the fans want to sack wenger, then before we all go crazy; here's an execise for you all: and I want Ed to moderate and collate the facts: you guys should put forward names of managers that can take over from wenger and we can all examine those managers and i'll be damned if you will be able to agree which one could replace wenger. i heard some folks mentioning Owen Coyle earlier! ARE YOU BONKERS? this is a guy who had a flash in the pan season last year and is now rock bottom this year; what does he know about playing in europe and competing in the champions league? what does he know about managing high profile players with huge egos? There are only 5 or 6 managers out there who could be successful at Arsenal and believe you me, NONE OF THEM, not ONE, will be interested in that job because of the salary caps and lack of crazy $$$ available to buy players. SO, WHAT IS YOUR GENIUS SUGGESTION after sacking wenger? - you'll sack the entire board too? and after that, you will somehow replace that board (some of them have been in football for 30+ years) with who? a FANS UNION? i'd like to see how 10 fans sat in a room will be able to agree to anything! It's all well and good for everyone on here to have an opinion and the ones screaming for wenger's demise will be the same ones crying out when we have 4 or 5 crappy managers after wenger and we really do become a middle table team. Wenger has become stubborn and arrogant, YES, but perhaps our task as fans is to get him to channel that stubbornness and arrogance in the right direction (like mourinho) and get back to winning ways; other than coming on here and spreading pointless negativity without any constructive solution whatsoever. The next person to come on here and say SACK WENGER, must follow that with some suggestion of a new manager and how that person is supposed to reverse our fortune and how he'll do better than wenger in all competition Look forward to receiving those solutions from you folks. If not, BACK THE TEAM AND MANAGER WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, ARSENAL NEEDS YOU ALL TO SURVIVE THIS SEASON!!! GOONER FOR LIFE!!!!!!!!

6. Gunner4life

   Sep 25, 2011, 4:28 #13306

   Brilliant! Wenger is still the best ... bar none!!!! Game on! Enough of the bickering! Let's get behind the team.

7. Godwyn Faade

   Sep 24, 2011, 18:35 #13300

   A positive view is ok but seems naive in the face of 5yrs of failure due to greed and arrogance...it will be weird to seek assurances from the club management on the desired signings in jan but an appology will do in return for our faith and support

8. maguiresbridge gooner

   Sep 24, 2011, 16:24 #13298

   @canada gooner so your going to contain your anger till the end of the season then what? contain your anger till the season after that and the season after that.

9. Nemsy in Nairobi

   Sep 24, 2011, 15:27 #13297

   Surprises me how we are even considered to be part of the G14 European giants. With mediocre displays- like the entire season thus far- it doesn't shock me when articles like this are written. We support the team, we just don't like the manager or the board. Do you think if we persist with Wenger at the helm that we will qualify for the champions league next season? Yet, people like you write articles like this suggesting we maintain the status quo. If you are content with a Nottingham Forest type decline, fine with me. I simply will not take it any more. We cannot compete unless and until we strengthen the team and replace the manager.

10. Mike

    Sep 24, 2011, 10:31 #13290

    Note to ED - why even make that comment at the beginning?? Surely you don't have to explain the existance of the website - I do think it has a negative bias, but all the views are valid and if you are mature enough you can accept it. If you post on the site you open yourself up to critisism and comment. We all support Arsenal and want the club to succeed - If we were doing well now then things would be a bit boring as far as this site is concerned. Howeve, we are not and there a differing opinions as to why and they are mainfesting themselves on the site. Difficult to positively support the team when the support base is polarised, but makes for interesting reading

11. CD

    Sep 24, 2011, 10:21 #13289

    To cap it all that deluded fool Wenger still thinks Arsenal are in the title race!?!? What chance of avoiding relegation if the manager does not even understand where his team is in the current pecking order. Then the icing on the cake today, with the shock horror news that Wiltshire is now injured till Xmas, just as we all predicted he would be, and come Xmas that will become Easter. Our medical team is another laughing stock. The club has become a sick joke and that is what happens when the lunatics run the asylum. But hey you keep giving them your 100% backing and join them in the asylum. Even if we were to win today, it will make no long term difference until Wenger is gone.

