Dear Mr. Wenger,
Since our last trophy win in 2004/5 you have had to endure a great deal of criticism from both the media and, sadly, many of our supporters. I say sadly because although everybody has the right to their own opinion my belief is that it’s not always an original thought that has created the supporter dissatisfaction but more one that is fuelled by the incessant and ongoing media obsession with demeaning The Arsenal.
Over my 66 years of support I’ve witnessed every manager and team since Tom Whittaker’s team of 1947-1956 and I was very fortunate to be around to watch his team win the League trophy in1947/48 which was my first season of supporting Arsenal. He followed that up by winning the FA Cup in 1949/50 and then another League trophy in 1952/53. It felt good to be an Arsenal supporter, in those days, after all winning 3 major trophies in 6 seasons was something to be proud of and gave us those all important bragging rights.
How could we possibly have known that it would take 16 seasons and 4 different managers before we would recapture that feeling? It was a very, very difficult time to be a supporter, but like true fans do – we just toughed it out and remained solid supporters of The Arsenal.
It was not until Bertie Mee arrived on the scene that we won our next trophy, the European fairs Cup in 1969/70. Then in 1970/71 we had, up until that time, the greatest season in our entire history by winning both the League title and the FA Cup for our first double, the joy of being an Arsenal supporter was almost overwhelming, and the memory of it all is imprinted in my sub conscious.
How could we possibly have known that in the next 16 seasons we would win only one further trophy, the FA Cup in 1978/79 under the management of Terry Neil?
Again it was a very rough time for us supporters but by this time our skin had been thickened by the many barren years that we had already endured.
George Graham arrived as manager in 1986/87 and he won the League Cup in his first season. George went on to win us 2 League Titles, the FA Cup, another League Cup and a Cup Winners Cup trophy. Once again our spirits were raised and Arsenal were the talk of the town – after all 6 trophies in 8 seasons was something to be proud of – even though we had the sound of “One Nil to The Arsenal” ringing in our ears. In 1994/95 it all came crashing down, we finished a lowly 12th in the league, which was our worst finish in 19 seasons. To make it even worse George was caught with his fingers in the biscuit barrel and his time at The Arsenal was over. During the 1995/6 season and the first 8 games of 1996/7 Stuart Houston and Bruce Rioch stood in as caretaker managers.
Frankly, Mr Wenger we were all surprised when you were named as our new Manager because many of us had never heard of you – but it didn’t take very long for you to stamp your impressive mark on our team. Incredibly, in your first full season as manager you achieved what had only been accomplished once in our history, you won the League and FA Cup double, the streets of Highbury, and Arsenal fans worldwide were overjoyed.
Since then you have won another double, a further EPL title plus 2 more FA Cups.
Oops I almost neglected to mention the pinnacle of your current successes at Arsenal, how could one possibly forget 2003/4 the year of the unbeatable “Invincilbles”?
Of course there are also our 16 consecutive seasons of Champions League football where we have been privileged to be able to watch Arsenal compete against the best teams in European football.
You envisaged and created a new training ground and training techniques, moved us from Highbury to Ashburton Grove and you have treated us to the joys of “Wengerball” played by some of the most accomplished super stars who have ever pulled on the famous red and white shirt.
Mr. Wenger I could go on and on and on about the accomplishments during your tenure at The Arsenal but suffice to say you will stand proud and tall alongside Herbert Chapman as Arsenal managers whose achievements are both legendary and historic in their very nature.
Mr. Wenger in closing I would like to express my personal regret at the attitudes of the few fans that are simply short sighted glory hunters and the sports reporter’s looking to impress their editors by increasing circulation. You see most of us are not blinded by looking at only your early achievements – we are able to look at your entire career at Arsenal and those of the managers that came before you in an overall perspective and we consider ourselves privileged to have you as our manager.
I sincerely hope that you remain as our manager for many years to come and that when you do decide to retire you grace us with your presence as a Director.
Respectfully,
GunnerN5
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
FFFFFFFIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRSSSSSSSTTTTTTTT !!!!!!!!!
And SECOND, too !!
Great post Gunner N5.
I hope you don’t mind but I copied and pasted it into Le Grove.
That OK?
Good letter
Simply tremendous, GN5.
Probably the best article written for a long time. Well said. You are a true supporter and gentleman. You also have the good grace and respect to refer to “le professeur” as Mr Wenger. It galls me to see the misinformed hacks refer to him as “Wenger”. We are indeed very lucky to have had Mr Wenger as our manager.
Very good letter. Lets make sure Arsenal finish below Tottenham,who have always been a bigger club.
In Arsene We Trust
Come On you Spurs
@ John Gee
“…lucky to have had Mr Wenger..”
Past tense, John?
Magnificent GN5. Thanks a million I could not agree more, but expect flack from those who see immediate bragging rights as more important than long term stability, consistency, quality management and a financial record that all but the sugar daddy teams would die for.
Morning Big Al, 🙂
“Have had” is the Present Perfect tense, used about something (Arsene’s reign) that started in the past and continues into the present. 🙂
Excellent GN5, really, really excellent. Thank you.
I have always taken a lenient and “everyone is entitled to an opinion” with regards to matters Arsenal, but the self serving sites, and opinions of vile and abusive personal attacks, are really getting to me.
I know the spoilt brat needy attitude is a reflection of society that goes way beyond football, but it really is an unpleasant aspect of 21st century England.
Must go.
impresive, bt futbal is no longer what it used to be 66 years ago. we need a change in transfer policy nd salary structures…………imagine what we could have achieved if we didnt sell our top stars over the years
Thank you Red Arse for passing on the English Grammar Lesson. I was not going to bother, but you are right. Arsenal standards extend beyond the rfootball activities and should be adhered to at all times. Well said.
Simply superb, GN5!! 😀
My only comment is that you say some fans are influenced by the media to adopt non-original and totally incorrect views of Arsene, and through him the club.
You are right to be sad, but I think it is worse than just aping the media views, these people also hear the most ludicrous ‘facts’ spread by other ‘fans’ claiming to be Gooners, and unquestionably swallow every lie they are told that demonizes AW.
Great stuff. Spot on. He is a great manand manager.
I think next year is his last though.
Last trophy was 2005 lol
OMG I simply can’t believe I am reading this drivel. 8 years and no results is a disgrace and Wenger needs to be replaced.
