Kevin Whitcher
Where to begin? Well, let’s start with a piece of gossip that briefly excited me a lot more than the Higuain stories. The news that Paris St Germain are only recruiting a new manager for one season (although finding it tough to recruit a big name that will accept such terms), on the assumption that Arsène Wenger will honour his contract at Arsenal before taking over at PSG in the summer of 2014. On one level, it makes sense. Wenger has established links with the club’s owner and it seems a perfect fit. Long term, Wenger, a man who has admitted he does not make the most of living in London, would surely prefer Paris.
One thing we should also remember is that Wenger’s remaining obsession is to win the Champions League. It is a glaring omission on his CV, and his team selections in the variety of competitions around the time of the spring knockout matches reflect this, with players rested even for Premier League matches on occasion, and certainly in the likes of FA Cup semi-finals. Might the mananger, counting down the seasons to his own retirement, feel he would have a better chance of landing the trophy at a club like PSG rather than Arsenal? This on the basis that they simply have a stronger playing roster due to resources? Those are the arguments that might confirm the possibility. Certainly the idea of PSG offering a one year deal is an unusual one.
However, on another level it simply does not add up. Having been openly critical of “financial doping” in the past, it would be quite a turnaround for the Arsenal manager to cross the ideological divide and join up with a free-spending concern. Additionally, he has not always demonstrated a willingness to work with already-made star names who do not owe any part of their reputation to him. I would love to be a fly on the wall in any interactions between Wenger and Zlatan Ibrahimovic concerning footballing matters. This remember, was the player who would have signed for Arsenal but refused after Wenger requested he spent a trial period at the club first. Sheffield Wednesday missed out on Eric Cantona for the same reason. Having said that, who is to say Ibrahimovic will still be in Paris by the time Wenger might join? However, there are other stars, and if PSG are to compete with Monaco, one can see the battle between the two in the transfer market escalating like the arms race.
Another question is whether Wenger would move to a club where there is no way he would enjoy the complete control he currently does? From Ivan Gazidis’ recent pronouncements there is a renewal deal on the table at Arsenal. The longer it remains unsigned, the more belief will build that the PSG story is true. Some would be sorry to see the manager go, others would celebrate. I guess it depends on whether you have faith that he is the best man to return the club to winning ways. It’s no secret I lost such belief around about 2009. However, if Arsenal continue playing the ‘result is more important than entertaining’ style they developed towards the end of last season when things begin again in August, then there is always the chance my views will be proved wrong. It will be an interesting opening to the campaign for this reason if nothing else.
On the transfer front, Higuain would be a decent start, although more of his quality would be needed for the club to seriously compete. Ultimately, a change of mentality is what is required. The message that fourth place counts as a success and is acceptable has led to wide-scale complacency at all levels. This really needs addressing, and as long as Wenger remains in charge, the only way I can see this changing is the feeling between the players and effectively an unspoken marginalizing of the manager. The dressing room needs a serious shake-up and the only way this can really happen is if enough experienced winners/leaders are recruited who will sort things out on the field tactically. Will the manager sign enough of these types (and they do not have to necessarily all be marquee signings) to have the desired effect? Wenger is not blind to the faults of the team last season (as the switch in style after the home defeat against Bayern demonstrated), but the real issue is whether he realizes the reasons for the numerous poor performances of 2012/13 and is prepared to do something about them.
On a side note, regular Gooner contributor Matthew Bazell submitted a piece on a meeting he attended this week between supporters and Richard Scudamore of the Premier League, on the subject of fans being priced out of the game. However, a version of it had already been run in The Independent. I told him I would link to that – it’s here – but just a reminder to any contributors that our policy in to run articles on the website and in the printed issue that have not first appeared elsewhere, unless they are archive pieces from way back when in the name of nostalgia.
I’ll wrap up today by expressing my condolences to the family of regular Gooner contributor Alister Campbell, who most regular website visitors will be aware passed away last weekend. Alister had fought serious health battles for a few years, and in truth, his sad death came as no great surprise, in spite of him only being in his mid-40s. I spent an unforgettable two weeks solid in Alister’s company travelling round France watching matches during the 1998 World Cup. He died last Sunday, 16th June. 15 years to the day before we had attended a 1-1 draw between Scotland and Norway in Bordeaux. There are many stories from the whole trip and the memories vivid.
For me, those departed leave their legacy in the memories of those whom they directly affected when they were alive, and Alister lives on in my own mind through the recollections of time spent in his company. I am sure he will not be forgotten any time soon by a very large number of people. For those that knew him, the funeral is next Thursday (27th June) at 1pm at the St Giles Christian Mission, 62 Bride Street Islington, London, N7 8AZ. There will be tea after the service and then from 5pm, a room has been booked at The Hemingford Arms, 158 Hemingford Rd, London N1 1DF. Anyone unable to attend the church service is welcome to attend the wake. Flowers are to be from the family only, with friends asked to consider making a donation to the NSPCC instead. Cheques made out to the charity (no cash please) may be sent by post or given on the day to the funeral directors, who will collate them and send them on to the NSPCC. The address if sending by post is - W G Miller, 93-95 Essex Rd, Islington, N1 2SJ.
Rest in Peace Al.
