Written by Wenger Boy on Thursday, 09 June 2011 12:21

Good afternoon Arsenal chappies and chapettes. I trust you are all at each other’s throats? Superb.

I myself am doing quite splendidly, thanks. I’m off to God’s green land of freedom next week to visit my family in California and that thought is making my working day travel a whole lot quicker. I am also enjoying my first week’s foray into the sacred Twitter kingdom (@WengerBoy1 in case you’re interested – given my relative ‘yoof’ and inexperience in this field I feel I’m still allowed at least...er... seven more shameless plugs of this) and swimming through an endless stream of collective Gooner consciousness has been a learning experience for sure. 

The first thing that this adventure has taught is that our DNA as Arsenal fans must dictate that we attack each other incessantly, Twitterly disputing each and every individual, minute, tiny little atomic piece of information, news, gossip and/or complete and utter tripe.

Every time a story is released –  accurate or not - it is effectively thrown to the lions as literally thousands of Arsenal followers rip every aspect of its content to shreds before leaving the decaying carcass of a valid argument to turn on each other and do the same. It’s carnage.

The second thing that wading through this forum has taught me is that Arsene Wenger, our esteemed manager and winner of several if not all of our most recent trophies, is never, ever, ever, EVER right. About anything. Ever. EVER.

Arsene Wenger has managed to get into the entirely awkward position where no matter what he does he is criticised. Tell me the following isn’t true. I triple Denilson dare you:

He signs a player - he’s criticised.

He doesn’t sign a player –  he’s criticised.

He improves someone’s wages –  he’s criticised.

He doesn’t improve someone’s wages – he’s criticised.

He ties down potential on a long term contract – he’s criticised.

He doesn’t tie down potential on a long term contract – he’s criticised.

He promotes from within – he’s criticised.

He doesn’t promote from within –  he’s criticised. 

That list could go on and on and on and vary so much to the point where it becomes pointless to specify anything other than the criticism. It is absolutely, 100%, ridiculous.

And at no time has this been more true than this week.

We signed Jenkins – he was criticised. What about if we’d missed out on Jenkins to Man U? What do you think would have happened then?

We didn’t sign Jones – he was criticised. What if he’d spent £16m on an unproven CB? What would you have said?

We haven’t met Nasri’s wage demands – he was criticised. What if we’d rewarded a player who has helped us to win jack shit to the power of sod all? You would have been happy would you?

Come on.

It’s this nonsense that lead me to run with this headline in a tweet earlier in the week:

“BREAKING NEWS: Arsenal sign/do not sign experienced/young goalkeeper/defender/midfielder/striker. Fans outraged.”

That sums up the Arsenal fan mentality perfectly in my mind.

I suspect that with all of this ill feeling even if Wenger were now to win the Carling Cup, the FA Cup, the Premiership, the Champion’s League and the Eurovision Song Contest there would still be some sections of our support clamouring for his head to be clumsily severed from his body and placed on a spike at Traitor’s Gate.

Some Arsenal fans ACTIVELY HOPE THAT WE LOSE just so they can be proven right about Wenger’s ineptitude! It’s that bad!

I think people need to calm down and try to take a more balanced view of our affairs. Wenger isn’t  perfect but but he has a history of getting a lot of things right. He makes mistakes – who doesn’t? – but he loves the club and his attempts to buy Jones at least show that he is not afraid to spend to bring in the players he wants in this transfer market. 

Bearing in mind that it is the 9th of June – the 9th of June! – I don’t think there is really any room to criticise Wenger’s transfer activity this season. We won’t have any real understanding of what he is able to do or what he wants to do for at least a month or more. Then can we judge him.

And in the meantime if you want to criticise Wenger for something just think this: would I be happy either way? 

If your answer is no then what chance does he have.

Gooner4Life

Thank you,

WB

@WengerBoy1 (shameless plug no. 2)

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Comments (80)

• 09-Jun-2011 12:45 | | Denise Doyle  - DennyDoyle
  

  Couldnt have put it better myself.Recently posted on fb and twitter these words.Wenger doesnt sign you moan Wenger signs you moan.I'm sure there'll be a lot of moaning about this blog.Not from me tho

• 09-Jun-2011 12:45 | | Labwam  - top post
  

  well said - couldn't agree more with everything you wrote. and for that i shall also start following you on twitter. if you could do the same that would be fantastic "labwam" is the name

• 09-Jun-2011 12:45 | | stonroy  - Really???
  

  Seriously one of the most tedious Arsenal articles in a very long time. It brings absolutely nothing to the table.

• 09-Jun-2011 12:51 | | Said Hatimy
  

  You couldn't have written it any better, great post!

• 09-Jun-2011 12:54 | | chuchu  - Great post!
  

  agree no more

• 09-Jun-2011 12:56 | | richie  - Well done
  

  This is a great piece and shows the side of Arsenal support that is embarressing us.
  I only pray that people start to wise up to the fac that support means just that and ripping into your own clubs only helps your opposition.

• 09-Jun-2011 12:57 | | James  - what rubbish
  

  Pointless pile of dirge you've just written. The whole point of blogs is to discuss things.
  