The mention of LG above made me break a promise to myself that I would keep away from that site.
It was sickening to read that Specbum was poring out his filthy unhinged bile that has nothing to do with being an Arsenal fan, and is the ranting of someone who is seriously unhinged, including the wish for Arsenal to lose 4:0 tomorrow.
Free speech is all very well and good, but if he tries to come back to this site I now vote that he be banned permanently.
Standing by and allowing that filth to be spread is to condone it.
In fairness, there are bloggers on that site who have had enough of him, and his acolytes too, and are saying so. Good for them!
Hear Hear supporting since 1956 and will always be regardless
Sorry GN5,
But you’re labelling of all who want wenget out as glory supporters is complete and utter rubbish. Most if the people I know who want wenger out have been going to the arsenal since the 60’s and 70’s. maybe they haven’t been arsenal fans for the same length as you, but that’s simply because they weren’t born when you were. Don’t have time to detail the various logically argued reasons people have for wanting wenger to leave but believe me there are plenty. I respect the fact the fact that you’ve been to more arsenal games and lives through more of our history than me, who’s been going asince the 70’s, but your age does not make you an authority, or some infallible all seeing guru.
There are plenty of valid reasons for wanting the manager out.
Inspirational…
I got your back Wenger. Lead us back 2 the summit.
Thanks GN5
i have been an arsenal fan for over 40 years and have been fighting to get wenger and the current board out for over 4 years.
kroenke will sell his shares with in the next 12 months and what has he brought to the club?
wenger is a supporter of kroenke and as soon as hes gone wenger will follow him out .
Merse,
GN5 can answer for himself, of course, but he said at the start of the post that fans are entitled to their own (different) opinions, and later he made mention of some fans who are ‘short sighted glory hunters’.
The first part I am sure we all agree with — opinions are the life blood of blogs — fans can and do differ with their views, including whether or not Arsene Wenger is doing a good job, or not, and from what I have read, I would not see you as one of the few ‘short sighted glory hunters’ GN5 mentions, so I am a bit puzzled at what you meant.
Just curious.
Morning Red Arse 🙂
And, John Gee @10.31 am – sorry mate, I wasn’t intending to be a ‘smart-arse’ or trying to offend. Just that ‘past-tense’ is a bit topical as regards Mr Wenger at the moment.
Merseforever
I beg to differ. There are no rational reason that I can think of at the moment to contemplate changing manager. The team is a work in progress, and we have had significant setbacks in particular BSRs decision to pack his bags last year, but this decision was out of Mr Wenger’s hands.
We seem to live in a world where instant gratification is demanded. The club is being run in an ethically sustainable way which we can all be proud of. When we turn the corner the success will be all the more satisfying.
Get behind the team. COYG!!
GN5 thank you, we’ll said, now where do I add my signature to one of the few “open letter” I agree with.
Excellent stuff my friend GN5
People should listen to you. How many of us here can claim a perspective and experience of following the Arsenal since the forties?
The issue of Arsenes managership is becoming more divisive by the day. It has now reached stages were the whole debate has become a monster. Thousands of opinions with different shades of opinion.
Only results can swing the masses behind Arsene. Is there enough time to acheive this? How much time should be afforded? What are the results required?
My own personal view is unchanged. I remain as loyal now to Arsene Wenger as i did back in1998. I am satisfied and content with were we are and were we are going. Dont harang me for this, it is how i feel.
We can not however ignore the growing discontent. History has taught us that “ideas”, if held strongly enough lead to change. That can be in the form of compromise or friction, but one way or another the “desire for change” if held strongly enough, will come to a head.
If we are on that Road, then only history will judge what the outcome of Arsenes departure will bring.
i have been going since 1968, home & away, at every big moment, anfield, whl 71 & 04, madrid etc etc… loved arsene & dein first 8 year show, the best of ever on par with chapman.. but come on we are where we are NOW…. huge 60k stadium with most expensive seats in world football, kronky the cancer owning us, what a fucking disaster this yank loser is, gazides the idiot who puts up big posters and nothing else…. and arsene is now sweet & sour, some of our buys are wonderful some disgusting, some of our play in midfield mesmerising in attack & defense a total joke, corners at both ends dont get me started and 3 pathetic goalies, arsene has not bought one good goalie in all his 16 years, everyone of them not fit to lace bob wilson, david seamen, jennings gloves, he is now coming over as totally mad & deluded with a fortune in the bank, with bendtner, chamakh & giroud, 3 clowns up top how we weep for an ian wright, radford, supermac, thierry, anelka… every gooner can see that, not one proper goalscoring fearsome striker at the club, not one…. selling song and playing that twat ramsey every week, jeez… we need change more badly than anytime i have supported my beloved afc in 50 years
Morning all
Many different views on Mr Wenger,should he stay or should he go.
As the Clash would say.
Most of you know my feelings about Wenger but that’s my view.
He has done a fantastic job but the later years have been pointless.
And our seasons are over by FEBUARY apart from trying to make the CL by scraping into forth.
Is it good enough ask yor self ,all good things come to an end.
Even Ryan pigs can’t go on forever.
Much love
Sheep Hagger ™⚽
RA
I’m with you on the censorship
Mark
So SK “will” sell his shares in 12 months, eh?
You do not know what you are talking about
Zzzzzzzz
Wonderful article GN5.
Nice post, but honestly, I think it’s more to do with the natural yearning to understand and know what’s wrong than swallowing everything that’s forced down their throat. There’s a problem at Arsenal, we can all see it, our defence makes stupid errors regardless of the personnel and we simply pick up this malaise whenever we get close to winning something.
Nobody truly *knows* what the issue is, some think it’s nerves, some think we don’t have the required quality through whatever reasons, and some simply hold their hands up and say they don’t have a clue. Easiest solution is to simply blame the most visible source of everything that happens at Arsenal, it requires very little thought and very little explanation, plus is easy to defend in very simplistic terms.
Media doesn’t help, obviously but they’re vultures and prey on whatever is there rather than making it themselves.
Arsenal versus Spurs – QUESTION for ALL…
Will Mr Wenger play Mertesacker, arguably the slowest centre-back in the Premiership, or will he opt for the ‘pacier’ twosome of Vermaelen and Koscielny?
