Written by Mean Lean on Tuesday, 04 October 2011 16:31

Late blog today as my telephone line is down which also means that my internet connection has been dragged down with it. It is amazing how much we, or at least I rely on technology such as internet connection and mobile phones. Where were we before those days ey? We actually had to talk to people in real life. I know, crazy isn't it.

Anyway, I have managed to wriggle away from the comfort of my own home to get some work done so I have the wifi vibes circulating around me once more, giving me the kind of powers that He-Man could only dream of.

If you didn't already know that it was the International break then the start of this article tells you all you need to know. There is not much going on at the moment apart from a few quotes from Szczesny and Alex Song but I am guessing you've already read those already.

That Szczesny is a legends isn't he? He talks like a proper Gooner. I like it.

I don't actually know what to make of this International break, is it a good thing that we can digest the pain of White Hart Lane (part time poet) or do we want to jump straight back on the horse even though our arses are hurting like mad. Who knows?

I think I will use today's blog as a type of clearing the mind by getting stuff off my chest. I hope you are a good listener.

Before the Carling cup we were title challengers who were in every competition. Theo Van Nasrigas were the best attacking group of players in the Premier League and we were the team in form. Post Carling cup we have been in relegation form. Not just pretend relegation form but actual real life four defeats from seven games relegation form.

Can mentality really do this much to a group of players? Obviously it has because here we are. Don't worry I haven't forgotten about the loss of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. I usually do not count Samir Nasri who was often just a fantastic recycler of possession but when he wasn't scoring goals, he wasn't doing a great deal else in an Arsenal shirt. Don't get me wrong, I believe that Nasri will become one of the best players in the world if he keeps improving but for large chunks of his Arsenal career he received the ball, twisted and turned and passed it to someone else. His replacement has been very inconsistent so far but if he can find his feet and find good consistency then I believe he will give us more than Nasri without being technically as good if you catch my drift, or is that just wishful thinking?

What we are massively missing is the gifts that Cesc Fabregas has tucked away in his right foot. Cesc is an assist junky and we simply have nobody doing what he did. Wenger has reverted to a rotating three man midfield, all contributing to that job, all sharing the work load. Alex Song has done remarkably well, considering his job is primarily the player to stop the opposition from getting to our defenders. As well as he has done, we are asking box to box midfielders to be playmakers and so far that hasn't worked anywhere near as much as we would have loved. This probably will improve as time goes on but by how much?

We miss what our former number four provided us with but this is certainly not all about Cesc Fabregas. Cesc was a part of our slump, he played post Birmingham City and his vision, passing ability and captaincy did not get us out of our rut.

Ever since the season has started we have practically stuck all our players in a big bag, shaken them up and down, then emptied eleven players on the pitch at almost random. New signings, suspensions and injuries have all played a big part in that and now we are seeing the result of that. Disjointed, not on the same wavelength, inconsistency. Confidence has whittled away because of it and now we are stuck in a super great big catch-22 full of depression mixed up with some hope.

Arteta hope, Coquelin hope, Chamberlain hope, Vermaelen hope-depression, Wilshere depression-hope-depression, Ramsey depression-hope-depression, Sagna hope-depression.

That list could go on but that is the way of Arsenal supporting life right now. I do not believe that we are anywhere near as bad as what is being made out and even what our results are telling us but currently the latter cannot be ignored.

So why not just sack the manager and bring in a manager who will coach defending? Why not get someone in who will cut out the basic errors that we continue to make? There are plenty of good managers out there who have won trophies. Why are we so desperate to hold onto a manager who hasn't won a trophy for six years?

A 'realist' will snatch that A5 piece of paper and open it out several times to give you a bigger sheet of paper with plenty more questions that have to be answered before you reach the sacking conclusion.

So you find a manager who can organise his team defensively better than Arsene Wenger. Not such an impossible task I would imagine.

You then hope to find a manager who can continue the club's identity of attacking football because this is not only just a style but this is how the club keeps itself as one of the biggest marketable clubs in world football. Arsenal are known as a stylish, attacking side who play good football. It is who we are. Even so, I imagine that there are plenty of managers, especially outside of the Premier League who play entertaining and attacking football.

Then it becomes a little more tricky. The club has been built on a foundation of young talented players coming through. The model of this club is to make profits on players who do not make the grade and improve the special youngsters like Szczesny and Wilshere who make it to the first team. Arsene Wenger has consistently improved players personal development for the last 15 years so I don't suppose there are many managers as good as he is at doing that.

Then comes the toughest task of all. If all teams were on an equal footing, a level playing field even on the same ball park then Arsene Wenger would have done an awful job in the last six years and Alex Ferguson would be an absolute genius, which he could well be given the amount of success that he has brought to Manchester United.

Let us clear one thing up though when it comes to judging our manager. We can load the blame of most of the playing side if not all on his back, let us not add more that isn't his fault. Our self sustaining model has always been in place. Well as far back as I can remember and that was before I even knew who Arsene Wenger was. The club have always had a strict wage structure. The difference is, in previous times players were grateful to sign a new deal regardless of the amount. Football has changed and players and agents have changed.

Arsene Wenger has had to work to constraints, he has had to build his teams with the resources afforded to him. Much of which he has pretty much had to make himself. The balancing of the books is not the manager feeling high and mighty and choosing to go head on with his rivals with one arm tied behind his back, it is the way of life at Arsenal and it has always been that way.

Arsene Wenger's total net spend as Arsenal manager is £3,826,000 (http://www.transferleague.co.uk/league-tables/managers-comparisons.html) In the 15 years at our great club this manager has a net spend of just under £4m, has appeared in the Champions League every season and won trophies along the way. That has dried up but it is no coincidence that in the time we have been trophyless managers such as Jose Mourinho (£134,450,000), Carlos Ancelotti (£104,800,000) and of course Alex Ferguson (£182,560,000 which includes the £80m in for Ronaldo) have all spent hundreds of millions more than Arsene Wenger.

Wenger was able to out do a richer Manchester United because the distance between sustainable clubs and richer clubs was not impossible to bridge. It was bloody hard work and United won more than we did but Arsene's brilliance in the transfer market allowed him to build a team with the quality to overcome Manchester United. These days the bridge has turned into a flyover.

This is not excuse making, this is facts. Cold, hard and clear facts. David Moyes gets lauded as a manager who is doing fantastic work with the constraints put on him. He has spent £7,450,500 net during his time at Goodison Park. He may well organise his teams well, he may well drill them defensively not to make stupid errors in matches but once he has spent the budget afforded to him which also includes current players wage contracts. Where next? What do we do when a manager needs £17m to buy a right back as good as Sagna? What happens when a different manager needs £22m to buy a central defender as good as Thomas Vermaelen? Where do you pick up another Cesc Fabregas for 500k or a van Persie for £2.75m?

