Once upon a time on AA we had Rant Friday, well today is Rant Thursday.
Last night’s game at Camp Nou may have been exciting and the denouement exceptional but what about the rest of it? And what of our game the night before? My focus here is on Respect.
The cheating exhibited by Suarez, Lewandowski etc is a disgrace. It shows no respect for the referee, the opposition and much more importantly, the game. These people benefit from deceit. Their prime purpose is to gain benefit and kudos by blatant diving. Cavani got shown a yellow card for waving an imaginary card (fully justified), yet Suarez who spent most of the evening diving and feigning injury picked up just one card when he should have been sent off at least twice.
It is wrong and could be so easily remedied. Post game analysis (of which there are endless re-runs) allows the authorities to retrospectively ban players. They have too do so if the game has any merit or morality.
FIFA and the FA show little respect for the spirit of the game. Tuesday night saw a referee completely out of his depth. His sending off of Koscielny , the penalty thus rewarding Lewandowski’s blatant cheating clearly affected the game. So too did hthe referee’s rebuttal of our penalty claim when Theo was felled. It could so easily been sorted out by the 4th official using video technology. It works ion almost every other sport and in both cricket and rugby adds to the entertainment. Why not football? The argument that it cannot be used at grass roots level is quite frankly ludicrous.
In the absence of true heroes current society makes heroes of sportsmen; they have to be role models and with that comes responsibility. That players are rewarded for cheating has a knock-on effect. Why be honest when deception pays?
The current authorities have to start to bring morality and honesty back to the game we love. There are simple solutions, I could do it and so could you, so why can’t they?
What happened to Fair Play?
Rant Over (for now)
written by Big Raddy
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
very good post Raddy, thank you.
It was good to see that your hero and Ming were given 3 and 5 match bans retrospectively. Excellent and harsh decision, we need more of those.
Suarez has always been a cheat. He is a cretin, brainless unit with great footballing legs. But Lewandowski? I was so disgusted words failed me. Still, he is a hero and enjoys the status.
More and more reasons to start another hobby.
Thanks Erik
Sportsmanship and Fair Play are very old fashioned English qualities. For others, bending the rules and deception are part and parcel of winning.
You say: “In the absence of true heroes current society makes heroes of sportsmen”. I wish it were true.
Firstly, pretty much every sport from the Olympics to cycling to cricket and so on are all riddled with doping, cheating and bribery.
We know how corrupt FIFA are, so what’s the best we can expect. Ruling bodies are run by pocket liners.
Secondly, and equally tragically, today’s heroes are not sportsmen but celebrities!
Actually, the whole thing makes me want to hurl 🙂
Me too, which is why I toned down my post.
Thanks Raddy. Full agreement from me. Theo’s was a penalty and the Lewandowski one was a yellow card to him for simulation / attempting to con the referee, or whatever it is called. How what should have been a yellow to Lewandowski ended up a penalty to them and a red to Kos is ridiculous.
As I said I think the decisions in that game don’t just look like extremely poor officiating, they look premeditated. I think that corruption is probably still rife but also I think that footballs governing bodies have favourite big clubs they want to see dominate. It may be that our big club status has dropped somewhat recently and we are no longer quite so relevant.
Great dooming earlier from Eddie and Micky. I particularly like that Micky is trying to implement “posh dooming”. I like it Micky….Smoking Jackets, good Brandy e.t.c….
“I say old chap have you seen all that bad business going on down at the Royal Gunners footballing representatives? Jolly nasty business I can tell you. The biggest disaster since that charge during all that silly business with the pesky Ruskies over in Crimea. Pass me another Beluga canape will you old boy”…….
yes a bit of me that Micky. Which private London club do you wish me to meet you at.
GB
Brooks’s of St James of course
Best news is that they now allow good looking women in, albeit via the back door.
A heartfelt rant Randy and fully justified.
The thing is for all of us who feel that cheating should not be rewarded, and also fulminate about the gross unfairness of these ‘rewards’ which implicitly mean that some other team or player is unjustly punished have to realise that we are standing on the bylines blowing wind.