12. Mike

    Sep 24, 2011, 10:03 #13287

    @ Canadagooner - totally agree with your comments, which are explained even better in the second/third posting. The signings if not as good as Fabregas have contributed. Goals already from Gervino, Arteta, Benayoun, Chamberlain, which says that there is something there in those players. I keep saying Arsene will be gone at the end of the season, for one reason or the other. Like you say Liverpool who now have the supporters choice for manager and have spent millions in the transfer windows have also had a shakey start. There are a lot of people on this website who are waiting to say I told you so. The reality is Wenger will be there until the end of the season, so support the team. Looking back at the comments last season people were pointing out that Djourou was a positive to it. Look at him now. He needs positive not negative support - If someone new was brought in as manager now, he won't do any better than Wenger with the players we have got. At the same time the support will be just as polarised, because as soon as realistic managerial successors are named on this site the is numerous postings against him. Instead of knee jerk reactions, accept that he will move on next year and plan for a good successor to replace him. Still don't see anyone realistically on the radar yet though. No names I can think of anyway.....

13. R Meade

    Sep 24, 2011, 9:28 #13282

    CanadaGooner a new manager is needed to bring together everybody and really get behind the team and that's our point we do not believe in Wenger anymore and have not done for a few seasons. The only way forward is without Wenger now even us foolish fans who have never worked a day in football could see how this season was gonna plan out, what is amazing is how many fans were blind to it.

14. Rocco

    Sep 24, 2011, 4:40 #13275

    Finally some sanity! Soooo sick of listening to nothing but negative garbage from so called fans. Real fans rally behind their team, behind the manager, beat their chest and scream Arsenal.. Arsenal.. Arsenal.. until they lose their voice. NO MATTER WHAT!

15. DW Thomas

    Sep 24, 2011, 3:48 #13274

    Let's look at a few things. First, Cesc is playing terrific football, albeit in the best side in the world with the best player in the world. But, still, something like 4 goals in 4 games? If Arsene was really to be trusted, he would have built the team around Cesc the last 4 years and brought in or kept key players to win titles. He never did, his plan failed, and where is he now? I too am a little sad that Arsene's time seems up, but then I look at his most recent quotes/excuses and no longer feel sympathy for the man. Yes, he accomplished great things and developed raw talent into world class, but what has he achieved the last 5-6 years? And don't give me that b.s. about Champions League the last 14 years. When has he won it or even got near to a final before or since '06? Remember our collapse versus Man U. a couple years ago in the semis? Pitiful. Recently on contract talks, quote: "We try to convince the players to stay. Our desire is there to do that and we are ready to sit down and talk." Losing any more key players is unthinkable and with now Wilshire out for several months, we now will lose potentially our 3rd top class midfielder this year. If you judge a man by his words and actions, then Wenger is borderline loony. Again, just go back and look at some of his statements the past few seasons, especially this one. Does any other manager say things like he does? "After that we see where we go but the gap on that front has become bigger for us so, today, I cannot say that if we go to the maximum [deal] we are sure to sign a player - even if we do that we are not sure." He is talking about keeping his current players. Is he already making excuses for losing more important players this January or next summer? In my opinion, no critical thinking fan can really support the manager or board. Yes, root for the team to win, but most of us cannot abide by Wenger's crackpot statements anymore. And his actions reinforce his attitude and enormous ego. I have a nagging fear Arsenal may fall into mid-table abyss or worse and nothing the board or manager is doing reassures me. Again, by the end of the Spurs game we will know if we can turn the ship around. Otherwise it's back to: "There's always next year!"

16. Moses Nigeria.

    Sep 24, 2011, 2:41 #13273

    Well, i really felt so bad when i see my beloved team losing a match they almost won. I lost my job several time because i sneak out of my office to watch Arsenal match. i have always support the team in pros and cons. I wish the team best of LUCK. In Arsene we trust.