Harry Redknapp (£18,450,000), David Moyes (£7,450,500) and Martin O'Neill (£88,900,000) have never finished above Arsene Wenger's Arsenal yet are portrayed as gods gift to football management.

The arrival of Manchester City has made things much more difficult for Arsenal. We have had to suffer the impact of managers such as Mark Hughes (£218,500,000) and Roberto Mancini (£190,500,000) playing catch up with the top clubs.

Arsene Wenger has been hugely overachieving since he has been at Arsenal, he has done so because he is an exceptional manager who has some obvious flaws. Flaws that are bugging more and more Arsenal supporters. So much so that many want him to be replaced.

At the end of the day, I am an Arsenal man before any manager, player or board member. The club comes first but the reason why I support what Arsene Wenger does is because I think he is the best fit. Things have to improve but if there is a man to do it then it should be our manager.

Not everyone agrees with that and everyone is entitled to his opinion but I challenge you to find a manager who can improve on Wenger's flaws, as well as matching or bettering what Arsene Wenger has been absolutely exceptional at doing. Would love to hear actual reasoned arguments and not just petty abuse. Good luck.

To quote Alex Ferguson "Get a big piece of paper and name some possible Wenger replacements. How many can you get? Probably none"

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Comments (91)

• 04-Oct-2011 16:54 | | timmyafc  - Chesney a legend?
  

  yeah...see him say he would move to Barcelona as quickly as Fabregas did? Yeah real legend

• 04-Oct-2011 17:01 | | Mazsc  - ....
  

  Ur brain seems to hv frozen by these latest League defeat you Idiot...
  There is no one in this world is irreplaceble!

• 04-Oct-2011 17:31 | | Joe  - The facts
  

  We all know Arsene Wenger is a good manager and will be very hard to replace, but what you failed to mention is the very poor planning towards this season.........He had two 2yrs to plan for Cess's departure....over reliance on RVP for goals.
  
  What went wrong:
  
  timeliness of replacements....not last minute buys
  He bought another striker who's not knocking on the door to make the first team.
  
  RVP is really starving from the lack of creativity in the team....
  
  What he shud av don is find another creative midfielder.
  
  U don't sell your car or house until u've eye marked a replacement.
  
  When someone at the helm makes bad/slow decision.....who do u blame?

• 04-Oct-2011 17:32 | | James  - haha
  

  Irreplaceable. What a joke. They said Clough was irreplaceable and he got Forest relegated. Wenger's record is good, but not THAT good.
  
  In 16 years Wenger has won 3 titles and four domestic cups.
  In 9 years Graham won 2 titles 3 domestic cups and the UEFA Cup.
  
  Graham also laid the foundations for all of Wenger's success. Without that back 5 is bloody obvious Wenger never would have won anything.
  
  When George left, Arsenal fans were sad but not gutted because Arsenal had been on the slide for 1 or 2 years. Wenger's been on the slide for what is now his 7th year, so how the hell has he kept his job?

• 04-Oct-2011 17:33 | | Jekyll
  

  What about the enormous wage bill, yet so structured that we overpay dross and can't pay for or keep top players. He spends plenty there and it's fundamentally flawed, and is seriously holding us back.

• 04-Oct-2011 17:41 | | Support Arsenal not Arsene
  

  Another AKB I see. When will the AKBS realise that they are the one who re at fault along with AW for dragging our once great club into the ground.? Carlo Ancelotti would be a perfect replacement for him.

• 04-Oct-2011 17:42 | | Support Arsenal not Arsene
  

  Come back George Graham and save AFC!

• 04-Oct-2011 17:52 | | yemmy, nigeria  - we want more
  

  i agree with you completely and the facts speak for themselves. But i ask, if you are not playing to win , why play at all, ?if all these fct you stated here do not translate to results, then its absolute bull...t
  Football is such a dynamic game, times have truly changed.the times we won the premiership especially the unbeaten season and now are not the same
  Football is now a religion and there is so much emotion attached to it, and i hope u see the frustration in our eyes when we lose promising , games, season and reputation.
  i dont want AW to leave but i want someone to talk some sense into him, i want him to be more purpose driven . a result oriented approach will do us alot of good and will bring the fans back to the stadium.
  We have not had bragging rights in any football gathering in the past years and i hope u feel my pain if i so much long for it as deer pants for water.
  how would u like a child that does so well in school examinations only to always fall at the final exam to gain admission into college.
  AW needs to wake up like other coaches have woken up and be a little dynamic like AF or JM and give us a title.
  i bet u , arsenal fans all over the world would give their left nuts for it

• 04-Oct-2011 17:54 | | GunnerArchitect
  

  Firstly what the fuck is wrong with this above guy? Trolls..
  
  Secondly excellent analysis. Stuff on net spend of other managers was a good take. I didn't know that.
  
  Also what is missing is that from last 2 years we have been victim of some awful referee decisions. Should have won last season. They did that stupid ref review and said we should have finished 2nd. They said United gained 3 points. On just finger tips i can name 3-4 incidents, like rooney smash in the 5min, 2 red cards to neveille, penalty for wba when wba were 2-0 up... lost that game 3-2... etc etc, which all should have happened... didnt happen... they won all games... Gained 3 points ... you are having a laugh.
  
  When you lose games with refs, moral is down, you lose confidence. No one accounts the loss in momentum, which is a huge thing.
  
  This season its just 7 games and newcastle we should have won. Gervinho penalty. Liverpool won with offside goals, VDV handball. How many points lost already.
  
  Plus we have torrid injuries always.
  
  The way Wenger cops with such things is brilliant and frankly as Arsenal vision said... irreplaceable.

• 04-Oct-2011 18:07 | | StupidDeluxe
  

  George Grahams defense that AW inherited had nothing to do with the defense AW put together to go an entire season undefeated so that pisses on your argument there really.
  
  Also, how have Forest got on since Clough?

• 04-Oct-2011 18:10 | | redboy
  

  Thats just over £250,000 season over 15 years so if thats correct where the f**k is all the money going then.Not on top players thats for sure more like lining the share holders pockets.

• 04-Oct-2011 18:24 | | BNT  - When you have to defend someone this much.....
  

  Firstlly -
  
  Another blogger wrongly comparing us to sustainable to United as some sort of money bags, United are NOT financially doped. This sort of misinformation fills morons heads with what they think are facts.
  
  Secondly -
  
  You talk of Moyes spending more than Arsene, if we imagine Moyes had been in the job for 15 years Arsene would have spent £600m more than Moyes on wages - AT LEAST.
  
