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18 Feb 2017 02:45:09
Me and my friend had an interesting debate. He reckons a new quality manager would solve all our problems. My argument is actually a new manager won't change much at all.

Minus Sanchez, Ozil, Bellerin and Kos how many of the current players can leave and join a title winning team in any of the top division in Europe?

Too have a squad with only 4 players that can realistically win silverware isn't enough to challenge for the top honours. Even Pep and Mourinho are not having their way this season, simply because they just don't have the quality throughout the squad.

Next season whoever the next manager is will have to compete with Conte, Klopp, Poch, Pep and Mourinho. Some of the best manager in the world. Yes we shouldn't really be comparing Arsenal to the Man united situation and this isn't a Wenger stay message either but whatever happens at the end of the season, we must get it right or it could be a long way to the top and could easily drop out of the top 4.

1.) 18 Feb 2017 06:14:17
Arsenal have a good set of players, which could easily achieve more if the right manager is appointed. Not that they are available, but the following managers could get more from the squad; Conte, Mourinho, Guardiola. I believe the cub, although not doing badly, has become stale under Wenger. Some players have been given too much opportunity and others not enough. We have had weaknesses at LB and in terms of the tactics. When playing the current system, the wide midfield players have to be able to cover the fullbacks and they rarely do. My gut feeling that Wenger will turn up at PSG. He has strong connections with the club and I don't believe that they will turn down the opportunity to install Wenger as manager. My own choices to replace him would come from; Allegri (if he speaks English) , Simeone (if he speaks English) , Koeman (understands the PL, well respected and has done a decent job at lower clubs) . I do not want Howe, who has done a magnificent job at Bournemouth, but I believe Wenger is a hard act to follow and we need a more experienced manager at the helm. As a risk, I would try Vieira, but I'm not sure he is ready to take on such a management task. Interesting times ahead.

06 Feb 2017 14:37:23
On Saturday I was frustrated just like every Arsenal supporter but I do have a lot of sympathy of Wenger. Even though I think the summer will be the best time to replace him I hope Arsenal fans don't forget what a great manager he really is and the last few seasons haven't tainted his legacy.

He built in my opinion the greatest team to win ever win the premier league and in the chase of more success Arsenal took the steps to invest on a new stadium.

During those years, the legends of arsenal were sold and Wenger had no money to buy replacements. He was forced to sell the good players just to make a profit and was unable to create a top quality squad just so the stadium can be payed off.

Most clubs would've gone backwards 20 years but Wenger kept us a float. Yes he didn't win anything in any of those years but how many mangers would be able to cope in forcing to sell thier best players and attempt to remain competitive without walking away. He could've walked into any job in world football but remained loyal.

In modern day football match day revenue isn't the main source of income anymore. Commercial, tv and foreign investment plays a bigger role and unfortunately we had to stagnate our club to pay for a stadium that actually doesn't help us keep up with the big boys. We probably built the stadium in the wrong time, clubs like Tottenham won't have to go through what arsenal did during our stadium move simply with the amount of tv money available.

Wenger started a project that he couldn't complete which does make me sad but he will need to be replaced eventually and I don't think there is a better time than the summer. He seems to slagged off a lot but he's biggest flaw is his consistency. I agree he shouldn't be untouchable because of it but surely the critism is overboard. In football you're either brilliant or pants and in modern day football there is no place for being very good. Wenger is a very good manager. He isn't as dynamic as his rivals but that doesn't make him a rubbish one.

Like I said I do feel Wenger should be replaced in the summer but the only memories I will have of Wenger are the happy ones!

1.) 06 Feb 2017 15:29:24
We can't go around saying no one could have done what wenger has done. Teams like athletico madrid, seville, villareal, porto, benfica, dortmund, monaco and napoli to name a few survive on a smaller budget than arsenal and have been power houses in europe as well as at home.

Would wenger for instance be able to have done what Southampton have done with all their problems, we don't know. There are many managers doing far better jobs than you give credit for and getting extra ordinary results.

2.) 06 Feb 2017 16:26:00
Steve's right, should say *no one HAS done what Wenger has done. Most of those teams mentioned would struggle to finish top four in the PL once never mind consistently over a period of selling their best players and all the rest of it etc. Don't let your opinions of Wenger undermine his obvious achievements in the past - if Mourinho can praise AW for the invincibles then I'm sure anyone can be big enough to give him his dues.

3.) 06 Feb 2017 15:50:26
It's a hard one to weigh up steve. If Wenger left in 2005 then it would be fair to say he has done an extraordinary job. At that time the club he took on to the club he would have left would have been far greater.

If you look at the time he took over to now (based on league position which is what fans only care about and rightfully so), he has made us slightly better. In the last 12 years of us not pushing on to be a dominant force we have seen clubs that we had some distance on come above us and others hot on our heals.

Now I think we're at a point where we have to be decisive, we could soon be a top 8 team or worse. It's a bit like when you see past lottery winners living in cardboard boxes.