  The fact is, people aren't happy with Wenger and that is reflected in what's being written and commented on in the media and online. No point complaining about it, it's up to the club to change course and satisfy its customer base.
  
  Blimey, anyone would think we had won something over the last 6 years. The fact is, Wenger has fucked up his job something rotten. Three years ago we were well on course after the stadium move and had a team with Adebayor, Eduardo, Campbell, Gallas, Hleb, Diarra, Gilberto and Flamini. Then Wenger ripped it all up and put a load of shit kids in who have done fuck all. Now two of the best ones are so fed up they want out making a mockery of his stupid ideologies.
  
  His fault entirely, and if he cant sort out his mess he should fucking leave.

• 09-Jun-2011 13:01 | | Andy Mack
  

  Good comment Gooner4Life!
  
  Unfortunately we have too many supporters that are dumb enough to believe the rumours/internet/newspapers and then shout about it to show how stupid they are.

• 09-Jun-2011 13:04 | | MeanLean
  

  Great article. It is apparent that many Arsenal fans will not be happy no matter what we do and how we do it.

• 09-Jun-2011 13:04 | | Steve of Chiang Mai  - Is that all you got......
  

  Great article by someone bringing balance and reason to the table. As opposed to ....well you get the picture.

• 09-Jun-2011 13:07 | | Savage
  

  Arsene wins us the title in 2011/12 by 20 points - gets criticised ... "should have done it 5 seasons ago!"

• 09-Jun-2011 13:08 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Am I not discussing things in the blog?
  
  What I have written is my opinion and you are entirely entitled to yours.
  
  But if my opinion is a 'pointless pile of dirge' then surely yours must be the same. Unless, of course, you are open to discussion.

• 09-Jun-2011 13:12 | | Savage
  

  Not true. It's on the money.
  
  Again, this article will only be appreciated by Wenger fans like myself and a whole bunch others. The haters will hate, even when we win the title.

• 09-Jun-2011 13:16 | | richie
  

  This is a discussion,....
  The point being raised is that some people are never going to be satisfied.
  You've summed it up perfectly with "...atisfy its customer base...", oddly enough I'm not a customer, I'm a supporter and support my club. Customers are free to switch entertainment providers which is something that a great number of people will do.
  As for the list of players you bring up, what a joke. 5 Mercinaries, 2 players in their early 30's, a man who's football career was smashed to pieces. Nice choice buddy you obviously know your stuff. Oh, and Arshavin and Song are kids are they? Fabregas, nominated for player of the year, Jack Wilshire, young player of the year, Nasri in the running, Ramsey would have been in the same running if it weren't for injury as well.
  Nasri has made noises to leave but the reasoning is cash unless your close enough to him to know differently and as yet I've not read anything from Fabregas to say he's even looking to leave.
  Please continue to read caughtoffside not attending the stadium, there are no refunds for knowing more that the manager I'm affraid.

• 09-Jun-2011 13:22 | | Labwam
  

  Pleased to see the majority of people here are showing true "support" for the club, and for the man who has transferred us into a superpower in football, almost single handedly. loved the "satisfy your customer base" line - if ever i thought of myself as a customer i would get the hell out and go somewhere else! i am a supporter and as such will support my club

• 09-Jun-2011 13:22 | | akins  - responce
  

  I just feel you are an in arsene we trust kind of fan! Arsene deserves every criticism that he gets. Or is he paying to write a colume to hide his mistakes. He is an intelligent man that makes silly mistakes every season because he is stubborn and is waiting to back his philosophy. hE SHOULD EMBRACE PRAGMATISM IT PAYS

• 09-Jun-2011 13:24 | | Sal Paradise  - Contradiction
  

  What you've said is that fans have a right to complain ....so don't complain.
  What the article says is just stop complaining about every bloody thing, all the bloody time, and don't be so manipulated by the bloody media.

• 09-Jun-2011 13:30 | | Darkins  - absolute crap
  

  There's a long list of reasons why arsene's a crap manager but it's not even worth wasting them on you AKB pricks. u's are just as stubborn and blinded by the same f***ing ignorance he is.
  It's so obvious that we won't win anything with this guy as manager!
  Will it take another 5 years for u's to realise that? or maybe we can carry on having this discussion for another 10.
  Next season we wont even be in the top 4 watch!

• 09-Jun-2011 13:31 | | Anonymous
  

  The team he 'ripped' apart as you claim comprised of ageing players who went on to do what, exactly, at their next clubs? Not very much. It's not often Wenger gets it wrong when he lets players leave.
  
  No doubt you are one of the feckless twats out there who's all smiles and love when the going's good, but you don't like it up ya when it's not plain sailing. You have to take the rough with the smooth my friend, that's what support is.
  