  Funny how when people who make excuses for Arsene not signing anyone of quality also say that transfers include wages but when they want to make an argument they leave out the wages.
  
  Our wage bill would be £xxx,xxx,xxx more than Spurs over 15 years too.

• 04-Oct-2011 18:51 | | pedantic george  - oh dear
  

  I dont think he has obvious flaws
  I dont think he has any flaws.
  I think people who want him out are very stupid.

• 04-Oct-2011 19:04 | | James
  

  Yeah, how much money has wenger thrown at wages, fuckin horrendous. Add it up 5 years of rosicky, vela, bendtner, almunia, denilson, diaby, eboue and about 10 others on £50-£60k just so nobody else would buy them. he must have blown about £200,000,000 on wages for these cunts... easily. and now they've turned out shit he can't get rid.
  
  and people say he's skint!! fucking ridiculous. these people are complete idiots.

• 04-Oct-2011 19:06 | | BNT
  

  "The defense that AW put together"
  
  Sol fell into our laps because he didnt want to leave London and even then Dein had to FORCE Arsene to buy him.
  
  Ashley Cole was on his way to Palace before Sylvinhos passport was found to be a fraud.
  
  Keown told Arsene to play Kolo CB, dont believe watch the invincibles DVD.
  
  Thats 3 out of 5 mate, AW put together yeah right Senderos is more his retarded style.

• 04-Oct-2011 19:07 | | Baz  - Think
  

  Hey BNT, did you know Arteta took a pay cut to join Arsenal. 600 million, where did you pluck that from, your empty head.

• 04-Oct-2011 19:12 | | Dan  - In some defence of Arsene
  

  I agree that Wenger is a hard act to follow. Whomever comes in next will just be different. Not as visionary as Wenger but perhaps more tactical and less afraid to spend money on the team. I admire Wenger because he's a true member of the Arsenal family, he genuinely loves the club and he's got more integrity than pretty much any other manager in world football. This season he's started to change and adapt and change our zonal marking system and you sense that he will now spend the club's money. We've obviously started really badly and we hit rock bottom at Old Trafford and that was a side effect from the disastrous summer where the club was a complete shambles, but we shouldn't blame Arsene for all of that. I heard that our transfer negotiators cocked up a lot of deals (especially in the case of Mata) so in the end we were left with making last minute signings. Can you imagine any other manager not publicly criticizing their club for making them look bad? not to mention the pressure it puts the manager under on the pitch?
  Still, there is definately an argument for getting in a new manager but I'd still like to see what Wenger can do with some money to spend in Jan and Next summer. If he can't turn it around after that he'll probably jack it in anyways.
  Peace Wenger haters, just my opinion.

• 04-Oct-2011 19:19 | | kabir  - I feel like I'm the only arsenal fan left
  

  I am gutted. I live hundreds of miles away from london, yet I feel like I'm one of the few true arsenal fans left. I hear all this about sacking wenger....really?? Is that what a bad start of a season has made us come to? We are arsenal!! We are the ones who stick to principals....we are the ones who stand against all that is possibly going wrong with football and say "we'll do it the right way, and we'll show the world that this is way of football". Let others spend over their means, let others satisfy prima donnas, let others sack managers every 2 years, let others play long balls and rough em up, let others put kids to the sword! We are ARSENAL....I love this club because of its principals...and Mr. Wenger is the man who stands by Arsenal's principals. Life is tough, we all know that, and yes there will be times when our team will struggle, and be in the dumps, and get rediculed....is that when we give up on our principals, or is that when we stand and defend them even more strongly.
  
  I feel gutted. I feel like I'm one of the few arsenal fans left. Please my fellow gooners....I beg of you, let's support our team, our manager, our principals through thick and thin. We are better for it....and you know what, we'll be proven right soon enough. Mr. Wenger, if you ever happen to read these blogs....please continue to defend our principals, and don't lose hope or be demoralized by all the media and comments. You are a good man, and a great servant to our club. We are supportig you to take us further.
  
  Arsenal is the best club in the world. 7 points in 7 games doesn't make me think otherwise. Not for a second!!! Never!
  
  Kabir

• 04-Oct-2011 19:24 | | BNT
  

  Arteta took a cut because he was a star at Everton and his wages reflected that. Its only at Arsenal that shit players that no one would buy like Denilson, The Danish Pele, Diaby etc etc etc can collect £50,000 a week.
  
  Our wage bill DWARFS the Villas and Spurs of this world.
  
  Why dont you look at some real figures instead of buying into the Arsene is god bullshit.

• 04-Oct-2011 19:30 | | Bermy Boy
  

  I still believe that Wenger is the right man for the job... If Fergie, Mancini or any other coach had the teams & budget Wenger has had for the last few years, do you think they would make top 4 every year? I say no!! Now ask yourself, if Wenger had City's team, Man U's team or even Chelsea's team and their funds... tell me who would beat him?? Wenger and the Board's problem is being far to cheap in the transfer market. This is his weakness... This summers transfer window was the time to pause the youth policy and go out and buy Top Notch World Class Players, to finally make a statement that We are here to win the league this year!!. If he had bought 4 to 5 Top Players like Hazard, Sneider, Cahill, Benzema, Mata, etc... Not only would we be favorites but i also think that Cesc and Nasri would've stayed longer because they would've believed they had a solid chance... unfortunately ALL of Wenger's transfer buys are ALL not as good as the players they replaced!! and it's a shame that last seasons team was literally one season away from winning something big, to now having a team that struggled to beat Swansea!! Now we have an unbelievable injury curse that has plagued us once again and sorry to say the replacements are not that good yet... eg. Jenkinson is no where as good as Sagna!! This will be a long season of many disppointments... i don't wish it, but it's rather easy to predict... the main problem is that we need to stop playing with these second rate buys and buy some real players!!

• 04-Oct-2011 19:32 | | pedantic george
  

  kabir,well said.shame on the spoiled brat fans.
  Having said that it is not their fault they are stupid,after all they were born that way.

• 04-Oct-2011 19:35 | | Thorough  - Irreplaceable is not the word: hard-to-replace is.
  