4.) 06 Feb 2017 18:04:08
Sano i agree with you but the people who say no one could have done what wenger has done since we moved from highbury are wrong, there are people who couldn't but there are who could, there are managers out there now doing far more with far less than wenger. I think that is what the first poster is alluding too and others. Yes he did a good job the first 9 years, he oversaw a move and kept us fairly competitive for the next few years, although his European success for us was and is unsatisfactory. If he was the mesiah, he isn't now.

5.) 06 Feb 2017 18:08:37
Oh and the pretender, we all know wenger did have money to spend but he chose not too but we have had that debate before.

6.) 06 Feb 2017 18:17:52
Not even I am suggesting Wenger was a superb manager, bit that was TEN YEARS AGO! Since then it's barely been a disaster, but we've gone backwards and do the same damn thing every season. Why do supporters STILL think Wenger is the best option? Come was available, Klopp was, Guardiola was. Everyone is available at a price. Everyone. Why are several on here still prepared to put with falling behind the Spuds, relative mediocrity the same issues season after season? It's bonkers!
That doesn't mean I don't thank Arsene for all he did and his first ten years were wonderful. But I was a single man then, now I'm married with three kids 10, 9 and 3. They don't know what winning the league means! That's not fair to them. For my children's sake, go Arsene, go!

7.) 06 Feb 2017 19:12:04
It's amazing how you have managed to have em all arsenal fans! I'm struggling with mine and resorting to bully boy antics to keep them loyal lol.

8.) 06 Feb 2017 23:08:02
Klopp = something different but by no means an upgrade

Pep = big risk and don't think we have deep enough pockets for him

Not saying AW is irreplaceable but he's fine well keeping us in top 4 given our resources and selling our very best players to survive - Henry, Clichy, Cesc, RVP, Denilson 😉.

9.) 07 Feb 2017 08:11:21
I just find this thread of conversation completely pointless. Wengeris staying another two years and is probably our only chance of keeping Ozil and Sanchez (apart from pots of cash) .

Players like Wenger, its only the fans who loathe him but he ten years we've not won have been 10 years of financial doping of City and Chelsea. If it was a fair race sure Wenger would have done better. They've had a bottomless pit of money, we've had very little. Wake up!

10.) 07 Feb 2017 08:14:31
What Wenger can be blamed for is the weak mentality of the teamm. That is clearly his fault as its an ongoing issue. If you want to see the back of him, that's the reason, not the lack of titles when there are better teams about.

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13 Sep 2017 20:47:35
Oxlade Chamberlain was never good enough. 9 goals in six seasons is pretty dire. Even Gervinho had a better goal scoring record. 1 year left on his contract with 35m on the table, I thought it was a pretty simple decision.

Gabriel was never a world class defender. He has never been a regular at Arsenal and always seemed like a accident waiting to happen. Was a risky signing who didn't work out.

Giroud is a good striker. The game against Leicester shows his worth. Never going to be our number one striker. But one of the best in the air. Good option from the bench especially when teams are defending deep. Sometimes you just need to cross it in the box.

Chambers has had solid game time playing for middlesborough. I don't know how well he performed but he was a starter for the U21 for England. Maybe not a upgrade to Gabriel but did well in his early Arsenal career. Probably his last chance this season but I think he's worth the risk, still young but more experienced than last year.

Wilshire is injury prone and on 90k a week. No one will look to invest in him. To be fair to him when he signed the contract he was showing some real promise. Unfortunately for him injuries have blighted his career. Probably get realsed at the end of the season.

Debuchy has been out of the first team so long it's probably difficult for teams to sign him. To be fair to him he was france number 1 and looked like a really good replacement for sagna. Bellerin form means he wasn't missed at all but always going to be difficult to move him.

Mustafi is a German international. Started off brilliant last season but probably lacks the leadership. He was horrible against munich but so was a lot of players. Probably a 3rd choice defender at best but still think he adds value.

Elneny is solid, sometimes you need players in a squad that will give you a 7/ 10. Will never be a regular but I think he is a good back up.

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09 Feb 2017 11:59:32
He was extremely poor on the goal but all the goals we conceded were awful so he wasn't alone against Chelsea.

I think he is a solid player, I rather have him in the squad then not have him. Think he misses cazorla alot. Without Cazorla he seems to be trying to push the team forward a lot more. But just doesn't have the guile or the passing to do so. He seems to forgotten what he's good at which is sit and defend.

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06 Feb 2017 13:48:46
None of the managers above has one anything significant or managed at a high level. None of the managers above are better than Wenger. The way football is now, you are either brilliant or your pants.

Wenger is a good manager and only should be replaced by someone better. There is no point of replacing Wenger for the sake of change. Change doesn't always work.

My ideal candidate will be Carlo anchelotti. Highly unlikely that we will get him, but proven premier league record, unbelievable champions league record. These are the managers we should be targeting.

If not I think alegri or blanc will be worth a punt.