4th or Cup

[Letters]

What do you expect? Should I be convinced by anything I've seen this season?

A month ago I'd have said yes, I never expected us to win the league but we seemed to be showing clear progress. We were up there and winning some games which last year we'd definitely have dropped points in. I'm not sure if the collapse has been a case of us 'bottling' it or just running out of steam and a weak squad failing to cope with a few key injuries have caused us.

As unconvincing as the semi-final was in any Cup run where will be games where it's tight and could have gone the other way. Last time we won it Sheffield Utd drew at Highbury, took us to a replay which we won on penalties. You need a bit of luck sometimes in the cup.

If we win the FA Cup then it gets this monkey off our back about not winning trophies. The league season has been a weird one with some very promising signs and some very worrying ones.

Things aren't all rosy, but it's not all doom and gloom either.

[Power n Glory]

We always have promising signs each season but do very little to address the major issues. A win in the FA Cup would be a great send off for Wenger.

[Dein-machine]

A month ago I'd have said yes, I never expected us to win the league but we seemed to be showing clear progress. We were up there and winning some games which last year we'd definitely have dropped points in. I'm not sure if the collapse has been a case of us 'bottling' it or just running out of steam and a weak squad failing to cope with a few key injuries have caused us.

As unconvincing as the semi-final was in any Cup run where will be games where it's tight and could have gone the other way. Last time we won it Sheffield Utd drew at Highbury, took us to a replay which we won on penalties. You need a bit of luck sometimes in the cup.

If we win the FA Cup then it gets this monkey off our back about not winning trophies. The league season has been a weird one with some very promising signs and some very worrying ones.

Things aren't all rosy, but it's not all doom and gloom either.

I agree with the season being a wierd one. After buying Ozil, with Rambo & Giroud scoring goals we looked good, progressing defensively & during this time Walcott was out injured. We were purring at the thought of Walcott's pace matched with Ozil's asists.
As Walcott came back to fitness, we were in our tough period of games against Utd,Everton, Chelsea, City & Napoli. Wenger had started to shit himself & play too defensively. This meant he didn't play Walcott at times & Ozil was asked to become Lee Cattermole. Then as we came out of this period without Rambo & the teams & Ozil's confidence shredded thanks to Wenger's negativity, Walcott then goes & gets injured again. Never mind, we had the whole of the January window to make sure we got some pace & goalscoring ability upfront, we had lost Rambo & Walcott (our main goal threats) & Giroud had turned into Bendtner - there's no way on earth a man who knows what he's doing & is paid £7 mill a year because he's so good couldn't see this & wouldn't act - the rest is history & we are where we are.

[Niall_Quinn]

I agree with the season being a wierd one. After buying Ozil, with Rambo & Giroud scoring goals we looked good, progressing defensively & during this time Walcott was out injured. We were purring at the thought of Walcott's pace matched with Ozil's asists.
As Walcott came back to fitness, we were in our tough period of games against Utd,Everton, Chelsea, City & Napoli. Wenger had started to shit himself & play too defensively. This meant he didn't play Walcott at times & Ozil was asked to become Lee Cattermole. Then as we came out of this period without Rambo & the teams & Ozil's confidence shredded thanks to Wenger's negativity, Walcott then goes & gets injured again. Never mind, we had the whole of the January window to make sure we got some pace & goalscoring ability upfront, we had lost Rambo & Walcott (our main goal threats) & Giroud had turned into Bendtner - there's no way on earth a man who knows what he's doing & is paid £7 mill a year because he's so good couldn't see this & wouldn't act - the rest is history & we are where we are.

Good summary. Wenger's negativity and fear has increased over the season and our results and performances have declined in direct proportion. In trying to keep a thin squad fit and available he's killed our game in the process. His fault for not taking the steps necessary in the Jan window. The first game against Everton was a big turning point because our performance in that match was horrible compared to what we'd done before. Everyone said it was a good result to scrape a draw playing like an anti-Arsenal. Now look. We played that way ever since and giving up those 2 points is now reflected neatly in the table. The mentality fostered in that game finally manifested itself in a shocking performance and defeat in the return match. Boom, 6 easy points gone to our routine bitches with us playing so badly people have started to think Everton are actually any good.