In case GB has started to blush thinking he has been caught out by fellow gooners coming over all faint when he demonstrates his talent in that respect, I actually mean we can stand around emitting hot air as much as we like expressing our condemnation of these unseemly practices, and GB’s as well, because it will not change anything.
Micky has already mentioned the FIFA corruption scandal, and UEFA’s as well, so who will set the standards and administer the proper sanctions against these rapscallions?
I don’t buy into all the ‘theory’ that referee are corrupt or forming cliques to ensure only ‘favoured’ clubs can advance to the next round of this or that trophy — I can go to UA for that sort of paranoia – but to put a novice referee in charge of such an important CL game in the supposed interests of equality and diversity of spreading the officiating to all the various European FAs is utter nonsense.
We may still not have got through on Tuesday last, but at least we would not have been handicapped by penalties not being given to us, or cheating by Lewandovski resulting in a double whammy of a penalty against the Arsenal and a man being sent off if an experienced referee had been appointed.
Mais, c’est la vie.
Micky,
This is somewhat delicate, but I am concerned that a naturalised local yokel, such as your good self, should say that in London; “(The) Best news is that they now allow good looking women in, albeit via the back door.” because you may be better served by carefully scrutinising these good looking women before you let them anywhere near the back door.
Just saying.
I’ll get my coat! 🙂
ha ha ha Zed
I’m safe. Me back door is under lock and key, bolted with security cameras everywhere 🙂
I can change Zed, I really can, don’t give up on me. All it takes is for us to secure Aguero, Bale and Hazard, win the quadruple while scoring a record amount of goals and setting a record points tally……then you just see how changed a man I am Zed 🙂
Micky, are we letting the likes of him (cousins across the pond and all that) into the posh dooming club? I don’t know, he seems cultured enough, but I reckon his dooming leaves something to be desired. He might have to work at that a bit before full access is granted. The lure of the backdoor girls may at least make him pretend very hard.
If fans want to use their protest power they should erupt in indignation about the poor officiating and blatant cheating that is allowed to go unpunished in our sport.
For many years I’ve been an advocate of the use of video to ensure that the decision’s made by the officials were correct – because it will both protect the integrity of the game and the decision made. Video is used during the game to good effect in most major sports. FIFA and the FA are full of old fashioned stick in the mud’s who are unable to see that cheating has become the norm.
The game deserves better on every level and if the officials can’t see fit to apply modern technology then the fans should make their joint voices known – without fan support there is no game……………….
Top stuff Raddy
Were would society be without a feeling of injustice? Without this fallback position we would all be forced to look at ourselves closely, soon realising that not having a bird has nothing to do with global capitalism but rather been a bit of a Tosser who’s opening line of “I fly a helicopter” disguises our morbid fear of heights and that we reside above a chicken shop.
Suarez is a cheat. If he wasn’t a footballer he would probably be the downstairs chicken man giving us unwanted legs. If I saw him entering his establishment I would have a go at the Bastard but been on the first floor I’m terrified of approaching the window.
We have to accept the reality. Diving in football happens and will continue to happen.
It took me many years to accept the truth but some time back I had an awakening experience. I was a member of the Alvin Stardust fan club and attended a book signing in Muswell Hill. There wasn’t many in the queue, an assortment of middle aged women who all went away thinking “Hes a bit lardy to be a pilot? Probably eaten a fattening chicken leg?” and one other strange bloke who in truth looked like he was there because he enjoyed queuing.
When it was my turn I asked Alvin to sign, “To Terry, Acrophobia is a problem”. When i got home I opened the book and saw Alvin had written “Fuck Off”?
My initial reaction was surely it was a mistake? He must have confused me for the bloke who liked queuing but then I thought it cant be, when he got to the front he went straight back and rejoined the queue.
I examined the two words closely. Perhaps the words meant something? I payed with anagrams and by adding and subtracting a few letters realised what Alvin really meant to say was “To Terry, best wishes Alvin”
This contented me for a few days but it soon dawned on me that this couldn’t be right? There was no mention of heights?