  Wenger is, I will say was, a great manager. What is presently happening to us would have been easy to swallow in the light of the following: if we were as broke as Everton? If we just could not identify players good enough to better our team rather than identifying them and chickening out because of a few millions? If Arsene showed the loyal passionate supporters some level of respect unlike he did in the Mata case 'We are not doing the deal and I dont have to give any reason to anybody'? If we were playing well but lady-luck was killing us - Swansea played us like we had just gotten promotion alongside them, Yakubu used us to ressurect his career, Bolton looked like they would get something against us until they went a man down? We that are supporting Arsene should know that a coach's primary work is to make his team better and ensure their chance to remain competitive, even if they are the best. Barcelona won quite some laurels last year yet added Sanchez, Fabregas, Kiko Femini, aside some youths like Tiago Alcantara that were coming through the ranks. Also some years back Man U won a double and yet spent 70mils on Anderson, Nani, Hagreaves n someone else. That shows what a manager should do to remain relevant and competitive. But Wenger has not helped this team with a little push that they needed. I nearly cried during Flamini era when we sat atop the league for months and Wenger was given 60mils to shop in January to beef us his team but he said there was no need so he bought Francis Coquelin for 200,000 and returned the change I guess. The fallout? Flamini, Fabregas n Hleb had injuries and the sweat of months prior were rendered irrelevant cos the squad lacked debt. The most worrisome part of Wenger's more recent reign is relunctance to pay, not identify te righ players that will help the course of the team, nay the players shedding sweat and blood to keep the team in good stead. If we had bought Mata at 17mil before august, we would not be missing Fabregas as much as we do now. But Chelsa even had to pay about 6mil more than what we would have paid. And guess what - we have our money in the bank, while they have a super talent for the next ten years. The number of players we have identified over the past two years but we refused to buy because Wenger was penny-pinching is alarming: Smalling, Phil Jones, Samba, Mata, just to mention a few. Instead we kept our money at the detriment of our progress, while others are busy improving their teams. And the truth is this, we were all too sure this team needed a few additions, even if the players that left didnt. So why on earth did we not buy, if not to replace but to add a little depth to the squad. I bet if we had signed Gervinho, Mata, Arteta, Cahill and Benayoun in July, Nasri could have been tempted to stay. It was so obvious he was panthing after titles and wanted more players, a fact corroborated by Gervinho. I think the bone we have to break with Wenger is that we have money, the squad needs strenghtening and he is not doing it. That is even more annoying when you realize there were very cheap deals in the market that could enhance our team: Cahill for around 15mil, Samba for 10, Stekelenburg for 5.5, Diego being booted out of Wolfsburg, Parker for 5, Nuri Sahin, etc. It is sad. And if the coach is not ready to improve a team...thrn he should be ready to let some others try. And for those that think Wenger doesnt deserve the sack here is an analogy. I am in my third year in Med school. My last three years have been poor, I have never passed any course but they keep promoting me. Why? They were judging me based on my High School results, where I had sufficient distinctions. What happened to the cliche that 'A coach is only as good as his last result.' why should we judge Wenger with a different scale from that of other world coaches. We need not be emotional: that 60million sitting in our account could have purchase a Mata, Cahill, Stekelenburg, Diego and so much joy for us. If a salt has lost its taste, what then is its use. And we dont have to sack Wenger per se, let us just find a place for him in the board or youth system as a form of respect. Seven years is a long time and since last season this man looks clueless. And what is worse - he thinks he doesnt need help. Whoever on earth wont want a little help.

• 04-Oct-2011 19:35 | | Dan
  

  Some positivity and support for our club here, That's got to be a good thing. We WILL improve this season, we have to.

• 04-Oct-2011 19:59 | | BNT
  

  Oh Pedantic George an ACLF die hard takes the time out to support anthor fuckinf guy that lives 10000 miles away like the rest of the hardcore AKBs.
  
  Fuck off cunt.

• 04-Oct-2011 20:17 | | BrianRough  - Wenger should be given Time
  

  Wenger should be given time because any manager would have a difficult time right now beacuse of the following
  
  1. Man United is now a Goliath who dominates the league and wins 50%+ of titles for the last 2 decades and on track to do so again or netter this decade
  2. Recently it has taken Chelsea £400M+ in transfers and £175M per annum in wages to compete such is the hidden dividend that the stability and huge squad of Man Utd brings. Man City is now entering with the same model as Chelsea.
  3. Recently Liverpool, Spurs and now Arsenal have entered a vortex of bad form initiated by failure to win a trophy, demoralisation, loss of key players and then further loss of form etc. It took them 2 managers and lost of new players to get out of the run of bad form. I predict that this will be come a cycle of despair because the top 3 have become so strong.
  4. Nobody has done better than Wenger in the league apart from the top 3....this may change this year but to date he has performed very well despite the recent lack of trophies.
  5. The Arsenal style of play is more difficult to coach and to get right but hopefully some day they will get it right and we will see the benefits. It would be easire to gave a different style of play eg Stoke or even Spurs or Liverpool but I predict that these styles of play are not sufficient to beat the very top teams.
  6. Arsenal have a long term strategy in place. Improve revenues via the stadium first and then commercial revenues such that they may be able to match Man United or at least be second in income and hopefully FFP will curtail some of the wilder excesses of Chelsea and Man City.

• 04-Oct-2011 20:23 | | BrianRough  - Wenger should be given Time 2
  

  See http://redcannonball.wordpress.com for more background information.

• 04-Oct-2011 21:40 | | BNT
  

  AKBs born and bred cunts, never grew up in London let alone north with with their fucking bloggers backing their shit.
  
  ARSENE IS GONNA GET SACKED CAUSE HES A CUNT.
  
  Get used to it pricks.

• 04-Oct-2011 21:49 | | Who2ba  - Said many times : Be carefull you dont get what yo
  

  Watched the gunners for 50 years Bertie,Goerge Graham did great jobs with what they had and we were proud of them at the time.
  Wenger has transformed this club, no doubt, yes I get frustrated when AW repeats the mantra about Mental Strength when we can all see the flaws.Yes maybe he has made some miss judgements and his substitutions and how to fix the flaws during a game other than throwing on 3 more forwards may draw questions from the faithful on his tactical nouse.
  Yes he seems to have more faith in Fabregas staying than longer than anyone else on the planet and I assume shocked that nasri planned his exit so well but Im sure he is finding it hard to come to terms with players wishing to leave these days
  All I will say is no other manager gave me the chance to witness my team playing and nearly winning the european cup (despite travelling out there with no ticket and not getting in) Some mistakes by individuals ( Jens being one) denied us that trophy. Yes replace him with Anchlotia next season and you will see him come and go within two years to be replaced by another. All AW needs is another good right hand man to replace Pat.
  For those who want to see him , enjoy the style (all be a little disjointed at the moment but will get better I would bet) for the rest of this season because you never know, you might get your wish. God help us

• 04-Oct-2011 22:11 | | StupidDeluxe
  

  I don't need to watch the DVD to know that however it happened, he was manager at the time and as such, put that defense together, you clowns can't have your cake and eat it, either the manager is responsible for the team or he isn't. If he's not responsible for the invincibles then George Graham wasn't responsible for the defense he left behind and AW can't be held responsible for dragging the team down now.
  
