Hi. This article isn't a dig at Arsene at all. Obviously now due to hindsight we can all realistically say that the last 6 years have not gone as hoped. Especially considering how good our team was in the early naughties. Yet imagine putting yourselves in Wengers boots this time 6 years ago. He decided to adopt a playing style and transfer policy that will focus around nurturing the youth and developing a team rather than buying already developed talent. In theory this was almost perfect, we have developed some outstanding players over the last 6 years and have always been there or thereabouts, except for maybe the season constancy to finish top. However there was almost a naivety on Arsene's behalf, he never really considered player loyalty and decided to chose maybe a bit too many flair players and not enough players with 'grit'. However no one could have predicted our injury crisis, and that Spurs would suddenly become good and City would buy the league. All in all, with our low spending, has he really been that bad, or a genius? Anyway, if you were in his position this time 6 years ago, what would you have done differently?
Also, when he did spend big RE Arshavin, he seemed heroic at the time. It wasnt his fault that he decided to suddenly forget how to play football.
No Wenger out but rather he needs to adapt to the new situation that he is in. If SAF can change with the times then im sure he can!
I think the best approach would be for Usmanov to take over, if Wenger starts spending then keep him.
Ah! but the issues many of us take offence at are drip feeding season after season. A couple of years of shocking 'keeping, buying past-it defenders, persevering with match after match poor players. Rigid sticking to a single approach, open attacking - never closing down games, weak mental-strength (stupid remark if there ever was one ). The list goes on and on. Its been one way traffic - downhill.
These issues though, are they really his fault? Kolo Toure and William Gallas were great buys and class defenders who really shouldnt have that 'weak mental strength' label. Almunia was great at first, and a perfect buy really. Not really Wengers fault he turned dog ****. I will agree with the fact that he is too proud and one dimensional in his style of play. Part of me believes that he is just really unfortunate!
I think Bergkamp a Dutch master hit some of the points. I can understand his youth policy but i think he missed the trick on some occasions when he should have strengthened but failed to do so. I genuinely believe we were REALLY close to winning stuff had he just bought 1 or 2 players. Take Arteta for example, he has been a fantastic buy and this goes against his old man policy. Just imagine if we bought him earlier (the rumours state), the partnership with Fabs would have been marvelous. However, we seem to have a good spine now around 2-3 quality players could make all the difference next season. Also a nice clearout would be welcome.
Actually, I think SAF, is becoming more like Wenger, he isnt spending that much lately. Their financial situation is worse than ours. I have no idea what well happen when he cant call on Rio, Scholes and Giggs any more. Despite the hype, he has not done much better than we have with players recently.
Good point Mr Christmas I think Arsene started out doing the right thing, indeed the best thing. It took a few years but actually with the right captain like a Viera for instance, we might have battled through the final weeks following the draw at Birmingham. Instead we drew almost everywhere. The problem too was that the youngsters needed backbone which only comes through experience. Placing all or most of one's reliance on youth was not the best move we could have made. The youth should have been playing alongside some seasoned players, men who would guide them through the thick and thin, those difficult moments when you need to pick up when all is looking lost. That was what was missing. However as the youth matured, we somehow lost the ability to keep them. That accounted for the problem of today which could still have been avoided had we planned better. Instead Arsene did not bring in reinforcements in good time so we started badly and now, well, you know the problem now. It is almost in every department and that includes the injuries department. But let me be clear. Arsene started well. Sadly too though there crept into our game, numerous tactical deficiencies such as the lack of a Plan B. Perhaps a reflection of our currently intransigent manager?
Ditto They haven't perhaps done as well as they would like to or have in the past but they certainly are in better shape than us and who would bet that this will not be the case this time next year?
I think that overall, Wenger has done an amazing job considering the resources at his disposal. However, I think his biggest mistake has been persevering for too long with dross. We have a very good first team but a really flat, unexciting bench. This has been the story for a number of seasons now. SAF would have wielded the axe with far more regularity than Wenger has.
RVB '. Placing all or most of one's reliance on youth was not the best move we could have made. The youth should have been playing alongside some seasoned players, men who would guide them through the thick and thin, those difficult moments when you need to pick up when all is looking lost. ' I dont see how it is Wengers fault that the team didnt have a backbone at the time. I believe we had Gallas, Hleb and Flamini in there at the time. If anything these players should have had some backbone and leadership there. It wasnt Wengers fault that they all lost their bottle.
