Match Reaction vs Stoke City (away)

[Özim]

Looks like Wengers' luck finally ran out today, it was looking like we were going to grab 4th place at the last minute as we have in the past when other teams have collapsed, seems like Liverpool managed to hold on. Only the cup to play for, can't see past a Chelsea win, pressure is on now and that's when we collapse fast than a house of cards, doesn't matter though, Wenger will keep his job regardless because he doesn't really have any targets, it's all too easy for him, a change should happen now, but we all know it won't.

He'll get off scott free as usual and the results at the end of the season have been enough to dampen the displeasure at our performance this season, it'll give some people false hope about how good we are and what we can achieve, truth is we only started performing when there was no real pressure, noone expected us to get top 4 anymore and that's when we got results, albeit against teams who largely were either poor or disinterested, regadless it'll be enough for Wenger to tell be people to look at how well we did at the end of the season.

[selassie]

Looks like Wengers' luck finally ran out today, it was looking like we were going to grab 4th place at the last minute as we have in the past when other teams have collapsed, seems like Liverpool managed to hold on. Only the cup to play for, can't see past a Chelsea win, pressure is on now and that's when we collapse fast than a house of cards, doesn't matter though, Wenger will keep his job regardless because he doesn't really have any targets, it's all too easy for him, a change should happen now, but we all know it won't.

He'll get off scott free as usual and the results at the end of the season have been enough to dampen the displeasure at our performance this season, it'll give some people false hope about how good we are and what we can achieve, truth is we only started performing when there was no real pressure, noone expected us to get top 4 anymore and that's when we got results, albeit against teams who largely were either poor or disinterested, regadless it'll be enough for Wenger to tell be people to look at how well we did at the end of the season.

We have been very poor this season, especially since January. Along with United we have look by far the weakest of the teams challenging for the title/top 4 so it's no real surprise that we seem destined to miss out despite the late dash for it.

I can't speak for all Arsenal fans but on the whole it does seem as if the majority want Wenger gone. Wenger was lucky to get away Scott free last season which IMO was a disgrace in the manner we bottled challenging for the title. This season is different, we just aren't very good and I get the impression that the majority of the fan base have had enough, we/they just want him gone.

The only bit of pride we can take from this season is a win in the Cup Final but I highly doubt we will beat them. Chelsea trump us in every area including tactics, mentality and organisation.

I actually don't think Wenger will get away with it Scott free this season, not from a fans perspective. He has no credit left, the excuses have run out, he has been given everything he claimed he needed to succeed and he has failed. What more can he want? Losing the title in that manner to Leicester told us all we need to know about modern day Wenger, he's a loser.

[Power n Glory]

We have been very poor this season, especially since January. Along with United we have look by far the weakest of the teams challenging for the title/top 4 so it's no real surprise that we seem destined to miss out despite the late dash for it.

I can't speak for all Arsenal fans but on the whole it does seem as if the majority want Wenger gone. Wenger was lucky to get away Scott free last season which IMO was a disgrace in the manner we bottled challenging for the title. This season is different, we just aren't very good and I get the impression that the majority of the fan base have had enough, we/they just want him gone.

The only bit of pride we can take from this season is a win in the Cup Final but I highly doubt we will beat them. Chelsea trump us in every area including tactics, mentality and organisation.

I actually don't think Wenger will get away with it Scott free this season, not from a fans perspective. He has no credit left, the excuses have run out, he has been given everything he claimed he needed to succeed and he has failed. What more can he want? Losing the title in that manner to Leicester told us all we need to know about modern day Wenger, he's a loser.

I’m not even sure he’s sitting comfy cosy with the Board. I get why people would assume it’s business as usual but we’re seeing some strange stuff going on around the club.

- We haven’t had an official statement from our Chief Executive to confirm Wenger’s job is safe. Last statement he made on Wenger was about us not being Arsene FC and as results have grown worse he made the ‘catalyst for change’ statement.
- Sir Chips also added his piece about a ‘mutual decision’ being made which undermines this idea that Wenger only has to sign a deal and the ball is in his court.
- Sir Chips got up and left the Crystal Palace game early after conceding a second goal. We took a 3-0 beating.
- Wenger deciding to switch to 3 at the back following the thumping to Palace. Was he spoken to by the Board or players? He usually goes with a more conservative team selection to sure up the defence and not a radical formation change.
- The clubs leaking stories of needing a Director of Football and we then we see Wenger’s hostile reaction to such an idea. He could have handled that with more grace.
- Stories are circulating of Josh Kroenke wanting Henry in our coaching setup. First time we hear about a Kroenke having an opinion on Arsenal from a technical standpoint, I think. How does he feel about Henry being blocked by Wenger to join the coaching staff? Is he part of the reported band that’s unhappy with Wenger?