  Wise up. It's a fine line, things aren't that bad. I love the style of football they play. Wenger doesn't compromise, but we know that. If it bothers you that much, fuck off and follow Chelsea or something, but stop moaning like a little bitch and get behind the team AND manager

• 09-Jun-2011 13:31 | | Labwam
  

  you've missed the point - we all agree he deserves criticism when he messes up, but some "fans" seem to take a huge delight when he does and it seems like they are almost willing us to fail. as WengerBoy says he is getting criticised NO MATTER WHAT he does which is ridiculous

• 09-Jun-2011 13:33 | | mohd ismail  - Wenger
  

  It's not fans are critical of the FM.When the team was crying out for reinforecements he signed wc promising kids.
  When the gk was leaking goals ,what did he do?Can you imagine Ancelotti or any other top boss putting his trust in a rookie gk?
  As we aknow when the top gks were avaialble for a song,he did not try to get anyone. Imagine what a Friedel/VDS/Given could have done?
  In truth ,Wenger has no one but himself to blame for the gunners present predicament.let's hope with the experienced players hopfully coming in,it could finally help the gunners to nail down the elusive trophy.

• 09-Jun-2011 13:34 | | Danish Gooner  - WENGER
  

  Wenger shouldnt be criticised for not signing Jones or missing out on this or that.He should be criticised for a complete lack of tactical understanding,a complete fold when his team was in it for 4 trophies,he should be criticised for the incessant drivel he comes out with like on a subconcious level we lost mental strength after the Brum defeat......What the fuck is he, a manager or a Voodoo priest ?? At seven large a year you would think he could do better then that drivel.

• 09-Jun-2011 13:36 | | Anonymous
  

  you say you wont waste your time... OK, why are you even posting here then, dickhead??
  In the same way, I'm sure nobody on this blog could be bothered to argue their reasons across to such a blinkered, dumb, cunt as you.

• 09-Jun-2011 13:44 | | goonerbegood  - wenger is needs to change.
  

  all the issues that has happened to mighty arsenal ,IT is wengers fault.
  
  like IT or not,i don't think it is the payers but the manager who is camaped on his philosophy ,that will never change.
  people expect wenger to change but the man won't change.
  
  if it was up to me,which isn't i would have changed wenger a long time ago.
  
  my reasons ;simple
  
  a club that has 60,000 fans week in week out ,with more than 20,000 on standby list needs to be showing intent.
  
  season passed ,in jan we was a game in hand and 2 points behind man utd, vermalen ihas been injure since blackburn game ,instead of getting somone in jan ,he opted not to based on the ideas it will hamper the young guns.
  
  this for me is unacceptable, .what is acceptable is the manager putting the fans before anything else,ys the fans are the core of the club,without the fans you would not have the emirates stadium,without the fans you would not be paying the likes of cesc 110 k a week but still his heart is in barcelona, without the fans nasri won't have a job chatting shiite on the papers instead of him putting a way the goal he missed against bolton,without the fans bendtner won't even have a club,
  
  it is the fans whom are suffering all the humilitations ,the players well ,tthey would be in dubai ,or in spain soaking up sun,mis behaving all sorts,which for me i have nothing against ,i feel if you work hard ,you should be re paid hard. but these lot of players for me are just not what mighty arsenal need.
  
  we need cup master players, player whom will be 4-0 up and finish up the game,players whom are dedicated to the club ,not everyday dreaming about playing for barcelona or any other club,players that will be 2-0 against spurs ,and they will win not loosing 2-3 at the final whistle,players with heart,strength ,not players whom only think about themselves.
  
  so ,it is wenger i blame,if wenger doesnt get proepr `players in this season and keeps up with his excuse ,come may next year if we dont win a single trophy ,WENGER MUST LEAVE.

• 09-Jun-2011 13:44 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Just like we weren't top four last year. Or the year before that. Or the year before that. Or the...
  
  I'm not saying Wenger can't be criticised, I'm saying you can't possibly criticse him for everything and have a credible argument.
  
  If one side of the argument is right then the other must be wrong but some people will argue both sides of the coin and see nothing unfair about that.
  
  If you want to criticise him go ahead. I often do it myself.

• 09-Jun-2011 13:49 | | Dom
  

  Well, he does get criticised. That's because people are pissed off with the mediocrity that's become the extent of our ambition recently. We moved to a 'so called' better stadium only to become a worse team. Also Wenger is obsessed with NLP. He thinks by telling everyone he has a great team the team will become great? You need good players with even better potential for that, and we only have a few of those. He has not been nearly ruthless enough with some of the players of the failed experiment. One more year for Arsene before he needs to move upstairs and give a manager with ambition and hunger a chance at Arsenal. Remember, we used to have a guy like that? he was called Arsene Wenger, where's he been the last 2-3 years? oh yeah, making multi-millions for the Directors to sellout their shares at the expense of the fans and something to cheer about. Bit out of order to say that I know seeing as this is the saviour, the great Arsene Wenger, the man who did great for us a while back...all true, and I love the guy for that and also for being a loyal manager, but this is a competitive business, he's clearly going mad, and we don't really compete anymore but if he can't or won't build a top team then I don't see what we have to lose by giving someone else a chance.
  Yes, maybe I am an ungrateful fan, maybe this is true but I have not enjoyed the last few seasons going to Arsenal, I preferred the more boring '1-0 to the Arsenal' style played under Georgie Graham than the way we play at the moment with all the pissing about with the ball. Where is the defence? where is the passion? the pride? Sol Cambell came back last season and for the first time in ages I heard a centre back organising, shouting!! it was great to see that passion from an Arsenal player, it was like seeing us score a goal in my eyes.
  Peace gooners.