  He either takes the stick for things going bad AND the praise for when they went right under him or he takes neither, choose which you want and get back to me with a better argument and stop wasting my time.

• 04-Oct-2011 23:16 | | pedantic george
  

  BNT is shorthand for Bent?
  You certainly put forward a very reasoned argument.Calling me and Arsene a cunt is proof positive that you are an analytically genius.A footfall colossus.Thank goodness I will never have to meet and speak to thick pricks like you.

• 05-Oct-2011 00:22 | | Man United Killer  - nice one
  

  word !

• 05-Oct-2011 00:24 | | Man United Killer
  

  Dont waste your time stating the obvious my friend.How can anyone be irreplaceable? A fine joke indeed!

• 05-Oct-2011 00:27 | | Man United Killer
  

  Sometimes I wonder what is really wrong with you.I am sure you have a great deal of respect for Wenger- so do I but to say he is irreplaceable is beyond comprehension.You are a Wenger fan....but I doubt that you love Arsenal that much.*Shaking my head*

• 05-Oct-2011 07:42 | | Spectrum
  

  GunnerArchitect - "as Arsenal vision said... irreplaceable". That's not how your Great Leader sees his own future - ( quote ); "The cemeteries are full of irreplaceable people." So you're in conflict with him, if you think he's untouchable.
  
  You blame injuries and bad luck. Sure we've had a rough ride on that score. But we've been on a poor run for the last 20 matches or so. ALL teams in that sort of form tend to have bad luck and decisions going against them. But that isn't the cause of the results, it's merely an unfortunate ( and unavoidable ), accompaniment.
  Name ANY team in history that finishes in THE BOTTOM THREE, that DOESN'T have things go against them.It's a fact of footballing life. Deal with it. Don't use it as a scapegoat to excuse Wenger's failure.
  " ******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 07:44 | | Spectrum
  

  redboy @ 18:10 - Perhaps Mean Lean, Wenger's Public Defender - can answer your question ?
  " ******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 08:03 | | MeanLean
  

  Speccy,
  
  I am surprised that someone who wants the manager out as much as you do hasn't been able to rise to the challenge. Find a manager with a track record of net spend being able to perform overall better than the Arsenal manager. Wenger is so bad according to you, so it should be pretty straight forward right?

• 05-Oct-2011 08:14 | | Spectrum
  

  pedantic george is a regular over at "A Cultured Left Foot". He's as one eyed as they come. Here's some of his recent statements ;
  
  "Still,I don’t care .I love the players we have and the manager.And I refuse to be dragged down by anyone.And I mean anyone."
  
  
  "Arsene is totally secure in his job ,Totally.
  
  And rightly so" .
  
  ( Are you sure, george........? )
  
  "I don’t know if my recognition of the fact that we currently have problems has given some people the incorrect impression that I am wavering from my absolute faith in the Manager.That is 100% faith,in case there is any doubt.
  Is that clear ? "
  
  
  Perfectly clear. Clearly you can't debate with a mentality like that. The archetypal A.K.B. A totally closed mind.
  " ******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 08:17 | | Spectrum
  

  Er, yes george. Whatever you say.
  " ******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 08:42 | | Spectrum
  

  Brian Rough - Your post could have been a template for any other A.K.B. to use. The usual standard dross.
  " ******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 08:56 | | Spectrum
  

  Support Arsenal not Arsene - To the A.K.B.'s who say we could do worse if we got another manager in - Worse ? How could anything be worse than relegation form, and our worst start in 58 years ?
  The worst that could happen is we win nothing for the next six to seven years, and perhaps go down. Which is the same situation we find ourselves in now !!!! If the board and supporters showed some guts and removed Wenger, the new man on the other hand, may just be the catalyst to a bright new era for us. So what have we got to lose ?
  The A.K.B.'s will say "Be careful what you wish for." To which the realists reply ; " Be careful what you settle for."
  " ******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 09:27 | | Spectrum
  

  Mean Lean - We don't pay an accountant to coach the team.The finances are the board's concern. FOOTBALL is Wenger's. As Wenger has an economics degree, perhaps he'd be better suited to having a seat on the board. And leave the running of the team to someone who still has what it takes to achieve SUCCESS, not fixating on a balance sheet with lots of zeroes on the end of it.Would that be more acceptable to you ? Would that be sufficient compromise ? I could live with that. But could you A.K.B.'s ?
  You're more than happy to have us run as a best practice business model. There's nothing wrong with that. If we were struggling and broke, that would be fine. But we're the third richest club in Europe, F.F.S. We were financially stable BEFORE he came here. Or don't you remember ? If Wenger was to go, would we suddenly become paupers overnight ? Stop making him out to be some financial guru. Next you'll be saying he can fix the Euro Zone crisis as well.
  If as you claim, he's done so well to strengthen us, just WHEN do you think that money that they keep creaming off every year, will go to BUILDING THE TEAM, instead of paying lip service to it ? There will NOT be a financial calamity if Wenger goes.If you're so worried there will be, then you should urge him to move upstairs, where he can still be involved. Failing that, it's the board's job to replace him. They'll HAVE to one day.And that day could come sooner than you think.
  " ******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 09:44 | | Spectrum
  

  Man Utd. Killa - ( Greetings, mate ). "A fine joke indeed" !
  That's no way to talk about your manager.
  " ******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 09:51 | | BrianRough  - In Arsene we rust?
  

  I am open to all questions and all debate. The problem is I have not seen much reasoned argument from the Wenger out squad.
  There is no doubt that just firing a manager that is "failing" is a well trod path in business and in football. However I would argue that we live in extraordinary times where the top three are so dominant that changing the manager is not enough to do it. You want to win the league...then get a Sheikh. You want guaranteed top 4....get a smaller sheikh or guarantee that we wont have so many injuries at once.
  I am hurting as much as the next man but on balance am willing to wait until this vortex of bad form passes....and this will take time ....another 16 games before you know whether you are out of it or not.
  This is my opinion....at least it has the merit of some logic. Can't see much coming from the other side of the debate...

• 05-Oct-2011 09:55 | | BrianRough  - Arsenal Fans??
  

  Are there actually Arsenal fans on this board? I have found more reasoned debate on the Guardian and the BBC.
  
  This is not religion....its football and as such should be open to reasoned debate.

