I don't like Wenger either but I do like his football philosophy. Barcelona took the pi55 out of Man U in the Champions League final and iI will continue that way until skill is encouraged in this country. Arsenal under Wenger have at least tried to bring some artistry to our game.
I think the vast majority of arsenal fans are still hugely behind wenger and rightly so. He has done so much for the club over the past 15 or so years and, although he certainly hasn't had a good year or so, he clearly hasn't 'lost the plot' as most of the media would have you believe. I actually think he has been treated pretty appallingly for quite a while now. Easy target and all that.
Treated appallingly ? East target ? The blokes a bullshitting bastard who brings it on, A bit of honesty wouldn't go amiss.
I agree with your point about the fans being behind him, but to be honest the media have been on his side for the last 6 years or so. It's only this Summer after the sales of Fabregas and Nasri that they've really stuck the knife in, and while I think even contemplating sacking him is ridiculous, much of the criticism aimed at him and the club in the press is warrented in my opinion.
They were sharpening the knives before the udinese second leg but arsenal actually played pretty well against a very decent side and got through. And even if they had gone out it would have hardly been the crisis the media would have portrayed it as. Liverpool missed the champs league for the past two years, I'd say they now look stronger for it. There's an argument to be made that wenger has done as much for the premier league and the English game as pretty much anybody else over the 15 years he's been here. Whether you like him as a person, there's no doubting his achievements in my opinion.
If the man has great vision how the hell did he let Nasri's contract run down, surely he would have extended it two years ago before Man City became an attractive option. I think Arsenal will really struggle now, may have been set back a few years from one window. Wenger has money to spend, the board have always backed him, but who will join them now? Others have seen Fabregas and Nasri up and leave, Clichy has also gone and Bantner os all but gone too. Any player with ambitions will be put off by a team losing key players, at to that the spending power of Man City, history and set up of Man utd, Chelsea have a strong recent history and good wage strucutre, Liverpool are setting good groundwork and seem to have great team spirit.
I'm not defending him. I'm completely neautral on Arsenal and Wenger. I just think he doesn't have the money. Everyone knows he needs a proper strong British-type centre half, and a similar hard worker in midfield (in addition to replacing Fabrages and Nasri). Again I'm no Arsenal expert but I would suggest someone like Gary Cahill and Scott Parker. However these English players cost a **** load. Liverpool have signed them English players and everyone criticises how much they spent. Wenger clearly can't afford these players so he goes abroad for some unproven youngsters.
ISTPLT: Before Fabregas, Nasri and Clichy left, I would have said that Arsenal needed a two centre-halves, a full-back, a holding midfielder, an experienced goalkeeper and a forward. You can now add an extra full-back and two creative midfielders to that list (and perhaps a winger, given how inconsistent Walcott is). By my reckoning that's 9 players at least that they need.
spend the money .... but on WHO ??? Chelsea are prepared to spend what sounds like mental money on Modric , was it £40mill ? Tho not a Wenger fan , it must be at least noted that he hasnt (or as of yet - he hasnt signed that Korean lad yet has he lol ) panicked into spending absurd money on averagely good players. The big concern must be that they have had at least a season to line up a Fabregas replacement ,
They will be signing the Korean guy, and have you seen who their latest target is? Yossi Benayoun. Now, unlike many people, I've always liked him as a player. But not as a replacement for Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. FFS Arsenal.
This train wreck at Arsenal has bee waiting to happen for YEARS now, 6 years without a trophy and in that time Wenger has brought in quite a few players, but all of whom seem to be in a similar mould, small, quick, good feet (except Walcott) but no physical presence. Viking Eric is right in saying 'Before Fabregas, Nasri and Clichy left, I would have said that Arsenal needed a two centre-halves, a full-back, a holding midfielder, an experienced goalkeeper and a forward.' Bottom line is they've needed 2 CBs for about 5 years now, as they've only ever had 1 good CB at any one time - Toure then Vermaelen, they haven't had a god holding CM for as long as I can remember and RVP aside, the signings up front have been woeful. Evn this season, you think if money is tight why blow 11m of Chamberlain? sure he may turn out to be cass, but that mony could have been spent on Cahill who's avaiable for a reported 12m in the papers now Wenger is a dick, and has been for the longest time, Arsenal have been treading water for 6 years and are now going to sink. WIth Liverpool looking good there is no way they'll finish top 4 and the loss of Champ League money will kill them. Add to that that they don't really have any re sale value within their squad now Nasri and Fabregas are gone, it's hard to see how he'd be able to raise funds for a spree if the lack of money rumours are true
All Wenger is losing is his Best Players. Failure to recruit in the summer could cost AW dear. Less than 2 days of panic left. But dont underestimate him. If he can get some from the likes of Cahill - Samba - Parker - Alex shall we say and get his injured stars fit then Arsenal will be back in the hunt for a top 4 finish.
I heard they are signing Mertesacker, sounds like a panic signing to me, can see nippy Prem players having a field day against this slow beanpole
Mertesacker is an excellent signing. 26 and 75 german caps says a lot, about £10m cheaper than bolton want for Cahill, too. He'd complement vermaelen quite well, and let's be fair, some of arsenals finest centre halves have hardly been blessed with pace (think bould and adams).
VE: I completely agree. We all know they need players and have done since before they started losing their stars. I'm simply deducing that when they need these players and aren't signing them, there is probably a lack of money available. That said, the point raised about Chaimberlain is true, if they had £11m to spend they could have used it on a number of different areas. But a young lad who might be good in 5 years is the complete opposite of what they need to do.
You might be right, I only have seen him in internationals to be fair, he does seem slow on the turn but if he gets in their team, who knows.
To be fair mate, it's probably just as likely you are right. Time will tell on all wengers signings post 8-2.