I tried all sorts after that. Alvin must have got distracted and wanted to write “Fuck Often Terry” etc but then everything fell into place. Alvin had obviously thought about the lyrics “My Coo Ca Choo” and the only possible reaction was “Fuck Off”
Diving and cheating will continue, and to stop us looking at ourselves, a good thing to.
I used to be of the opinion that video technology would make the game boring and give us nothing to discuss, but I think I’ve changed my mind. Is it more important that cheating is stamped out and the integrity of the game is maintained? Or is it more important that Robbie Savage and Michael Owen have a job talking absolute bollocks after every game?
More technology = less pundits
It’s a win/win!
Cheers, BR.
I’m as disgusted as you at the cheating in football.
I also still think that a free shot from 12 yards is too big a reward for many decisions given within the penalty box. The reward is so great that it almost encourages serial divers like Suarez and Ashley Young to become a bit weak at the knee as they cross the penalty area line.
The one Suarez got booked for was a total disgrace, dangling his foot out hoping for any sort of touch. Retrospective bans should come into play. Just imagine if he’d been sent off for a second yellow dive instead of Barca awarded a pen in the 91st minute!
I’m finally coming round to the video-assisted referees but still think it’ll cause massive controversies.
Do any of us believe that either the Lewandowski push and sprawl dive or the Suarez ‘Ive nearly been strangulated’ one last night would get overturned by a referee on the touchline?
I don’t.
I occasionally see the Dermot Gallagher column reviewing the week’s controversial decisions and he still gets it wrong after watching them umpteen times again from a plethora of angles.
Anyway it looks like the FA Cup will be the guinea pig next season.
http://www.thefa.com/news/2017/mar/06/ifab-agm-results-060317
It’ll definitely stop crap like this from Anthony Taylor.
This fan video of the same incident took me right back to when Taylor was gifting Villa a win against us at the start of the 2013/4 season.
Transplant
It’s a strange, and at the same time disturbing fact, that you’re the kind of bloke one might want choose to lift the spirits during the darkest hours.
Nothing to do with you tasting like chicken, or that the darkest hours might be dark.
You’re a genius 🙂
Great rant Raddy. Of course Suarez is a disgusting cheat and of course he should face retrospective punishment for simulation …… the fact that this doesn’t happen is evidence that football is still corrupt. The rule makers don’t want to remove the means by which results can be fixed otherwise they’d do the obvious.
The biggest cheat is Wenger for stealing a living at once a great club.
Agree with that Rasp
Although I’ve never commented on refs as they don’t register with me, it was the 4th official in both Arsenal and Barca games who swung the ref
He’s clearly the bloke to bribe
PSG got uefaLona’d.
Got home after work yesterday and asked my fellow Arsenal supporter how barca got through- he looked at me with a puzzling look and said no way- he did not know the score, and either did I yet. Figured PSG had 1 or 2 men sent off and a host of dubious penalities awarded to barca. Was half right- ever since that rvp incident I have come to the conclusion that fifa and uefa are overtly corrupt in the name of the almightly dollar.
love him or hate him, he is the man for the job. If I was on the board of the AFC I would bring Roy Keane to the Ems.
“Roy Keane has branded Arsenal’s performance against Bayern Munich “shameful” and says that the club should get rid of want-away forward Alexis Sanchez.
Arsene Wenger’s side were emphatically ejected from the Champions League on Tuesday after a 5-1 humiliation at the Emirates, a result which saw a final aggregate score of 10-2.
Former Manchester United captain Keane was far from impressed by the Gunners’ second-half performance, suggesting that Wenger’s players simply gave up against the Bundesliga giants.
The Irishman also had his say on Sanchez, who was criticised after the game for appearing to laugh following his substitution.
“I think certainly the last half an hour or 35 minutes they gave up. There’s no forgiving that.” Keane told ITV.
“There’s no shame losing to Bayern but there is when you down tools for the last half an hour and you lose 10-2. It was shameful.
The Republic of Ireland assistant manager continued: “I thought they were shameful the last half an hour. The goals they were giving away and people not running back.