• 09-Jun-2011 13:53 | | Danish Gooner
  

  I agree completely.If you keep failing with one person you try another it is as simple as that,we have been over this issue times and times again but wenger wouldnt be in a job if he had been at any other top club in the world,the sole reason why he is still here is because he makes the board a shit load of money and Kroenke couldnt give a shit if we finish 1,2,3, or fourth as long as the money keeps coming in,get ready for more frustrating years ahead.

• 09-Jun-2011 13:54 | | deen
  

  whats on the list?

• 09-Jun-2011 13:57 | | Darkins  - shut up u tramp
  

  reason i can't be asked to list them is because there's no point, as i said you AKB cunts are stubborn pricks! doesn't matter how many mistake the manager makes he's still the f***ing messiah for you cunts.
  Not playing Pires in the champions league final is one that i'll never forget. Notice we haven't won a f***ing thing since.

• 09-Jun-2011 14:01 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Exactly.

• 09-Jun-2011 14:11 | | Rock  - Fed up of people criticizing the gaffer!
  

  Lol! You are so right my fellow gooner!! You see, I have reading all this nosense on the Internet about how wenger is wicked and a witch, but people forget that for 6 good years the man has managed to pay up a big percentage of our stadium debt! We are in far better position financially than any orther European club. At the moment we are can spend a little more money than we have ever done...
  
  The season that has just ended we lost ground because of lack of support at home...teams come home knowing that they can win or snatch a point. But before we point fingers at the gaffer and the players, we need to look at ourselves...we beat Chelsea and barca because of our fantastic support at home, mancity came home we drew with them but they were on the ropes! My prayer is that we raise our support next season maybe that will push us to win a trophy

• 09-Jun-2011 14:12 | | Romford Pele  - only 9th June 2011??
  

  I agree with some aspects of your note - in particular the impossible position in relation to Jones and £16m on meh player - he was damned if he did, damned if he didn't.
  
  However your comment that it is only 9th June is worrying. All Arsenal fans know one thing for sure...there is a very high chance that it will soon be the 29th August and there will have been nothing done with a myraid of excuses given by the manager followed by the 'Diaby is like a new signing'...
  
  It feels like it has been that way forever...thats the thing about Groundhog Day

• 09-Jun-2011 14:16 | | Wenger Boy
  

  I agree that would usually be the case but we've signed someone already (albeit a reserve right back) and a £16m offer was put in for Jones which proves Wenger is at least looking right now and not just waiting for bargains.
  
  Primarily what I mean though is that we have no real ability to fully judge his actions in this particular window so early into it. If nothing has been done by August 29th then I'll be right there with you.

• 09-Jun-2011 14:18 | | Man United Killer  - yep
  

  I concur! All good things come to an end so has Wengers good days.The man is bereft of ideas.

• 09-Jun-2011 14:21 | | Man United Killer
  

  Who would have known what Scholes and Giggs and Seedorf would have done if they had moved on.you might want to make your point again.

• 09-Jun-2011 14:24 | | mecow  - @ James....... foolish
  

  are u sure u know what u talking about???? go back and look up Customers and then look up what a supporter is...... thanks richie for telling this fool the difference.......

• 09-Jun-2011 14:28 | | richie
  

  Why are people even bothering to argue with a boy that believes "u's" is a word??

• 09-Jun-2011 14:28 | | Man United Killer
  

  I agree with you.Doing the same thing and expecting diferent results has a certain name...I am not sure wenger knows what that is called.

• 09-Jun-2011 14:31 | | Darkins  - Here's a few
  

  1. Shit formations! as in 1 up front against teams like wigan! Why are we not playing 2 up front against these shit teams?
  2. Refuses to make early substitutions! (75 min is too late).
  3. Continuously plays our players out of position! Ashavin was not bought as a winger, neither was walcott and Bentner is definitely no winger.
  4 Worst of all the guys stubborn and doesn't listen to the fans.
  Comes out with the same crap about mental strengh. Where was the mental strengh in the last half of the season when we needed it?
  If he was at any other team he would be gone a long time ago.
  I don't want to see him sacked completely! i think he should be given a job upstairs and let someone else take over team management. He's obviously lost the plot!

• 09-Jun-2011 14:34 | | mecow  - funny thing
  

  i find it funny that this year people are taking every story in the papers and online like its something that will happen....... remember this is Arsenal we are talking about....... one of the only... if not the only team that does not publicly name players it plans to buy....... so dont rush at making noise.......... well sad Andy mack

• 09-Jun-2011 14:36 | | Man United Killer
  

  We've signed someone?Come on WB what is this kid really going to add to this team at this point?At this point we need players who will drive this team forward in our bid to win trophies next season.

• 09-Jun-2011 14:37 | | Man United Killer  - Mental what??
  

  you mean Mental zstrengstz?

