Arsenal FC a very promising story

[TightEnd]

What the fuck don't you get?!

no need to be rude

without champions league football as you escape your groundhog day you won't keep your best players (which you have begun to do since RVP) and won't attract better ones

they aren't coming to win the capital one cup, no matter how much you want change

I would have thought watching your team in the bernabeau, nou camp, allianz etc and seeing messi, ribery, ibrahimovic, ronaldo etc at the emirates was far more of a buzz than winning the fa cup, for a side like Arsenal

clearly the board and Wenger think the same

[arbboy]

Fans don't care about money in the bank tho. Or what might happen if football goes pop. Fans don't go to a game to contribute towards their clubs big bank balances. They want success. And that usually means trophies. Certainly for a club like arsenal.

Too many times in the last five years or so wenger has said he doesn't need to strengthen his squad in transfer windows, and it has backfired on him. Then in the last window, he managed to sign a player, knowing he was gonna be injured long term.

Pretty sure Pompey and Leeds fan's would still rather have the money in the bank than the FA cup win and the Champions League Semi Final spot.

[Graham C]

and its even tougher every year, you'll only do it this year because united have fallen off.

This does underline the issue, other teams have gotten stronger and we're closer to not making the CL as each season goes by.  Liverpool this year are going to make it, but we'll only just (hopefully) be ahead of Everton and spurs.  Other teams in the PL are making headway towards the CL spots and we're clinging on.  We shouldn't have to rely on one of the big 4/5 slipping out to make a CL spot.  There will be a season soon when we don't make top 4.

He doesn't need to spend a fortune, but we do need back up in certain areas, like putting the ball in the net.  Despite the bigger money available, Arsenal are still a massive club with a massive draw, they must be able to sign someone worthy.  To say we can't compete with Chelsea, City, PSG etc isn't good enough, there must be someone.

[Graham C]

That said, I'd rather AW said and we carried on than he left, we get someone in that spends all the money and we still don't win anything.

[The Baron]

That isn't consistent with what he says though.

How did Chelsea become more attractive? Man City? They just through tons of money at the club and players

I'm not saying that Arsenal could/should do the same but surely the manager isn't blameless

yes the landscape has changed, and there are 8-10 teams out there that can operate in a different sphere

to improve the team he has in key areas (striker, obviously) is going to take £40-50m per player and then attract them to arsenal over those they are in competition with

not easy

the essential problem is that the long term approach of Wenger is at odds with what a section of the fan base want, which is shorter tem

but at least Arsenal can build from a position of cash in the bank, stadium paid for and not in the position united are with £1bn in debt

if the football market ever goes "pop" Arsenal are minted, literally

 

Wenger definitely missed a trick with Higuain. Costa would have been far cheaper last summer when we wanted him at £25m. I am with you mostly Rich, but I think it's undeniable that he does need to spend.

[The Baron]

I see you covered it in a later post. Ignore me.

[Kmac84]

I get were Adz is coming from, I hate when my club produce balance sheets and say there you go Mr Customer its been a tremendous year finances are in excellent shape thanks for your custom.  I am not a customer I am a supporter I have been there long before the money men, I will be there after they go.  I want my club to be the best it can be.  I want progress not stagnation.

To my mind, Arsenal have gone backwards in recent years under Wenger, when he first came in he was enhusiastic and had fire he was bringing in very good players on the cheap and he sold them for a pretty penny which s all very well but some of if not most of his signings over the past few years have been rediculous flops. 

Arsenal have been crying out for a decent goalkeeper for I don't know how long.  Has that situation been resolved?
The style of play is the most frustrating, pocession is well and good but unless you have a shot at goal your not going to win. 
I also think Pat Rice not being his number 2 anymore has had a huge impact. 

As to who Arsenal go for as a replacement, I assume they would go down the foreign route again.  If I were them I would consider Simeone, I think the job he has done with Athletico is extrordinary, but next year when he has to sell Costa and Touran and the GK moves to Chelsea they are going o struggle to repeat the success of this season.  Arsenal could be a new project for him.  He might even bring Costa with him. 