“Yes they played really well in the first half but gave up in the second half. At this level, at any level, it’s ridiculous.
“You can talk how much you like but you’ve got to show how much you’re behind your manager when you’re on the pitch for 90 minutes.”
One player who came in for severe criticism after the game was Alexis Sanchez, who drew the ire of supporters for appearing to laugh following his substitution, with the game over as a contest.
Keane had no sympathy for the Chile international and believes that the Gunners hierarchy should do everything they can to speed up his exit.
He said: “On the topic of Sanchez… If you’ve got players at your football club who don’t want to be there then get them out of the door.”
Personally, I love Roy Keane and his attitude. He always gave 100%.
Rasp – I have a medal for you 🙂 I was talking to a guy today who went to one of your gigs in the 80’s. He was a big fan and loved a song about Tottenham palm trees?? He would not make a reliable prosecution witness but I got an impression that his memories are intact
In
Eddie. I detest Keane and all he stands for.
A bully and an ignoramus. Ask the Irish World Cup team that he abandoned. Ask the Coventry player whose leg he broke deliberately (in the process ending his career).
If that a-hole came to the Ems I would start supporting Brighton.
raddy – I never said he was an angel 🙂 But I would love to have him at the Ems. Definitely
Erik
Flight to Gatwick. Train 20 mins to Brighton. 10 minute walk to English’s Oyster Bar. Game. Concorde for a gig. Sleazy hotel. Walk on the pier. Home.
Ooo, and Eddie knows the owner of Brighton, so extra sausage rolls at half time
He’ll be back in a mo, Eddie. He’s just googling flights to Gatwick 🙂
funny guy that Erik. His hero is Ibra, most arrogant, unpleasant proposition in modern football, but hard working, heart on the sleeve and knife in a pocket Keano – Erik hates. Double standards or what?
Flights to Gatwick, they can swim the channel, no?
Erik has a weakness for ponytails
took me a while to understand the ponytails line 🙂 hold on, Raddy hasn’t got a ponytail????!!!! yukkie
Morning All
Ponytail 😀 😀
Brilliant plan Micky but as Keane will never come to THOF i can happily enjoy Piebury Corner and the Tolly/FFB etc
Erik
Couldn’t we enjoy a bit on the side? Just once.
God my brain hurts. Been over doing the thinking this week.
What’s good food for the delicate organ?
We know about cider vinegar for our joints, we know spinach makes us green and that honey makes us sticky, but what will help my brain, and I don’t want oily fish
Beer and whisky
Porridge is the way to go.
😀
Edmund’s mead and psilocybin
I wasn’t expecting the porridge suggestion 🙂
Chas
Last night I looked at the gig guide at the Concorde in Brighton. Undertones, Skids, Sham, From the Jam. They’re all still at it!!
Peter Hook and The Light were there last week.
It’s a great little venue overlooking the sea.
Some interesting stuff in here.
Not too doomy, fairly well reasoned.
Going to see the Skids later on this year.
Seen all the others.
The Concorde sounds great.
How about monkey glands?
Think I will give the Concorde a body swerve unless Steve Wilson plays there.
I doubt if you can get monkey gland in Tesco, perhaps Waitrose stocks them
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Steers-Monkey-Gland-Sauce-375ml/dp/B003N7QYCU
Wow. That is something to keep in the store cupboard and bring out for special occasions
Thank heaven Danny was only poorly.
danny Wellbeck 🙂 I think he was happy 🙂
Looks like one of those early Polaroid cameras. I remember the first time I saw one …. it seemed magical that a plain piece of paper could quickly turn into a picture.
Not long after that I created my first darkroom
micky – re brain foods – nurofen on toast, carp, chocolate, water. Easy.
Was always baffled me was my granmother’s knowledge. These days they carry out expensive researches into benefits of soup, or beetroot, or fruit in general, they produce findings in posh folders, call the media, the whole circus is spinning.