The question is NOT what would YOU would choose do, but what you think Mr Wenger will choose to do.
Bit silly labelling anyone who has criticised the manager as a ‘glory hunter’, I’m surprised you’re 66, hopefully by that age I’ll be a lot wiser than that. I agree that the petulance from some fans is disgusting and disrespedct towards the manager has no place amongst our fans, however, some people love Arsenal more than they love Arsene and are worried he’s now taking the club backwards – to label those people as inferior to you for simply holding a different opinion on the state of Arsenal is immature. Discuss the issues if you disagree with their statements, like an adult.
Good letter from true fan.we also love mr.Wenger and all we ask for is a slight change in his transfer policy.please dont leave arsenal Mr.Wenger.
Wenger play Mertesacker
Big Al, I reckon it’ll be Mertesacker and Vermaelen. I’d tend towards Koscielny and Mertesacker, with Kozza on the right hand side to help Jenks with his recovery pace as Monreal and Mertesacker *should* know what they’re doing better.
What I would like to know is why is Arsene hated so much by Myles Palmer on Arsenal News Review. Its incessant.
Good day all,
Thank you for the responses, both positive and negative, like I said in the opening to my letter “Everybody has the right to their own opinion”.
I never expect any of us to have either the same thoughts or expectations, but I do advocate civility regardless of ones opinion and that is not always the case with some of a negative persuasion.
Here are a couple of examples of what I truly abhor from another site.
……………………………………………………………………….
” So who on here wants us to lose to spurs” ?
Yes please. Count me in !
Yippee Kai Yay – Losing a derby is always a big deal at anytime, but to lose when SO MUCH is at stake – the anger and bitterness directed at The Senile One would chisel away further at what support he still has left. This and hopefully a bad result against Everton too, will all help towards the ultimate aim.
……………………………………………………………………..
All they have in mind is the elimination of Arsene Wenger and neither common sense or logic is allowed to interfere with their inane aim.
Would an admin person kindly change the date in the first line if my post to 2004/5.
Good morning to you all,
Well said GN5, and congratulations on toughing it out through all those lean years, it certainly wasn’t easy, but it’s what true fans did then and still do.
It’s a pity some fans have failed to read the post in it’s entirety and have fallen into the trap of criticising the author for things he hasn’t said. It would be more adult to have read the item carefully, paused to think and only then commented.
Brilliant write up GunnerN5, fairweather fans would do well to read this.
I fully support your words and views here. There remain gooners of character and courage.
COYG
NG that sums up the problem with a lot of today’s society, get a tenth of the facts layered with an opinion from someone and then make a judgement. Apply that to politics, sport, whatever its the same.
Norfolk,
I’m afraid the neither reading or listening are their strong suit.
They are so quick to make the counter viewpoint that they fail to absorb what they have either read or heard.
Thank you “oh mystery admin person”
Morning, I’ve amended the post.
Thanks for another GN5 classic, we can only admire your loyalty and dedication. By now everyone knows where I stand on the issue but as I’ve said in response to recent articles, we need to be 100% behind the team and manager and see where we are come the summer.
If all these your praises is for Arsene Wenger, Then Man utd fans would rather not die before going to heaven for having a victorious Coach in Alex Ferguson. Once a man twice a child, Wengers technical and tactical approach are archaic to modern soccer. How on earth can self acclaimed good like wenger will allow Podolski and Rosiscky on a bench, prefare playing Aaron Ramsey, stagnant Giroud and Abou Diaby ahead the above experienced players. Arsene wenger tactics has not worked for 8 years now. So we need a total change in his transfer policy, Or else I foresee Doooommmm!
So… everyone is entitled to their opinion but if it differs from your own they are glory hunters…
Although I do think Wenger deserves respect for what he did (in the Highbury years) we have become stale now and horribly wasteful with regards to wages, football in the last 10 years or so cannot in any way be compared to the previous 40-50 years, the massive difference in club revenues and ticket prices demands that Arsenal should be competing at the top table, we simply are not doing that.
We need to cut the sentiment and deal in facts – 16 consecutive years in the CL is not an acheivement (we’ve never won it), top 4 is not a trophy, and being run by an asset stripping yank is not reason to give us the moral high ground over Chelski/City.
The real problem is Kroenke though not Wenger.
About time somebody said what the majority think. Stuff the man u / spuds run media. We do not need a new manager. We need stadium debt cleared & Players to not swich off& make lazy sloopy passes & to step up to the mark.
GIE and GN5,
Sad isn’t it? It’s the goldfish attention span syndrome , many would prefer to look at pictures rather than read the text. It’s far simpler to repeat someone else’s opinion than formulate one of ones own.
Sadly it’s usually the more outrageous opinions that draw the attention rather than the more carefully considered ones.
So… everyone is entitled to their opinion but if it differs from your own they are glory hunters…
Basil – that is my personal opinion and I stand by it.
Norfolk,
In my 66 years of supporting Arsenal 52 years (79%) of them have been pot less. I would suggest that the pot hunters find another sport, let alone another club, to support as neither football nor Arsenal will be able to satisfy their continuous cravings.
RA,
It would appear that the (Vilfredo) Pareto law is alive and well at Arsenal,
– 20 % of the time we win a trophy so 80% of the time a great many fans will be dissatisfied.
Basil,
I love to hear from someone in the know — like you.
Do tell — what assets has Kroenke stripped?
As a fine upstanding citizen, we will expect you to tell the police, of course, to explain how he did it, because according to the statutory, independently audited Financial Accounts of Arsenal Plc, he only takes a £25K yearly salary – does not take out any dividends as a shareholder — and there is no sign of him stripping any assets from the Balance Sheet.
So, away you go — enlighten us!
RA,
You are surely not expecting a reply!
GN5,
I prefer to believe that 20% of the time we win trophies, so at least 80% of the fans remain steadfastly loyal to the club. 🙂
Many of us would like to win another trophy, as much for for Arsene as for ourselves, and why not. The Arsenal enter competitions to win, and I love it when we do, and I am disappointed when we don’t, of course, but it is not the be all and end all.
On the other hand, I might disagree with their reasons, but I have no problem with other fans expressing an opinion that they are unhappy with the lack of trophies in recent years.
