[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by alex_front2

Well this is where Wenger fails. He has enough players who can do cheap Barce impersonations. He needs generals, hard nuts, types who will kick the crap out of Giroud if he misses a sitter not someone to recommend a good hairdresser. A really rough committed non league defender would be better than a cry baby weedy academy productwhotskes selfies. Vardy works as he's not a polished academy kid. He's bit of a chav but he is hard as nails for a striker. I dread to imagine what he would be if it wasn't for football.


Imagine Roy Keane at Arsenal or young Viera back. A real strong defensive midfielder or central defender is all Arsenal need. That is all that Arsenal are missing in order to win title (and maybe a creative midfielder), hard as nails, take players legs off, tough defenders, someone like Ryan Shawcrorss

Viera revealed the reason he left Arsenal was he was sick of Wenger being soft and lenient on lazy underperforming players. Apparently a player had been crap all seasons, lazy,not putting in a shift but rather than berate him, Wenger put his arm around him and said "it will be alright". Viera checked off after that.

Theo Walcott was captain against Chelsea cuz it was his tenth year at the cub. It reminds me of under 9's football where players get to be captain if its their birthday. And, against one of our biggest rivals This is the kind of culture at Arsenal, this is the kind of dressing room at Arsenal

One of my biggest issues with Wenger over the years is that he doesn't buy enough players from other Premiership clubs. SAF knew the importance fo having good English or players with good Premeirship expereince at the core of the side, Wenger doesn't seem to get that.

John Terry might be available in the summer. I know he's getting on a bit but I'd take 40 year old John Terry over who ever Wengers got his eye on but once again he'd be too vocal, too strong, too experienced.

[alex_front2]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

Theo Walcott was captain against Chelsea cuz it was his tenth year at the cub. It reminds me of under 9's football where players get to be captain if its their birthday. And, against one of our biggest rivals This is the kind of culture at Arsenal, this is the kind of dressing room at Arsenal

One of my biggest issues with Wenger over the years is that he doesn't buy enough players from other Premiership clubs. SAF knew the importance fo having good English or players with good Premeirship expereince at the core of the side, Wenger doesn't seem to get that.

John Terry might be available in the summer. I'd take 40 years old John Terry over who ever Wengers got his eye on but once again he'd be too vocal, too strong, too experienced.

Arsenal only care about attacking midfielders from France and creatives from Colombia. It's as if defending is too boring for him. He doesn't seem to realise not every player has to dribble , make clever passes and read Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther.

I don't get why Arsenal brought in recruiter Ben Wigglesworth from Leicester. If he suggests a great gritty defensive midfielder, Wenger will reach for smelling salts.

[Alf]

Originally Posted by alex_front2

Arsenal lack strong players both physically and mentally.

The team has no leaders, no generals. The players seem like a group of timid art school students. They may be technically gifted but there's more to great teams than this. There's no charisma or drive. Where are the modern Henry, Tony Adams, Keown, Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Ian Wright, Ray Parlour?

Arsenal needs a Roy Keane type in midfield and a general in central defence. It doesn't have to be a technically excellent player, in fact they should get someone who is a rough diamond, eg an uncouth Cobh Rambler player. The Arsenal Women's team are tougher ffs. Ngolo Kante would be perfect for Arsenal, but he would be perfect for Juvrntus, Real Madrid, Man City, too

I agree with you about leader's, and you ask where are the modern day Adams, Campbell's ect..., maybe there's not about, or if there is, maybe they're happy where they are.

It's easy to name players who you could sign, but these are human being's and this is a lifestyle choice for them.

Wenger is giving his players a platform to go and play in the Premier league, he can't make leaders out of them, it's up to the players to step up and become leaders, the way Adams, Campbell and Bergkamp, Wright, Henry and The Romford Pele stepped up for Wenger and Arsenal

Arsenal do have a player who leads from the front in the centre of the midfield, but he hasn't been able to play a game for them all season.

[alex_front2]

And that leader who leads from from is joining Spurs coaching staff...

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Alf

I agree with you about leader's, and you ask where are the modern day Adams, Campbell's ect..., maybe there's not about, or if there is, maybe they're happy where they are.

It's easy to name players who you could sign, but these are human being's and this is a lifestyle choice for them.

Wenger is giving his players a platform to go and play in the Premier league, he can't make leaders out of them, it's up to the players to step up and become leaders, the way Adams, Campbell and Bergkamp, Wright, Henry and The Romford Pele stepped up for Wenger and Arsenal

Arsenal do have a player who leads from the front in the centre of the midfield, but he hasn't been able to play a game for them all season.

Absolutely true.

