As part of our celebration of the Emirates’ 20th birthday, I recently picked my greatest Arsenal XI of the Emirates era.
It’s only correct that I also look at things the other way round and ask: which players are the worst to have played at the venue?
This, of course, is subjective.
To avoid simply adding names who played in the occasional cup tie or featured off the bench a couple of times, my criteria is that any pick must have started at least 10 fixtures as a Gunner during the Emirates era…
Manuel Almunia – GK
That the Spaniard played 175 times for the Gunners goes down as one of Mr Wenger’s biggest mistakes.
Good shot-stopping was undermined by a lack of physicality and presence, which are kind of important credentials when you’re a goalkeeper.
It was like the bigger the occasion or pressure, the more he got bullied at set pieces.
Fabianski had the same flaws at this time, but the Pole was eight years younger.
Stephan Lichtsteiner – RB
It’s zero disgrace for a 34-year-old to arrive in England and realise he simply no longer had the physicality or pace for the Premiership.
Many players earn the right to prove it’s a season too many at the highest level, and given what he did in Italy, the defender deserved to die on his sword.
In truth, Unai Emery let the former Switzerland captain down. Instead of accentuating the positives and hiding the negatives, the Spaniard did the opposite. The manager wanted his defence to play out from the back and press high up the pitch.
You can’t expect a veteran of 17 years to suddenly learn a whole new way of defending.
Mikael Silvestre – CB
I would love to say Sir Alex Ferguson sanctioned the transfer of his defender to the Emirates out of respect for what the Frenchman had done for Man United in nearly a decade, accepting his request to remain playing at the highest level in England.
In reality, you sense the manager knew the Frenchman had lost the pace he once showed at Old Trafford.
To be fair to Mr Wenger, the plan was to use his countryman’s experience to help a young dressing room. Injuries meant he played more than originally planned, and it was just sad to see someone so painfully past his prime. He didn’t even possess positional awareness anymore.
His starting at the Nou Camp against Messi was a mismatch.
Sebastien Squillaci – CB
Thirty years old when he arrived at the Emirates, the Frenchman on paper should have given a young squad leadership they badly had been missing.
This was an experienced defender who had won trophies in France and Spain and played in a Champions League Final.
The centre-back has been critical of Mr Wenger’s tactics, not comfortable with how often he would be left isolated with little protection.
You can name other Gunners who made errors but who also had great games. Not Squillaci.
Santos – LB
It took an 8-2 humiliation at Old Trafford to convince our board that maybe they needed to spend some of the money they recouped by selling Nasri and Fabregas in the same transfer window.
So, on deadline day, Trolley Dash Arsenal famously had a scattergun approach.
One of them was Santos, who won’t be the first Brazilian defender who was better going forward than he was defensively.
He’s since admitted that it’s only when he moved to England that he learnt the importance of defending, which tells you everything.
All of this might have been forgiven had he not swapped shirts with Van Persie at half-time at Old Trafford.
To highlight the lack of leadership in our dressing room, Gooners gutted that our best player had jumped ship to United and had just scored against us watched as our left-back was more interested in collecting a souvenir.
It would never happen today.
Guendouzi – CM
This pick isn’t based on talent; if it were, the Frenchman wouldn’t get anywhere near this list.
Yet in terms of behaviour and attitude, few players talked their way out of the Emirates more than the 27-year-old.
If he’s not careful, that will be the legacy of his own career.
When returning to the club as manager, Mikel Arteta spoke about non-negotiable principles and not tolerating anyone who wouldn’t adhere to his principles.
It’s believed the midfielder already had a couple of warnings regarding his conduct.
When his response to a Brighton defeat was to boast to his opponents about how much more money he made, he never played for us again.
Fabio Vieira – CM
One of the worst signings Mikel Arteta has made as manager?
We gave Porto approx. £34 million for their midfielder, only to let them have him back for a season two years later.
We finally got the 26-year-old off our wage bill this summer, accepting a near £25 million loss.