Also whatever happened to financial fair play has that ever come to anything? 

[Karabiner]

I get were Adz is coming from, I hate when my club produce balance sheets and say there you go Mr Customer its been a tremendous year finances are in excellent shape thanks for your custom.  I am not a customer I am a supporter I have been there long before the money men, I will be there after they go.  I want my club to be the best it can be.  I want progress not stagnation.

To my mind, Arsenal have gone backwards in recent years under Wenger, when he first came in he was enhusiastic and had fire he was bringing in very good players on the cheap and he sold them for a pretty penny which s all very well but some of if not most of his signings over the past few years have been rediculous flops. 

Arsenal have been crying out for a decent goalkeeper for I don't know how long.  Has that situation been resolved?
The style of play is the most frustrating, pocession is well and good but unless you have a shot at goal your not going to win. 
I also think Pat Rice not being his number 2 anymore has had a huge impact. 

As to who Arsenal go for as a replacement, I assume they would go down the foreign route again.  If I were them I would consider Simeone, I think the job he has done with Athletico is extrordinary, but next year when he has to sell Costa and Touran and the GK moves to Chelsea they are going o struggle to repeat the success of this season.  Arsenal could be a new project for him.  He might even bring Costa with him. 

Also whatever happened to financial fair play has that ever come to anything? 

"Most of his signings over the past few years have been rediculous(sic) flops"

He made few gambles on free transfers during the years when the budget was restricted but still unearthed a few gems such as Koscielny and  Cazorla at reasonable prices. He's hardly been reckless as his net spend is only £65M over sixteen years.

You say we are crying out for a goalkeeper, but we have Szczezny who is already one of the best in the league and will certainly become one of if not the best in world football if he carries on improving at the current rate. I think you are merely trumpeting old media headlines from last year with this one.

When you complain about our style of play I wonder if you have actually watched any of our games as most pundits agree that when we are on song we play the best brand of football in the league, that same league that we were top of for months.

I also think that Steve Bould has been good for the team and especially for the defence which bar a few well-publicised abberations has been excellent this season. It was the meanest in the league until a few games ago, so again I think you are repeating media hype.

AW will only go when he feels that the time is right, and I for one, although some may not agree, do not feel that the time is now.

[Kmac84]

i think you are blinded by your loyalty. 

football is about scoring goals there is no point having a lovely passing game if you have nothing at the end of it.  Its all one pumping a few goals by the also rans but in the games that have counted Arsenal have been poor in front of goal for a few seasons now.

FWIW his net spend was particularly good due to getting players a few years back on relatvely good deals and then selling at a profit. 

[BigAdz]

What the fuck don't you get?!

no need to be rude

without champions league football as you escape your groundhog day you won't keep your best players (which you have begun to do since RVP) and won't attract better ones

they aren't coming to win the capital one cup, no matter how much you want change

I would have thought watching your team in the bernabeau, nou camp, allianz etc and seeing messi, ribery, ibrahimovic, ronaldo etc at the emirates was far more of a buzz than winning the fa cup, for a side like Arsenal

clearly the board and Wenger think the same

Yep. Apols. You lot finally got me!

And watching your team get stuffed every time they play in these places soon loses its lustre mate.

[Tal]

Watching Real Madrid at WHL is one of my all time favourite memories as a spurs fan. The atmosphere was as good as anything I've witnessed. Gomes dropped a clanger and we got mullered over two legs.

I reckon the lustre would rub off after a few years of that.

[BigAdz]

Horses for courses.

I also don't get a kick out of watching grown men playing chess, but we are all made different. You more than most.

[Tal]

Horses for courses.

I also don't get a kick out of watching grown men playing chess, but we are all made different. You more than most.

I get no kick from champagne...

[Karabiner]

You've got to love the Flaminal.

Unlike some he doesn't get mad he gets even.

Really good performance today from our threadbare squad sadly lacking in pace.

Up The Arse.

[Marky147]

Didn't watch the first half, but from what I saw in the 2nd Arsenal looked good for all 3 points.