Pedro's point of view: Is Wenger's time at Arsenal running out?
I first said it three years ago and I will say it again now: Arsenal need a new manager. Arsene Wenger had a great run, but all good things must come to an end. Eight years without a trophy is not acceptable and the fact the club’s best players keep leaving is a clear indication they no longer believe in the Frenchman’s philosophy.
Let me make one thing clear. My opinion has nothing to do with this past weekend’s FA Cup defeat to English second-tier side Blackburn Rovers. And it wasn't Arsenal’s elimination from the League Cup - the lesser of England's two domestic knockout competitions - to lowly fourth division side Bradford either, though even now reading that statement tests credulity.
More that, for years now I have seen him lose the Midas touch that delivered so much glory to the proud North London side at the start of his tenure. Unfortunately, the time has come for the owners to recruit a new man with a new plan.
The trophy drought is indeed worrying, but if I were an Arsenal fan, what would really concern me is the fact that most of the team’s best players don’t want to work with Wenger anymore. Just look at some of the stars that have abandoned Arsene’s ship - Ashley Cole, Kolo Toure, Thierry Henry, Mathieu Flamini, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Alex Song and Robin Van Persie. Together, over the last eight years, all the players who have left the Gunners have gone out and won a combined 75 trophies. While Arsenal, as you know, have won none.
Obviously, many of those players I mentioned left because of money. The club has a strict wage structure and the owners deserve part of the blame by refusing to compete with some of Europe’s big spenders.
But the current situation is the culmination of a strategy that has been wrong for a long time. Wenger acts surprised when his best players leave in each close season and then stresses over the little time that remains to sign quality replacements. It happened in 2011 with Cesc and Nasri. It happened again last summer with Song and RVP. This has become a club that hopes for the best in the face of the brutal reality that money talks in the modern game.
The final indication that Wenger’s time has come at Arsenal is his loss of composure. Tired of seeing his team fail time and again, cracks have started to appear in his rusty armor. Earlier this season the 63-year-old was seen snarling at journalists’ persistent questions about failure, and on Monday he simply lost his cool. In the press conference before Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, Arsene went into attack mode and reacted aggressively to suggestions he had not taken the Blackburn game seriously and he was about to sign a new two-year contract.
This from the man dubbed "The Professor" by adoring fans in his Gunners heyday for his suave sophistication and delivery of silverware via swashbuckling football to the Highbury faithful.
All the signs are there. The song is coming to an end, and Wenger and Arsenal have to stop dancing together. The coach deserves credit for building one of the greatest teams in Premier League history since he arrived from Japan's Grampus Eight in 1996 and he has led the Gunners into the Champions League group stages year in and year out.
However, finishing fourth cannot be a satisfactory objective for a club of Arsenal’s stature. Trophies have to be won, and it seems they will have to be won with someone else sitting in the dugout.
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nonesense,your article is a rehash of what has been written for the last 5 years,90 percent of the premier league teams do not have the record of Arsene Wenger,he is a visionary coach,all he needs is to get a left back,a world class striker and an offensive midfielplayer and they will befine.
I totally disagree with this submission. Every club must have its lows and ups no matter the manager and the players. When arsenal were winning trophies where were the Man city ,man u ,Barca etc. Whether they like it or not and considering how we have manged our funds wenger has been outstanding. We have built a stadium .nmaintained a good financial stand invested not much yet been at the top of euro compettion. Man city and Chelsea including totteham have been downgraded to play in europa inspite of thier investment. Lazy Managers and overrated players will not like wenger becuase his policy will sack many of them. Clubs will follow wenger policy and i tell you if he resigns today these same clubs will go for him bexcuase of his policy,UP GONNERS UP WENGER .AM happy the boaed is ok with him hopefully he will extend hios contract and we will be at top again
You write that money talks, yet claim that another manager could do better with the same resources.
Arsenal have about the 4th highest wage bill. So actually, the team is just about achieving. And with no net transfer outlay. Actually, a profit in recent years.
So, Arsenal built a 400M pound stadium, and remained competitive while the bulk of the money was being paid back. Why is there no mention of the very obvious constraints he has had financially?
Sports journalism has become no more than blogging – cherry picking "facts" to support your argument, while very obviously ignoring truths such as I gave above.
A bit of balance please, and a bit of respect towards your readers. Not every sports fan follows the herd.
Why do you think your opinion counts?