• 09-Jun-2011 14:40 | | Wenger Boy
  

  But that's not the point. Jenkins is a signing over and above any pivotal signings we need.
  
  Whether we signed Jenkins or not is irrelevent to our overall objectives in the transfer window.
  
  But we did put in a huge bid for Jones which proves Wenger is looking and prepared to spend. And surely that is enough at such an early stage of the Window.

• 09-Jun-2011 14:42 | | goonerbegood  - EARLY OR NOT WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE.
  

  my fellow gooners y,all might think i have something against wenger,i love the man to bits,but my love is turning into ,i can't stand the man,
  
  sometimes i get into debates with other fans ,and i always stand for wenger but since th elast season passed,i no more stand for him cos he let me down by not making us the FANS HAPPY AT LEAST FOR ONCE IN 7 YEARS.
  
  LOOK AT THE SIGNING WE HAVE MADE IN THE LAST 7 SEASONS;
  
  you will realise there has not been intent from mighty arsenal fc.
  
  personally i have lost faith with the manager but some firends tell me he will change ,in my heart i try to believe this,but in my head i feel the man won't change.
  
  WENGER PLS I BEG YOU IN GOD'S NAME; MY HEART WON'T BE ABLE TO TAKE IT ANY MORE IF WE DON'T WIN ANYTHING THIS SEASON.
  ALL THE HUMILIATIONS I GET FROM MAN UTD AND BARCA FANS IS SOMETHING I WON'T WANT TO WISH ON ANY FAN.BUT EVERYDAY I TELL MYSELF ,NEXT SEASON WILL BE BETTER BUT THEN COME START OF SEASON THOSE HOPES HAVE BEEN DASHED AND THEN IT IS BACK TO SQUARE ONE.
  
  THE CLUB HAVE MONEY,IF WE HAVE PEOPLE LIKE KROENKE WHOM IS WORHT A STAGGERING 2. SOMETHIN BILLION DOLLARS MARRIED TO THE WAL MART FAMILY ,AND THEN WE HAVE USMANOVE NOW RICHER THAN ABROMOVICH,WHY ARE WE NOT BUYING PLAYERS WHOM ARE READY TO GO,WHY DO WE GO ALWAYS FOR 17 OR 19 YS OLDS,
  
  WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BUY 20 OR 30 MILLION PLAYERS CAHILL 17 MILLION ...HE IS WORTH IT,IF WENGER PAID 15 MILLION FOR ARSHAVIN THEN 17 MILLION FOR CAHILL IS A BARGAIN,AND HE IS WELL DESERVED,AND HE IS QUALITY PLAYER.
  
  MIGHTY ARSENAL FC NEEDS TO CHANGE A BIT AND SHOW INTENT,SHOW US SOME BALLS ,
  
  OOH HOW I MISS DAVID DEIN...

• 09-Jun-2011 14:42 | | Darkins  - u understood what i meant though
  

  i used it as an abbreviation, i'm not writing a fucking novel you twat!

• 09-Jun-2011 14:52 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Why the constant abuse?
  
  You labelled me an AKB prick before anyone said anything to you.
  
  I'm just voicing an opinion and I welcome you to do the same but how you can stoop to calling a fellow Arsenal fan a prick for saying what he feels is beyond me.
  
  I love Arsenal football club. That obviously means nothing to you.

• 09-Jun-2011 14:58 | | Arselicked  - Are you kidding
  

  It brings absolutely nothing but the truth to the table

• 09-Jun-2011 15:00 | | Darkins
  

  I'm just glad he's trying to add some premiership experience. I can only remember 2 players having that before coming to arsenal.

• 09-Jun-2011 15:17 | | Darkins
  

  Point taken WB and i apologise for that, it wasn't directed at you personally! it's just the blind loyalty shown to wenger by AKB fans is frustrating. I mean I like wenger too, we've had some great times and watched some of the best football ever seen.
  The problem is other teams have evolved to cope with our style of football and sadly wenger just hasn't.
  I'm loyal to arsenal fc only and for me no player/manager is bigger than the club.
  I really hope he does turn it around, but i just can't see it tbh.

• 09-Jun-2011 15:28 | | Man United Killer
  

  WB, I am not sure I agree that he is above and beyond any signings that we need.Are you saying we dont need a defender anymore?
  Let me say this for the umpteenth time.I am not in favor of spending crazy money but we need to show intent.I dont know about signing this kid but lets say he becomes a world class player in 3 or 4 years.He will only end up getting sold to Mancityor some other club who actually plant o win some trophies.
  We put in a huge bid for Jones?Obviously not huge enough.But that is another story.maybe AW felt he wasnt worth all that money but God knows we are spending so much money on substandard players already and what we do not need now is to add more.

• 09-Jun-2011 15:36 | | Wenger Boy
  

  The funny things is I actually agree with many of the points you just made. But I feel this tendency to categorise fans into one camp or another is unhelpful and, frankly, wrong.
  
