11 May 2018 03:48:41
One match to go until the end of the Wenger era and it was a reign of two halves: The first half was amazing and Wenger working alongside Dein was a great partnership. The second half with Dein departed never matched the first half and was only saved by 3 FA Cup wins and CL qualification for all bar the final two seasons. This season has been the poorest of all 22 under Wenger. 6th place the lowest finish, no CL football, knocked out of the FA Cup in the 3rd round by a poor Forest side. Good runs in the two 'weaker' cup competitions, but no trophies.
We sold/ released so many players without replacing them adequately leaving a weak and imbalanced squad. Since last summer we sold/ released: Debuchy, Gabriel, Coquelin, Oxlade, Walcott, Sanchez, Perez and Giroud.
The new manager has a huge task turning things round and we have contract issues with Wilshere, Ramsey and Welbeck.
Reports that Bould and Lehmann have been asked to stay on as coaches, as well as 'noise' surrounding contact with Buvac, further negotiations with Wilshere and attempts to sign players, Gazidis's comment in repect of a 'bold' choice of manager, lead me to belive that a manager may well have been decided on and we may well learn who it is soon after the season ends. The timing of the news of Wenger leaving and the World Cup starting a month after the season ends confirms my thoughts.

{Ed0333's Note - “the second half of Wengers reign was only saved by three FA cup wins and CL qualification for all but two seasons”.....That Arsene Wenger what a winker! Most clubs would regard that as an amazing achievement. You forgot to mention in the middle of all that Arsene oversaw your transition and assimilation into a new ground, which came with financial restrictions and also the no small matter of trying to combat the new money of Man City, Chelsea, perennial money of Man Utd and European giants such as Barca, Bayern, Real et al. Argubly he should have gone sooner but it’s disgusting how some of your fan base treated that man after what he did for you. I really hope you guys don’t win anything for a while because it will only give the Arsene naysayers fodder to besmurch the great mans legacy.

1.) 11 May 2018
11 May 2018 05:10:01
I think Wenger lost the dressing room sometime ago, his tactics and choice of player certainly let him down and yes he had to go

But I agree with Ed many clubs would love 3 FA Cups in 4 years that’s good going . Having a lack ofmoney to spend after the move was inevitable really . I just wish AW would have left after a better season it would have been a fitting send off.

2.) 11 May 2018
11 May 2018 05:28:01
Well said Ed - I cannot believe how some still cannot top their hat to him and recognise what he did
As Wenger said - his best years were 2006 to 2015 due to what he achieved with what he was given.
He earned a lot but let’s see what the next manager gets and achieves. Just look at the appreciation he gets from everyone else except the spoilt Arsenal fans that don’t appreciate what he’s done over a period of time.
I loved the FA cup finals and wins.
Yes he made mistakes but he’s human and his earnings don’t matter a bean. Nor do Ozils. They are paid what the board approve. Same board that determines what is success as well as what is invested.
Thanks Arsène - you’ve been fantastic and given me life time memories and appreciation for the lovely game. Most of all - you love the club as much as I do. So sorry you didn’t leave on a high note but the ride was great. Merci.

3.) 11 May 2018
11 May 2018 08:04:51
West ham Southampton Newcastle would absolutely love Arsenes last 10 years City Chelsea Utd wouldn't.

Would Klopp or Poch get the next 10 years at Spurs or Liverpool on the strength of the fa cup or would Liverpool and Spurs fans/ board expect some kind of competitiveness from them regards the premier league?

Arsenes first 10 years stands up to being compared with anyone but if you want to show that last 10 years as a success then you need to be a lot more selective about who you compare with.
Next to West ham and co we've been hugely successful but as the only one of the big clubs not to get 80 points even once during that period we don't compare so favourably.

4.) 11 May 2018
11 May 2018 08:49:18
I still want the club to do well but get the Arsene sentiment you raise.

5.) 11 May 2018
11 May 2018 09:00:24
Hi Ed, I fully agree with you. However, we dropped from a title winning team and a team that reached the CL final, down to this season, where we were knocked out of the FA Cup by a poor Forest side and haven't won a single point away from home in 2018 and finished 6th.

The squad is imbalanced, the defensive side of the team's game has been deficient for the best part of a decade. Overcoming the enormous cost of the stadium was problematic, but that eased a few seasons ago and yet Wenger was unwilling to compete finanacially by signing a couple more players a season, despite having millions at his disposal. Former director Keith Edelman was sacked when he stated that the Wenger could spend £100m if he wished to. Gazidis has urged Wenger to sign more players as the funds were there.

Overall Wenger did a tremendous job, but this season was poor and how many fans truly believe that next season or the season after would have been any better under Wenger? The empty, paid for seats were a disgrace and booing Wenger was appalling. We now need to select a manager who can challenge again. I think an experienced manager is absolutely necessary and my current choice is Allegri. The top clubs that win or have won trophies have the top level of manager: Guardiola, Mourinho, Benitez, Ancelotti and Klopp. It would be a huge mistake to bring in a coach or an inexperienced manager and expect to win or make a serious challenge for the PL or CL.

6.) 11 May 2018
11 May 2018 11:00:23
I am a "Wenger naysayer". I am perfectly aware that absolutely no-one is "entitled" to success, Arsenal and Wenger no more or less than anyone. No club is, no matter their wealth, heritage, size of support, spangly training ground etc.

I have been in the "Wenger Out" camp for at least fours years; I had tears in my eyes and lump in my throat watching his farewell last week after the Burnley match. It's not that I don't appreciate his skill, his vision, his dedication, his obvious love for the Club.

I get all that, and yes, I am grateful for the three FA Cup wins, the almost endless Champions League participation (although I love that competition less and less: it should be for Champions only: bring back the UEFA Cup and Cup Winners' Cups) but for the last few seasons, surely it's unarguable that it's been like Groundhog Day with squad composition weaknesses not being addressed that were obvious to all, over-indulgence in players who just didn't deliver, regression in development in a host of players who have promised so much and in many cases gone elsewhere to deliver and the same inability to stop flattering to deceive when it comes to sustaining challenges in the League and Europe.

There is no denying that Wenger was, is and always will be a utter legend at Arsenal, but there is a skill and dignity in knowing when to let go and bluntly, it has been sad to hear some of the delusional drivel he has waffled post-match/ latest defeat in the last two years. He's still at it now, talking us up for next season!

Wenger = Legend. Yes
Overstayed by at minimum 2 years, arguably 5? Yes, too, in my 'umble opinion. But it's just that: an opinion.

Bergot Van Hoeff alias Max Farnham.