Where I part ways with them is if they do not remain supportive of the club, and do resort to the vile notion of hoping the Gunners will lose just to prove a point. (I know that is only a very insignificant number who say that – but it sticks in my craw!)
By the way, apart from the excellent contents, and the well written and set out manner of your Post, it has also been successful in achieving the purpose of any Post — it has generated some very lively debate! 😀
You know I change my mind, I was reading stuff like Arsenal Trust how Wenger spent 310 million on 29 players since 2009 the highlights being 17mil on Cazorla, 15 mil on Arshavin, 13 mil on Giroud, 12 mil on Nasri and Oxdale-Chamberlain, 10 on Arteta, Podolski, Vermalean, and Gervinho.
Tons of other gems Santos 7 mil, jenkinson 1 mil, hector bellerin & Jon toral 300k each, squillaci 3.3 mil, kosclelny 8.45 mil, wellington (cant get a work permit) 3.5 mil, martinez 1.3 mil, silvestre 750k, ramsey 5 mil, luke freeman 200k, cornella 400k, park chu young 2.3 mil, thomas eisfeld 600k
Other free gems amaury bischoff, sol campbell, chamakh (10 mil in wages), miyaichi
155 mil in transfers and another 155 in wages. Brilliant Wenger does it again! Seeing so many marquee names u can see that very very few are on loan or have not played most are international stars!
The few that do go on loan as Gooner In Exile told us is because some ungrateful fans boo these gems and all stars while on loan The Arsenal are stuck paying their wages which could have gone towards paying a transfer for say a Mata or a Hazard or holding on to a RVP and Nasri but then again how could any manager know that his brilliant gems would get booed off the field!
Reading this piece puts it all in perspective 16 years of making up the numbers in the Champs Lge cause lets face it Liverfool is not there and if they could trade their 2005 title for 16 years of qualification they would do it!
Lets face it do you think all those gems would come to The Arsenal if it were not for the champs lge? You would be stuck with no names unknowns and crap. Thankfully he can continue his great work for at least another 8 years and yield some of the historic results of the last 8 years! Fans need to be grateful cause this calibre of management cost mourinho, ancelloti, guardiolla, SAF (all multiple champs lge winners none have had back to back trophyless seasons let alone 8)! Its obvious Wenger currently paid more than SAF and Ancelloti needs a raise cause none of those managers managed the move to emir8s so the gate prices will also have to increase. 8 more years! 8 more years! 8 more years!
NG,
Is it that obvious? 😀
A Hole,
When did they let you out?
Anyway, didn’t you promise us, yesterday, with your Chavs word of honour, that you would fuck off back to a Chelsea blog and never return?
Oh yes — I should have known — that was a Chav’s word of honour – silly me!
RA,
Thank you for your kind comments. I’m always nervous writing a headline post as I’m aware that my grammar leaves a lot to be desired. So I just try to make them logical and understandable.
I would like to see my post with your wording and phraseology – that would be brilliant.
Lol@R.A.
But I change my mind on Wenger I say u give him a modest raise and keep him for at least 8 more years u can see my reasoning there! He buys gems and holds on to big stars except greedy judases like cesc, clichy, nasri, rvp because he costantly qualifies for champs lge.
And knowing what it means to qualify and be there year after year as well as winning it, I much prefer the qualification! In Arsene’s case you think he could sign quality like gervinho, santos, squillaci, coquelin, arshavin these international household names would not come to Arsenal if Arsene failed to qualify for the Champs lge.
Perhaps he means by asset stripping as selling our best players to boost the coffers….just a thought.
Ash,
Seriously – why do you bother to come onto a site just to annoy people? Or is that how you get some joy out of life?
If you were to display a more open attitude then you could have e meaningful dialogue with AAers.
@GunnerN5
Brilliant post u made me see the light!
The only thing missing is that Wenger cant be responsible for repetitive trophy drought he is not on the pitch defending and scoring. However when it comes to 16 year consecutive champs lge lets give the devil his dues.
Cause a lot of the time some ungrateful fans credit Arsenals failures to Wenger when they ought attribute the failure to the players and only the success(if it can be called that making up the numbers at the champs lge) they ought to make that a trophy cause I believe even the Emir8s cup has been elusive!
Bottom line credit Wenger for champs lge and blame squad for not winning a trophy! Fans need be logical like u folks then they would be grateful!
Ash,
That’s more like it!
I am obviously a firm supporter and advocate of Arsene remaining as our manager, but that does not mean that I’m blind to his and the club’s shortcomings. However I never play the second guessing game or use hindsight as a weapon against either AW or AFC.
You see I just consider myself as an expert on the history of our club
and a knowledgeable supporter. My many years of support have definitely softened my attitude and reduced my expectations. Having said that my thirst for success and achievement has never waned – it’s simply tempered with realism.
Ash dole
U posted this .
quality like gervinho, santos, squillaci, coquelin, arshavin these international household names
Sheep asks
In who’s house are theses household names.
If I asked my wife who are they she wouldn’t have a clue.
As they are NOT household names
Nice words from Jol about young Frimpong:
He said: “If there was an opportunity to take him on loan, I would probably do that. It is quite a nice position to be in, to get a loan player you do not have to pay a transfer fee. It is a good way of doing things because it would be quite expensive to take him [permanently].
“I was impressed with him from the start. He is the type of player you would like as a manger because he is versatile and he can play as well because he is an Arsenal player.”
The Fulham manager said: “He did well for us at Carrow Road and he is getting better and better. I can play him from the start if I want to.”
My friends, the regulars on AA, will know by now of my love of and eclectic Taste in poetry.
We were talking recently of the sadness experienced by DD in his family circumstances, and I suspect many of us have felt the devastation of losing a close family member or friend.
Here is a poem that is not at all gloomy, but the more I have read it, the more it has helped to make sense of both life and death. Hope you like it.
So many different lengths of time – A poem by Brian Patten
How long is a man’s life, finally?
Is it a thousand days, or only one?
One week, or a few centuries?
How long does a man’s death last?
And what do we mean when we say, ‘gone forever’?
Adrift in such preoccupations, we seek clarification.
We can go to the philosophers,
But they will grow tired of our questions.
We can go to the priests and the rabbis
But they might be too busy with administrations.
So, how long does a man live, finally?
And how much does he live while he lives?