He arrived from Grampus Eight, otherwise I agree with the rest:)
@Aslak – that has been corrected – it was a mistake of one of the editors, not the writer.
bad article. wenger never stopped song from leaving, if barcelona offers 20M for him then wenger was in the correct decision to sell him. Yes song is being paid more, yes he has more a bigger chance of winning a trophy but wenger certainly didn't need him. The likes of RVP, Cesc and Nasri you can argue. Henry had great years on him but was at the end of his career Wenger sold him high before he couldn't get nothing from him. Cazorla, Podolski, Wilshere, Vermaleen are all world class players. I can see arsenal at the top again in 2 years just wait and see.
@Louis Fadoul, you indeed said Nonesense, I can assure you that you are not a fan or you probably love Arsene and the board do us bad. Sorry, we fans have agreed on either a complete change, or Wenger leaves. you mentioned a few position we need change but I will help you add to your list of positions that needs changes since you are blind to notice them yourself. We need a goalkeeper that is experienced, we need a left back as you said (Santos should please leave), also a reserved but experienced central back because I see no reason why Squilacci is in the team, a complete defensive midfielder like Song, two good strikers (in addition to letting Chamak, Arshavin go). You now see we need to let go some players. keep in mind that both DIABY AND ROSIKY combined have not delivered up to Walcot (not in goals but appearance this season so far). I told my friends yesterday that should Mouriho takes over today, this list of players will receive letter stating them to find another club to do business with. Arshavin, Squilacci, the 2 goalkeepers Manone and the 3rd goalkeeper, Diaby, Rosicky, Santos, Djourou, Chamark, Imagine the wages of this players. some might be okay but due to injury problem, they gat to go. Arsenal is not a charity home so no sympathy to no player Mouriho will tell them. Finally, players like Walcot, Giroud, Ramsey, Coquelin, Vermaelen, will have to raise their game. WENGER is good but he is run out of iDEASSSSSSSS.
hmmm.... let's see if what's good for the goose is good for the gander.
Your article appears to be based on the lack of success Arsenal has experienced in recent years. Conspicuous by its absence is any mention of the genuine cause. While to refer to the exodus of key players, you fail to mention WHERE they went or WHY. Apart from Fabregas (a special case), all the departing players left for oil-rich clubs for compensation packages far in excess of what Arsenal (and indeed Wenger) felt they were worth. For Arsenal to follow the path you suggest would undoubtedly result in the club finding itself in much the situation as Liverpool, a club that also has a storied past, but with nowhere near the prospects of the Gunners.
Assuming you expect your article to be taken seriously, you should also be willing to accept the same consequences you propose for Mr. Wenger. In view of your irresponsible "journalism", perhaps it's time for CNN to leave a note in your box, "Pedro must go!!!". But then again, that would go against the myopic approach to celebrity "journalists" who are, of course, bigger than the stories they purportedly cover.
Don't know what you are talking about...
Leave Wenger leave . Your time is up at Arsenal , we want to reclaim our darling club. Stop this dance of shame !
Louis, ure either wenger or not human. U can rant all u want buh trust mi it hurts to see so much sadness year in year out at d emirates. Its more of a grave yard out there with our ex players playing the best football of their lives, with a good pay and at least a trophy each season....
Watch van persie joun dat league come may in hisbfirst season wiv united after a drought plagued 7 seasons with the gunner.
Ivan, kroenke and wenger have all robbed us of wat football brings!
I read recently that Arsenal's wage bill is close to that of Bayern Munchen. This suggests that it is not simply money. There does not seem to be any signs of player disatisfaction within the current squad. Theo Walcott's signing seems to confirm this.
This may not be the time for a change.
I'll always back the Gunners, through good times and bad; but Wenger needs to go. Will never forgive him for losing Van Persie to Man U. Arsenal needs new leadership, and sometimes I wonder if Van Persie made a statement in that regard when he left.
I would rather keep Arsene and his ability to secure Champions League football every year than have Arsenal jump on the coaching carousel and expect the inevitable arrivals and departures of Harry Redknapp, Steve Bruce, Steve McClaren, Martin Jol and the like.
i want to first re-act to louis' statement. what's nonsense about this? are you trying to say that over the past 8 seasons Wenger has realized that he needs( by your analysis) left back, world class striker n offnsv midfielder? are u retarded? which hole have u been hiding in?the likes of Ashley cole, van persie, song,fabregas, nasri, clichy, aren't these players all world class? stop making stupid excuses if you don't know what you're talking bout. n what's that bout him having the best record? stop fooling yourself, his mentality and style of football isn't result oriented and until he's replaced, Arsenal won't see no silverware!