• 05-Oct-2011 09:58 | | gooner4life  - Wenger
  

  I know Wenger has over achieved.However you cannot fight tomorrow's war with today's weapons. What has worked in the past llike getting Anelka,Veira,Henry,Feb,etc on the cheap does not work now. Even then some of the wc kids signed have turned out to be avrrage players.Times have changed.Wenger is a victim of his own success. He must evolve with the times.
  I am afraid despite the vote of confidence ,he could still be forced out if the gunners continue to struggle until Xmas.If results don't improve by then,all transfers in the new year will be frozen.
  No manager is indispensable in football which is based on results.You may play the best soccer but if you get beaten repeatedly then you are out.

• 05-Oct-2011 10:03 | | BrianRough  - Arsene Out?
  

  OK...
  
  1. Should Arsenal have a self sustaining model or go out and find a Sheikh?
  2. As manager what objectives for trophies would you set?
  3. How much would you spend to achieve those objectives?
  4. What style of football would you play?

• 05-Oct-2011 10:36 | | Spectrum
  

  Bermy Boy - If Wenger had Chelsea's or City's funds, he most likely would leave most of it in the bank unspent. Wenger has a giant ego. He likes to do things HIS WAY. He has some narcissic obsession with building a team in his own image, and that obsession involves developing youth. Vainly trying to prove a point to the world ( but mainly to himself ), that his way is the only way.Relying on kids alone, won't work. Experience and quality need to be blended in with it. Wenger can't or won't, see this. His stubborn conceited pride won't allow him to admit it's not working the way he believes it will.
  I doubt that many of our 5 deadline day signings were even Wenger's choices. He'd have continued on with buying every kid in sight, and would have done, if the board hadn't intervened and forced him to bring in proven players. Even though they were cheap and not up to our standard.
  So not only is he a miserley skinflint, but he wouldn't spend BIG anyway - because it's not his style.
  "******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 11:09 | | Spectrum
  

  Brian Rough - "This is not religion....its football and as such should be open to reasoned debate". Agreed. But when you get die hard Wenger worshippers like pedantic george, that's futile. Most A.K.B.'s have at least a tiny inkling that things aren't quite right, they just don't see the manager as the source of much of it. But according to george, he "doesn't think he has ANY flaws." Now that is ignorance verging on madness. Even Mean Lean admits Wenger has faults.So "hope springs eternal" I suppose.
  " ******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 11:37 | | pika
  

  hahaha mean dont give such difficult exercises to poor rectum .....

• 05-Oct-2011 11:39 | | pika
  

  what did u say? manchester is not financially doped?
  
  lol do u realise that their assets ( training ground and stadium) are in the hands of the banks mate ?
  
  for them to finance their late 3 year success they had to give their most valuable club assets as collateral to the bank!!!
  
  why shoudl arsenal follow that model ? give me one good reason.
  
  
  your problem is wenger;s management or the wages say konscielny is on ?
  
  i think the latter ...

• 05-Oct-2011 11:45 | | MeanLean
  

  Spectrum,
  
  Are you serious? Can you actually hear yourself?
  
  You talk about realists being blinked yet it is clear that your hatred of Arsene Wenger is seriously clouding your thought process.
  
  "We don't pay an accountant to coach the team.The finances are the board's concern. FOOTBALL is Wenger's"
  
  You answered your own question there and you cannot see it. You are spot on when you say that the finances are the board's concern and football is Wenger's. That is exactly the point. Arsene Wenger does not have an open cheque book where he can go and buy who he wants whenever he wants.
  
  As I keep saying and obviously getting ignored is that Arsenal FC not Arsene has always been a sustainable club who only spend what they own. We have always been conservative spenders.
  
  Was you a fan during the George Graham days? Or is Arsene all you know. If it is the latter then I can understand your position a little more. You wouldn't know that Graham never spent huge amounts on players and missed out on plenty of good players because of the 'clubs' wage structure. I am sure Graham was blamed for this back then but as I was young it is hard to know.
  
  Personally I think that we have grown since those days, we are a much bigger and financially powerful club now, mainly down to Arsene Wenger for keeping us in the CL during the stadium move and using his magic in the transfer window to continuously buy cheap and sell expensive.
  
  We should be looking to take a step forward in our wage structure and transfer fees whilst still remaining sustainable. If there is scope to do that then the club should because this repeated roundabout of building teams and then losing teams is hurting the team massively.
  
  We are not Ajax, we should not be losing our best players, we should be adding to them.
  
  But Spectrum I ask you to remove your anti Wenger glasses for a second, pretend that he does not exist for a second, if you can manage to do that. Do you not think that Wenger has any constraints like every previous Arsenal manager has had? Do you think he can spend what he wants but chooses not to build a competitive side because of ego? Do people like you actually truly believe that is the case?
  
  If you do then our debate has to end because we will never find any middle ground. I find it utterly absurd that people are actually fed that and digest that complete and utter tosh.

• 05-Oct-2011 11:46 | | pika
  

  are u stupid ? the club ends every financial year with a PROFIT.
  
  lol what the hell do u care what rosicky makes ? rosickys risks his legs in this barbaric league for arsenal ...what the hell do you risk for arsenal ..your 1,000 pennies.....give em a fkn break ...

• 05-Oct-2011 11:51 | | pika
  

  Stop making him out to be some financial guru. Next you'll be saying he can fix the Euro Zone crisis as well.
  
  
  of course he can. his self sustainable module is an examople to follow even for governements.
  
  if the world wasnt spending beyond their means they wouldnt find themselves int he situation they are today
  
  
  how on earth you suggest arsenal spending beyond their means just to win you some trophies is the craziest thing ive heard.......
  
  go follow city .....thats your club ....they do things they way you want them to be done.

• 05-Oct-2011 11:52 | | MeanLean
  

  I expected the homework on my desk first thing in the morning and I have received nothing, Tut tut

• 05-Oct-2011 11:53 | | pika
  

  george is truthfull though ...you are not

• 05-Oct-2011 11:54 | | pika
  

  listen you littel cretin why dont you come over the pub in finsbury and talk these matters id love to have you face to face when you say in wenger we rust ...pmsl you disgrace of a rival troll ...cant even get your arsenal bashing correct ..lmao

• 05-Oct-2011 11:58 | | MeanLean
  

  I said they were much richer than we were and that is still the case today. They have much larger sponsership deals and as you can see from their wage bill and transfer spend, they have far more resourses than we do.
  
  We spend more than Everton on wages because erm, we have been in the CL every season under Arsene Wenger and they haven't. Arsene Wenger has allowed the club to be one of the highest wage payers.
  
  But let us not get carried away with our 'massive wage bill'
  
  Man City, Chelsea and Manchester United all pay more than we do. So we are fourth wage spenders. Where have we finished for the most part in recent years? Oh yeah 4th.

