Arsenal mentality

[Gooner]

Increasingly difficult to avoid the feeling that the selfie loving, happy smiley mentality is partly responsible for our lack of competitive edge during the sharp end of the season.

Yes you will say which 25 years old wouldn't smile knowing his collecting £3m+ year and all the trappings that come with sporting celebrity but we really do lack a gritty winning determination. Fergies teams had it, Grahams and Wengers title winning sides had it.

But does this look like a team who have just, metaphorically speaking and in terms of PL, jusy missed an open goal in the WC final to clinch the trophy?

 

[Arsenal87]

No they don't, when your an average player like Walcott and you're on something like 110k a week, what else do you expect? Another thing is that there is no real competition in the team, players don't feel under pressure or see a major threat to their places or long term future, they know they can be average and not pull their weight, and still be kept around, and in many cases, given new contracts with higher wages. Giroud can play game in game for months on end without scoring and still find his way into the side, so how are you going to make a fighting mentality when everyone at the club, including the manager, are all in a relaxed position with no pressure on them to perform or be moved out.

All the players know that as long as they secure top 4 everything will be dandy for them, there is no major incentive or pressure to make them want to win the title, and that too comes from the manager who goes around saying 4th place is like a trophy, while his dumb deluded supporters nod their heads along to that mantra.

 

[Diego]

No they don't, when your an average player like Walcott and you're on something like 110k a week, what else do you expect? Another thing is that there is no real competition in the team, players don't feel under pressure or see a major threat to their places or long term future, they know they can be average and not pull their weight, and still be kept around, and in many cases, given new contracts with higher wages. Giroud can play game in game for months on end without scoring and still find his way into the side, so how are you going to make a fighting mentality when everyone at the club, including the manager, are all in a relaxed position with no pressure on them to perform or be moved out.

All the players know that as long as they secure top 4 everything will be dandy for them, there is no major incentive or pressure to make them want to win the title, and that too comes from the manager who goes around saying 4th place is like a trophy, while his dumb deluded supporters nod their heads along to that mantra.

I agree with most of what you say here A87, players today get the big money for very little effort or passion.
When you look at real players like Suarez, Messi, Ronaldo or Ibrahimovic you get the feeling they play for the glory (be it team or personal) and the money is just a nice aside.
Some players just want to be the best and win as much as they can, most just want to be famous and rich.

 

[Star of David Bardsley]

Arsenal is paradise for footballers. You get to live in Hampstead, have little to no pressure from your boss and rake in half a million quid a month.