As he’s shown in Portugal and Germany, it’s not that technically he’s not a good player. He’s just a classic example of a younger man who moved to England too soon and physically and mentally couldn’t handle the physicality of the Prem.
I was waiting for that one pre-season where he returned to training bulked up, but it never happened.
In hindsight, he should have been loaned to the Championship to get battle-hardened, but you sense very quickly our manager had lost faith in him.
Gervinho – LM
Given how the Ivorian played before and after his time in England, you are left assuming that the weight of the Arsenal shirt was too big for him?
The 39-year-old has since said he would have been better at the Emirates had he played more as a central striker, but most Gooners who watched his end product would disagree.
You could rely on his pace to beat his man, but after that it was hit and hope. At times he looked terrified in the final third, passing when he should have shot and never looking like he wanted a teammate to square him the ball out of a fear of failing.
Mr Wenger hinted the player was sensitive, especially in home fixtures when the crowd got restless. Hence why I think North London was too big a stage.
Willian – RM
The Brazilian was a free agent who was at the Emirates for a year, so for him to make this list tells you it must have been bad.
The 38-year-old has since hinted that there were reasons he just couldn’t settle at the Emirates, and many Gooners respect him for cancelling his contract when others would have been paid to sit on the bench.
COVID meant he didn’t get to play in front of his new fanbase, but I have always assumed he struggled joining a youthful dressing room that didn’t, at the time, have the standards he was used to at Stamford Bridge.
Whatever the reasons why he wasn’t happy in North London, he played like a man unhappy.
Eddie Nketiah – Striker
All supporters want one of their own to succeed, and because he graduated from our academy, Gooners afforded Eddie Nketiah a lot more patience than they gave others.
He scored 19 goals in 116 league games for Arsenal, which is not a great enough return to mask his shortcomings.
The 27-year-old is an old-fashioned striker in terms of needing service to do his best work in the penalty area. For years now, most forwards have had to offer more than that, meaning if you don’t, you need to have a strong record which makes up for it.
His contribution as a sub was often running into people.
How his agents got their client £100,000 a week is a mystery.
Chamakh – Striker
I remember thinking this at the time, but I have rarely seen a Gunner whose confidence evaporated and never came back quite like the Moroccan.
The striker started his Arsenal career with 11 goals in 22 games, but once Van Persie recovered from a long-term injury, Chamakh lost his mojo.
Which is strange, as he must have known he would be back-up once the Dutchman was fit?
He went on a huge scoring drought and never found his spark again.
Let me know your worst Emirates-era XI in the comments, peeps. Who have I been too harsh on, and who have I missed?
Dan Smith
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Only one player money spent on was Fabio, so the manager of this brilliant squad has to be Mr. Wenger. (Willian was a free agent)
Those who made to the bench – Fabiansky, Kallstrom, Gabriel, Mustafi, Chambers, Elneny, Mkitarian, Beilik, Yaya Sonogo, Asano, Perez,
Again, the manager of this squad Mr Arsene Wenger
Did you forget Nicolas pepe? He was totally zero.
Very funny. A lot of people on this site won’t be happy with you for reminding them of more of Wenger’s failures.
😂😂
Here he is …
allot of those names wouldn’t need the requirements
How did the writer miss Mustafi, but Michael Silvestre must have been poorest player in an Arsenal shirt.
but Mustafi also had some good games and won trophies
the other two I picked didn’t
Sterling too
The fact that we always qualified for Europe and perform well there with these type of players and seriously challenging for title and cups in some seasons, shows Arsene Wenger is indeed the greatest football manager to have ever lived.
The master of elevation, he turned rubbish into good, good into great and great into extraordinary!
The great Arsene Wenger! There was no one like him and there will never be.
Performed well in Europe?? Bayern Munich say hello, have you forgotten 10-2?
Were Yaya Sanogo, Mustafi, Kallstrom converted into great players? Maybe in some parallel universe.