We fret, and ask so many questions
Then when it comes to us
The answer is so simple
A man lives for as long as we carry him inside us,
For as long as we carry the harvest of his dreams,
For as long as we ourselves live,
Holding memories in common, a man lives.
His lover will carry his man’s scent, his touch:
His children will carry the weight of his love.
One friend will carry his argument,
Another will hum his favourite tunes,
Another will still share his terrors.
And the days will pass with baffled faces,
Then the weeks, then the months,
Then there will be a day when no question is asked
And the knots of grief will loosen in the stomach,
And the puffed faces will calm.
And on that day he will not have ceased,
But will have ceased to be separated by death.
How long does a man live, finally?
A man lives so many different lengths of time.
Nice piece N5. I and many of us will really miss Arsene when his time is done with us. The league and sport will miss his class also.
By asset stripping I do indeed mean selling our best players to keep our heads above water, this is mainly needed to make up for our poor commercial revenue, I really do wonder why some Arsenal supporters seem to defend Kroenke as if he is a real football man who cares deeply about Arsenal FC, very strange considering his track record with his other ‘franchises’ and how Arsenal have behaved since he took over.
Do you really buy into Kroenke’s vision?, what exactly is this anyway?, to make us into the next Villa?.
Basil,
I won’t press you any further, because they are weasel words.
You accused Kroenke of ‘asset stripping’ and that is normally a pejorative term for dubious activities, and if you were to say that to the gentleman concerned could have unfortunate consequences.
Asset stripping is often understood to mean the taking of company funds or assets of value while leaving behind the debts.
Let’s see what the Serious Fraud Office thinks.
“Stripping of company assets is normally done for two main reasons:
The fraudsters deliberately target a company or companies to take ownership, move the assets and then put the stripped entity into liquidation,or;
“Phoenixing” – directors moving the assets from one limited company to another to ‘secure’ the benefits of their business and avoid the liabilities.
But no, you don’t mean asset stripping, it seems, you mean the buying and selling of player contracts which is done by EVERY company, and has resulted in Arsenal making a net profit on these trades, which we have been told will be re-invested in new players this Summer.
So having bought 66% of the Arsenal shares for approximately £500m, Mr Kroenke has not been asset stripping, after all, but has invested a huge sum in acquiring Arsenal.
And your point was?
No, no, don’t bother — I’m bored with your nonsense already!
Add to that RA that the “poor commercial revenues” were pre Kroenke deals, actually i’d guess the commercial revenue has already risen under Kroenke’s ownership. And if I was to put aside every other bit of knowledge I had I could probably muster a very pro Kroenke stance using solely commercial income increases as a basis.
Interesting read from today’s guardian.
By Jeremy Wilson7:00AM GMT 02 Mar 20131 Comment
At just before 4pm tomorrow, the distinctive figure of Arsene Wenger will take his place in the White Hart Lane dugout for what will be a record 40th north London derby.
Depending on how his increasingly erratic team performs in the 90 minutes that follow, Wenger’s body language will then oscillate between the professorial demeanour of his early Arsenal years to the angry, frustrated and even tortured expressions that have characterised more recent times.
Wenger has only actually lost five of those previous 39 derbies but he knows that his team’s ascendancy over Tottenham – and with it their cherished place among English football’s top four – has never been more seriously threatened. His once revered methods have also never faced more scrutiny. And, with his contract expiring next year,
Wenger’s own position has never been the subject of more fervent debate. The sensitivity on that subject was evident in the now infamous press conference prior to the recent Bayern Munich match.
Wenger felt aggrieved that an inaccurate story had been published but his reaction also pointed towards a more deep-seated hurt at recent criticism. So, as he approaches a match that could define Arsenal’s season and conceivably even his future, is he really still relishing the challenge? Those with a detailed personal knowledge of Wenger’s working methods and current state of mind paint a consistent picture.
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Wounded? Yes. But unwavering in his desire and belief? Absolutely. “Arsene is as focused and determined as he has ever been,” says Jacques Crevoisier, a friend of 40 years, who provides psychological profiles of Arsenal’s young players. “He is a big fighter and one of the greatest warriors I ever met in football in the most difficult situations. He is the first leader and able to cope with such pressure.”
Those familiar with Wenger’s working patterns say that, away from the cameras, nothing has changed in almost 17 years at the club. He is generally still the first to arrive at Arsenal’s London Colney training base and the last to leave. At 63, he continues to follow the same diet as the players and the highlight of his day remains the hour or so he spends, stopwatch in hand and whistle in mouth, overseeing training. Stories of him watching ludicrous amounts of matches from around the world continue.
“I consider myself a football nut but h lives, eats and sleeps it,” says Bob Wilson, his former goalkeeping coach. “That has never ever changed. There is absolutely no change when we talk. If I throw up any topic, his enthusiasm and his interpretation on something still always makes me think. He is a one-off – totally different. He is an academic who is in love with football.
“He has total belief in himself and he feels this responsibility to the people who have paid to go to matches. He believes that win, lose or draw, the person going away should say that it was an amazing game to watch.”
There is no disguising the current hurt, however. Wenger was named ‘sport’s sorest loser’ in one magazine poll in 2008 and the added practice of the past five years appears to have taken a physical toll.
He seems to look just a little slimmer, greyer and more stressed every season. “He wants to win more than anyone I have ever met in football,” says Damien Comolli, Arsenal’s former scout. “In the third season at Nancy, he lost the last match before the mid-winter break. He shut himself away on his own for the fortnight, and didn’t even have his family around for Christmas. He’d make himself physically ill after a defeat.”
Wilson believes that defeats – and there have already been 10 this season – do visibly age Wenger. “Agony is the only word I can use to describe it,” he says. “He cares so much and has such a love for the club. He talks about it like a marriage. He believes that Arsenal has been his destiny. When I see his face, if we have won, there is a relaxation in every muscle. I see that same face after we have lost or not played particularly well and it is a man 10 years older.”
Among friends of Wenger, there is a shared frustration that Arsenal’s recent decline is generally measured in the narrow context of his extraordinary past success. After all, if you go back before Wenger arrived, Arsenal had achieved just 23 top four finishes in 92 seasons.
They are now going for their 17th in a row under his management. David Dein, when speaking last month on Sky Sports’ Footballers’ Football Show, put it like this: “It is very simple, under Arsene Wenger’s stewardship, Arsenal have had good times and very good times. He is the most driven and focused person I have ever met in football.”