  I am not what you would call an AKB. But neither do I want Wenger out. I believe Arsene Wenger is a fine manager but I also feel he has made many mistakes. I think Wenger has the capacity to change but I also think he can be stubborn. But ultimately I am prepared to offer the most successful Arsenal manager ever the chance to right his wrongs given that, in the history of the club, six seasons without a trophy is not actually that long.
  
  Would another manager have done better with Fabregas, van Persie, Nasri etc? Maybe. Would Fabregas, van Persie and Nasri even be at the club if it wasn't for Wenger? Maybe not.
  
  I think the support for Wenger is on a scale and not split exactly down the middle. I happen to be towards the positive end of the scale and you might be at the other end but we can still agree on somethings and disagree on others.
  
  Everything in not black and white except for the fact that we both love AFC. And that should tie us together, not push us apart.

• 09-Jun-2011 20:27 | | MeanLean
  

  I have finally found the time to read through the comments.
  
  WB has taken his time to write a well argued article, agree or disagree that is fine but can people just be respectful? Is that asking too much?
  
  If you can debate and argue a point then that is fantastic, that is what it is about but if you can only manage abuse and calling someone an AKB then this is certainly not the right place for you.
  
  Mature discussion only please.
  
  Thank you.
  
  Mean Lean

• 09-Jun-2011 20:50 | | Godwin
  

  Yeah.... I think Wenger being criticised has mpore to do with the fact that our team has not improved in 6 years, and he failed to replace one of the best teams ever assembled in English football history. And yes, Wenger has not bought well over the past 6 frigging years!

• 09-Jun-2011 21:48 | | Stupid Deluxe
  

  We actually bid the same for Jones as ManU did, Jones chose to go to them and not us, just like Aaron Ramsey chose Arsenal and not them.
  
  The signing of the kid is nothing to do with getting or not getting Jones, nor does it mean AW wont be trying to sign other players, the Jenkinson signing was on the cards a while ago and just went through now as was expected when the window opened.
  
  Lets not get our knickers in a twist yet about signings, Arsenal don't blow trumpets about their possible signings like a lot of clubs do in the media, that doesn't mean we aren't in the market as the Jones situation proves, and the Samba January business, the fact is that signing players in real life isn't as simple as it is on PS3 or XBox, just because we want a player and supposedly have the money, doesn't mean a deal can be done, there's a lot more too it. Lets chill and see what happens over the course.
  
  On another note, i'm about ready to go on a killing spree due to the over-use of this AKB bullshit tag that's been flying around of late. It's not clever to label anyone who thinks differently than you an AKB, it's just boring and more importantly, it's very lazy, have a proper thought out opinion and back it up, don't just throw some tedious name calling around because you can't word your argument well enough.

• 09-Jun-2011 21:50 | | richie  - Its only a name but who stole mine?
  

  I might've written the above but I didn't what going on?

• 09-Jun-2011 22:05 | | richie  - Well whoever you are thats nicked "Me"
  

  At least you are showing all the right signs of being me. If you start a prolonged arguement with Muk and then find fault with CHG's opinions I might have to retire. How does it feel being "Me" by the way? I could always do with a second opinion ML sort this out please I don't mind someone impersonating me as long as they help out with my bills. Not sure how my Mrs will feel? Women are funny about these things especially as I've left her in Highbury and I'm in Southern Spain.

• 09-Jun-2011 22:34 | | richie  - continuously repeating leads to brainwashing
  

  Where have I heard that before? Only someone truely bereft of idea's would repeat the same thing continuously. Hey Muk your not a Buddist or a Muslim by any chance are you? Its not that I'm anti its just that they are well known for repeating the same things over and over you know religiously like a mantra.

• 09-Jun-2011 22:40 | | richie
  

  Another one who clearly missed the point. Hoping we fail so they can prove themselves right pathetic supporters (that aren't really supporters at all)

• 09-Jun-2011 23:47 | | sapman
  

  The fact is, people aren't happy with Wenger
  
  
  and who would that be? only dumb ungreatful people would be unhappy with a manager like wenger.
  
  or people who havent grasped that wenger has kept us afloat and making profit even at the most difficult transition in our history and within elite competitions.
  
  never has arsenal previously enjoyed a 15 year period being in top places domestically and in european championship.never.
  
  instead of praising him you turn against him? you must have a very sad idea of football if you dont appreciate what he brings in the game and to arsenal
  
  even titles he loses them marginally and is always there whether with eboue or 18 year old wilshere.
  
  you can not say he aint a fighter either. this year he gave it all, but his players are still too young and inexperienced to handle pressure situations.
  
  also do not forget that wenger and his players are up against an establishment which has already crippled four of them with thuggish routines and an array of officials who make a mockery of our right to equal competition. what that ref did at newcastle, i wonder how uefa havent taken the match to check it. such biassed one sided refereeing you only get to see in banana republics where the peasant natives want to punish the foreigners in an area where they have total control over them. it is an absolute disgrace that the club has not appointed a club representative to put all these muppets in f.a and media at their places and also handle the fans who are ridiculous in their moaning.
  
  wenger is the best manager in terms of points won /money spent ratio in the world, has created a world class super club with infrastructure to last another century, has a squad which hasnt peaked that reaches semis and quarters and competes domestically every year complies with 6+5 homegrown rule, complies with uefa financial rules...and he has done all that while also paying back a stadium that cost 450 million pounds with the estate market denying him the highbury flat revenue for some time.
  
  as a technocrat, this man has a plan. when he can spend, he will spend, but he wont risk whathe has been building all this time. so sit tight and support your team and stop complaining cause all things considering the man has done wonders to keep you where you are and a little respect isnt too much to ask.