He reminds me of another great football coach here in the US who just can't quite get to the finish line. His name Frank Beamer. These 2 guys resemble each other in many ways. Just can't make it to the finish line but somehow manage to stay visible enough to keep their jobs. My opinion: sack both of them! Time for Arsenal and VA Tech to bring home some worthy silverware...
I agreed with this article, what is the past of AW there is no denying of his excellent performance.
What happen to all our fantastic players; they simply left, wrong policy? That's to everyone's guess. AW agreed to the board's policy or not we don't know, but have been informed he has given the injection of 50-70 million for 3 seasons and has not utilize the funds; something is funny.
I have full confident in AW's vision and training of players, but what happen is when the players reach their peak they are sold.
Why have Arsenal been so successful and became invincible, because we have great players, why have we loss that quality because we loses great players, Wilshere next?
With the present Arsenal's status: Arsenal has potential to beat big teams and Arsenal lose to small teams – Arsenal will be middle table team
O.K, I bite.
First, what you have to understand is that antagonism passes for journalism these days – the objective is no longer to inform the reader but to inflame, that way you generate comments.
Have been reading Pedro for a long time and one thing is obvious, his lack of football knowledge always causes him to come down on the wrong side on any issue that requires a thought.
Name any club with the budget contraints Arsenal have in place that has won anything since 2005 (Abromovich impact)?
Chelsea's success on and off the field (the Galactogos is another example) showed other clubs the light: Yes, Viriginia, it is possible to buy not only a top player, but an entire championship team. And this lure coincides with when star players started to exit Arsenal and the other clubs. It is not that they no longer believe in Wenger, but they Abromovich changed the dynamics and upended Arsenal's position/role in the premier league has changed. Because they have been unwilling to spend in today's market, Arsenal have gone from championship team to scout farm. And, because the players understand that football is a business, they walk. Do you think all those players listed above (Henry a partial exception) would have joined Arsenal if they did not believe in Wenger's ability?
With Wenger, a player knows that even if he does not win a title Wenger will at least make him a contender (meaning visibility and the possibility of a huge payday when they move on). No other club with the exception of Man U can make that boast. So it would not be a stretch to say that players join Arsenal with the intention to move on in a couple of years. Again, times have changed the game for Wenger and so that he must not only win now, but convince the players to stay (something winning did before. But in today's league, winning is not enough). Think of how hard it is to discipline a caliber player when you know that any gripe can be used as a reason to walk at the end of the season, devastating your team.
And note that Man U suffers the same fate only on a smaller scale (Beckham, Ronaldo, etc.). Rooney has not left because he lacks the discipline to produce without Sir Alex. When players find that discipline (confidence), they move on.
Wenger will get a contract extension. Reason? Not only the players, but Wenger, and the owners recognize what has happened. Arsenal has three choices (1) Become champions: i.e. spend and win with Wenger or another big-name coach, (2) Settle for contender status: dont spend, stay profitable, and remain contenders - in this scenario, retaining Wenger is key, or (3) dump Wenger, in which case no caliber player joins Arsenal, and the club risks oblivion and bankruptcy
Choice 2 is frustrating, but not bad, not bad at all...
Yes! As talented as he is, the departure of Arsene Wenger is long overdue.
He needs to take a break from football management and recharge his batteries.
Th best piece is "the fact that most of the team’s best players don’t want to work with Wenger anymore. Just look at some of the stars that have abandoned Arsene’s ship – Ashley Cole, Kolo Toure, Thierry Henry, Mathieu Flamini, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Alex Song and Robin Van Persie".
So Ashley Cole- he did not leave for CASH!
They "don't want to work with him"- Yet Henry, Fabregas, ... always praise him as the best coach- Henry just called anyone who questioned Wenger's remaining at the club "beyond belief".
Why not put some sense of balance in the article, by talking about how the American owner and his lackey's are responsible by turning Arsenal into a Business for Profit institute?
If Wenger leaves Arsenal who would want them? the Arsenal board will not back the manager with money to buy players...
I believe Wenger's time is up.He has lost the magic touch and he has refused to move with the times.Eight years without a trophy is enough time to be patient and if we are not careful we may not even finish top four this season.We need a new coach, someone with new ideas.
Pedro, you surprise me. Quite disappointed at your article.
