One Arsene Wenger...

[Marc Overmars]

I don't think there is an argument that the odds are in favour of Chelsea and City, however Wenger has been content to hide behind the odds rather than fight back.
It's not the financial muscle of Chelsea and City that caused us to lose the league cup final to Birmingham, consistently finish second in Group phases of the Champions League we should be winning and to be competitive in a title race up until February and March and go through a diabolical run of form to the point where we are hanging on by our fingertips to European qualification.
The unfair advantage Chelsea and City have, and the failings of Arsenal teams managed by Wenger have always been two seperate issues. I think it was always going to be difficult to stop Chelsea running away with the league, but what they have spent isn't responsible for us winning four games from eleven and being nearer to Burnley than them in terms of point difference.

Couldn't agree more with that.

Overlooking tactical and personnel issues, no proactive in-game management, gambling with the squad etc. None of that has anything to do with Chelsea and City.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Do you think anyone bar Chelsea or City can win the title this year?



EDIT: Since we last won the title only 3 teams have done it. Utd, City and Chelsea. All 3 have bigger resources than us and one was managed by, let's face it, the GOAT. I still have no idea how they won the title last time they did, they were awful but Fergie dragged them to the title by sheer will.
We should certainly be doing better but cherry-picking a rare counter-example does not alter the fact that, in general, the teams with the biggest resources tend to be the ones winning titles.

Barcelona/Real won La Liga for 10 years straight.

Until Atletico and their oil money did it.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

How they are doing this year is not the discussion.
You are suggesting that because of money only City & Chelsea can win the league. Others on here whilst certainly having to agree that money is the major factor, would also suggest that you need a manager who spends that money on areas that improve not just the starting line up but the squad to be successful. Mourinho continually identifies his needs an acts accordingly, not with potentially good players but with top quality players. Yes, the money allows him to do this but we are not talking about him Messi type money here. Wenger unfortunately continues to do the opposite.
Liverpool's success last year proved that a well drilled side put together at reasonable cost with a passionate captain, a versatile game plan dependent on opposition & ofcourse a world class striker can challenge Chelsea & City, they finished above Chelsea.
After all the years of Wenger we DONT have a well drilled side, We DONT have a passionate captain, We DONT have a game plan dependant on opposition & the only world class player we have is currently the difference from us being near the bottom of the table & will undoubtedly be overplayed until injured.

Stop speaking sense.

[Özil's Panoramic View]

I don't think there is an argument that the odds aren't in favour of Chelsea and City, however Wenger has been content to hide behind the odds rather than fight back.
It's not the financial muscle of Chelsea and City that caused us to lose the league cup final to Birmingham, consistently finish second in Group phases of the Champions League we should be winning and to be competitive in a title race up until February and March and go through a diabolical run of form to the point where we are hanging on by our fingertips to European qualification.
The unfair advantage Chelsea and City have, and the failings of Arsenal teams managed by Wenger have always been two seperate issues. I think it was always going to be difficult to stop Chelsea running away with the league, but what they have spent isn't responsible for us winning four games from eleven and being nearer to Burnley than them in terms of point difference.

Been a minute since I last agreed with you, but this is a top post right here.

[Dein-machine]

It's the biggest factor. Of course you need a top manager but you wouldn't get one of those without paying them the big bucks so one way or another it all comes back to the money.
Chelsea and City would not be where they are but for the billionaire owners. Chelsea showed you could buy success, City have showed you can do it with any club if you pump in enough money for long enough.

But aren't we paying Wenger more than what Mourinho & Pelerini get?

[Letters]

Barcelona/Real won La Liga for 10 years straight.

Until Atletico and their oil money did it.

This is the "my granddad smoked 40 a day every day for 60 years and lived till he was 90. That proves smoking isn't bad for you" school of logic.
Possible != Probable

[Letters]

But aren't we paying Wenger more than what Mourinho & Pelerini get?

Not really sure how that's relevant.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

This is the "my granddad smoked 40 a day every day for 60 years and lived till he was 90. That proves smoking isn't bad for you" school of logic.
Possible != Probable

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Not really sure how that's relevant.

Well I think the point is if we are paying AW more money than the plutocrat clubs are paying their respective managers, are we really getting value for money?

Unless of course you are saying that we need to pay him that money because no other manager could even get us top four, let alone a significant title challenge?

The point is My dear Letters is that there is unquestionably a wealth chasm between ourselves and City and Chelsea, but if you break down it season per season with the squandered chances, lessons unheeded and mistakes repeated the wealth gap has been an all too convenient excuse nothing more.

[Dein-machine]

Not really sure how that's relevant.

Because you say that you wouldn't get a top manager without paying big bucks - we are paying big bucks & competing with City & Chelsea on that score so I don't understand how your point is relevant.