...to Arsene Wenger.
He is such a top quality manager, he always comes under criticism from outside fans and some of his own fans, but he operates with a business mind and in a football world of sky high transfer fees and football wages he manages to produce a side that plays decent football that season in season out gets into the top 4 in the PL.
Okay he may not have won many trophies at Arsenal recently, and I am sure he would have wanted a few more along the way, but he has always operated at a profit at Arsenal, getting them a few PL trophies, a few FA Cups, League Cups and a CL final appearance, as well as getting them into the knock out stages of the CL each season, the way he operates has effectively paid for Arsenal to have a new stadium.
Arsenal were slated early on in the season with fans saying they wouldn't even make Europa league, yet with 9 games to go they are the most in form side in the league and looking good for a top 3 finish.
I think this summer he is going to have to make a few key signings, firstly to challenge for silverware next season and secondly to convince RVP to put pen to paper on his final big contract of his career, but with Podolski looking like he is on his way then that is a decent start.
As a skilled manager I admire Wenger, sure Ferguson has the trophies but Wenger IMO is on a par with him, no manager has managed to operate in the same way for so long and keep their team challenging in the top 4 of the league year on year without breaking the bank on big money transfers.
Big applause for Wenger
Fair Play...
posted on 21/3/12
Fantastic article
posted on 21/3/12
Spot on allthough I lost the faith in him tbh. But a CL League place is at least the minimum we should get for a club like Arsenal.
posted on 21/3/12
But the season isn't over yet and this Summer the squad must be strengthened or else we will go through another year biting our nails over a top 4 finish when really we should be challenging for honours.
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It has to be maintained before strengthened as well, keeping RVP is critical, other than Ronaldo and Messi he is probably the most wanted player in Europe right now, but unlike Ronaldo and Messi he is the one that top European sides will think is available.
Personally I hope he stays, as it would be nice to see Wenger keep one of his stars in his prime and build a challenging side for the next few seasons around him.
posted on 21/3/12
i only defend wenger so much, and appreciate this article so much, as i don't think it's been purely his decision to spend so little in the transfer window or to offer so little wages to players.
obviously he has made some bad decisions and last transfer window was a bit of a disaster but it was partly due to not knowing where we stood in regards to fabregas or nasri. hope there is no repeat of this with RVP.
posted on 21/3/12
We could do with fans like you.
So come along along mate, jump ship
posted on 21/3/12
Great Article, 5 I always knew we'd get Top 4 even when we had doubters like Robbie Savage saying Liverpool, yes Liverpool would beat us to it.
To all the plastic fans who said Wenger should go, hang your head in shame.
posted on 21/3/12
Good article. My opinion of City fans is changing by the day. I've met some really decent ones on here.
posted on 21/3/12
The ones who said Wenger should go is one thing, but our own fans who abused Wenger and were really hateful towards him, those s should hang their head in shame. They will probably claim they never doubted him now.
posted on 21/3/12
Decent article, does anyone know if the user is feed the goat? he was a decent city fan on old 606
posted on 21/3/12
Wenger is generally doing a good job, but there is now a considerable gap between being in the top 4 and genuinely challenging for the title. Up until the last season or 2, there was no real challengers to the old big 4, so it was no more than to be expected that Arsenal would remain there. Now there is effectively 6 teams who would consider themselves contenders for the top 4 places, so we have to wait and see how Arsenal fare over the next few seasons - their current form is good, but that shouldn't just paper over weaknesses shown earlier in the season, and I still feel that on form Arsenal are very good, but when they need to fight and grind out results, they are still lacking.