QuartzGooner
Arsenal fans are split over whether Arsène Wenger should continue as manager next season. A bitter war of words between the pro- and anti-Wenger factions has taken place at the stadium and on the internet for the last couple of seasons. Some claim that the board of directors have withheld funds from Wenger since 2005, weakening his hand. Others claim that Wenger has access to substantial money for transfers, but refuses to spend most of it, preferring to place faith in youth players.
We fans do not know for sure if either is the case, but my personal hunch is that a period of strict belt-tightening around the time of the stadium-move forced Wenger to embark upon a youth policy. In addition, the strengthening of Chelsea, Man United and Man City by rich owners, and comparatively weak commercial deals for Arsenal, have also reduced our relative spending power in the transfer-market, despite our match-day revenues increasing from the new stadium. However, I contend that, even if Wenger has been denied funds, he should not manage us next season.
There is a malaise around the squad, a lack of confidence and success that has crept in from as far back as Vieira’s departure, and that has intensified since our loss to Birmingham in the Carling Cup Final. So bad is this mentality, that I never regard us as likely to hold onto the supposed cushion of a two-goal lead until I hear the final whistle. Something unthinkable seven years ago. I believe Wenger has badly mismanaged this squad, and gambled recklessly in two key areas of the pitch, and, to a lesser extent, in a third position.
The first is defensive midfield, where he failed to replace Vieira’s prowess. Vieira was as much a box-to-box player as a pure defensive midfielder, but his influence on a game was immense. Flamini was superb in 2007 -2008, but otherwise no single Arsenal player has been a physical and intimidating midfield force since 2005. Song has his moments, and can tackle well, but he is very much an all-round midfielder and does not dominate games to the level needed.
In the tidy Coquelin and the competitive Frimpong we may have two candidates to take over the role of midfield enforcer to a high level. I certainly hope they reach that peak, but, as fans, we have suffered the absence of such a player for too long.
The other key area of mismanagement has been up front. Aside from van Persie, we have no effective goal-scorer. This was clear at the end of last season, yet nothing was done to redress it over the summer - a terrifying gamble on the fitness of our fecund, yet brittle, Dutch striker. Chamakh is woeful, Park is such a fringe player he might as well work for Vidal Sassoon, and the promising but unproven Afobe has been injured since the summer. It is a near criminal situation.
Thirdly, we had lacked a decent goalkeeper for too long until last season. Almunia produced good form on occasion, but he should not have been first choice at a club like ours for so long. Szczesny is good, but behind him is a collection of average players and unproven youth. A goalkeeper appears less likely to have a lengthy absence through injury as a striker, so it seems not as big a concern as up front, but it is not a great situation either.
Such glaring faults should not have been left unremedied, and they are why I want a new boss for next season.
