Firstly, I would like to wish all the readers well. I know it has been a while since my last post however my appearances have become sporadic, in an era where the fans are finally on board with my views. Seven years’ ago I was as active as possible banging the drum on the Wenger Out Brigade. Many of you loyal readers will remember the way my views were ostracized as complete blasphemy. Nonetheless, I have been proved right via the insipid consistency of mediocre returns.
Arsene Wenger is now a villain, a putrid cancer who has let the club, and all the fans down. His once great legacy has been overshadowed by years of abject performances resulting in complete failure. His conduct over the past two seasons has been to talk the talk, but he has not walked the walk. The best thing for Arsenal Football Club would be his resignation at the end of the season, although I would like him to step down immediately. I know most of you now agree with me, just look at the movement on Arsenal Fan TV.
That said, I feel it important to highlight some of the other issues leading to failure at this once great club. The board are a complete joke, in particular Ivan Gazidis and Stan Kroenke. I cannot stress how much these two remind me of a modern day Basil Fawlty. We have an owner who is more concerned about seeing his shareholding increase with no real commitment to challenge for trophies. Just look at his other sports teams and how unsuccessful they are. This owner has no business at Arsenal Football Club as he simply places his son on the board for work experience; seriously… disgraceful!
The owner and the board have no idea about how to operate a successful sports team. For them a top four finish and last sixteen Champions League is acceptable. The vision that was sold to fans was to be patient when we move to the Emirates as this was supposed to enable us to compete on all fronts. Gazidis stood up in front of fans during previous AGM’s and promised we were in a position to compete after funding the new Stadium. Partly funded by the most expensive season ticked prices in Europe. Well tell me how a 5-1 defeat in Munich is competing? The man is a fraud and acts like a deluded yes man
What is frustrating is that Arsenal Football Club should be able to compete as in 2016 the most valuable football teams in the world were as follows: Real Madrid $3.645 billion, Barcelona $3.549 billion, Manchester United $3.317 billion, Bayern Munich $2.678 billion, ARSENAL $2.017 billion, Manchester City $1.921 billion, Chelsea $1.661 billion and Liverpool $1.548 billion. On this occasion we are not fourth but the fifth most valuable football team in the world. However, the results and performances against the top sides are a million miles apart!
Arsenal Football Club has the means and resources to compete but the issues are borne from the manager and the profile of players signed. Where I can offer credit, where credits due, is the signings of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil. Two world class footballers who deserve better players to compliment their talents. The issue with this squad is that we have built a squad of internationals of similar pedigree. We have too many diminutive players who crumble under real pressure against the top sides. The mentality comes from the manager, the coaches and the tactics adopted to counter your opponent.
Arsenal seem to have one way of playing which comes off when teams sit back and apply a low pressure tactic. Even more effective when the opposition comes out to play a high line with no pressing. However, teams have worked out Arsenal do not like pressing as there is less time for them to play the their short passing game. The players are drilled to simply turn up and complacency sets in where the players want to play the beautiful game, but are not prepared to dig in, battle or bully their opponents. Arsenal are simply too nice and open defensively. How many seasons have we seen the same results with various personnel?
Be careful what we wish for? I don’t wish for this anymore. I have been that disillusioned that I have gone to less games. I cannot watch these same mistakes season after season, without the manager being accountable for his actions. He has at his disposal some very talented players, lots of money and the history/traditions of Arsenal Football Club to attempt to progress/attract players. Arsene Wenger has simply regressed in his stubbornness to prove his doubters wrong. The man has lost the plot and he should walk away, as I cannot see how fans will accept another two years of this rubbish. Signed Xhaka for £35 million when he could have had Kante for £30 million.
We need to trim the squad. We have so many average players such as Coquelin, Gabriel, Monreal, Gibbs, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Walcott, Ox, Ramsey, Wilshere etc… Some of these players are on more money than the likes of Alli and Kane! Tottenham dare I say it with considerably less level of resources available to them, can identify better talent and pay less wages. We have too many players on wages over and above their performances. Football in performance based and not played on paper! Then to top it we are not willing to pay Ozil and Sanchez £250,000 per week; we can afford this and should pay them what they are worth.
It makes me angry we pay the likes of Walcott £130,000 per week, but will not pay world class salaries to world class players. When we lose these two players we will be left in a position where things will be even worse. Is this truly the vision Arsene Wenger wanted when we left Highbury? With all due respect I would have rather we stayed at Highbury as I know the last twelve seasons would have been far more enjoyable. What has the manager done to deserve a new contract? He has under-performed with the resources available to him.
Wenger Out, Gazidis Out and Kroenke Out!!!
Adam Kemp