Don't get me wrong, i don't want Wenger to go but this season is having that familiar ring about it. One thing is different however, getting into the top 4 is looking increasingly unlikely. Now i know we are in the Champions league and FA Cup, and realistically, we have a good chance of winning the FA. But even winning this trophy will be difficult as Wenger and co will desperately try to achieve top 4 and progress in the Champions League, thus diluting our impact in the FA cup. Now hypothetically speaking, it is likely that we won't win the Champions league and FA cup and with every passing match in the Premiership, drop out the top 4. The big question is, will Wenger be able to survive another year with no trophy and no Champions League football?
I agree with the above, he has to win one trophy this season if he wants to save his job, if he drops us out of the top 4, and fails to win any trophy, then for me it's time he packs his bags and leaves.
Could this be Wenger's final year? - yes Could Wenger lead us to the FA cup, CL winners, top of the EPL 2011/12? - yes It's a funny old world
It is rather strange. I remember our best run in the Champions league coincided with one of our worst runs in the league. At the end of the day, we still have a pretty good team and i feel we can still pull of a suprise or two this season. With RVP leading the line and a bit of luck, who knows.....
We were seriously unlucky not to win last night. We certainly had the chances. When Gerv get's back Theo should be banished to the youth team, or sent to Siberia with Arshavin.
If you read carefully what Kroenke has said, it is quite obvious than Wenger will survive. I would not even call it survival, he will stay. Just look at other Kroenke mid-table teams - the guy is known in US for building a sustainable financial models, not trophy-winning teams. This is a perfectly accepted philosophy in the States. Arsenal will be no different. The real question is a bit different: will questions be asked if /when Arsenal finish outside top 4 ? I think if we finish 5th, then no serious questions will be asked - the youngsters develop well, there is a clear vision what the next season's team will look like, there is a chance that they will develop further and progress etc etc. If we finish outside top 7 then questions may be asked about how really good these players/system are. So it looks like we need to finish either 4th of 8th. But Wenger will stay in both cases, no doubt about it.
It could depend on the fans response. Could they make things so bad that Wenger gets forced out? I mean, 7 years without a trophy and no Champions League could be the tipping point for a lot of fans....
Yes. I think there will be a HUGE call for his head by the end of the season if the team don't get 4th and win nothing. I think he'll be forced out.
Could this be Arsene's final season? To be honest I could not care less whether he stays or go..... I know I cannot affect that outcome of that, one thing in life I have learnt is not to lose sleep over the things I cannot change. Would I be disappointed if he left at the end of the season? Slightly, because I think he is a good man, sticking by his beliefs and just hope his good record is not eroded by events over the past few years....... Change sometimes does not always correlate to a reversal of fortunes and it is not a quick fix......
I really hope that Wenger doesn't get forced out as he's brought so much to Arsenal. I really want to see Wenger succeed but he's running out of time i fear.....
I think that sums it up nicely. If he changed and got us back to winning again, there would be a turnaround of the majority of opinion. As it is that is difficult to see. I think our owner and the board need to go irrespective of whether Wenger stays.
Very true. Obviously something isn't working so if something isn't working, look into making small changes that are required. The system is good, it just needs tweaking.
We have been unlucky for 7 years, after a while the old worn out excuse of just being unlucky all the time comes to an end, it's not about luck, its basically down to one fact: we suck
I think you'll find that we have won a lot of games over the last 7 years, so I wouldn't say that we've been 'unlucky all the time' & I certainly wouldn't say 'we suck'. However, last night we were a little unlucky (coupled with some poor finishing from Theo). We hit the woodwork twice and had 1 cleared off the line.
Agreed, we weren't that bad. However, Wenger has to start being ruthless on players that are not performing well in a game. If someone like Ramsey isn't being effective, then stick on Rosicky or Arshavin then we might see some changes.
I definitely agree with this. I was on the phone to my mate at half time and saying that Wenger should take Theo off. Also Rosicky has looked good recently. He should have been on after 60 minutes. Arteta looked good though and once again gave the team good balance and helped protect the defense well.
I was suprised why he took so long to make the subs, he usually does it at the 65th minutes mark. I wonder if it was the cold? I agree, I think Arteta gives our midield better balance ans has been a good purchase this season. On a side note, what about Benny? Why hasn't he been playing? I think he's a pretty good player and always does a job when brought on as a sub.
I'm not sure about Benny. I feel that he should have been given more chances, especially with the form of AA and TW, but there you go.
The thing is, I can't think of a sport that brings out so much emotions, I mean, I know they love Basketball and that weird football they play with their hands and a squashed ball and lots of girlie shoulder pads and stuff, but football to me seems more emotive and very tribal. There is no way at all that fans of Arsenal would accept being mid table or safe. We must be challenging.