But did my grandma know all these things? How did she know to feed us fish before exams, beetroot for any wee wee problems, soup every day because it was good for us, tonnes of fruit and veg…and for all other problems different variety of vodka 🙂 Walnuts soaked in spirit for stomach, brandy for heart, warm beer and egg yolks for cold, and neat vodka for anything else 🙂 🙂
Eddie. It depends where you come from. My grandma insisted upon chicken soup as the all-in-one medicine. I think she was right.
raddy – the Jewish penicillin 🙂 yes, I forgot to mention that miraculous cure, we had lots of it too. And my friend always offers to bring some chicken soup when I am not well 🙂
how long did your grandmother live? Mine died at 95
Did you see that the conquerors of Spurs in the Europa league – the mighty Ghent – were beaten at home 5-2 by Genk in the quarter finals. 😀 😀
Mine 94, same age as my mother.
good age! Not that I would like to live that long, God forbid
Did Spurs lose the Genk? Nooooo, no way
Brighton playing tonight.
Eddie & Raddy, fascinating conversation on how older generation treated ailments
My Gran always cured me. If I said i was ill or didn’t fancy it she would beat me with a stick. No appeals to her better nature (she never had one) worked.
Sobs and groans of been genuinely ill had no bearing. I was once stung by a scorpion and the pain was excruciating.
” yaya, send the donkey for the Doctor. I think I’m brown bread”
” So you turn into cry babies again hey Terry? What would you do if Turks try to take your land?”
” i havent got any land yaya”
“One days you may have small field and chickens and Turks take it and eat the chickens. Now come here so I can stick you”
It worked marvellously. A few blows and I quickly forgot about the Scorpion, mainly because I was unconscious
Now days if I feel myself coming down with something i instantly start hitting myself so never fall ill. The time I broke my leg i was prostate on the floor waiting for an ambulance whilst some lovely damsal comforted me. “Can I get you anything” she asked. i said “Yes, can you find me a big stick”?
Yes, my gran was the best.
Terry 🙂 Turks eating your chickens 🙂
Sorry, but my grandmother was best.
My teams conceded so many goals this week 😦
This was due to:
– Lack of character and strong backbone;
– Amazingly poor refeering.
How can Arsenal and PSG recover from these huge and embarassing losses? They won’t. These losses will be in the back of all fans, players and managers and our oppositions too. Both teams’ weaknesses are exposed and I believe that none of them will lift a trophy this season as the losses have also broken the dressing room and players are now expressing their frustration on and off the pitch and tensions are arising…
Arsenal will HAVE to:
– Part with AW
– Part with Sanchez and most likely Ramsey and Wilshere
– Invest in a strong defensive unit to support Koscielny and Bellerin
– Get rid of subpar players (Debuchy, Jenkinson, Gabriel, Metersacker, Gibbs, Coquelin…)
– Hold on to Cech – Bellerin, Kos – Cazorla, Ozil, Ox – Walcott and Wellbeck
PSG will have to:
– Part with the coach
– Part with Thiago Silva, Maxwell, Krychowiack, Lucas and Ben Arfa
– Make Cavani our captain and buy Alexis Sanchez
– Buy a Top GK, Top CD, Top DM, Top Winger
– Start: GK – Meunier, Marquinhos, ?, Kurzawa – Verratti, ?, Rabiot – Draxler, Cavani, Sanchez
– Back-up: Trapp – Aurier, Kimpembe, ?, ? – Motta, Matuidi – Pastore – Guedes, Sturridge, Di Maria
Busy and difficult summer
RC
RC. Agree with the departures at AFC though not sure about AW.
I would keep Ramsey.
We need a younger and better right back and someone world class to replace Coquelin.
RC. Your English is fantastic. Almost as good as Terry’s 🙂
The sad part of our demise is the fact that it was coming for some time now. The signs were there, it is just the club did not take action in time and by that I mean changing the manager at least 3 years ago. And now that the wheels are coming off the only sensible option is to keep AW to see us through the exodus of players. Shockingly bad judgment of those at the top. Even the Black Scarf brigade could see it coming for a long time, so how come the directors were so shortsighted?
Eddie. We disagree.