WENGER WENGER WENGER!!! He has to go! He's an old man and he's not fit for managing a great team like arsenal. Just tell me when was the last time Arsenal won a prize or somethin in his reign!?!?!?
Let Arsène Wenger go, but the Arsenal organisation should maintain its strict financial structure which was practiced religiously under Arsène.
If financial savvy is the only reason Wenger is being retained, then priorities need to be realigned. Financial discipline can be exercised by the front office. But creatively managing and coaching a team, that's something they have to look for in a new manager.
I total agree with pedro ,8 years without a cup is too long for a great club like arsenal.
Reluctantly as an Arsenal fan, I believe Mr. Wenger should resign. This is not good enough. Eight long years with no trophy is beyond a joke. Mr. Wenger says he is an intelligent man then he should see the writing on the wall. Losing Robin Van Persie was a terrible blow. But of course RVP was clever enough to realised that Arsenal cannot win trophies because Arsenal does not invest in world Class players. To prove that Mr. Wenger is losing his touch, I would not have played a weaken side against Blackburn, when Arsenal are desperate to win a trophy. The chances of winning the Champions league is unrealistic and Mr.Wenger should have known this and this what makes me so angry.
Don't mention MANU, has been there and is there. It is a shame 1-3 is unbearable he has to go.
Pedro, you have been spending too much time with Piers Morgan.
Wenger has been loyal to Arsenal at his peak, the fans just need too be loyal to him now.
He deserves to leave on his own terms, he has earned that.
Wenger deserves credit for what he has achieved at Arsenal.Only Sir Alex has been more successful than him in the last two decades.I don't think Wenger should be sacked instead he must retire or resign to take up a new job.Real & PSG would love to have him at the helm.
THE BEST THING FOR ARSENAL IS TO SACK HE BECAUSE I DO NOT THINK THAT HE WILL LEAVE ON HIS OWN
Pedro, i strongly agree with you on this article. Do we keep coaches based on what they have done before or based on what they can do at the moment? Arserne Wenger has done well for Arsenal no doubt,but he has seen his better days, lets just face it- his philosophy is not better than trash in modern football, you cant keep loosing your best players to rival teams and expect to pick trophies. The last time Arsenal and Wenger won a piece of silverware was when he had the likes of Thiery Henry, Sylvian Wiltort, Robert Pires, Patrick Viera, Denis Beghkamp,Reyes, Ashley Cole,Kolo Toure, Sole Campbell,nwankwo-kanu, Gilberto Silva, Friedie Ljunberg, Ray Parlour etc. Until Arsenal once again gets AND KEEPS players of these quality and character, the trophy drought will go on and i doubt if the 4th place consolation spot will be a walk in the pack for them. The fans deserve better.
IN AW WE TRUST. WE LOVE HIM...........
I admire him. He is the brand for the club. He gives all things for the club.
He shows a fantastic play next barca and bayern. I believe he return the glory of the club in the near time. Viva AW! We trust you. May god be with you Bless yr work.
If anybody will be looking for a job soon it will be Jose Mourinho! Highest salaried team and highest salaried manager and pitiful results. That bum will soon get his wish, no one will greet him on the street . LOL
This Article is so True. The reality is that its not only Wenger is to be blamed. The owners MUST also share the blame because they seem to only care about making money.
That is the reason why you see Arsenal making the Champions League every year.
These current owners are not interested in the Glory of Football ( yes football not Soccer ) their only interest is making money and thats why this once Great club has become a shadow of themselves.
It realy pains my Heart..but..Arsene must go and a new but powerful Coach must come and tell the Owners to stop
I love wenger so much ,for me he is part of the ARSENAL now.It is very difficult to accept arsenal without wenger. However ,we are in the world of business,the fans are paying all the money comming to arsenal directly trough sales of tickets and jeyz. or indirectly trough tV right with all this wenger and his bosses care little about the fans. They manage the club as a trading company BUY LOW -SELL HIGH . Every year they make money by selling our best players and leaving the mediocre players the like of Diaby ,etc....
I stop watching wenger's press conference because i know what he will says.
EVERY November:" we will be active in the transfer window ,we have the money available"
EVERY JANUARY " the market is inflated and there no class players to add value to our current squad... but we are working on it.. but we cannot we cannot tell you know......"
EVERY FEBRURAY: " we did not see good players and the clubs are overprice....."
EVERY MARCH, AVRIL " we need mental strength... we will focus next seasons as our team is maturing ...."