How about Silvestre, was he rubbish, good or great before he went to Arsenal and what was he once he got there?
any manager you could pick poor signings .
Law of averages the longer you manage the more you will get wrong
Arteta – Vieria , Lokonga , Maduake , Tavares , Willian
Runarson
Mari
Trusty
Sterling
Vieria ,Petit , Overmars , Henry , Ljungberg , Pires , Cole , Lauren , Fabregas , Vanpersie , Toure , Nasri , Adeubayore , Clichy , Sagna all , Adeybayor all were though. I could name others .
Mr Wenger remains the most successful manager in our history
The idea of comparing Arteta with Wenger’s cock ups is a truly pointless exercise imo. Wenger’s record will appear worse because he was years and years longer in the job.
The sad part is it brings out the usual baiting when your article wasn’t about comparing 2 managers
I wasn’t comparing ?
No your article wasn’t but the minute someone suggests the smallest hint which appears to compare both men it, sets off a chain reaction
I found your choices to be a reasonable selection. It surprised me you added Guendouzi but as you pointed out, he was his own worst enemy. I knew Nketiah would make the list
yeah and it’s a shame because as a player I liked him
It would be interesting to know which of those you consider to be rubbish players before they came to Arsenal. And how often Arsenal did well in Europe with them.
The original poster provided a questionable premise and then goes on to make an outlandish claim that Wenger is the greatest manager who ever lived.
Wenger was a great manager but some of the claims about him are ridiculous.
😂😂
You of all people talking about outlandish claims ,
Arteta is better tactically than Wenger
Arteta as overtaken pep
Arteta is the best manager in the world
I have a poster of him above my bed ,etc etc
Cringe
Not sure why this obsessed liar and idiot keeps popping up to comment on my posts. By now you should have taken the hint that I am not interested in having anything to do with you.
😂😂
So you don’t say those things ?
Didn’t *
would be interesting to know which of those you consider to have been great before they came to Arsenal ?
Are you saying Henry , Viera, etc were not great at Arsenal because they didn’t win anything for us in Europe ?
That’s fine , your opinion but that means none of the current squad can be considered great either
Maybe you should actually ask a question and let it be answered rather than insinuate.
You wrote
It would be interesting to know which of those you consider to be rubbish players before they came to Arsenal. And how often Arsenal did well in Europe with them.
That’s an assumption from you
So I on purpose turned the question on you for you to see the irony
But you struggle with this
Don’t forget that Arsenal had very limited resources between 2006 and 2014.
For most of those years, Arsenal’s football business posted negative figures, sustained by player and property sales, even though Arsène Wenger managed top-four and Champions League football, with not-so-competitive teams and lots of fringe players.
I respect him very much for staying put during a very difficult time and taking a lot of sh*te from our disrespectful fanbase.
Sadly Wenger got many decisions wrong in the latter days of his tenure, but thankfully MA has adressed them
rigoursly.. but still games like yesterday pop up so many sloppy decisions and it looked like the whole team was
underwhelming ?? Except for Raya.
Raheem Sterling springs to mind!
Harsh to have Nketiah there as we made 25-30 million profit on him. Flops usually don’t have resale value.
In terms of being below expextations and being expensive, Pepe has to be there. Signed for 80 million and given away for free 4 years later.
Special mention to those panic buys by Wenger, oh my. Asano, Park Chu-Young, Santos..
and I’m sure Palace regret it ?
A couple of your choices don’t meet the requirements
How sad it is that at any given time certain poster’s will stick the boot into Wenger. Yes he sure did get some things wrong, especially in his latter years.
But the success he had for a long period, gave him some credit in the bank so to speak. And we all know the debt the club owe him for the new innovations he brought along with him when he took over.
And we all know the subsequent story that followed.
But to those who are berating some of his signings, and I’m not going to lie there were some shocker’s. I’ll say this, show me a manager who hasn’t made bad signings, and I’ll show you a liar.