Comolli can still recall the day that Roman Abramovich arrived at Chelsea in 2003 and Wenger predicted a profound alteration of what he called “the scenery”. Add in Manchester City, as well as the constraints of paying for a new stadium, and an eight year trophy drought becomes more understandable if no easier to accept.
“The issue is not Arsene, but simply the fact that they have been fighting against teams with more money and with enormous debts,” says Crevoisier. “If the Financial Fair Play is implemented, the most healthy club in Europe is Bayern Munich and the second is Arsenal.”
The question of what happens beyond next season now lingers. A potentially momentous decision awaits over the next year. Wenger’s friends all suggest that nothing has been decided beyond his contract in 2014 and that it will be the last thing on his mind just now.
“He is intelligent enough to know when enough’s enough if people really wanted him to go,” says Wilson. “There will come a time but I really don’t think it is that time yet. We want it to finish in the way it should finish: under his terms and with a bit of silverware to show that his belief in the way the game should be played works.”
Health will also be a huge factor. Wenger has previously told friend that he would look carefully at his position when he was into his 60s and has admitted to concern at the untold damage he might be doing to himself. Against that, football has been an obsession since he was old enough to listen to the stories of players from his local village team in Duttlenheim, where his parents ran La Croix D’Or pub.
“I don’t think he could live without it,” says Wilson. “I expect Arsene to still be a manager, here or somewhere else, at Alex Ferguson’s age.
Football can give him incredible pain when things don’t go right but seeing people perform just gives him so much joy.” And could he really go elsewhere? For all the recent difficulties at Arsenal, his standing in Europe remains considerable. “In his recent press conference,
Arsene said, ‘one day I will tell you all the offers I have had’ but we know them,” says Crevoisier. “It is France. It is England. It is Real Madrid. It is Bayern Munich. It is Inter Milan. It is Barcelona. They were all desperate to get him. He never accepted to talk to them and it is something people should never forget.
“At the end of the season, Jose Mourinho will leave Real Madrid. If Madrid feel that Arsene is not happy, Arsene will be the first choice. I don’t say he will go there but it as simple as that.
“His reputation across Europe is as one of the top six coaches in the world. Some fans say, ‘maybe it is the time for Arsene to leave’ but he would find himself immediately in a big club and the question is who will come in to replace him at Arsenal?
“I think he will respect his contract until 2014. Then, if he feels people don’t like him, maybe he will not extend his contract. He sets the highest standards of himself and I don’t think he would stay if he did not feel people were satisfied with him.”
Wenger has himself described his future as “short-term” but, if results do turn back in Arsenal’s favour, the most telling insight can perhaps be found in an interview he gave back in 2011. “The time goes by at the speed of light,” he said. “All of these years haven’t at all changed the fact that I’m always looking ahead to the next match, hoping it will be a perfect match but knowing it won’t be. I remain addicted to the next match, like a drug.”
That search for perfection could yet extend at Arsenal into a third decade
So Arsenal’s players are not assets then? – funny way of looking at things.
Also one would like to know how Mr Sun shines out of his rectum Kroenke raised the £500m, Deutsche bank loan by most accounts so not his money.
As I said very strange supporters I really wonder where the agenda comes from and what it is they want for ‘their’ club.
OK first off I was not even born until 1965 and having been born in the US and not North London I did not even see a Arsenal Match live until the early 1980s SO Graham was the first Arsenal Manager I knew but since becoming a Fan I have reviewed Arsenal history and I am aware that Arsenal has gone through more then a few trophy droughts. Respect to you as a long time fan BUT the past failures do not justify going though them again. I am not a Wenger out fan but I am a Wenger must change things fan but if he can’t then maybe he should go.
But I am also very upset with the players that have been brought in and I am very concerned with the image of the club going forward it took many years to establish Arsenal as a Top Club not just in England but in Europe but that image is being tarnished by the failure to hold on to top players and this makes it harder to sign new players.
In the end it is the players that play the match NOT the manager and it was less about what Graham did off the pitch and more about the group of players he assembled on the pitch and that continued with Wenger and the players we had during his greatest successes giving the same player quality Wenger would again be a winning manager the problem is WHY did the club let the situation of more talent leaving then coming in happen? I feel it is complacency at all levels players that just go through the motions and have no competition for their spot in the team a manager that has no pressure from the board and a Board that do not seem to care that they are NOT securing the best players,
ash, i know exactly what you mean
Like you, i too have been stung on the cock by a Hornet. It was whilst i was holidaying in Crete. There i was reading reading a dirty magazine and thoroughly enjoying myself when all of a sudden i felt an excruiating pain. I looked down and saw this enormous hairy Hornet sitting on my shaft. I was only 16 at the time and thought to myself “it shouldnt be like this”
Anyway, the pain was so bad, that i had to get my gran to call an ambulance. I never even had time to get rid of the mag, so it was obvious what i had been up too. I swear i overhead one of the ambulance crew say it might have to be amputated
The trauma of this event led me to go on Crew Alexandra websites trolling them under the name “Cockhornet”. They hated me and a posse came to London but i hid in a celler for five days.
What i would reccomend, to get over your hang ups, and i hope you take my advice. Is to sit out in the garden, place some jam on your cock, and expose it to all excited insects.
in fact its so good that now when i see a Bee i instinctly take my trousers off. Ive had a few people scream and been chased by the old bill a couple of times but my trolling days are over. hahahaha
I refer back to Micky’s comment of 10.27. Quality.
Gn5. Fine letter which I would sign. AW is anything but infallible, just a human being who makes mistakes – however, he makes less mistakes than all but very few.
Enoying the Diving competition in Spain. Pepe is a shameless cheat – expect him to sign for Chelsea in summer
TMHT,
Sounds to me that you are one big stiff!
DD thanks for that article, ok its a pro Wenger piece but it points to what many of us say, especially the fact that he could have jumped ship anytime in the last 16 years but he showed us loyalty when he could have taken an easier option.
Basil footballers are commodities, and the sale would have had to result in him taking money out of the club to be considered asset stripping, he hasn’t, the sales have allowed Wenger to continue to buy, every pound in from players sold since Kroenke arrived has been spent on players coming in.