EVERY MAY " we are fighting to keep our best players from leaving,Fabrigas,Nasri,hlelb ,song,Vam persie .......and .will sign new players in particular position .."
Every august-september : " the players we wanted to keep are all sold and we have brought a new baby player to train and sell in 3 years...."
i challenge anyone who can tell me this has not happen over the last 7 years.
sorry to say this
now the only man to sell in arsenal should be wenger himself .
He has a very good record in spite of not having won a trophy for a long period. Some of the best players in the league have evolved under his management and they have abandoned and pursued career else where for glory and money – which isn't his fault. At this stage the club owners should review their ethics and continue to stand by Wanger. I think Arsenal is going to win soon or later under his continued leadership. If he goes English League is going to lose one of the greatest managers of current generation......
Pramok
KTM – Nepal.
Wenger should go is doing noting,i can not wait to see him sacked.
Wenger deserves credit for what he has achieved at Arsenal.I strongly don't think Wenger should be sacked instead he must retire or resign to take up a new job. Of course Arsenal fans need to see their team win Silverwears and i believe that the Club is the one to blame for the drought rather than Arsene Wenger coz the Club must impose the manager to buy world class players with a strong buget just like other Clubs are doing nowadays. In AW we trust!!!
No team hopes to win a game by passing the ball backwards for the better part of a game, giving the opponents time to mass in defense and then hoping to score by shooting through a tangle of legs in front of the opponents' goal. This is the style Arsenal now plays, and it was not the style played by the "invincible". For most of 90 minutes the current team patiently passes the ball about and backward and only play positive attacking football during the desperate last few minutes when the are down. Who is responsible for this? If it is AW, then he is out of touch with the conventional football and we need a new Coach. That said, No Coach can remain at a competitive level and win trophies when his key and experienced players leave at the end of every season. The policies at Arsenal which make players leave on approaching age 30 must change. If those policies will not change , removing AW will not solve the problem.
I believe in the professor. Arsenal fans have the understanding for not winning trophies for 8 years. Being in top4 with this budget is itself a trophy!
Pedro said what is in the heart of us who are Arsenal fans.
Of course Arsene Wenger did win trophies and constructed the best stadium in England next to Wembley and Old Traffford. He made this club financially safe.
However, 8 years with out any single trophy is not acceptable.This has some bad consequences. Whenever a club does not win trophy fans get offended and start to backslide.Next whenever there is no trophy the club becomes less and less famous resulting in decline in sponsorship and other benefits. Third, as the famous players get hopeless as they tend to leave to other clubs that have possibility of getting trophy. As a result the club may in the future become middle level club or lower class. The best examples of club with such history are Aston Villa,Leeds united,Nottingham Forest and the like some of of whom were even Champions of Europe but now are lower status clubs.
Thus, in order to save this club from failure it is better to thank and send out Arsene Wenger and replace him with other world class young managers with some experience.
Thank you Pedro.
The board should resign along with Wenger and adopt a more competitive management style like that of Barca and Real Madrid.
Personnelly i think Mr Wenger have to go...think about the club the supporter all over the world. It isn't about playing good football BUT the tropies and championship that matter.
sincerely from malaysia
tq
this old man has to go we are just tired of heart breaks.......we are now every bodies pry we are being beaten like we have no training ground at all wenger must go and we get a new person with a new strategy
Are we talking about a team that finished 3rd in last season's premier league?
Is this not the same team that has competed in the Champions league league consistently for the last 15 seasons?
This column is a joke!
Eight years is definitely way too long without especially at Arsenal with the 4th highest wage bill!(so don't talk the bottom placed clubs because they spend much much less)In my opinion,the problem isn't that long 8 years of patience,it's the sad fact that there is just no way they are going to see any silverware if they keep going on like this,they(owners) either need to back him up with some serious money not just to get and develop world class players,but to keep them for the years to come.That or they need to sack wenger and get a manager with more ideas
Noone can learn everything without learning or sharing anything. This is difficult like the way to paradise.
u would never have thought liverpool went seven years without a trophy b4 they won the carling cup a few years ago and they chopped and changed their managers and what do they have?nothing, so changing or sacking Wanger does not guarantee u anything.
Will Mourinho find a job next season after failing completely to win anything in Spain?
Who will replace Mourinho at Real Madrid? He will be sacked this coming weekend...sadly?
Chelsea doe not need Mourinho!