Usually the same 3-4 posters Derek
The ones that come out with “I love Arteta or “Arteta as overtaken Pep “
Makes me cringe every time I read it .
Mikel was reason Pep left the EPL
no he wasn’t lol
😂😂
Mr. Wenger did not work for free, he was paid handsomely. Agree, he had good signings and bad ones too, but his arrogance crossed the line in his latter years. Also some posters here, do not appreciate anything Mikel has done for us, even winning the league has not made them happy.
As for Mikel’s worst 11, lets take a look
Runnarson, Soares, Trusty, Marri, Tavares, Lokonga, Jorginho, Marquinos, Fabio, Willian,
Mikel’s best 11
Raya, Timber, White, Gabby, Calafouri, Partey, Zubs, Rice, Odegard, Trossad, Kai,
Lets be neutral and stop bashing Mikel and worshiping Mr Wenger
but I’m not reading anyone bashing Arteta , I’m reading you discredit Mr Wenger
So naturally some fans are going to defend the most successful manager in our history
The Shola Reality Show,
Mr. Wenger didn’t work for free, he was paid handsomely.
Does that mean that Arteta does?.
Part of the issue here is that some people do not want us to challenge things that are said about Wenger unless it is uncritical praise. No-one is making an argument that no manager has made bad signings. However, it is disingenuous for people to pretend that it was all smooth sailing when Wenger was manager. The European record was not that great and there were players whose levels did not improve significantly under Wenger.
The Shola Reality Show,
You say lets be neutral and stop bashing Mikel and worshiping Mr Wenger.
I’d just like to remind you, that you were the first post on this article, and it was you that started with the Wenger bashing.
Both Managers have there strengths and weaknesses. But just remember, it was you who started the bashing of our most successful manager.
And just to add, if and when Arteta wins the League another 3 times, then and only then can he be talked about in the same sentence as the great Mr Wenger.
Just a correction to one of my earlier post’s, I believe Arsenal won 3 Titles under Wenger. My bad.
So Arteta only has 2 Titles to go. Although if he can help the team win the Champions League, then he would be right up there with Wenger it would have to be said.
Actually Dan, were that to happen, it would be interesting to see how many posters would then elevate Arteta over the Great Arsene Wenger.
Derek
I get so bl**dy cheesed off with the comparisons. I just wonder if it will ever be laid to rest
It would take some doing to beat Wenger’s record, and all I’m hopeful for as a long term supporter of what Arteta is trying to achieve now, brings further success to the club I’ve supported all my life
How supporters can do battle this way drives me up the wall
Seconded SueP. imo, they should both be simply appreciated for their fine service to the Arsenal.
Exactly
SueP,
I hear you, but for me I’ll defend Arsene Wenger every time.
That doesn’t mean that I don’t appreciate the strides this club is taking under Arteta. I know I can be brutal on him at times I’ll admit. But his improving record deserves respect.
But at the end of the day, it’s about winning trophy’s. And that will always lead to comparisons, that’s just the way it is.
By the way SueP, I’m even starting to warm to Odegaard a little more these days. I know you’ll be in shock right now, but just make yourself a sweet cup of tea and sit down. I hear that’s good for a shock. 😂🤣👍
I’ve noticed a warming towards Odegaard. My view has always been that he’s a class player. Arsenal is building up its talent pool nicely. Where is Allanball08 ? I’ll just do it for him. Onwards and upwards
SueP.
It won’t stop until Arteta wins the Champions League, and only then if it’s part of the quadruple, breaking the Premier League 100 point barrier, and having Holloway Rd underground renamed Arteta Station.
Probably this season.😏
Jax,
And Win the dog has Pups. 😂🤣
Derek
That’s the easiest bit🤣
Comedy corner Jax
Arteta Station. Has a certain ring about it 😂
SueP. It does, doesn’t it? Perhaps someone could suggest it to TfL.🤣
no because that implies he’s done better but fans are choosing to ignore it
he is yet to do anything that Mr Wenger has not done so why should Mr Wenger get belittled for doing the same or better ?