Where is LB? Hope all is well with him
raddy – we disagree about what exactly?
Where is LB, GiE not to mention Rocky, may26, herb, Kelsey and Irish. And GM. and other traitors
Eddie. AW. Roy Keane. Xhaka. Ronaldo. Spurs. Conte. Mourinho. Ibra. Pugs.
Etc Etc Etc 🙂
is that all 🙂 🙂
Conte? Ronaldo? Mourinho?
You are wrong about pugs.
Eddie,
They are all in shock about your love of Roy Keane and have deserted to other blogs, which is what I will be doing if you don’t take that comment back! Keane is a c***.
I do agree with you about Wenger now being the only man who can sort this shambles out. Getting a new manager now whilst we are potentially dealing with major player changes would be a bad move and an impossible job for the man coming in. Imagine us losing Wenger, Ox, Sanchez and Özil and failing to get in the CL. Who would want to come and play for Arsenal? No doubt we’d sign players, but would the real quality players we need come here?
It might be a long road back after that.
Thankfully we still have some season left and hopefully we can turn it around, secure top 4, and then deal with the rest later when things might have settled down a bit.
fattie – here is a little story for you about the c***
He is from Cork and there is a long going hatred between Corkers and Dubliners. Roy Keane said many a times how much he detested all about Dublin.
Many years ago he published his autobiography and was due to sign copies of the book in the Waterstones in Bank. I went there nice and early and waited in the rain for several hours awaiting the c***’s arrival.
Eventually we were given tickets to write what is that we want the c*** to scribble in our copies. I wrote ‘Up the Dubs!!’ just to see Keane’s reaction and if successful to present it to a c*** from Dublin.
Keane almost jumped out of his seat when he saw my ticket, but looked at me, smiled and said ‘you are soaked…ok’ and wrote ‘Up the Dubs’ to immense pride and joy of the c*** from Dublin.
I love Roy Keane. He had horrid tough upbringing, but he grew up and became a man. He is doing ok now.
Cool story Eddie. As you’ve probably guessed I can’t stand the man, although I will agree he does have some qualities that I wish a few of our players had more of.
11:20pm on a friday night and I’ve finally caught up with reading all the comments.
I’m beginning to enjoy reading the comments with the benefits of hindsight. Knowing that Arsenal would be 1:0 up at half time and then capitulate made for interesting reading of Peaches comments about her dream. Personally I love Tasmanian farm honey. My parents used to drive through farm gates and buy them in odd jars and we would eat them on the way home. Terry is always a pleasure to read because he is so concise in his realistic interpretations of this crazy world. I think the tv pundits and fifa do not recognise any of the cheating, dives etc. because they all make too much money from gambling. Roy Keane is no better than Kevin Muscat, they both lack Vieras class. I’m all for wenger staying because he also has class. Good to see Welbeck starting. Agree we still need another 2 sheep in the top paddock my choices are the likes of a Modric and Rakitic or Mandzukic and Perisic. I feel like the season starts this weekend. COYG!
Eddie,
i can’t fathom why you think the guy who created this mess is the one to fix it. That makes ZERO sense. It’s like a new coat of paint of on wall full of termites.
Whether wenger stays or goes the problem remains why would anyone want to come.
A new face on the other hand, a proper new face, might face a similar problem for a year but if he demonstrates mastery a la conte, pochettino or koeman or has a name like pep or klopp wouldn’t face that problem for more than a year.
The sooner we have a clean slate, a new voice in the locker room, the faster we can move forward.
I maintain that our number one issue is the total lack of on field leadership.
Tony Adams (Mr. Arsenal) was replaced by Patrick Vieira, they were not only the last of our great leaders but they were also the last of our tough guys. They created both spirit and respect also they both had the “no nonsense, take no prisoners” attitude.
Roy Keane is not to be trusted, his ego far outweighs his ability and at the first sign of trouble he abandons teams. That would be the same as saying lets sign Joey Barton.