[selassie]

Good summary. Wenger's negativity and fear has increased over the season and our results and performances have declined in direct proportion. In trying to keep a thin squad fit and available he's killed our game in the process. His fault for not taking the steps necessary in the Jan window. The first game against Everton was a big turning point because our performance in that match was horrible compared to what we'd done before. Everyone said it was a good result to scrape a draw playing like an anti-Arsenal. Now look. We played that way ever since and giving up those 2 points is now reflected neatly in the table. The mentality fostered in that game finally manifested itself in a shocking performance and defeat in the return match. Boom, 6 easy points gone to our routine bitches with us playing so badly people have started to think Everton are actually any good.

Regarding the bit I have highlighted, the problem is NQ Wenger has always been like that. His philosophy seems to be about keeping a small squad of players together. This is all well and good when the said players have great fitness records but ours don't. A third of our first XI are crocks, they get crocked every single season.

Even as far back as the invincibles, it was a fairly small squad of albeit World Class players that we used, our depth was better back then quality wise I will admit, but the squad was by no means deep.

I very much doubt Wenger will change regarding the Squad and it's make up, he will go into next season with a thin squad of players, it's just how he operates.

[Kano]

Two years ago, Wenger wanted to look at the reasons why we keep picking up so many injuries. Two years later he is saying the same thing.

It's obvious the training methods need changing but he will not do that. Raymond Verheijen had a go last week regarding the methods used which are backed up by the amount of injuries we get compared to other top teams.

Add to the fact that every season, whether it be defence, midfield, attack - there is always an area that is overlooked and ends up costing us dearly.

My view hasn't changed since last season, he needs to go, FA Cup/4th or not. The club needs a change as much as he does. The game is becoming younger and younger both in terms of players, coaches and managers and it's a route we need to get down onto.

Regardless of how much we spend next season Wenger is no longer capable of managing the squad sufficiently to get the best out of them across a whole season.

[Maestro]

Two years ago, Wenger wanted to look at the reasons why we keep picking up so many injuries. Two years later he is saying the same thing.

It's obvious the training methods need changing but he will not do that. Raymond Verheijen had a go last week regarding the methods used which are backed up by the amount of injuries we get compared to other top teams.

Add to the fact that every season, whether it be defence, midfield, attack - there is always an area that is overlooked and ends up costing us dearly.

My view hasn't changed since last season, he needs to go, FA Cup/4th or not. The club needs a change as much as he does. The game is becoming younger and younger both in terms of players, coaches and managers and it's a route we need to get down onto.

Regardless of how much we spend next season Wenger is no longer capable of managing the squad sufficiently to get the best out of them across a whole season.

got a link to the Raymond Verheijen article?

[Power n Glory]

Two years ago, Wenger wanted to look at the reasons why we keep picking up so many injuries. Two years later he is saying the same thing.

It's obvious the training methods need changing but he will not do that. Raymond Verheijen had a go last week regarding the methods used which are backed up by the amount of injuries we get compared to other top teams.

Add to the fact that every season, whether it be defence, midfield, attack - there is always an area that is overlooked and ends up costing us dearly.

My view hasn't changed since last season, he needs to go, FA Cup/4th or not. The club needs a change as much as he does. The game is becoming younger and younger both in terms of players, coaches and managers and it's a route we need to get down onto.

Regardless of how much we spend next season Wenger is no longer capable of managing the squad sufficiently to get the best out of them across a whole season.

Yeah, in total agreement. They're still looking into the investigation but Wenger's personal theory ....supplements are causing the issue. Legal supplements like stuff to treat hair loss! I wish I was making this up.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...-arsene-wenger

[Kano]

got a link to the Raymond Verheijen article?

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/f...s-9239876.html

We can spend as much as we want on players but if they keep getting injured - as they have done for years now, then nothing will change.

None of this is even taking into account Wenger's static approach to games. He's still a good manager but not of the calibre we need anymore.

[IBK]

Two years ago, Wenger wanted to look at the reasons why we keep picking up so many injuries. Two years later he is saying the same thing.

It's obvious the training methods need changing but he will not do that. Raymond Verheijen had a go last week regarding the methods used which are backed up by the amount of injuries we get compared to other top teams.

Add to the fact that every season, whether it be defence, midfield, attack - there is always an area that is overlooked and ends up costing us dearly.

My view hasn't changed since last season, he needs to go, FA Cup/4th or not. The club needs a change as much as he does. The game is becoming younger and younger both in terms of players, coaches and managers and it's a route we need to get down onto.

Regardless of how much we spend next season Wenger is no longer capable of managing the squad sufficiently to get the best out of them across a whole season.

The thing that concerns me now is the transition - and the ability of a Wenger institution to manage this properly.