🤷
I didn’t take Jax’s post deadly seriously because it was a bit of fun. Maybe Arsenal station should be renamed Arsene-al to even it up a bit.
I simply take the emotion out of it and look at the obvious
From their first full seasons in the same period
Arteta – 8th , 8th , 5th , 2nd , 2nd , 2nd , 1st
AW – .1st , 2nd, 2nd , 2nd 1st , 2nd , 1st
Arteta – 1 FA Cup
AW – 3 FA Cups
Wenger in that time signings were better for less money and style of football better
I like Arteta but he’s never done anything Mr Wenger hasn’t
so I don’t get why people want to take Wenger on as it’s one sided
Dan,
You’re regularly waving these stats around, but not taking into consideration that Arteta started as a novice (as opposed to Wenger’s quite successful 12 years before Arsenal), has been operating in a far more competitive environment, and probably cheated out of at least two league titles.
Jax,
Talking of being cheated out of titles, have you read the article this morning on the BBC Website.
Pochettino is claiming that Spurs should be awarded the 2016/2017 League title as Chelsea were charged with breaking the rules.
Yeah, I saw it but haven’t read it yet.
I’m not the one discrediting a manger though
im not using those stats to mock Arteta
I’m saying how does anyone look at that and belittle Mr Wenger
essentially it’s not an opinion to Mr Wenger did better … .he simply did
Fair enough
Actually, it is disingenuous to quote stats without context and you were quite right to point this out in your initial comments. Comparing league places alone between managers who are leading completely different teams decades apart does not prove one manager is better than another.
not really
I have not mocked Arteta for that record
others made the comparison so we have to compare everything
you can’t down play what Mr Wenger did but the moment you don’t like what you hear say it’s not fair or argue that Arteta will win more then say but only.quote facts that suit us
There was also context when Wenger was there
Of course you are trying to discredit one by those claims. Saying one had better signings or had won more is an attempt to compare them. However, the claim that we should compare “everything” isn’t a honest one. They haven’t managed in the same kind of circumstances.
I wasn’t the one who made the comparisons about buys
Someone listed how Wengers buys were bad so I listed an example of his good buys and how every manager makes bad ones , such as Arteta
But yes I will always defend the most successful manager in our history .
I would also for context research what he walked into at Arsenal and how much money he spent when winning his titles
Big difference is that Wenger had the best defence this club has ever had when he became our manager.
and 6 FA Cups lol
This was my point last season when a reader said Arteta will won more at Arsenal and the usual said how did I know he won’t
from a pure mathematical point of view Arteta would have to stay at Arsenal for a long time to win 9 more trophies
he’s already been at Arsenal for how long so how do we know he doesn’t want another challenge in a few years ?
Well
Just for the record, you don’t know how many trophies Arteta will or won’t win until he either surpasses AW or fails to do so by the time he finishes managing
It’s a ridiculous argument to keep putting out there. One has finished his career and the other is still in the early years
9 trophies is a lot but not impossible to achieve- ask Guardiola
yeah but the whole you didn’t know or it could happen isn’t an argument
it’s not even based on a mangers ability .
From a human point of view will he want to stay for as long as that would take to catch up with Mr Wenger
your example of Pep proves my point
Pep stayed at City for approx 9-10 seasons and needed a break
he already had over 9 trophies that far in
Arteta in approx the same time has….2 lol
so he would have to stay another 9 years if he won 1 trophy a season to win more then Mr Wenger at Arsenal
even if he did Doubles every season he would need to be here for another 5 years !
not doing to happen
hence that is why fans like me reminds others how special it is to do what Mr Wenger did
going
Derek, my original post was on the worst signings at the Emirates, as most were by Mr Wenger, hence I named him as the manager. I also posted the worst signings of Mikel, however the cost of his is not much. My bad for being the first to post, will refrain from posting first henceforth. If I have hurt the supporters of Mr Wenger, I herby tender an unconditional apology, but I am entitled to my opinions and others to theirs. I too did bash Mikel at first, once I saw that he was humble and wanted the best for the club and nothing for him , then I began defending him to the core.