17. CanadaGooner (author of this article)

    Sep 24, 2011, 2:18 #13272

    ....furthermore, and in closing; Arsenal Fans cant afford to become disllusioned like Newcastle and Liverpool fans: where has it got them (sack manager after manager because they think they should be winning every trophy under the sun because they used to?) one very key/important point that sensible fans should always recall is: 6 years ago, if arsenal as much as expressed an interest in a plyer, that player (especially the ones that are not already superstars) will exert every possible pressure to ensure he gets to join arsenal. we are no longer in that enviable position; what you now have is a nonchalant attitude to rumours that arsenal are after a player e.g. Samba, Cahill, Downing; none of those players pressed hard to join us (looks at Fabregas and how hard he pushed to join barca). The same logic applies to manager: how many GOOD managers want to join a club that hasnt won anything in 6 years and wont spend crazy-money? the answer is: not many! what you will end up with is a manager that can only get us to mid-table and it'll be one of those managers rejected by worse off clubs than arsenal. so, how can sacking wenger be logical? (definately NOT without any planning). If you look at most of the good manager available; these are managers who spend $50 - $100M each summer. You have a bunch of rich young kids like the 33 years old Andres Villas-boas; he's been fortunate at Porto (rode on what mounrinho started that) and at chelsea, he'll be ok as they'll throw millions at it. such managers will be hopeless at arsenal as they wont get the crazy-millions to spend there's a great deal more to the dynamics of a successful team than just throwing our baby out of the pram! we are all angered by the current state of the club and the board's apparent lack of footballing knowledge and some on the statements Gazidis comes out with are simply astonishing. WE WONT FIRE WENGER; who is he to say that? they should be coming out with an explanation of how the summer tranfer window was ill-utilized and we bought players on the final day, when it's been clear for months that we needed defenders! has anyone considered whether WENGER actually wants to stay? this is why i think all being said, as intelligent, sensible fans, we MUST show that level of intelligence by avoiding actions that can only impact the team negatively rght now; it's bad enough as it were! let's stick together and see where we end up at the end of this season, and if there's no improvement, i will be the first to join your negative rants and calls for wenger and the board to go etc (albeit with some foresight, as we still have to be logical) over and out. Gooner for life!!!!!

18. CanadaGooner (author of this article)

    Sep 24, 2011, 1:49 #13271

    I think quite a few people are missing the point here by quite some mile. We are all Arsenal Fans and our common goal is to get this club back to where it belongs (challenging for, and winning trophies). It well and good to blame Wenger, but those who care to be sensible can think back to the Champions League final against Barcelona (did Wenger ask Jens to go rushing out of the box minutes into the game?); you go back to Clichy's howler that cost us the game against Birmingham in 2006 and the list goes on and on to last season's disastrous Carling Cup final that destroyed the rest of our season. Yes, something went wrong over summer and the late trade in the transfer market; and perhaps you're all right and Wenger should come out and tell us all that it's the board and Gazidis that failed to perform: how's that going to help? We'll all say he was wrong to wash our dirty linen in public and the board will sack him and then what? David Dein was there for several of our trophy-less seasons wasnt he? Yes, ideally we want better football men like Dein at the club, but how is that going to turn the current season around? For those saying I'm (as the author of this article) a fool and I'm insensitiveto fan's complaints, i'm simply puzzled! I'm as mad as everyone else is, but we still have a live season to complete and MUST do whatever it takes to get this team going; and that doesnt include joining a bandwagon of "lynch Wenger" fans. We have all seen great clubs endup in League One and I dont want to see that happen with Arsenal, so I AM GOING TO CONTAIN MY ANGER TILL THE END OF THE SEASON WHEN WE CAN ALL MAKE OUR ANNOYANCE FELT and if getting a change of management in is what it'll take, so be it One day Wenger will leave Arsenal and he will be able to tell his side of the story about why he couldnt buy players or why he made sacrifices to get us a new state-of-the-art stadium. What I cant understand is why people think Wenger is enjoying this situation: is he doing his CV any good by not winning trophies? The man is in pain and shares our agony, unfortunately, unlike the rest of us, he cant just jump out in public or on the internet to begin divulging all sorts of insider information can he? I've always seen Arsenal Fan as the most educated and clever set of football fans about and I have to say I am appalled by some of the comments on here. We're not illiterates, let's apply the brakes and just think for a second, and I think most, if not all, sensible fans will understand my argument and the logic behind my article. I am not a better fan or more intelligent fan than any of you guys, all I'm saying is, lets not voice our anger if it can only be to the detriment of the team and our results during the season. Plan protests or campaigns or whatever it is you wish to embark on, when it wont impact our season negatively and everyone will agree with you, given the current state of the club But when the season is on: we have to do our bit to get the team going Gooner for life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

19. Alex

    Sep 24, 2011, 0:15 #13270

    I personally think firing Wenger this season would do a lot more damage than good. If you listen to the players' interviews they are all still 100% behind Wenger. If we fire Wenger I wouldn't be shocked if the likes of Wilshere, Vermaelen, Ramsey and others would want to leave. Give Wenger until the end of the season and judge him then. I think the board needs to be shaken up before anything else. David Dein should be brought back in. I think Kroenke may sell to Usmanov in near future. That would enable him to make a profit, which is all he was really after. I think the coaching staff could use a small shakeup, I saw rumor about Bergkamp coming back to coach. Hopefully that's true, or some new ideas are brought in some other way. But again don't fire Arsene Wenger before all options have been considered. Give the new coach, if the board desire, a chance to meet the players and buy some of his own before competitive games are thrust at them.