Furthermore any loan Kroenke or KSE might have had to take to acquire AFC is irrelevant if money does not leave the club to fund it. According to initial offer it was all paid via cash or loan notes. The loan notes were in KSE and designed for shareholders like Nina Bracewell-Smith for her and her families own tax advantage.
This is not Glaziers buying United taking a loan in an entirely New Company whose only business was to own shares of Man Ure, the cost to the football club to pay the interest on the loans is huge, and something we thankfully have not had to worry about.
hahaha, try my best GN5.
Thats Ash’s problem, not enough stiffness. In his case that must have been one hell of a big Hornet. hahaha
I don’t want wenger to go because we’re not winning trophies. I want him to go because I don’t think he’s doing nearly enough with the resources he has at his disposal. No one here is a more loyal fan than me because they still think the manager is the best for the job. I support the Arsenal not Arsene, I don’t think we owe him anything. He’s done a great job for us, but he’s taken more than enough from us in financial renumeration.
The whole culture of the club is one of complacency and back slapping about how well run we are. Wenger deserves a bust no doubt, but it shouldn’t have been made while he was still at the club. PHW has one and the whole board (of which I include Arsene, as he has a very free role at the club) is just rotten. I’ve had enough of having to indulge Arsene’s pet projects: Denilson, Hleb, Diaby and many more. He has spent more than £100 million on poor players in the last few years. His recent transfer record is poor.
A lot of people talk about players not showing enough motivation, but the psyhcological state of the team is down to the management. Why is it that we often talk about only some players looking they actually care. I cannot recall seeing a single performance from yanited that has been as lethargic as countless performances I’ve seen from us in THIS season alone.
I’m also fed up with our tactical inflexibility. This arrogance of we don’t need to adapt our game is beyond ridiculous. Better teams than us adapt their game plans. Our approach of playing every match the same way…god it infuriates me.
Terry,
Did your hornet have a magnifying glass, or did he read braille? 🙂
GIE,
You are wasting your time trying to explain to Basil Fawlty, he will only come up with something even more stupid.
I am angry with myself for bothering with him!
Merse,
I for one do not doubt you are a passionate fan.
You have obviously got views about AW and the club which are seriously vexing you, so anyone telling you they disagree with some of what you are saying is not going to help matters.
As I have often said, other fans’ opinions cannot be ignored by those who do not share those views, and you have not been abusive to anyone – so credit to you.
Incidentally, DD posted a newspaper report @ 3:15 pm which surely tells you that complacency is not something Wenger can be accused of?
Anyway, keep supporting, and sharing your opinions, and maybe by the season’s end things may become clearer! 🙂
Lol classic
Terry Mancini hair transplant
Funny man
Hey, Micky Did It, to tell the truth I always thought ping pong / wiff waff was second only to Bowls in the…. please cut off my life support machine …..boring things to do, but hey, If this is what wiff waff is all about in North Devon….I`ll be your neighbour soon !.
# Please note , this video contains lots of lovely swearing and lovely adult humour # ( well humour to some ! hahaha ), so if you are a gooner church goer, it`s not for you, but I know you wont be able to cull your curiousity ! hahaha
Micky is played by celeb gooner Paul Kaye. TMHT kindly supplied the syrup and Redders does the Brooklyn voice over !.
I give you ….. Didits wiff waff training !.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeUBYZY4xmc
Mr Arse you are probably right, I hate the fact that by sticking up for Kroenke I will end up being tarred as some Kroenke lover, whereas I have no strong feelings on him one way or the other, like I didn’t really care about PHW, Dein, Friar, Fiszman. Are other BoDs discussed by fans as much as ours? Are other Chief Execs in the news as much as Gazidis?
Take Chelsea we rarely hear from Roman, and we occasionally hear mention of this Bruce Buck guy, but wouldn’t know him to look at him. All we know is managers are sacked frequently.
Red Arse,
that’s a very fair comment. I haven’t abused anyone. I just find that a lot of people (not all) who support Wenger try to portray themselves as the true fans and frankly it pisses me off. As said before, everyone I know who supports the Arsenal want him gone and we’ve all been going for decades.
If anything I think a new manager would be good because it will give the fans something to unite around. Wenger is becoming too decisive issue and that is not healthy for the club. Arsenal is more important than Arsene.
Fine and heartfelt Post Gn5
I happen to agree with just about every word of it.
GIE:
It’s difficult to develop an opinion about Kronke as he really lives up to his name and is so silent that we simply don’t know where he stands on any issue.
Based only on the fact that he has not used Arsenal as his personal piggy bank I’m impressed; as that has not been the case with other American owners of EPL clubs.
But I would like him to make the occasional public statement to give us some knowledge as to where he stands.
GIE,
You and I are both on record as saying we support Arsenal, and could care less who owns it, altho’ not an oligarch or another state entity, of course.
It’s just when you read absolute garbage about the club or its officials, it is difficult not to try and explain why it is garbage.
It is a waste of time, of course, but we tried.
Evening everyone
A very nice post GN5
kroenke has attended our last two matches/
Arsene Wenger’s record against Spurs in the Premier League:
Played 33
Won 15
Drawn 14
Lost 4
(BBC)
You see we had such limited access to anything football in our first 20 odd years supporting unless you literally went to games and footballers were just average earners and not celebrities bar the odd exceptio in the late sixties with george best (there may have been others) and then it snow balled. Now IMO it is totally out of control and a high proportion of people are gullable and belive anything that is written or blogged or tweeted etc
Merse,
You are OK.
I don’t think anyone means to knock those, like you, who have genuine concerns, but are clearly strong Gooners.
It is just that everyone, irrespective of their views, feels strongly about ‘their’ club and things can become heated.
It is all made worse by those who are either Spuds in disguise, or ‘Trojan Horse’ chavs like A Hole, or out and out nutters deliberately stirring things up, or with their own agendas.
I am sure we ‘normal’ people can all agree to support the club, the team and the manager until the end of the season, and then take stock!
Anything else at this point is detrimental to the Arsenal 🙂
Hi Rocket, 🙂
Where’ve you been maestro?
Just because my nurse is calling me!! 😀
Nite guys!
I think Sir Arsene , because of the malicious lies spread about him (admittedly initiated by a lone cyber troll but taken up by the rest of them) really enjoys rubbing their faces in their sperz dirt☻
I’ve got my lucky Wales pants on tonight ready for the big game tomorrow,my only worry is Jenkinson will be marking Mr bale .
