After yet another embarrassing defeat in the FA cup (Bradford was first one) on Saturday against the 1st division side Blackburn Rovers, the future of Arsene Wenger at the helm seems to be the question of the day. Was this the final nail in Arsene Wenger’s football coffin?
Millions of Gunner fans around the world would shout it loudly. “Yes!!”, while others curiously still stick steadfastly by the club’s most successful manager in their History. It’s easy to have knee jerk reactions to games and jump on the bandwagon, but surely this has gone on too long now. Arsene Wenger has been in charge for 17 years now (2nd longest behind only Sir Alex at Utd), joining the North London Giants in 1996 with a lot of “who the hell is he?” questions. But it didn’t take long to prove his doubters wrong, playing a brand of easy-on-the-eye attacking football that the media and fans loved. He changed players’ diets, added new training regimes and as a result produced such world class players such as Henry, Vieira, and Pires to name a few – the very long list goes on and on.
In the early part of Wenger’s reign the club won 3 league titles, 4 Fa cup making it a gloriously successful nine-year period before the current trophy-less drought kicked in. Unfortunately and amazingly, Patrick Viera in the 2005 FA Cup final was the last player to lift a trophy for this famous club. Eight years, which in football terms is a lifetime, and the club has won nothing, not even the bloody League Cup. Arsenal fan or not, I’m sure you’d agree that just far too long for such illustrious club……
Wenger seems in recent years to have lost his ability to motivate and cajole his team to produce the performances that wins the big important games. Being a lifetime Gooner, it’s with mixed feelings that I write on a subject so close to my heart, and any true supporter knows how hard this hurts. The team (and its fans) is like family – it brings out all the emotions, good and bad. It really is that important and means the world. I personally love Wenger but has he had his time?
In the last few years there have been decisions that most fans will NEVER understand – Van Persie to United. What the hell? Selling your captain and best player to a rival is just criminal. Players like Nasri, Fabregas, Cole and RVP have left because there’s basically something glaringly wrong with the structure of the club and they couldn’t see the barren-run ending anytime soon.
So is it the board, or Wenger himself? I don’t know for certain, but every year the team slowly gets used to losing and as a result it becomes habitual. The club has money in the bank, both the Board and Wenger have admitted, but they seem very reluctant to make the big time signings needed to improve the team, thus increasing our chances of getting back in footballs big time. We seem happy competing for 4th place in the league, earning a Champions League spot. While that’s important, this is by NO MEANS acceptable for the long suffering Arsenal fans. Are the board content so long as the money rolling through the door? Sadly I think the answer to that is “yes”. we really have become a business. So many questions, but so few answers.
Will Wenger leaving change Arsenal’s fortunes? No one knows the definite answer, but I think it’s time the club took the bull by the horns and made the massive decision to part ways with the Genius that is, was, Arsene Wenger. It’s with a heavy heart I say I think it’s time to move on.
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photo credit: Ronnie Macdonald via photopin cc