20. Ando

    Sep 23, 2011, 22:37 #13269

    sorry Tom its just more ''judge me in May'' but he did not say which May did he. All roads lead to Wenger whatever way you look. underacheivers seem to get more chances than most, aw seemingly trying to forcefeed the fans his belief in overpaid players who simply dont perform or do not have the quality he belives they are capable of.He did manage to inspire past players to great over achievement, Ray Parlour springs to mind. With the latest bunch he will most likely persist with his policies to the detriment of the development of more promising individuals and he will claim that he is protecting the players and developing them in the correct way.My opinion is if your good enough, your old enough lets see how many starts the ox gets this season eh. Oh and by the way if it was easy to get tickets to away games, I would go there rather than to the emirates, the atmosphere is better, as is the singing and the banter and the commeraderie. I also believe the club could try and improve the atmosphere at home games by a slight change of attitued to voiciferousnes and by the allocation of seating i have mentioned this before on this site. Lets all work together should be two sided, its about time the club recognised this also.

21. Mark

    Sep 23, 2011, 22:16 #13268

    i am fed up with people trying to shout down those that dare critiscise the current management and board. plus i cannot believe there are people who believe in blind faith whether it is right or wrong. doesnt history show you thats not a good idea. the manager and the board failed. they are also fat cats who paid themselves massive salaries bonus and share packages. they didnt work 24/7 for the arsenal. they didnt tap into arsenal's heritage or past playing staff, the in fact stole arsenal and today have created a new euroclub that i for one do no longer recognise. any one of us would have lost our job had we failed as miserably as wenger and friends and yet some of you are advocating we just carry on say nothing and accept more of same. this shocks me how naive you are and you clearly do not know your football. what is going on at arsenal today is a crime against our glorious past of which wenger played a small part. he is politically stupid, he hates the english media, he doesnt rate english players and he will never win an english trophy again so lets please get rid of him

22. JJ

    Sep 23, 2011, 20:40 #13267

    Posted by Vineet: "Can someone give me Arsenal Manager - no accountability, fat pay checks, untouchable, holier than thou!! " --------------------------------------------------- When you're a world class manager who's turned Arsenal into a force in world football on a shoestring budget compared to our competitiors, then sure, you can be Arsenal manager. Wenger haters, go home. COYG!!!

23. Goonerpearty

    Sep 23, 2011, 19:33 #13266

    Nice article mate,shall we make up banners for such dross players like koscielny or djourou to try and inspire them to play better lol.Its because of these awful players that we are in such a mess now.And I aint just blaming these two as we know who the rest our.But I mainly believe that the blame lies at none other then AW.Hes the one that picks them week in week out and chooses to not buy in the transfer windows.I will always to continue to support Arsenal,attend games and sing my heart out but I will not support AW.He should of done the decent thing and walked at the end of last season. COME ON YOU REDS.

24. TrueGunner

    Sep 23, 2011, 19:27 #13265

    If i go to another game this season ..it will be the banner supporting David Deins return, and that weasel lawyer Gazidiz out !! The time has come for a shake up at our club we are the laughing stock of europe, with a manager who's become to powerful and arrogrant. 3 years this defence has been poor yet nothings been done about it..wenger does what he does best cries about too many games, state of the pitch, being unlucky ...you make your own luck by having players that performe week in week out. He comes up with every excuse in the book to distract attension away from the fact that some of his players are championship quality. He's nothing without David Dein and thats shown over the past 4 years. David Dein is the pride , the football man that arsenal need. The current board are all business men only looking after no.1. If nothing changes all we will get for the rest of the season is more humiliation , as is we arsenal fans hav'nt suffered enough already. currently we are a joke.

25. Dan h

    Sep 23, 2011, 19:03 #13264

    The author is entitled to his opinion and the sentiment positive.My view is the opposite the club is in decline due to lack of any investment by the board & mismanagement of what resources we do actually use.Take a look at the wage bill & then look at the first team squad at our disposal talk about rewarding failure.What we have seen since february isn't opinion it's fact 16 pts in 16 games not good enough & that's the reality of where we are now at.

26. ppp

    Sep 23, 2011, 18:09 #13262

    a great article - we should all be working together. excellent!