Wenger has made many of these players very wealthy young men and while its admirable that they defend him on twitter when he's getting stick, maybe they should try defending him by putting in performances for him. They are definitely not giving back the faith he has put in them

[Drew.]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

The thing is as well is if Arsenal fans get their wish and Wenger does leave then that will be the last remaining iconic Manager gone from the Premiership that's won things, has had epic rivalries, and qualifies for CL every year.

I'm no Arsenal fan by any means, and out of the London teams I'm much more of a Spurs person, but to want Wenger to go because Arsenal fans think that they're bigger than what they are is just silly in my view.

With or without Wenger, Arsenal would not have stopped this weird Leicester form, or Spurs this season, and as for the CL they'll never best the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and the Serie A clubs for a very long time to come in my view.

The team needs more physical players in the squad to compete more effectively, not a change in Manager.

This is the thing that gets me the most.. the constant "You'll only do what united did and slip down the league" and "Arsenal fans think they're bigger than what they are"

Firstly, how do you know? how does anyone know what will happen after he leaves. Facts are facts, we have the funds to strengthen the team considerably more than it has been in recent times. Yeah we've got good players at the club but this isn't an individuals game. When the money has been spent time and time again its gone towards small mobile players with flair who get bullied out of matches. Why can't a new manager come in and spend money wisely, be enthusiastic and show a bit of character and passion towards the players to strive for more, which is everything we currently lack.. and just generally improve the team which is more than possible.

Secondly, Nobodies asking us to conquer Europe now, We've always been a successful team ever since we were formed. We hold the record for longest time spent in the highest division of English football, We've been in European finals and won League Titles. So tell me, why should we accept mediocre and not a title challenging team Mock? Ask any World Class player or manager around Europe and they'll always see us as a threat and show us respect, but Mock who probably hasn't ever kicked a ball thinks we're an average team with a world beater of a manager. I honestly can't believe how blind fans of other clubs are to what Arsenal fans have experienced these past 10 or so years.

[GiRTh]

Inept substitutions & dodgy tactics: Arsenal's season ending with a whimper again

Excellent article. Same old sorry story from Giroud and Ramsey.

Robert Huth and Ramiro Funes Mori have scored more league goals in 2016 than Olivier Giroud. For all the people who think Arsenal fans expectations are too high; how can an Arsenal striker score only 2 league goals in four months?. I've heard Alan Shearer, Ian Wright and Gary Lineker all say they' love to play in this Arsenal team just due to the number of chances Arsenal strikers get and all three agreed a top striker at Arsenal should be scoring 20 to 25+ league goals a season.

Counter that with the fact that Mezut Ozil has now created almost 140 chances this season; highest in the Premier leauge next is Christian Ericksson with 105, then Payet with 89. I have always held the opinion that Ozil needed better players around him. Players who are much more on his wavelength ie not Giroud and Walcott . Its obvous to everyone except the management that we need changes and more options up front.

[GiRTh]

Youtube video

Watch from about 8.50 as The True Geordie finally getting why Arsenal fans are so frustrated. Love his assessment of Giroud and the great last line 'Thank f88k I dont support Arsenal, and I'm getting relegated.'

[GiRTh]

Olivier Giroud is being spoon-fed chances by Mesut Ozil yet still can't score

[alex_front2]

Oliver Giroud is not a top 4 calibre player, yet Wenger sticks by him. He is the type to score 2 pointless* goals when Arsenal loosing 5-0 (agg 8-3) at home to Braga in CL second leg with 2 mins to go.




* goal difference is mute when Spurs GD is far and away insurmountable and consistently vastly superior

[GiRTh]

Arsenal fans plan their own referendum on Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger is facing his own personal referendum this summer, with Arsenal fans preparing the biggest poll yet on the performance of their manager.

Many supporters are planning to display the banner ‘Time For Change’ at Saturday’s home match against Norwich City and, although the protest will not specifically call on Wenger to resign before his current contract ends next year, there is considerable frustration and a clear sense that the same mistakes are being repeated.

Wenger has faced intermittent hostility during the last five years but the current discontent appears more sustained and deep rooted than ever before. The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust commission an annual poll of fans’ and are preparing a new survey to distribute to 3,000 fans just as soon as the season ends.

A similar poll last year was of fewer than 700 fans but did actually record Wenger’s highest ever approval rating when 84 per cent either agreed or strongly agreed that their longest-serving manager was still the right man to be leading Arsenal.

Asked if they were satisfied with Arsenal’s football performance, Wenger’s work was given a thumbs up by 76 per cent of fans. It would be a major surprise if there is not a significant change in those numbers although much will probably still depend on the final three matches. Arsenal could still finish as high as second or finish outside the top four for the first time in Wenger’s 20 years at the club.

The AST began polling its members in 2010, when 60 per cent of respondents described themselves as either satisfied or highly satisfied with the club’s football performance.