• 10-Jun-2011 01:44 | | Man United Killer
  

  I am not a buddist.Not that it makes a difference but doing the same thing and expecting different results is madness!

• 10-Jun-2011 01:50 | | Man United Killer
  

  Finally something we agree on!

• 10-Jun-2011 03:05 | | richie
  

  So why don't you take a break from doing the same thing over and over as it leads to madness. Why repeat your mantra over and over are you attempting to brainwash us with your repeated madness?

• 10-Jun-2011 12:20 | | Andy Mack
  

  As I understand it, Jones wanted to stay in the north east. Only a silly offer above the Manure offer would have made a difference.
  Is he really worth that much more?

• 10-Jun-2011 12:30 | | Andy Mack
  

  Has he really had the money to replace an irreplaceable team?
  The issue most can't get their heads around is that buying a player isn't easy. Yes there are some we missed out on but there are also many we didn't get because they wouldn't suit our style of play or who are seriously over-rated/ over-priced (I've never seen Melo play better than denilson - and I'm not a fan of denny).
  Only a couple of years ago many shouted that we must buy Cana or we'll be playing championship football in 12 months.... Well we missed him, sunderland didn't. Then he left sunderland and they didn't miss him !
  AW makes mistakes but we don't know what's going on with the club finances, we don't know if the transfer pot is 5m or 50m. If Messi wanted to join us then I'm pretty certain that the board would find 50m+ but that's an exceptional offer.... Or maybe they wouldn't...

• 11-Jun-2011 10:23 | | sapman
  

  oh wenger can be critisised allright..but by who ?
  
  only be people who are at equal or better levels than him as a professional football manager
  
  certainly not by emotionaly frustrated mugs who prefer to listen to media and rivals taunting than trusting the manager who made their club what it is today.
  
  just like going up to de niro and telling him he knows nothing about acting is ludicrous ..its the same with all these muppets who want to pass judgement on arsene wenger
  
  and whover said the thing about customers is 100% correct ..
  
  in support ...you dont care about money..you sell your socks for tickets if you have to. its your team...not an investment.

• 11-Jun-2011 10:53 | | CHGooner  - Laughable
  

  The reason why he is criticised either way is simple. He has lost the confidence of the fans. Agreed that In isolation it seems irrational to criticise him so early in the window, but the fact is that his record in the transfer Market in recent years is poor. Failure to address glaring issues like the CB situation earlier has left him exposed. It's like the end of a Government, everything is criticised because all the goodwill has been exhausted. Not sure why Richie is worried about this though, as according to him nobody apart from me and MUK think that Wenger is anything other than the best manager we have ever had/could ever have/will ever have and that he is irreplaceable. Odd....

• 11-Jun-2011 11:12 | | sapman
  

  sorry ch ..it is more laughable watching amateurs thinking they can critisise a professional like wenger.

• 11-Jun-2011 11:21 | | CHGooner  - Good point Sapman
  

  Too right. Who is anyone to criticise any professional for that matter? I mean all those voters who've never been Prime Minister, what RIGHT did they have to not vote for Brown or Major? Bunch of no-nothings. Outrageous. And as for the cretins who have a go at 'Fred the Shred' words fail me. How many of them have ever run a Global Financial Institution? I'm only interested in those who have saying anything and only former Prime Minister's should be allowed to vote in General Elections.

• 11-Jun-2011 11:23 | | CHGooner
  

  Sorry meant to write 'know-nothings'

• 11-Jun-2011 11:31 | | sapman
  

  are u comparing politics with football management ?
  
  hmmm interseting...cause a manager also has to give diplomatic replies to his "customers/voters"
  
  however those politicians you talk about are proven thieves while wenger is a proven winner with 3 epl medals and a record noone will surpass in england.
  
  you may not like kubrick movies but not liking his movies and claiming he dont know how to make movies are two completely different concepts.
  
  maybe you dont like what wenger is doing..taking the safe route ..and prefering to build and develop than spend like an idiot ..maybe you want it all now or never. thank god our manager works with an outlook to ten years and beyond.

• 11-Jun-2011 11:38 | | sapman
  

  if you havent figured out that arsenal would enter period of suffering when they built the stadium then sorry to say but you dont have the intelligence to talk about arsenal.
  
  
  there are many customers who thought ..ohhh stadium now we can get kaka and de rossi....
  
  you lot want to cross the river ( transition period) without getting wet and with all the comforts of a cruiseship or abramovic's yacht. it dont work like that im afraid...
  
  not only will we get wet..but soaked...for we are using pedals and rowing and our rivals are using 400 hp engines and jet propulsion...

• 11-Jun-2011 11:45 | | CHGooner
  

  Oh dear Sapman.