27. redboy

    Sep 23, 2011, 18:06 #13261

    Lets see are piss poor defence try and deal with adebayor it aint gunna make good viewing.

28. Old Timer

    Sep 23, 2011, 17:23 #13260

    Actually I've been impressed with the level of support the team have been given this season both away and at the Emirates despite some very disappointing results. There doesn't seem to be the same rancour that surfaced as last season drew to a close. I guess fans have lowered their expectations over the close season.But wholeheartedly supporting a team that's doing its best does not mean that we have to regard as acceptable the obvious mismanagement that has led to our current plight. Support for the team and criticism of management failures are both rooted in the same thing - the desire for the team to succeed.

29. Gare Kekeke

    Sep 23, 2011, 17:07 #13259

    @ TheFonz; Arsenal have the worst set of fans in the Football League? We haven't been a Football League club since 1992 and our form since the Carling Cup final suggests we would be; not that I think that will happen. If you want to find the worst set of fans in the country, go to Leeds & Man City where they still sing those sick Munich songs, or at Chelsea, Tottenham and Man Utd where they call our manager a paedo, a sick chant that even I as a Wenger critic think he dosen't deserve. Or how about some stadiums in the country where racism is still rife after all these years. Compared to these lot, we are angels.

30. CD

    Sep 23, 2011, 16:30 #13258

    The point your missing is that we have lost all faith in Wenger, and that is something he will not get back from us in a hurry, or ever! This is what tends to happen when fans are lied to, fleeced at the turnstiles, and talked down to in such an arrogant condescending way, not only by Wenger but the board members as well. How much more crap do you expect us to put up with, whilst our team has become a laughing stock? Even today on BBC Radio 2 of all places a joke was read out which went - What are the three things which can be seen on earth from the international space station, and the answers were- The Pyramids, The Great wall of China, and the holes in Arsenal's defence. Not very original I know, but that is what we are having to put up with on a daily basis because of our incompetent manager, and you want us to give him an umpteenth further chance despite the fact that each time we do, we end up going further backwards. I simply don't understand the mentality of people who are happy to be second best, although in our case that's now only aiming for fourth best, and realistically this season will probably mean something like anything but relegation best!! Sorry if that was not the kind of response you were hoping for, but that is what Wenger has done to a large number of us die hard Gooners which is to destroy all hope, untill he's gone.

31. NOOP

    Sep 23, 2011, 16:30 #13257

    Jimmy, fair point. And after all it was under his tenure that WE GOT DENIS BERGKAMP.

32. Jimmy

    Sep 23, 2011, 15:59 #13255

    To NOOP (post 14705) - Have to pick you up on your inclusion of Bruce Rioch in a list of people who were responsible for us coming up short. Rioch led us through a transitional season from the dull mid-table side which George Graham left us with, to one which qualified for Europe and started playing football which was much more pleasing on the eye, something which Wenger then took forward when he arrived. Rioch had his faults and history shows us that it was the right decision to push him out after one season, but I don't think he deserves some of the criticism which comes his way, not least because he has never been disparaging about us since he left.

33. NOOP

    Sep 23, 2011, 15:50 #13254

    Gee, no we won't and, er, no we won't. Even the fact that your prediction sounds acceptable to you just about sums it up. We have fallen so far short of where we should be it's beyond a joke. Yes, we have done so before but whenever we have, the people who were responsible (e.g. billy wright, terry neill, bruce rioch) were systematically removed. And guess what, we bounced back and IMPROVED. It's not rocket science really - if you continually fail in your job you will be dismissed. It's a fact of life - unfortunately there seems to be one club in world football who haven't grasped the nettle yet. I used to get depressed, angry, withdrawn whenever we lost a game but now I just don't bother anymore. Until the clowns who run our club get rid of le fraud, or he has the good grace to walk away, it's a feeling I am just going to have to get used to and live with. And as for singing his name the other night I just despair. IN THE LAND OF THE BLIND THE ONE EYED MAN IS KING.