This was to nosedive, however, in the period between 2011 and 2013 when that figure fell to 24 per cent, 21.5 per cent and then 17 per cent before an upsurge following the two FA Cups wins.

The frustration this season is especially acute in the context both of the problems at Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United and how Wenger was sufficiently confident in his squad to not sign a single outfield player last summer.

Wenger does intend changes this summer – although not a major upheaval – and want to add midfielder Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach as well as a centre-back and potentially a striker.

Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell is also being targeted as left-back cover for Kieran Gibbs, who is likely to leave. There is also some uncertainty over the futures of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott.

The club are also ready to make Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil the highest paid players in their history although no agreement has yet been reached on new contracts.

Ozil and Sanchez would almost certainly be kept for at least one more season even if they refuse contract offers this summer, although Bayern Munich are interested in Sanchez.

LINK

[Shaun]

A touch embarrassing really.

[GiRTh]

He had an approval rating of 17% the year before the FA cup runs. Kind of shows this has been brewing for a while

Will he buy big? I very much doubt it. Granit Xhaka will probably cost about 35 million plus. Cant see Wenger paying that much for a player who not a household name. I can barely pronounce his name.

We've got to make sure Ozil and Sanchez dont leave as I think we'll be a mid table club without them.

[GiRTh]

Arsene Wenger blames fans for costing Arsenal the Premier League title due to 'difficult climate' at the Emirates

Lets take the Swansea game at home for instance. So the defeat was not due to the Swansea assistant manager bringing on Gylfi Sigurðsson at half time and Arsenal taking too long to react? No the defeat was cus the fans didnt give the team enough support.

And people wonder why the fans have had enough of him. He clearly has no respect for them,. He should be apologizing for some of the performances this season not blame the fans.

I think the Wenger out brigade just got a lot stronger today.

[Drew.]

The man will never take responsibility for anything, everything that happens is always someone elses fault. You don't hear him come out admitting to the wrong tactics or getting something wrong thats cost us a defeat, its either the referees fault or Alans up in row Z for booing.

This just tops it all though. Turning on the clubs own fans accusing them of being at fault for home losses and saying if it was based on away wins we'd win the league.. i can't believe how deluded he is. I don't care how you look at it, he's causing a huge divide between the fans where things are so hostile fights are breaking out. We're generally in such a bad state and most of its down to him.

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Drew.

The man will never take responsibility for anything, everything that happens is always someone elses fault. You don't hear him come out admitting to the wrong tactics or getting something wrong thats cost us a defeat, its either the referees fault or Alans up in row Z for booing.

This just tops it all though. Turning on the clubs own fans accusing them of being at fault for home losses and saying if it was based on away wins we'd win the league.. i can't believe how deluded he is. I don't care how you look at it, he's causing a huge divide between the fans where things are so hostile fights are breaking out. We're generally in such a bad state and most of its down to him.

Or the fixture pile up or the fact we cant spend 100 million in a transfer window or *insert one of the many excuses over the years*. He's running out of excuses.

[GiRTh]

Theo Walcott left out of Euro 2016 squad: A career unfulfilled?

[alex_front2]

Theo Walcott never justified the 2006 WC hype @16. He's bang average but 10 years ago "good for his age" but has regressed. He's been overtaken by St least 14 other EPL players and is not worth his wage.

[GiRTh]

Arsenal to sign Granit Xhaka as midfielder heads to London for final transfer talks

Its getting closer and closer. Hope this is done by the time the Euros start.

[Shaun]

An actual bloody signing. I am slain.

[Brother Leon]

Good signing. If the Kante rumours are true then you guys are doing a madness.

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by alex_front2

Theo Walcott never justified the 2006 WC hype @16. He's bang average but 10 years ago "good for his age" but has regressed. He's been overtaken by St least 14 other EPL players and is not worth his wage.

He's on more than World cup winner Mertesacker and champions league winner Petr Cech. I'm not sure there can ever be a scenario where Theo Walcott earns more money for playing football than Petr Cech but the truth is Arsenal, for some reason, have decided he's worth more. He certainly doesn't play like he's got that responsibility on his shoulders.

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Brother Leon

Good signing. If the Kante rumours are true then you guys are doing a madness.

What are these rumours? We;re linked with him but that means nothing at Arsenal.

[Shaun]

Yeah I'm of the feeling that Leicester will hold on to basically everyone this summer aside from maybe Ulloa. Have no need to sell, they must be minted now.

[Drew.]

Chuffed with Xhaka, any fan of any club would have been happy with him.. an absolute monster and leader which is what we've needed.

He'd be the perfect example of a top player we've been in for only for another big club to come in and sign him because of Arsenes stubbornness to pay the asking price. This is more like the Arsene i like, seems like hes not holding back for what could be his final year