• 05-Oct-2011 12:24 | | pika
  

  WELL SAID ..KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK .. REAL GUNNERS STICK BY THEIR MANAGER AND TEAM
  
  the trash ..we will take care of them

• 05-Oct-2011 12:28 | | pika
  

  i aint surprised ..the guy is a spud or chelsea troll..only they are as jealous and envious of wenger;s success
  
  also dont forget wenger apllies foreign football ideals in a country where they like their terries and bartons and rooneys
  
  he will always get stick and there will always be little engladers around who want to get him sacked.
  
  take clive allen the other day for example ...what a short little c*nt ..expecting wenger to shake his hand? the english press is full of clive allens....

• 05-Oct-2011 12:32 | | pika
  

  bravo kabir!!!!! thats the spirit !!! i feel exactly the same
  
  
  its no coincidence the foreign gooners feel more appreciiation for what wenger has done...what he has built for arsenal and the way he has built it is so admirable that only silly spitefull little engladers would ever critisise him as harshly.
  
  
  you get hoddles venables shearrers hansesns all of them blasting arsene wenger ...LOL...who are they? what did they ever manage and what did they ever win ?

• 05-Oct-2011 12:34 | | pika
  

  Our wage bill DWARFS the Villas and Spurs of this world.
  
  
  we also dwarf the villas and spurs in league positions and european seedings
  
  or has that escaped your critique.... pmsl...

• 05-Oct-2011 15:04 | | Spectrum
  

  pika - If you read one of my recent posts on here, I said that no realist says we should spend ridiculous amounts like Chelsea or City. Just spend WHAT WE HAVE. We HAD 100 million to spend in the last transfer window just passed. We CHOSE to only spend HALF of it. The other half sits in the bank gaining interest. WHY ? A.K.B.'s are always crying poor, yet WHEN WE HAVE FUNDS TO SPEND BIG, WE DON'T. Why aren't you asking Wenger and the board that question ? And how many times do I have to remind you of this ?
  That 50 million we have left over unused, could have bought us the "super, super quality " player/s we desperately need. We should have used ALL of that money that WAS AVAILABLE TO US.It was there to be SPENT !!! And it would have sent a message to the supporters that the club is showing some AMBITION. Some intent.
  " ******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 15:18 | | Spectrum
  

  pika - Man Utd. have debts. As most clubs do. But they also have extensive revenue streams from various sources.So they can always service their debt manageably. And with their reputation as one of the world's biggest clubs, I don't think they're in any danger of becoming unviable, do you ? I don't think their bank manager lies awake at night worrying he'll lose that collateral. And that 3 year success would also have pulled in further income from t.v. rights, merchandising e.t.c. Plus they have a sensible manager who isn't afraid to spend big.So their policy must have something going for it. Success breeds success.
  Contrast that to us.
  "Those that fail to plan, plan to fail." Sums up our situation at this time rather well.
  " ******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 15:21 | | Spectrum
  

  Yes pika, whatever you say.
  " ******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 15:28 | | Spectrum
  

  pika - Yeah, and just like them, we've got nothing to show for it. Unless you count the honourary annual top 4 award. Well we very nearly missed that last season, and almost certainly will THIS one.
  What does that motto on our new crest say ? " Forward."
  
  Who thought that one up ? They're having a laugh, aren't they ?
  " ******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 15:51 | | Spectrum
  

  Mean Lean - So would you be satisfied with your master moving upstairs, or perhaps into the youth coach position ? I'd be o.k. with that. As long as he's nowhere near the first team.
  
  That way your first priority - finances - would be taken care of. Or Project Youth can still continue (albeit with a reduced priority). Wenger gets to stay.He's doing what he loves best - developing kids for that ( elusive ) future.
  
  The realists get a new manager.We ALL get to see how the fresh approach works out. And we're all happy campers. Not such a scary prospect is it ? Hey - I wouldn't have reason to use my catchphrase anymore,either. What say you ?
  " ******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 15:59 | | Spectrum
  

  Excellent post, Thorough. Comments Mean Lean ?
  " ******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 16:06 | | James
  

  The success that came prior to the Invincibles is what led to its creation and ultimate success. If Wenger had won fuck all up to that point, the Invincibles never would have happened - and if it wasn't for that back 5 Wenger would ave won fuck all.

• 05-Oct-2011 16:06 | | MeanLean
  

  You've danced around my points once more. You have not accepted that you are wrong.
  
  My first priorities are not finances, Wenger's isn't either. He is a football man. but I, Wenger and yourself back the football club who have ALWAYS been very conscious of the clubs finances. And with that in mind, who are you going to get who is going to worth WITHIN those constraints as well as maintain our CL spot? Or as you expect, win trophies every year.
  
  Don't dodge this, answer.

• 05-Oct-2011 16:21 | | pika
  

  what a ridiculous statement.
  
  the succes prior to the invincibles is 02 inside ot you mug ...how many grahams players were there playing ? parlour......only ..was he also a bloody defender then ? u mug just shut up.
  
  and those comedians you say wenger inherritted...they were at the pub falling around like drunk arseholes disgracing the shirt the badge and pi55ing on the term "professionalism".
  
  if you cant identify with what wenger has transformed arsenal into ffs do not dare suggest we return to the days of drunken donkeys whove lost their purpose and need to take a fkn year off to sort their addictions while we are going for back to back title.
  
  wenger inherrited a bunhc of drunks who had lost their purpose..and he reminded them what football and ARSENAL was all about.

• 05-Oct-2011 16:25 | | pika
  

  what the hell are u on son? so if you make 100k in a year what youre gonna do ..go buy a car for 100k the next day? youre a d*mb@ss if you do that ...no point talking to you. youre not even arsenal ..what arsenal fan would ever turn his back on the manager who allowed him to dream?
  
  get lost you fkn troll..mean lean give us his fkn ip ...NOW !

• 05-Oct-2011 16:31 | | pika
  

  man utd are a bunch of c*nts who enjoyed a monopoly on the english title cause pracxtically they were on their own with noone to challenege them.. who did? arsene wenger ? and he did it with 1/10 of manchester;s budgets. ..not with a sheikh neither a russian tycoon laundring money. with football and smart transfers.
  
  in the end of the day i dont care what them munich milking c*nts do....all i knwo is that for them to compete they gave the clubs assets TO THE BANKS ...and when fergie aint around to bully the players in performing for him it will take them another 26 years if not more to win the title again. at that time we will be sitting back with a stadium all paid for and players experienced enough and angry enough to make their mark.
  
  and u want to sack the manager ? lol ...u are beyond ridiculous
  
  if you wanto to sell the clubs CORRECT policies like some cheap whore just to get your kodak momment with some trophy ..follow city or chelsea

• 05-Oct-2011 16:32 | | Spectrum
  

  pika - Graham would never indulge and pamper his players the way Wenger does. And he'd certainly motivate them better. And tactics - Graham shits all over him. Then, most managers could do that without much trouble. I'm feeling all sentimental now.
  As the poster above said,
  "Come back George Graham and save AFC " !
  
