http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23750387 Arsene Wenger should not be offered a new contract as Arsenal boss, according to the Arsenal Supporters' Trust (AST). The Gunners have not spent any money in the transfer window and lost 3-1 at home to Aston Villa on the opening day. "Chief executive Ivan Gazidis has spoken of the intent to offer Wenger a new contract. We believe this is inappropriate," read an AST statement. "The entire focus must be on using the remaining days of the transfer window to strengthen the team significantly." Arsenal have told BBC Sport that they will not be commenting on this statement. The club qualified for the Champions League in each of the past 16 campaigns but their most recent trophy success was the 2005 FA Cup. After securing fourth place in the Premier League on the final day of last season, Gazidis revealed the board was ready to spend big after an "escalation in our financial firepower" created by new television and sponsorship deals. The AST has called on the club to invest some of their available money - they have a reported cash balance of £154m, which is almost as much as the rest of the other 19 clubs in the Premier League combined. "Ambitious football clubs invest the money they receive from their fans, and sometimes their owners, to make themselves stronger," said the AST. "Arsenal supporters pay some of the highest ticket prices in world football, providing the club with considerable financial resources, but the ambition and ability to use them appear to be missing. "The fact that there is money available for squad-strengthening is not disputed. The AST's independent analysis suggests that the amount is somewhere between £70m-£100m." It also wants American owner Stan Kroenke to take decisive action. "Stan Kroenke does not attend many Arsenal matches nor seem to have the time to devote to the affairs of Arsenal," the statement continued. "But it is clear to all that the football personnel he is ultimately responsible for are failing. The AST calls on him to appoint an independent expert to conduct a review of all football functions at Arsenal. "Clearly the interaction between our scouting, negotiating and player purchasing processes are failing and need urgent improvement. "A decision on whether to offer an extension to the manager's contract, which ends in May 2014, should only be taken following the closing of the transfer window and assessment of the team's performances. "Considerable improvement must be shown for us to be convinced this should happen."
There must be very strong relation between Wenger and the management due to which he is still managing Arsenal by now or in other words they are letting him.
I posted the whole statement in the other thread, here it is again. It's a reasonable letter compared to the Black Scarf thingy. It doesn't say Wenger out, but makes the point that an extension of the contract is out of the question until we see how the transfer window is closed and how we do in the next few weeks in the league. No job in no profession should be guaranteed no matter the results, especially one with such high rewards.
Sorry missed you posting in the other thread. But totally agreed, how can they offer Wenger a new contract before assessing his performance? Based on his last years performace, then no. If last season was so tight to get 4th, this year will be even harder. We aren't even thinking about challenging anymore!
Who should replace him? This may sounds like a WUM attempt, but I think Benitez would be good. His last stint in Italy wasn't to great, so may be happy to return to the prem at the end of this one.
I agree it is worrying (for you) what is going on, but don't you think this is an overreaction given how early in the season it is? Your first 11/14 players are still very good and you desperately need backup/rotation. As long as that happens in the next 2 weeks, then not too much damage done? CL qualification and winning the home NLD (and Fulham), then surely the start will feel very different. Of course if they both go against you, I won't be standing in front of any fans (the electric variety). Understand the frustration, but seems a little premature to me.
The mood around Emirates is going to be horrific if we lose that NLD. Our recent record away at Fulham isn't exactly great either..
I don't see this as a definitive statement that Arsenal should move forward without Wenger. It only says that with all that is (not) going on, talk of a contract extension for a huge part of the puzzle should be out of the question at this point.
I'm beginning to think that we need to get a British manager. I just don't think that the FA and officials are going to let us do anything until we do get one.
Yes, because thats the reason you failed to win a trophy in 8 years, Xenophobia. Not that that has stopped Jose Mourinho, Rafa Benitez, Roberto Mancini, Carlo Ancelotti, Guus Hiddink, Roberto Di Matteo, Brian Laudrup and other foreign managers from winning trophies in those last 8 years Oh and Roberto Martinez...
I've said it once and i'll say it again, you lot seem to suffer from a form of Stockholm Syndrome when it comes to Wenger. Yes he WAS great for you once but that time has long since passed. He is a liability, doesn't know what he is doing any more in my opinion but you lot will defend him to the death I feel. You can bookmark this thread right now, I don't see Arsenal even finishing top 6 this season.
It's not Wenger you need to get rid of, but Stan Kroenke! How much control do you fans have at the club? and what a farce your summer transfer has been, bit like a window shopper, she loves looking, but can't buy! Have a lot of respect for your club, but all this shows no class. By the way you will not get Ashley williams for £6 Million, try starting at £10 Million, and as for Michu, he's not a Striker, but a midfielder!!!!..........
Former Arsenal captain Stewart Robson believes Arsene Wenger's reluctance to spend money is to avoid being put under additional pressure to win things. Robson tells BBC Radio 5 live: "One of the reasons Wenger doesn't want to spend money when he does have it I think is because when they finish fourth he can say they are only losing out to the big guns. "If he goes and spends money, everyone will expect them to win things. If they don't win when they have bought players, he will be under more pressure."
The Arsenal Supporters' Trust fear that Arsene Wenger's "obsession" with developing young players is damaging the club's chances of winning silverware. Saturday's 3-1 home defeat by Aston Villa and a lengthy injury list that now includes Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has brought their lack of transfer activity into sharp focus and Tim Payton, a spokesman for AST, is critical of Wenger's prudence. "We don't know what's going on but clearly there's a manager that by his own words isn't a big fan of spending money on strengthening the team through expensive player acquisition," Payton says. "His apparent obsession with being a developmental manager is in danger of holding the club back."