Merse I wouldn’t be so convinced a new manager will bring any such unity to the fan base.
I will support anyone in the job, but there are as many ardent Wenger-ins as there are Wenger-outs, and if the new manager struggles we will end up with a lot of ITYS’s aiming abuse at the people who wanted Wenger replaced. And so will probably be in the same position.
In my view we already have something to unite behind and it’s Arsenal FC, and the sane and silent majority probably do that. It’s not that I can’t see there are issues to sort but if Wenger goes and we don’t get the right replacement are we prepared to have a few seasons out of all competitions from the start of the season, put yourself in a Liverpool fans shoes who was happy to lose Benitez who had “taken them as far as he could” and ask whether you are prepared for what followed.
Sheep from what I have seen of Bale this season I’d say he wasn’t playing left wing all game more a no 2 striker, he will be running between the lines from deep and towards goal, we need Arteta and Jack to work together in stopping ball to his feet and we need TV5 and BFG to sort out a plan, for me it’s to send BFG to confront him and when Bale tries to push and run round him have TV5 close enough and ready to mop up the push.
i don’t believe gunners still have a historian and philosopher like u as a fan.we need more encouragement from u .an eye opener .keep it up.thanks.
Thanks awal, i will. hahaha
As I supporter for more than 50 years, may I thank GN5 for his wonderful letter, all of which I heartily agree with.l
Of course I am disappointed with the inconsistancies and poor perfomances, and would love to win trophies, nevertheless, i am in this supporting thing for life and not just for results.
The younger generation of fans have been spoilt with success and cannot appreciate that trophies are not the only success that one can achieve. What GN5 relates is an enormous achievement and a great success.
Is it not a great compliment when even manure, when facing us, appreciating the power of our passing game, resort to defensive tactics in order to beat us?
If teams did not fear the way we play, then why do so many of them simply park the bus?
Our weakness is not to find a way to defeat that tactic on a regular basis. Will changing everything make any difference?
AS for those longstanding fans, who still want Mr. W out and change, you are entitled to your opinion, but in my view, are short sighted and blinded by the success of Mr. Wenger’s first 10 years.
What goes round goes round.
Mr. Wenger will go, eventually, but not before ensuring that his replacement is adequate and carries on the message that we Gooners should always be proud of.
If he has ensured that we have a fabulous ground, safe financial grounding and a state of art training facilities, why would he not also wish to ensure that the future of the team and the way it plays is also not secure?
Finally, good luck to the team and all of us fans tomorrow.
If you could take it now and didnt have to play tomorrow would you accept a point?
I know I would because I think it’s enough for us to make Spuds worry a bit with their games remaining and for us to galvanise.
GIE
He’s unstoppable at the moment and Jenkinson ain’t the same gravy
CJ WILLstruggle
Terry were u bald icon gone or have u stolen Kelsey hair or my woll
jjgsol, brilliant comment.
GiE, No. we are going to beat them tomorrow, teach them a lesson, and hurt ther confidence. Arsenal will be like a wounded animal and show them whos boss.
Barca lost again god save the sheep
Don’t bank on it spuds are Favs
I have welsh mate wo can do bale he’s called Knuckles good defender
Sheepy, believe me, if it was humanly possible to transplant another persons hair onto my head i would. Probably for the best, i would end up assaulting people to give them a haircut.
Ive just got into this new hair product could toppick. You sprinkle it on your head, its a bit like pepper, and conceals the thinning areas.
The only problem is that the other night i spent the night round this lovely girls house and upon waking up found i had left half the stuff on her white pillow cases and sheets.
I thought, how do i get out of this one?? Quickly realised i couldnt so legged it before she woke up. hahaha
Mr Terence
Any chance of me and u go to the web site .
No hair.com
Let me know I’m as bald as a fox with no food
Cheers
hahaha, i go on them everday Sheepy. I check to see if theres been any advancement on a cure. No luck yet, but ime sure something will happen soon. hahaha
Prediction for tomorrow Terence
Think it will be 2-1 Arsenal Sheepy. Totnumb have done very well and at the moment are playing with purpose and confidence, especial Bale, who looks a special player.
Having said that, i still think were better. Technichly we have more all round ability and the way we pass and move the ball gives us the edge.
What hasnt been mentioned a lot is that this could be Totnumbs last chance. We are entering a stage were more money is available and more likely to keep our players, were as they are entering one were they will be building a new stadium and have bigger clubs chasing there players (Bale)
We get top four this year and they miss out then the gap between the Clubs will start to widen again.
Fantastic sentiments GN5. no one has commented on the alleged takeover bid. All the kronke out brigade are knocking one out on twitter
that chav who was on earlier is exactly what a chav is meant to be. A classless twat.
RESPECT.
Trully, thank you GN5.
Morning All,
Results didn’t go our way yesterday. A WBA draw would have set the cat amongst the pigeons.
It will be an exciting end to the season.
Morning Raddy,
Raring to go.
Can’t decide what music to dispatch to my headphones. Can’t decide which beach to go to. Its all a bit much.
GM probably because that’s the first most of us have heard about it!
Morning all……..squeak……..excuse me
“squeak” ROLF
GiE
How is your Son coping with the pressure of his first NLD?
There is a pic in today’s post that has had me laughing for 20 mins. I know you will enjoy it.
Refs: Check out the last minute penalty refusal at RM last night. No wonder Valdes got sent off after the final whistle, – a dreadful and probably crooked decision.
If that happens today Clattengurg will have to emigrate.
Definitely rather a lot of squeaking from him too Micky…..but other than that he seems quite relaxed about the whole affair.
My lullabies currently range from “By Far the greatest team”, “oh to be” and “you are my Arsenal”. He smiles when I sing the By Far The Greatest Team…..so at least I know he gets irony 😀
So FIFA are saying the next World Cup could be held in winter to help temperature issues.
Oh well guess its time to expect International retirements and signings of players from obscure nations.
So GIE, what’s your arabic like?
Could we become yet another Oiligarchy? 🙂
Regardless of what people think of AW and our current situation, how can any true fan want us to lose, especially to Spurs? What kind of idiocy is this?
Morning all ….. its the big one! …..
……. New post ………..