We won’t be at all surprised if Arsenal get a decent result in The Champions League this week – after all, they are rather good against average sides. In fact, a comfortable win will add optimism and bat away the doubters for another week or two.
But, after another slow start to the campaign in general for Arsenal, similar questions are being asked – not just about the team but the man running it.
Few would argue that Sir Alex Ferguson wasn’t a hugely positive force for Manchester United. And although officially, he himself made the decision to quit, perhaps he had run his race by this stage and come to the end of his useful managerial career.
There were rumours about his health deteriorating slightly and the decision to sell Paul Pogba for peanuts seemed particularly un-Fergie like.
The Scot went out at the top and will always be remembered as a legend.
We would opine that the longer Arsene Wenger now stays at Arsenal, the more he is damaging his reputation as a great Gunner.
Because, after 19 years at the club, you would imagine that he would have mastered his art enough to at least get his squad close to winning the title (again) and The Champions League.
But can even the most ardent Arsenal fan see either of those things happening this season?
Of course, there is only one BPL title and one Champions League title handed out each season – it’s not easy to win either.
But Wenger has been unable to win The European Cup in 19 attempts or a domestic title for over a decade. You would have thought that the managerial continuity at Arsenal would at least have allowed them in once or twice, while other giants were in periods of transition.
This season is a perfect example. City have started like a train. But United are still in transition, Liverpool and Tottenham unconvincing and Chelsea have been abject.
A quick start would have put Arsenal in a commanding position.
But The Gunners NEVER seem to take advantage of the slips of others – mainly because Wenger refuses to acknowledge that title winning teams have beasts at the back and in defensive midfield, to complement the silky skills of the more creative talents.
We believe that, as long as the irrefutably brilliant Arsene Wenger stays at the club as head coach, Arsenal will win nothing more than a further FA Cup trophy at best.
Wenger’s mitigating factor has been the new stadium, and cost of. But that was years ago. Arsenal have a massive budget now. And what about teams like Atletico Madrid, who won La Liga and got within a whisker of The Champions League on a much smaller budget? Last year, economists Forbes valued Arsenal at $1.33BN and Atletico at a comparatively tiny $328m.
The excuses are running dry.
Arsenal fans: time for a change?
gary
Sep 16, 2015 at 1:23 am
You’re a prize prick mate. What midfielder would you put in front of coquelin? I am aware as everyone is of wen gers faults but what are you on about five games into the season. Next you’ll be say in you want moronio as manager. If you’re 15 years old I apologise but if not have you had a bang on the head recently?