Jamie wrote this blog for Discount Football Kits before Arsenal’s crushing 3-0 defeat to Everton. After that result will even more of you agree with the sentiment of this article?
It’s coming to the end of Arsene Wenger’s 18th season at the helm of Arsenal, and it feels like his empire he has built up is steadily, year-on-year crumbling at an alarming rate.
Yes, it’s well documented the changes that the Frenchman brought with him when arriving from Nagoya Grampus Eight in October 1996. The diets, the outlook on how the game should be played and the interest and bringing through of good young talent. Over time he has lead Arsenal to heights never reached before, especially a European Cup final and the economic growth of the club – which is now a money making machine, in such troubled financial times this is something not to be sniffed at.
The Frenchman has had to sell his best players to his title rivals almost every transfer window for the last six seasons. That shouldn’t be an excuse for him though, Arsenal have always said there is money to be spent, but Wenger just refuses to take a risk and have a bit of dare about him in the transfer market to make his side genuine title challengers.
We also need to bear in mind that it was Mr Wenger who said, “Finishing fourth is like winning a trophy.” The arsenal fans certainly don’t agree with him. It’s closing in on nine years without any silverware for the Gunners and for a club of that size it’s simply not good enough. If Wenger would have been managing at any top club in world football he wouldn’t be in charge without a title in three years never mind eight.
It’s déjà vu for the club and its fans. At the start of every season for the past eight years they start like a runaway train in the league up until February and then fall away. This season is no different, despite breaking the club’s transfer record to bring in Mesut Ozil Arsenals soft mentality still exists at the very hub of the team.
This season like the ones that have gone before haven’t had the Bradford City loss or losing to Birmingham City in the League Cup final embarrassments just yet. Although they have shown up how much a one-dimensional, almost stubborn, an individual Wenger can be. He has been beaten badly by the teams he is supposed to be putting up a title challenge against, 6-3 by City away, 5-1 at Liverpool and 6-0 at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea, his side even lost away at Manchester United. It’s down to two things. Wenger not preparing his team properly to go up against stronger opponents, and when he can’t out pass teams he has no plan B. Also the players seem to have no belief in themselves that they can go on and compete to win titles – that’s unforgivable.
Things need to change at Arsenal for them to reach their past glories, at the end of the season with a possible trophy in his grasp, Wenger and Arsenal should both thank each other for the good times, and depart on amicable terms and both seek fresh challenges. It’s what’s needed for the fans, the club and Mr Wenger himself.
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