http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/nationworld/sns-rt-uk-soccer-england-arsenalbre8b00ec-20121201,0,3509828.story A strange interview from Wenger - normally after a bad result he comes out fighting. I expected him to blame the ref, criticise our players. There's a sly dig that we had a lot of posession without going anywhere (thought we created more chances and hit the target more) but it's not up to his usual standard. It may be a one off and he'll come back in the next game - but it felt a bit resigned. With the decline of his team and the dissatisfaction of the fans, has he had enough? (By the way, I really would not like to see him go - the way he runs his club should be an example to all the clubs that change everything twice a year and splurges cash at everything.)
Wenger is in a tough spot and we are not the fashionable team the BIG clubs should lose to ..... at least not yet. His team was exposed today for what it is - technically competent but lacking imagination. Clattenburg was damned near perfect so no room for bickering there. Arsenal didn't achieve not because they were ineffective, but because we defended well, played our style, controlled long stretches of the game and didn't let them play other teams let them. You might say that they only lost by two goals because their keeper made a series of critical saves and they stuck with us pretty good; but seriously they never really threatened. Tremmel did what he needed to do very competently - he was also much more comfortable with the ball at his feet today - and he now has the confidence to boss his defenders around, which is what has to happen. As a team and individually we are finding our competitive advantage and realizing that we have nothing to fear from any other club in the league, and that is quite energizing in and of itself. We are coming to a boil. Man C. caught us before we got going and they worked out a win. Chelsea also benefited by playing us as when we were starting to heat up. Wenger unfortunately caught us closer to the boil. He's not going to be the last BIG manager to catch a cold this season from us. Bring on United, let's see what they have to offer.
I wouldn't either, I rate him highly, though these big clubs do have more than they're fair share of plastics, who are calling for his head, I'm sure he will turn things around, I really do like the Arsenal model, has been good for the game over the years!........
If they defend like they did 1st half today and we play like we have been recently, then i'd fancy us to get a good result. Not getting carried away yet though
Yankee I disagree, only because the other teams I notice, are sending more and more scouts to the Liberty, plus our stats and results show that we can match ANY team in the top flight . I honestly believe a top six finish is not beyond us this season.
Not sure what you disagree with .... but I agree with you. Place 3 through 5 are up for grabs. Any team that strings together a set of results over the next few weeks will be up there by the end of the year, then its just a matter of consistency.
Sorry Mate should have made it clearer, you say we are are not the fashionable side teams should lose too, I think the 'top teams' feel very differently to last season, especially now under ML, as we seemed to have progressed even more than last term. For me to hear Wenger say that we are a good footballing team spoke volumes, as no one can deny he knows his stuff!
Well there's blood on the carpet at the Emirates, there's also momentum calling for AV to go, which in my view is sad, as the way I see it, AV has had the rug pulled from underneath him by the Arsenal board, particularly their Billionaire Russian sugar daddy, all very sad in some ways to see the club in meltdown, though I don't see getting rid of AV as the answer to their problems, check out this Mail link, and read the Gooners comments at the end of the article! Think we have made it very tough for AV now. Seems the status quo is changing in the League??........ Link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ts--Arsene-Wenger-shrugs-defeat-Swansea.html#
Wengers made this club what it is today and we ought to be indebted to him rather than calling for his head. Unfortunately most fans are mesmerized with the prospect of immediate success. As some of you have said its the board constraining our expenditure. However in any case i would be gutted if the uzbek sugar daddy usmanov took over and splurged his millions the last thing i want is to become another man city. Irrespective how i feel though wenger looks a forlorn and dejected figure and may well be hounded out of the club. I still have faith in our youth policy and like the way we go about things running a self sustaining club but most disagree with this perspective. Whoever succeeds wenger will undoubtedly be successful but that would be a direct consequence of the fondation laid by wenger. Always proud to support arsenal but sometimes ashamed to be an arsenal fan.
Don't ever be ashamed of your club cb, nothing to be ashamed of. There is a difference of perception this year to last when it comes to the Swans. I was talking to a few Arsenal fans before the game and they were telling me that they had a choice to watch either their game against QPR or against us, due to finances. They chose us because of the way we play football, because we weren't a relegation candidate who were likely to kick Arsenal off the field and also because of how friendly and vocal our fans were last season unlike QPR. They were even having a laugh at some of our fans worrying about us getting to the 40 point mark to avoid relegation. They politely told us we were off our rockers and that there is no chance of the Swans going down, more chance of Europe than relegation. Now that was their thoughts before the game, goodness knows what they thought after the game, who on earth would have thought that this time last year ? I think it shows just how far we have come as a club.
I don't think we know the full story with AW and the Arsenal. Perhaps behind the scenes problems are hampering what he wants to do. He is a highly intelligent and highly skilled manager who has done wonders for the club during his tenure. Think how proud we at the Swans were when people first started comparing us to Arsenal. I think he will come good again for them but he needs a free hand to do what he needs to. I have a strong feeling that he's not getting that right now.
Actually not just Arsenal, when he went there he was light years ahead re training, nutritional expertise etc. which other clubs followed once they realised the value of what he was doing. No, I hope he stays as well !
Got it. Thanks ... yes, I agree Wenger gets it, though in the despair of defeat he didn't say it that loud - I missed it. He saw the gap on the field between what his team can do and what we do as a matter of course. I still think that in the eyes of media and pundits we are not a fashionable club yet - they are still struggling with who we are, how we play, and the shift in the game and league that we represent. And, its they that ask Wenger the tough questions and put the pressure on - them and the Arsenal supporters.
he looked pissed big time in the video vetch put up, maybe for once he realises that his players are at fault or sometimes a moment of magic happens - first goal was that and second oxlade needed shooting
I, too, like Wenger, but cannot help but scratch my head when I hear people say that Arsenal need to spend more cash. Are they actually suggesting that they need more financial backing to be able to beat Swansea City? Or is our victory over them regarded as an anomaly, and just symptomatic of their lack of funds? We've played them three times, deservedly beaten them twice and undeservedly lost once. Cash had nothing to do with our victories, and so why should any team in this league feel that money is the answer? Like I said, I like Wenger but there is something fundamentally wrong with the shape and mentality of his team, and it is that which is hindering their season.
Arsen has been a terrific manager but like all things they come to an end. Its time for him to go now and be replaced with someone else with new ideas. He has gone to stale to ever get arsenal winning anything and he is more a board member making profit after profit every season, Love his style for a long time but that is not enough anymore and as arsenal is the only club never to play outside the top flight then the way they are declining every season could eventually lose that record, Its time for a change at arsenal....
Agree Dai, Wenger has gone stale just like Brendan at the end of last season-9 games to go 39 points and we finished with 47 points.if Danny had not scored in 86 th minute against your team we would only have amassed 44 points.