Both are trouble makers not problem solvers, however they both possess that never say die attitude that we are sadly missing
GN5 – ” his ego far outweighs his ability and at the first sign of trouble he abandons teams” – wrong, wrong, wrong. He only left one team because they refused to give 100% and were taking the piss. His commitment was always 100%.
Eddie you are almost right – his commitment to Roy Keane is beyond question.
Eddie, on second thoughts kindly list all of his achievements as a coach and manager.
Edie, Here are his (less than) impressive stats as a failed manager.
Sunderland G100, W42, D17, L 41 W%42.00
Ipswich Town G81, W28, D25, L28, W%34.57
Football League Championship 2006/7
GN5 – I never said that he is a great manager. Not sure why you are getting your knickers in the twist, calm down, there is as much chance of Roy Keane joining the Arsenal as of us winning the CL this season. None.
brilliant
3:15 ha ha. How much the au pair is back in the Philippines 🙂
Week over. Hooray for that. Play time.
If you have a little spare time, this is well worth watching in a very tense sort of way.
Especially young chas
A few words in favour of Arsene by someone who should know.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Patrick Vieira claims Arsenal players have let down Arsene Wenger
By James Dale
Patrick Vieira insists Arsene Wenger will not throw in the towel at Arsenal and says the players have let their manager down.
Wenger maintains he has not privately made up his mind on his future but will consider fan opinion when he decides whether or not to leave Arsenal in the summer when his contract expires.
Arsenal crashed out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage for a seventh consecutive season on Tuesday when they were thrashed 5-1 by Bayern Munich for the second time in two weeks, and Vieira – who captained the Gunners in their most successful period under Wenger – has put the responsibility firmly with the players.
Wenger admits recent protests against him will influence his decision on whether to stay at the club next season
Wenger admits recent protests against him will influence his decision on whether to stay at the club next season
“He is going through a really difficult period but at the same time I know Arsene and he is not the kind of person who will throw the towel in and walk out of this situation,” Vieira, who is now manager of MLS side New York City, told Omnisport.
“He will fight for it because he is proud and he will give everything like he has been doing for the football club.
“It is true that people are doubting his capability to manage the team… but I think you have to look at the players and in some situations the players have been letting Arsene down a lot because coaches have responsibility but players have responsibility as well.
“You can work the whole week in how you want to play but when [the] players [are] on the field they are the ones who have to fight and if you don’t do it then it is a problem.
“So we can talk about Arsene, we can talk about other things but I think it is important for players to take responsibility and look at themselves in the mirror.”
Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick has suggested the decision over Wenger’s future will be made “mutually”, but Vieira – who won three Premier League titles under the Frenchman – insists his former boss will know when the time is right to leave the Emirates.
“I think Arsene knows better than anyone what he has achieved and he knows what he wants to do and he will make a decision,” he said.
Wenger insists he wants Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to stay at Arsenal after reports the midfielder wanted to leave
Wenger insists he wants Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to stay at Arsenal after reports the midfielder wanted to leave
“I don’t want to get involved to say if he should stay or go, he has enough experience to make the correct decision and the best decision for the football club, he has always done this and will continue to do so.
“I know he has got a passion and love for the club and the team, he loves being on the field, he is obsessed by football. He is passionate about the game so he will know what is best for him and the football club.”
Oops there were a couple of duplicate lines that I didn’t delete.
Great start to the weekend Erik
You’re now in charge of mini movies
Micky I have another cracker for the weekend
Raddy, I would never even climb the stairs let alone jump in.
Strange but I don’t like heights and yet I live in a penthouse apartment and I’m scared of water but I love canoeing??
Morning all. Looking forward to the FA QF pre-match post.
VP
It’s mad that you’re on matchday and we’re still drinking Edmund’s mead. :}
And I’m just preparing our evening dinner.
Life around the globe no less.
GN5,
I posted a comment a few month ago and it stated that in the last 5 seasons our captain had started a PL game less than 10% of the time. Vermaelen, Arteta and Mertersacker had all had long times out and our captaincy stats are pointless because of it.
Morning All,
Matchday and there is a reasonable chance of a victory. Lovely.
Feels like I am writing (speaking) into an empty cavern but….
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