As for their accomplishments, Mr Wenger delivered 3 titles in 22 years, a poor record IMO when it was a 2 horse race. Mr Wenger did not have to rebuild a team from scratch, the legendary GG built a very strong team, so Mr Wenger could do the 1-2, while Mikel had to build from scratch, something even the European winner in Emery could not, so PLEASE give Mikel SOME credit.
As for their wages, Mr.Wenger took his wages happy to be 4-6th, Mikel earned his wages by taking a mid table team (when he arrived) to 8th to top 2 and the title.
I do not want to tag Mikel with Mr Wenger, I want Mikel to be Mr Arsenal for life and be what SAF is to ManU or even better, which I am sure he will, only time will provide an answer.
Once again apologies for hurting anyone’s/everyone’s sentiments.
but your doing it again lol
your discrediting what Mr Wenger did but then if anyone points out ….he’s done better then Arteta your saying …..leave Arteta alone , why must we compare lol
can you not see the contradiction?
by the way your facts are all over the place as well
when Mr Wenger arrived at Arsenal it was not a 2 horse race
it became that because of Mr Wenger
Go look at our league positions in the years before Mr Wenger arrived
On and off the pitch he turned us around .
He was huge for Arsenal football club
Dan, your last paragraph consisting of six sentences sums it up perfectly.
The only manager who could be compared with what Arsene achieved both on and off the field is Herbert Chapman – both revolutionary in their thinking outside of the box.
The Shola Reality Show,
It wasn’t Wenger’s fault the era he joined in. And I take you’re point of George Grahams ground work before he joined.
But lets not nit pick, while Wenger did bring in some bad players. He brought in some good players that he helped turn into world stars. Henry, Bergkamp, Pires, to name but three.
And the football played is on another level to the football we currently play. But no doubt you’ll find a way to dismiss this claim.
But the proof is in the pudding as they say.
Just to say, they’re both very good managers. And I hope that Arteta brings the kind of success that Wenger did.
It’s just sad that people are willing to put the boot into the clubs most successful manager.
I’ll be interested to see you’re views on Arteta should we never win another trophy under Arteta, looking at you’re previous post and you lauding Arteta’s achievements it would surprise me if you actually would still believe that Arteta was the better manager.
And by the way, no need to apologize, it’s you’re opinion and you’re entitled to it. And please post first.
All I was doing was defend our most celebrated manager. Something I will always do. Trophy’s count, not team records, of which the current club hold under this current manager.
I prefer trophy’s any day myself.
On Gervinho – “You could rely on his pace to beat his man, but after that it was hit and hope” – second part was true, he just couldn’t seem to make the right choice in the final third, but I think you downplay just how good he was at the first part. It wasn’t just pace, there was an awful lot of skill and understanding of the role that went into it. I don’t think we’ve ever had someone so good at getting into dangerous positions with the ball – sadly that only served to make his poor end product look even more ridiculous.
Always had a soft spot for Gervinho after realising how good he was at certain aspects. I believe he did very well at Roma after he left us, which suggests he just couldn’t handle the speed/pressure of the EPL – probably just need a split second more time than you’re allowed in this league.
Late coming in on this discussion, as I felt the main theme of the article was nonsense, but it’s turned out to be another Wenger/Arteta bashing comparison.
Without doubt Arsene Wenger took our club to heights that I never dreamed we would ever reach and there’s no need to repeat them – and every future manager will benefit from his legacy.
Mikel Arteta has brought his own ideas of how to build on that legacy and has continued to take our club further.
In fact,if chelsea and city (if they are found guilty of course) were punished properly, MA would have at least two further PL trophies under his belt.
