There no doubt our manager is under pressure from fans and media to deliver this season or just walk away into sunset. Gedion Zalalem our young midfielder wasn't born when Wenger first arrived from Japan an unproven manager at the time. He was very successful in the beginning and after we moved stadium his luck and ours for that matter, perished and we have never looked like winning ever since.
This season like the last 10 is again looked upon with hope and also fear. The current team has played very well up to now but it doesn't take a genius to figure out what might or might not happen. We go to our next game with doubts feeling the air after just one awful performance.
Sometimes it feels like he is trying his best to provoke the loyal fans and then he surprises everyone by turning 360 and looking like the real Wenger we've come to adore all those years.
Wenger divides opinion
posted on 10/2/14
Maybe he'll turn 720, which would be twice as good.
posted on 11/2/14
Wenger doesn't divide my opinion. I want him out.
posted on 11/2/14
people have to look on this objectively.
In 8 or 9 seasons we have not won a trophy but we have made top 4. We had a creippling debt to pay due to the stadium move which no one seems to notice was in 2007 a year after we almost won the CL. After this we gradually declined, no marquee signings, big names leaving but one thing that no club (bar Man U, but may happen this year) is that we have qualified for the CL every one of those seasons.
I for one have curbed my emotions about Wenger due to this. Who could have got us a top 4 every season on a budget.
Even a mega rich Chelsea have failed in the past, So have Liverpool and only recently have Man C entered the top 4.
Liverpool and Man U have a massive brand name that generated money and Man C and Chelsea have a billionaire backing.
We have high debts to pay, sold major players and still get top 4. I believe that was Wengers doing.
Now we are seeing the fruits of the Stadium, we smashed our own transfer record, for once kept the team without selling and have a major sponsorship deal.
I do not expect a trophy this season as to me its the start of our revival.
But come August if we do not strengthen with the major influx of cash we now have and buy quality players I will not be joining the WOB's but will feel maybe fresh ideas are needed and prey that Wenger is given the respect that he has earned by us Gooners......
posted on 11/2/14
He did not come from Russia
I acknowledge your point but the money has been available for some time now - yet we stock pile it. Why?
posted on 11/2/14
aquarium
posted on 11/2/14
We need a top quality striker as alternative or to play alongside OG. A striker of proven pedigree was not available - getting a top quality player in the January window is notoriously difficult. So we "stockpile" the cash until a suitable player becomes available in the summer - simple
posted on 11/2/14
Arsene's Optomerist
What about last summer when we also failed to sign anyone (striker) and had to resort to pulling the Bendtner transfer?
Clubs throughout Europe have been able to recruit strikers (better than we have at present) with considerably less resource than we do.
How many years of ‘stockpiling’ cash without using a significant percentage of it do you think is reasonable – given we are the most cash rich club in European football?
posted on 11/2/14
We are rich with profits made but stil have to pay the debt we have. Last summer was the last year we sold a major player. It was the last year before we turned the tide. All we have is rumours of a supposed war chest available. This is through our billionaire yank or Russian. Maybe they are pushing for a change earlier then expected. No one know for sure what we had available in previous years. I cannot see why the board will say we have money but allow Wenger to sell still.
The summer showed we have the power to compete in the market but still not against Man C or Chelsea's of the world.
I believe the 'war chest' were just mentioned to make us look bigger then we were.
There was an annual shareholders meeting a couple of years back where Wenger supposingly went ape at the wage structure and lack of signings. Again this is rumours only and if you believe the war chest then you cannot discount this rumour either....
posted on 11/2/14
He did not come from Russia
The stadium debt is on a long term fixed rate repayment (circa £24m per year) which has been/is comfortably serviced by the club.
Based on the club’s annual returns, sponsorship forecasts and cash reserves, it is (conservative estimates) believed we have well in excess of £150m.
The AST also have provided analysis on the club accounts which are available on their website.
The wage structure (while now being dismantled) was 100% AW’s policy. This is on record and was a model he has used elsewhere prior to his arrival at Arsenal.
The problem the club face is that AW spends the clubs money as if it was his own. While this is commendable, this is not AW’s responsibility. He has consistently vetoed potential targets based on the players valuation (not worth the amount requested).
The club however are very good at PR…