34. TheFonz

    Sep 23, 2011, 15:43 #13253

    A word to the author! You have made a grave error in trying to canvas any support or dare to try and project any positivity into this site. The main commentators and contributors will usually resort to verbal abuse or you will be painted as a dreaded "AKB", it seems that having an opinion that is different from many of the tribal fans means that you are simply a fool who has been brainwashed....you have been warned. I do think the one consistent theme to come out of the current crisis is that we have one of the worst sets of fan's in the football league, we are derided by other fans and who can blame them

35. AvenellRd

    Sep 23, 2011, 15:34 #13252

    Arsenal 0 Liverpool 2 Yeeaaah! Well done LADS!!! ManUre 8 (EIGHT) Arsenal 2 Yeaaah! IN ARSENE WE TRUST!! Blackburn 4 Arsenal 3 Yeaah!!! ARSENAL WILL PREVAIL!!! Is that what you had in mind, mr Olasina??? I really don't like offending people over internet, but you sir are fool, not to use any harsher words.

36. Gee

    Sep 23, 2011, 15:16 #13251

    We will get 4th and win the Carling cup

37. R Meade

    Sep 23, 2011, 15:09 #13249

    Handful of unhappy fans? How wrong can you be, the club is a shambles at the moment sell our best players and bring in Benayoun on loan! but put the prices up that's ok, lose 8-2 that's ok, no trophy thats ok, slag off the fans thats ok, our so called best ever squad - goalkeepers defenders midfielders and so called strikers are among the worst if not the worst players ever to play for this club and one was made captain the other night but that's ok. Lets keep cheering them on hey.

38. Sid

    Sep 23, 2011, 15:03 #13248

    16 pts from 16 games.In Arsene you trust.Dont make me ****ing laugh.At any other club in world football Wenger would be sacked by now.Its sad that there are still some deluded fans like you left.Its not just 8 months its 6 years.How many more chances will you give the French clown?

39. win AFC

    Sep 23, 2011, 14:28 #13247

    I am disappointed like every other supporter its not been the best of starts this season, But like i have said before ARSENAL our club is going to win silverware this season, watch this space. With or without Wenger.

40. bunch

    Sep 23, 2011, 14:28 #13246

    wake up, wake up, just ****ing wake up. It ain't gonna happen with the Frenchman in charge. He's lost it, the players don't respect him anymore, he is now infused with the stench of failure. We won't win anything more with him in charge and we are in serious danger of slipping back dramatically from our position in the upper echelons of the Premier League. You do realise that since the Ccup final we have been in relegation form in the league? Wenger has made so many errors in the last few years, he has got to go. We can't afford anymore.

41. IlfordGooner

    Sep 23, 2011, 14:15 #13245

    Spot on, whats done is done, we cant keep on looking back at the glory days a la liverpool, our motto this season is forward and we must do that together. It is easier in life to be negative and harder to positive, with so many other people, media, fans and pundits slating the club, we should not be turning on our selves

42. Matty S

    Sep 23, 2011, 14:13 #13244

    He's right. THe board arent going to sack him, so you might as well back im.

43. Gman

    Sep 23, 2011, 14:00 #13243

    Wake up man and stop being nostalgic, we have to put up with all the **** week in week out. “ The King is in the all together, but all together the all together” Wenger has been exposed exposed as an arrogant and stubborn fool, deluding himself of any objectivity, not admitting or even addressing our fragilities in defence when its abundtantly clear to the rest of us. That’s what’s so frustrating with being a Gooner at the moment. Because the manager has gone into the transfer market like Del Boy Trotter haggling over the odd million pounds for players with experience like Jagielka and Cahill who would have been a shoe in at the back. We’ve ended up with an inadequate defence.Of course I agree with you Tom, we should get behind our team, and of course we’ll still support the team through thick and thin but what we wont stand for is players not bothering and putting in half hearted efforts, we wont tolerate a manager who is blinkered and we will not tolerate a major share holder who does not make his intentions clear and who is only in it to cream off the top for himself and not the club. The rot has truly set in at our club and it needs cleansing from top to bottom starting with Kroenke. We should vent all of our anger at him for starters because when a Yank gets involved with running an English football club it always ends in tears, and I’m sure you’ll agree as an honouree Canadian! .

44. Nick

    Sep 23, 2011, 13:46 #13242

    Getting rid of Wenger now means that a new manager with a new system will take over, it will take around 2 months for the squad to blend in, by then we could be in a proper relegation battle. ---------------- Newsflash. We got battered at times by a Blackbuirn side that will be in or around the bottom three come May. We already are in a relegation battle!

45. sparksy

    Sep 23, 2011, 13:22 #13240

    Thing is mate, the majority of the support has had enough of the bull**** that comes from inside the club. We've being paying top money for many a year now and we're still being fed a load of crap. We're not stupid, we can all see whats going on on the pitch. Now to most of us Wenger has run out of time, he's used up his "goodwill" that he had saved up in the early years and now we want change.