Just as a footnote, no matter how many names are produced to knock Wenger, the fact that he never finished lower than sixth negates any criticisms aimed at his finished products and to finish 2nd three times in a row and then become champions while naming Arteta’s failings negates any criticisms of him…in my opinion.
can’t see where Arteta has been bashed
It’s Mr Wenger being discredited and some fans defending him pointing out he’s our greatest ever manager so logically if his achievements are belittled , anyone else who achieved less has to be held to the same standard
for record …..I think both are good
Just “good” Dan?!?!
Arsene was brilliant and took our club to a level no one ever dreamed possible.
Mikel is proving he’s in the same mould and, despite my grievances about his treatment of individuals, he’s building on that success.
Cannot see for the life of me why we all can’t just revel in the success of our club and stop this nonsense once and for all – including articles about the worst signings of each manager!!!!!
it didn’t even cross my mind about which player was brought be each manager
I just like a list and seeing who I can remember.
Think some take things too seriously
I agree with your last sentence Dan – now, with tongue in cheek and my wooden spoon at the ready, why not write an article listing our top ten managers?
That should set JA alight with some views 😂👍😂👍
the irony is when I wrote the best players at the Emirates do you notice no one tallied up who played for what manager then did they ?
so I think some are searching for a debate that doesn’t exist
both can be true
Mr Wenger has been great for Arsenal but that doesn’t mean Arteta hasn’t been good in his own right
Agreed Dan.
Just realized that most of us haven’t lived through ten Arsenal managers anyway 😂😂
Therein lies the problem – only the old fogies amongst us can REALLY appreciate what the likes of Bertie Mee, George Graham, Arsene Wenger and Mikel Arteta have done after living through the likes of Billy Wright, George Swindon (great keeper) Terry Neill (very good player) Bruce Rioch etc etc.
Ken1945,
Bruce Rioch all the way. 😂🤣
He did do something right Derek
Yes SueP,
He bought the great Dennis Bergkamp to the club, and the rest as they say is history.
And David Platt.
Hmmmm I suspect a certain David Dein had more to do with those two signings and Mr Rioch nearly lost a certain Ian Wright and the rest,as they say, is history!!
Ken1945,
Fair point I stand corrected and my wrist is well and truly slapped. 👍😉
Probably someone else has nominated him but Igor Stepanovs. And the whole reason he made the team might be down to Lee Dixon pranking Arsene Wenger
Arguing over who made the worst signings is POINTLESS. Someone explain how the WORST signings, not the best signings, determines which manager gets slimed out. Like someone (i think it was DEREK) wisely said: name me a manager who hasnt made a bad signing!
TJ,
You’re right it was me. And my full quote was, show me a manager who hasn’t signed a bad player, and I’ll show you a liar. 👍
Arteta, in his first Managerial Role, has had a lot of ‘fixing’ to do at Arsenal.
It’s taken it’s time but he’s done it really well.
In terms of Arsenal’s best Manager’s:
Arteta isn’t in this list yet, but he definitely can be if the potential of the current team / squad is fully realised, (with consistent quality additions), over the next 5 to 10 years – only time will tell.
My Choice:
Modern and relatively recent history.
In Order:
Arsene Wenger
George Graham
Not in Order.
Going Further Back.
Bertie Mee
Going further back to the 1930’s
Herbert Chapman (Obviously)
You can’t compare directly, because they are all from different Era’s
My personal 1st and 2nd
Arsene Wenger
George Graham
And for historical reasons
Herbert Chapman.
In terms of the Article itself:
I’m in general agreement with Dan’s assessment and selection.
Other ‘duds’ suggested in the posts would definitely make the substitutes bench and squad.
Mustafi was by far the worst! 35M those days was like 60M now. Ramsey was so poor when he started but Wenger was patient with him an he came good… I wonder if that’s how it will go with Madueke? 😅
Quantic Dream,
Regards Madueke, we haven’t got that long. 😂
Gervinho should not have made the list he was darm good at the time only needed to work on his technical skills
Does anyone remember John Jensen. Scored a fantastic goal for Denmark to win them the Euros. George Graham bought him and we all expected him to be phenomenal. It took 98 games before he scored for us and that was his only goal. I only mention him in the context of this article because he never the goals George Graham expected. He was a rubbish at hitting the back of the net, but he was a decent player and became a bit of a cult hero.
