Arsene Wenger has received a glowing school report this week that he would be proud to take home to his parents. The Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis heaped praise on Wenger and declared that the club would be offering him a new long term contract, and that Arsenal’s financial and commercial success would not have been possible without the Frenchman.
At the same time, former Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn has accused Arsenal fans of causind Wenger pain through their lack of appreciation of his methods. Winterburn feels that Wenger’s pride will not allow him to accept a new deal with the Gunners if he feels he is not doing a good job, and the criticism of the fans may cause him to doubt himself.
“I think he has been hurt by some of the supporters who haven’t trusted his judgment. They could say they have a right to question him because we haven’t won anything.
“But people say to me “why do Arsenal not spend £30 million on players?”, but even when Arsenal won things under Wenger they never spent that amount of money. He always spent relevant money and brought young players through.”
Winterburn, like alot of Arsenal fans, believe that Wenger is the right man to lead Arsenal forwards now. He has two years left on his contract but I expect him to extend that. Of course he wants to win, and this may be the year, but Arsenal are in a great position for the future. If the FFP rules do curtail the crazy spending of Chelsea and Man City, and with Man United and Liverpool burdened by debt, Arsenal could dominate for years to come. I doubt whether Wenger wants to let somebody else take over his baby and get all the glory.
What is the general consensus Gooners? Is it time for Wenger to go? Has he been our best ever manager? Has he been too cautious and should the seven year trophy drought be punished with the chop?
No the Arsenal fans are not being unfair to Wenger, in fact quite the opposite.
Any other manager at a big club would have been sacked after one or two trophyless seasons but after SEVEN? UGH! no we Gooners are not being unfair to Wenger…
We are the fans, profits cannot satisfy me as a fan, but playing and getting a trophy and a source of to any fan in the world, wenger u should knw this
the answer is no….fans have been anything but unfair normally commenting about the trophies and infrastructure he brought to the club. In many walks of life retirement comes to those that have lost whatever it was that drove them to success, unfortunately the board and wenger himself cannot see or accept that he isnt a successful manager anymore. The whole ethos at the club is to make profit and the success on the field serves only to support that target in the form of champions league involvement.
Also the question should ask “does wenger care what the fans think”?
Wenger is protected by the board that considers profit above all else as he makes profits on transfers every season but in doing so weakens the team. That is unfair!!!
pls arsene wenger should go pls,i beg the management not to offer him a new contract his not ready to lead us to the top all he does is make profit,sale all our top players,pls his not good to go again
Whatever the fans said mean nothing to the Board. What use to the fans of Arsenal being a big club but with a small ambition to win titles. Prfoit are made at the expense of the fans by paying higher season ticket price and merchandises.
Jose Mourinho once said that clubs cannot win titles with boys plsying football.
As Gazidis clearly said that the vision is decided by the Board and not Arsene Wenger. How can we blame him?
Some of the fans can’t clearly read or understand (apart from Guns & Roses) who clearly understood the parameters that Arsene Wenger has to work under.
Anybody who works for a company, organisation, or even a club has to follow their vision, policy etc. Gazidis says quite rightly that the Board sets the vision and Arsene Wenger works very well within that vision. This would be no different if and when Arsene is replaced. In fact I would argue it will be very, very difficult for someone to step into Arsene shoes. Having successfully transformed the club over the past 16 years.
A new manager would have to continue the present direction of the club, otherwise he could encounter a major culture clash. If it had been the other way round and it was Man Utd who were going to loose their 29 year old star striker with less than 1 year left on his contract, would Arsenal pay approx £24M.
Arsenal has to live within it’s means, this is a fact, all the other clubs who want to play in European competitions have to comply to.