46. HP

    Sep 23, 2011, 13:09 #13239

    Support Arsenal? till the day we die! Support a manager who has had relegation form over the past 8 months and a board more interested in profits? hell no!

47. Der Projekt ist Kaput

    Sep 23, 2011, 13:07 #13238

    Erik: I would agree if AW were to be sacked had he been at the club for a year or two as it takes time to bed in and convert styles etc, but we're talking about a man who's been in charge for 15 YEARS with the last 5 or 6 years showing an incontravertable downward trend. This is clearly due to AW's stubborness and poor accountability by the Board. The people who want change are not acting out of knee-jerk reactions to a couple of recent poor results - it's the culmination of year after year frustration. We need change before it's too late. I swear, If I hear one more time that we have to patient with the way our club is being managed and the real problem is that the fans don't get behind the team, I will set fire to a nun.

48. Cloggs

    Sep 23, 2011, 12:58 #13237

    Sorry mate but your post has most (but not all) of the, too familiar, ingredients of the typical AKB stuff we have seen over the years. It's boring. All these posts begin with "I'm a lifelong supporter since blah blah.. As if this would add some extra authority over other fans. 2nd ingredient; "You're not a "real" fan when you disagree with me", empty retorics.period. 3rd ingredient; "Other fans have been negatively influenced by media/pundits", as if these other fans are too dumb to form an opinion of themselves, see also ingredient 1. 4th ingredient; These negative fans ruin Arsenal, I don't even comment on this one, it stupidity beyond belief. 5th ingredient; "Stop moaning after the season has started", always followed after the "stop moaning until the transfer window has closed", you get the idea? 6th ingredient; "Support the manager!" BANG!! The AKB signature! Like throwing a brick in an empty barrel. There is never a reasonable argument given why we suddenly should trust Wenger to resolve the problems that were created over the years by the very same person in the first place. As if Wenger has gained magic powers lately, only known to AKB's but they won't tell you!, he will use to bring us back to glory.

49. Richard Ansell

    Sep 23, 2011, 12:56 #13236

    Sorry Tom I just can not agree. I maintain that Wenger and the Board are devastating our club and it is about time they realised that many, many fans are deeply worried and are downright angry with the shambolic state we are in. As for some of the fans chanting Wenger's name, I just give up.

50. chandra prakash

    Sep 23, 2011, 12:00 #13233

    in arsene i trust.... eagerly waiting for jack n vermaelen...

51. Gare Kekeke

    Sep 23, 2011, 11:47 #13232

    @ Theo's Underpants Designer; Spot on mate. I'm with 100%. The AKB's say we should support the team no matter what and it's something I agree with. However, the travelling Gooners at Old Trafford & Ewood Park gave the team great support and their singing, particulary at OT could be heard and how did the team respond? Conceding 12 goals in two spineless & insipid performances. Sorry Tom, but it's people like you that OGL & the board love. Blindindly oblivious to the crap that has been happening at our club for a lengthy time. Wenger deserves credit and respect for his outstanding contribution to our club since 1996 but his standards have dropped and their seems very little sign he will get his mojo back. Shame. We all agree that no individual is bigger than any football club yet why are some Gooners making out that the club's success is dependent on Wenger? Pathetic really. I'm amazed that these people would rather have years of mediocrity under Wenger because of 1998, 2002 & 2004 rather than renewed success with another manager.

52. Ron

    Sep 23, 2011, 11:39 #13230

    Noone expects to win all of the time or to win honours every season and your principle expounded in your arguments are good. It is flawed though as it presupposes that those of us who are saying things arent right at the Club and that our best isnt good enough are in some way indicating that the support has gone. Not true. Totally untrue in fact. The criticisms are borne of caring and good support, that remmains there come what may. You also need to consider that AW and the Board have had a great run of not having to field criticism. 15 years of it in fact and the present unrest has taken 2-3 years to reach this level. Even then, lets face it, the protest is hardly earth shattering anayway.Not yet.