Yes Mark, I do remember John ‘Faxe’ Jensen. That goal he scored for us was a beauties, in front of the Northbank against QPR. Unfortunately we lost the game 1-3.
He wasn’t known as a goalscorer as he was a DM.
He did help us in winning 3 trophies, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the CWC.
Herr Drier,
It was John Jensen’s shot that was heading into the top corner before it was deflected for a corner, that led to Andy Linighan’s winning goal in the FA Cup final.
And the irony of that winning goal was, earlier in the game a certain Mark Bright should have been sent off for his blatant elbow on Linighan, who’s nose was broke with the impact. But the irony is, it was Bright that lost Linighan at the corner for Linighan to score the winner.
That was Kama at it’s best. 😂👍
Sir-no-goal for me, anyone remember his 0 goal tally? He did score in the preseason though, but wow, the worst I have seen in our attack. Nketiah is up there as well; one trick pony who never learned a new one, in spite of 5 years in first team and payraise to 100k a week. How about now, banging in goals at Palace? Or dud like many of us said?
Tired of the comparisons between Wenger and Arteta.
Wenger had less competition, blah blah and whatever else.
The other side counters with “Arteta was given over 1 billion to build his squad,” blah blah and whatever else.
People are tribal and will never compromise on this silly debate between 2 managers. I care about the club, and I hold whomever is managing to high expectations; otherwise, go coach at a lesser club with lower expectations.
Durand,
You’ve actually got me thinking regards comparing managers.
Although I come down on Wenger’s side. I do admire what Arteta has and is doing at the club.
But I’ve heard it said that some fans seem to like the manager above the team. And I suppose that whatever manager you’re defending, to a point that claim can be made.
So actually, I make you right to a large degree, regards just enjoy the manager that we currently have.
But that said, when someone disses Wenger I sometimes can’t help myself. 😂🤣
Derek,
I agree with you, and I would only speak up when people are obviously diminshing or misrepresenting facts of one manager or the other.
I love Arsenal first and foremost, that is what I support. Managers come and go, so do players; I always get a laugh seeing people get the vapors when their guy gets criticized.
Lastly I like trophies as much as anyone, however my main reason for tuning in is to be entertained, isn’t that the point?
Durand,
Good post. Regards being entertained I agree with you. But it has to be said that currently we’re winning and being officiant, but there isn’t much entertaining going on.
Hopefully that will change. 😉
I think your reaction, which the likes of Dan DK and myself also do, is natural mate 👍
Great last paragraph Durand and we’ve both been consistent in our critiquing of Mikel.
Are you changing your views on Mr Kronkie as our owner and do you think his recent purchase will affect The Arsenal?
Ken,
Missed seeing your comments in articles, I hope things are well with you and your family. I enjoy our discussions, and we see eye to eye quite often.
I think you and I have been consistent not only with Arteta, but with Wenger and Emery as well.
Although managers gave changed, our standards and expectations have remained consistent; I cannot say that about everyone else.
As far as Kroenke sports entertainment, I’m not surprised, Major League baseball is the sport he has no presence in. I’m sure he has been looking, but thankfully I’m not a fan of the Angels.
Hard road for him with the Dodgers in town, although different leagues, they occasionally play.
My concern is how often Josh is away from Arsenal. Josh got things done, look at last year up to last Summer; his influence is undeniable.
If he’s off working on the angels acquisition, that would explain our lame window. LW top priority, and we fluffed it. Wasted time on Alvarez and Vini jr. When options were available.
Personally I liked Rodgers and what he could bring, better value and years of service than 130 million for a spoiled child like Alvarez.
Time will tell Ken, but sooner Josh gets back and leading, the better off we will be.