• 12-Jun-2011 15:59 | | wenger dont upset fans we trus  - i like wenger
  

  if it was not for his philosophy half of the fans wont be supporters now is it his fault alumunia never did what he shows him in training. is it his fault nasri missed to sitters vs bolton isit his fault van persie gets injured every time he gets fouled is it his fault the ref dont give us penaltys which is clearly ours is it his fault koscilny nd schzeny cant talk to each other on a important cup final is it his fault bentdner couldnt score the goal to beat barca no and this can go on and on and on now for nasri situation he was rewarded with a raise in his contract and he had the cheek to say he wants more when they obviously offered him more than they wanted to it was 20 odd thousand from the most payed player in arsenal cesc so that shows how much respect he showed nasri keep the faith no one dont like arsenal aceept for us and wenger everyone else talks about us like were shit i know you all got them friends that you knw ur teams better than theres (manu) player for player but with no trophies we get laughed atthe media also hate us love arsenal f the rest

• 13-Jun-2011 13:48 | | Man United Killer  - Richie Richie Richie
  

  My friend,how can I brainwash someone without a brain ei?

• 13-Jun-2011 20:22 | | sapman
  

  oh dear what ?
  
  
  arsenal has built a stadium with capital they had to borrow. until they pay that back or are at least in a position to balance they will spent next to nothing and will bring up youngsters instead.
  
  this period is not a period to demand trophies of them.
  
  you lot go about as if arsenal is in the same position as chelsea city or united who have to SPEND TO win titles, or have to spend to keep their hierarchy in the league.
  
  you then critisise arsenal for losing the title when in fact a whole chelase had the chance to win it yet failled more spectacularly than arsenal. so why are you critisisng our players who cost nothing next to chelseas and are younger?
  
  if you turn around to tell me that " hey buddy look ancelotti won the double and got fired..wenger needs pressure to deliver" ..to that i will answer that arsenal is a serious club and not a rich mans toy to sack managers who have won doubles.....

• 15-Jun-2011 15:18 | | Anonymous
  

  

• 15-Jun-2011 18:00 | | goonerbegood  - we neeed change.
  

  sapsam ,
  
  no body dis-regards the achievements wenger has achieved over the last few years or better written for what he has done for mighty arsenal fc.
  
  the truth is ,for the last six years ,the arsenal we see is what we have been seeing ,week in week out ...
  
  note;;; the ship starts crumbling around jan -feb.
  
  by march we are out of all the competitions, by april we are out of the league, by may we are finghting to finish in the top 4.
  
  i base my arguments on real time issues.i cannot continue to follow someone who doesn't see what more than 60;000 fans whom love mighty arsenal fc are seeing week in week out.
  
  honestly ,it is quite depressing,you raise the hopes of more than 60,000 fans high,so high they begin to fight for you all the way ,then you dash them. cos you fail to see that this current team needs tunning up a little bit. ...... it is never how you started but how you will finsh.............................
  
  
  and if mighty arsenal fc don`t add the quality players required ,we will fall short again ,players will want to leave,and then what seemed so easy will become a very ackward situation both for the club and the fans.

• 19-Jun-2011 02:21 | | Godwin
  

  That's true, we need to know what the situation is with the board withholding money ect.

• 21-Jun-2011 13:10 | | rajanbhatt  - arsenalcrazy
  

  I am a die-hard arsenal fan from India and believe me Arsenal without Wenger would be a disaster......
  
  And anyone who preferred the "1-0 to the Arsenal" style of George Graham could bloody well dig the archives and watch them old videos.......Arsenal's football under Wenger is just magical to say the least. But the article is fantastic cause it underlines the reality. No matter what the great man will do - he will always be criticized by some morons. It also has to do with fact that he never shies away from speaking his mind and often going on a philosophical tangent which is perhaps too deep for the shallow minded to even comprehend..........
  
  Wenger is the real deal and what he has done to the club is phenomenal.....No other manager would have survived a stadium move and still produce football and results like Wenger has done. Take a bow Le Prof.........

• 27-Jun-2011 12:07 | | sapman
  

  note;;; the ship starts crumbling around jan -feb.
  
  by march we are out of all the competitions, by april we are out of the league, by may we are finghting to finish in the top 4.
  
  yes buddy..thats what happens to youngsters who do not have the experience to handle pressure situations like th eones they have to deal with in the epl. it is a very natural thing considering wenger is fielding kids and players who come form the thrid pr fourth shelf.
  
  
  so what its depressing? wheres your spine ?
  
  we all knew that this was on the menu for the minimum of 10-15 years so say thank you to arsene who has managed to slash the stadium debt to only 135m within a period of transition as well as a global financial crisis.
  
  and of course i agreew ith you ..this team still needs some tuning but the tuning is also relative to the finances that are available to you ...if our finances CAN NOT allow for the kind of tuning the fans want in their dreamteams, then said tuning is gonna have to wait.
  
  now then if we are gonna have people like you complaining and crying until we reach that point then why dont you save yourself form the suffering of having to support you club in a period of transition and come back when things are rosy again ?

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