53. Erik

    Sep 23, 2011, 11:38 #13229

    Sacking Wenger would be incredibly stupid, people who think he should go automatically loose credibility in my eyes. Getting rid of Wenger now means that a new manager with a new system will take over, it will take around 2 months for the squad to blend in, by then we could be in a proper relegation battle. Also, a new manager will not know our youngsters and likely will not be as good as Wenger finding new players and might not even play the youngsters at all, meaning a lot of them could leave on the cheap when they could be key members for us. People seem to forget we lost Cesc and Nasri and signed a huge amount of new players, they wont click straight away, they need a bit of time to get to know eacho ther. The other main problem is... people... our fans... they hear some moron pundit moaning about Arsenal and inmediately think he is right. So a manager wannabe who has to settle for a TV job because no clubs want him is suddenly better than Wenger? wow! And the vast majority of you are the same, in many cases your most relevant experience in managing a club is playing Football Manager or FIFA, but now you know more than Wenger as well. I have nearly 20 yrs experience fixing/repairing PC's, you know what really p***es me off? when some idiot that can barely switch the PC on and type suggests to me what to do when I am fixing it... my reaction is roll my eyes and ignore.

54. ziggy2633

    Sep 23, 2011, 11:38 #13228

    Wow, the most sensible article I gave read concerning Arsenal, I really wish and hope all Arsenal fans would think like this but there are a group who would love to see Arsenal fail because they hate the manager ala Merson and Wrighty. I just wonder why they are not in football management.

55. Theo's Underpants Designer

    Sep 23, 2011, 10:52 #13226

    'Showing the team 100% support' worked well at Old Trafford, didn't it? How did the players reward us? With the most spineless and humiliating display from any Arsenal team for over 100 years!! No matey, there's been a little too much acceptance of things going pear-shaped for my liking. Going easy on the manager and players - relative to the stick they'd get at any other big club in similar circumstances - hasn't worked until now and won't work until we let the club know how much pain we feel with every bad result and sub-standard performance from people supposedly representing us. So I and others will continue to give stick to the people that we feel deserve it, in the hope that maybe that method will work instead.

56. Dave

    Sep 23, 2011, 10:51 #13225

    Its muppets like you who just accept the rubbish thrown up in front their eyes, like a sheep following regardless. Everyone at Arsenal gets paid handsomely to accept critiscism so if they aren't shown displeasure by the fans they will think its all ok and the cycle continues. I watched with horror on TV that the fans were STILL singing his name on Tuesday night, I'm so glad I don't give a penny of my money to the club until massive change happens and that includes a new Manager and preferably a new board who don't fleece their fans and spend, the tight fisted ********

57. g clarke

    Sep 23, 2011, 10:30 #13224

    dont think aw is at arsenal for fat anything anyone that has played or indeed understands football love the way arsenal try to play, change of approach, manager,would make arsenal ordinary. you dont know what you got till its gone

58. WestUpperRed

    Sep 23, 2011, 10:21 #13223

    Fyling in from Canada for those fixtures is amazing support mate, i only hope the team dont collapse in front of your eyes!! Definately important games for us and cant argue the team on the pitch need a break from negativity in the crowd to perform at their best. For me AW has taken us as far as he can and we are now going backwards! Great manager but too many weaknesses that over time have been found out!

59. ed enough

    Sep 23, 2011, 10:06 #13222

    All very inspiring....but we have had these pep-talks for 5-6 years now....it's getting boring. It's time for change...Wenger out...simples!

60. Leo zis

    Sep 23, 2011, 10:01 #13221

    I think you have spent too much time in Canada and missed a lot of the past SUMMER or so....WE HAVE BEEN CLAMOURING FOR NEW TOP CLASS SIGNINGS TO IMPROVE THE TEAM, BUT....OH NO...Monsier Wenger has had other ideas...I have nothing against Mersker and Arteta, but we need a little bit more to compete for top honours. When did Arsenal become satisfied with just top 4...where had the hunger for the silverware (not no. 4) gone? I say right now is the best time to let Wenger know we are not happy...he has ignored us all summer hasn't he???

61. SurreyGunner

    Sep 23, 2011, 10:01 #13220

    Only three words to discribe this blog. Agreed, Agrred, Agreed Stop feeding the media, support Arsenal, and stop the negativity

62. Vineet

    Sep 23, 2011, 9:54 #13219

    No offence to the author - value his optimism but a dash of reality check would do no harm. Can someone give me Arsenal Manager - no accountability, fat pay checks, untouchable, holier than thou!! Your article must be beethoven's symphony for ears of likes of Gazidis, Hill-Wood, Kroenke and other spineless board members and one certain AW. I was a Wenger fan for a very long time - but last 3years have convinced me that he has lost the plot. He should leave with dignity and give the new manager to buy/sell in Jan window period. AKB should be dead and buried by now