  " ******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 16:34 | | pika
  

  YES WHATEVER I SAY ....
  
  
  since when should anyone listen to you ...you cant even get your arguements correct ..mean has been pasting you and all u can do is beat around the bush ..p*ssyfooting about....
  
  what answers do you have? NONE
  
  only abuse and attacks on arsenal manager ....well thats what rivals do ..they are envious of his success

• 05-Oct-2011 16:35 | | pika
  

  you may not have nothing to show for it ..i have nothing but priode to show for wenger and his team becuase i can see he is overachieving
  
  you ..on the other hand you are a troll

• 05-Oct-2011 16:36 | | Spectrum
  

  Mean Lean - You asked that question in a previous blog. I gave a detailed answer.
  " ******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 16:38 | | pika
  

  well united troll...wenger made us love football again ....before that i had toothless cocaine addicts and some drunks disgracing the badge and every concept about professionalism
  
  maybe thats your idea of football in england ..so thank god wenger internationalised arsenal and others get to appreciate it more ..people who want to watch FOOTBALL and not a bunch of headleass chicken on steroids knocking eachother off...
  
  you peasants deserve nothing but distain.

• 05-Oct-2011 16:46 | | Spectrum
  

  Mean Lean - And are you going to tell me if my proposed compromise meets your approval ? I thought it was reasonable.But I understand ANY kind of change is terrifying for A.K.B.'s. Even so called "baby steps".
  
  ......and is that pika over there, having a heart attack ?
  "******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 16:50 | | pika
  

  likewise just cause it aint working now due to change in playing field dont mean he should abandon his correct policies...the playing field will change again ...you cant expect the manager to change and play dirty just to satisfy some customers.
  
  this is how the club works these are their principles and htis is how they want to succeed.....
  
  if some are not on board with that ..thats their problem...arsenal will not become a city just to win trophies...thats not the arsenal way.
  
  obviously theyd rather wait till these jokes with foreign owners investing money which arent made in the industry run out of flavour. why go to head to head against rivals who can destroy you with their financial might? you sit and prepare and wait ...and thats what arsenal is doing.

• 05-Oct-2011 17:15 | | Spectrum
  

  pika - No abuse from you though, eh ?
  " ******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 17:20 | | Spectrum
  

  pika - Pride is good. But the Brasso doesn't bring out the shine. Unlike trophies. But who needs trophies, right ?
  
  " ******************"

• 05-Oct-2011 17:33 | | James
  

  Irreplaceable?
  
  So I assume the club will cease to exist when he dies?

• 05-Oct-2011 17:33 | | redboy
  

  250.000 spent on players on average over 15 years but wenger takes 6.5 mill in wages a year says it all dont you think

• 05-Oct-2011 17:57 | | pika
  

  thats why graham is a nobody and wenger is one of the best managers in the history of the game

• 05-Oct-2011 17:59 | | pika
  

  no no heart attack .. more like a pi55 attack on your face sonny
  
  

• 05-Oct-2011 18:02 | | pika
  

  lol how ridiculous ..it took us years to get rid of that boring boring arsenal tag and you want to return to them days? ...what a muppet ..
  
  so your idea of football is 11 donkeys beating a bunch of another 11 donkeys and the ball being some kind of weird object they dont know how to control.
  
  ah so your idea of a manager is another sam allerdyce hmmmm great ..tell us more

• 06-Oct-2011 10:45 | | Spectrum
  

  pika - Change scares you that much does it ? By the way - what changes would you like to see to improve our club ? Don't tell me - you don't see the need for any changes......
  
  Arsene is doing wonderfully, the team are going to win the league this year ( " I know 'cos Arsene told me so" ), and no-one can possibly tell us how to defend any better, Project Youth is set to churn out an endless stream of potential superstars ( "It just takes TIME, but this year it really really WILL, I promise." ) e.t.c. e.t.c.
  
  I'd be interested to know your reaction to my compromise that I put to Mean Lean. Being the reasonable and responsible person that you have shown you are, pika, we can be confident of a constructive response, can't we ?
  " ******************"

• 06-Oct-2011 10:48 | | Spectrum
  

  James - No, it's worse than that. Life as we know it will cease to exist when Wenger dies.
  " ******************"

• 09-Oct-2011 18:09 | | pizzy_05  - Kabir I love You
  

  Kabir, you are infact a man/woman after my heart. Your position is the true position of all true Gunners. People like spectrum joined arsenal in Feb 2004 and are about to leave; it is just that they haven't found a club to wow them the way Wengerball did in '04. True Arsenalism consists in doing things the right, attractive and entertaining way. That's why the Invincibles are still reverred till today. That's why the 2007/08 team are remembered for beautiful attacking football. Now Diaby was played out of position then but no one complained then. what about Theo?
  If we're not going to be helped a la Manure, and are not going to be bankrolled a la Chelski and ManDubai, the best we can do is to win with some style and beautiful football and enviable management. I sure will be willing to wait for that even if it will take some time. that is the Arsenal way, The Arsenal brand. If anyone supporting The Arsenal cannot understand that, then he/she needs a trip tp the Eastlands.

• 09-Oct-2011 21:32 | | Anonymous  - Kabir Akbar! Your not alone
  

  Well said Gooner! No your not alone, far from it, there are many of us who think exactly like you do, many of us have put forward those same thoughts its just that we are tired of defending the old "Arsenal Principles" of loyalty and tradition and standing alone against the modern tide (the financial dopping) and doing things our way. As you say sticking to the principle, and not indulging in the spend spend spend culture. There are an absolute plethora of "our own" who are nothing more than wanna be "Chav's". They all really just wish they were with Abromovich.

• 09-Oct-2011 21:45 | | Anonymous  - What a Wankers view this Spectrum has
  

  Everyone now knows how the Arsenal Transfer system works.
  Wenger put forward a list of players he would like. The board (In reality Kroenke says yes or no) Kroenke's top gun goes out and tries to buy the one's left on tjhe list after Kroenke's crossed off the too expensive to buy or too expensive to keep in wages. Wenger gets whatever hand Kroenke deals him and its up to him to make the most of what he's delt. Personally I've often wished Wenger was more concieted and I've felt that Wenger is too loyal to Arsenal and should've gone public with the way the board is running the show.

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