This is strange territory for us. Have we even had an official statement from anyone higher up saying they want Wenger to stay?

He really should have went last season and maybe seeing Leicester win the title whilst we fell away was an eye opener for some.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I think that we are now almost certain to finish outside the top four means at least there should be some leverage on Wenger, i don't believe for a second that missing out on champions league football and the likelihood of losing it's best player will not have a detrimental effect on the club's share values and that's what Enos Stanley cares about.

It's not a situation he will want to carry on in perpetuity. although Kroenke is apparently in tight with Wenger there is no doubt he would sack him if he was costing him money.

[selassie]

I’m not even sure he’s sitting comfy cosy with the Board. I get why people would assume it’s business as usual but we’re seeing some strange stuff going on around the club.

- We haven’t had an official statement from our Chief Executive to confirm Wenger’s job is safe. Last statement he made on Wenger was about us not being Arsene FC and as results have grown worse he made the ‘catalyst for change’ statement.
- Sir Chips also added his piece about a ‘mutual decision’ being made which undermines this idea that Wenger only has to sign a deal and the ball is in his court.
- Sir Chips got up and left the Crystal Palace game early after conceding a second goal. We took a 3-0 beating.
- Wenger deciding to switch to 3 at the back following the thumping to Palace. Was he spoken to by the Board or players? He usually goes with a more conservative team selection to sure up the defence and not a radical formation change.
- The clubs leaking stories of needing a Director of Football and we then we see Wenger’s hostile reaction to such an idea. He could have handled that with more grace.
- Stories are circulating of Josh Kroenke wanting Henry in our coaching setup. First time we hear about a Kroenke having an opinion on Arsenal from a technical standpoint, I think. How does he feel about Henry being blocked by Wenger to join the coaching staff? Is he part of the reported band that’s unhappy with Wenger?

This is strange territory for us. Have we even had an official statement from anyone higher up saying they want Wenger to stay?

He really should have went last season and maybe seeing Leicester win the title whilst we fell away was an eye opener for some.

Some great points in there DOG. I think it's safe to say this summer is going to be very interesting in terms of how we move forward as a Football club and Wenger is right in the middle of all of this. In an ideal world Wenger will step down but I have a feeling there are going to be more twists and turns in this saga due to the power struggle being played out between Gazidis and Wenger.

[selassie]

This post possibly needs to be moved to the other Wenger thread but I thought I'd post it here anyway...quotes have been taken from this article on Arsenal.com, Wenger's press conferences quotes.....

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-arc...-conference-es

on what finishing on 75 points and winning FA Cup would mean to him…

It would mean that the season has not gone as well as I hoped at the start of the season. Not as well as I hoped at the start of the season because I started the season to win the Premier League and when you don’t do it, you’re never completely satisfied, like everybody else. But as well, it’s not disastrous. I think what’s encouraging is the way the team develops recently and the way the ambition of the team is back. Overall I think it’s difficult to get points in this league, it’s difficult for everybody.

It is disastrous, the team has gone backwards. Does he not care about winning? Why the laissez faire attitude? It is incredible TBH.

on whether he thinks a possible 75-point total would show progress…

I don’t want to go into conclusions too early. It shows that if you can make 75 points it’s a decent total because I won the championship with 78. But this season it looks at the end of the season that many teams who have been assured to stay in the league have just released their focus and as well, you had basically two leagues, the top six and the rest of the Premier League. Everybody took too many points from lower teams. That usually did not happen in the years before.

Sigh......

[Marc Overmars]

I think 75 points would be the highest tally to miss out on top 4.

That's been our points average for over a decade now. We've stood still for years and now finally others have caught up and levelled the playing field. We completely missed our window of opportunity to at least deliver one title while the other clubs were going through transition. Stability is overrated, especially when what is considered stable seldom delivers anything of note.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I think 75 points would be the highest tally to miss out on top 4.

That's been our points average for over a decade now. We've stood still for years and now finally others have caught up and levelled the playing field. We completely missed our window of opportunity to at least deliver one title while the other clubs were going through transition. Stability is overrated, especially when what is considered stable seldom delivers anything of note.

Near enough it's actually 73 points - our average point accumulation since moving to the Emirates

Not that I want to be a pedant or anything

I don't think he can spin this successfully, eight defeats in 18 games is mid table form at best

He's lost his leverage in post season discussions. If he wants to stay he will probably have to accept big change.

[Globalgunner]

Doubt we will get the 75 points. Everton at home wont be easy. Even though there is nothing to play for Koeman is one of those managers that seems to have Wenger`s number. I forsee a draw.

[Özim]

This post possibly needs to be moved to the other Wenger thread but I thought I'd post it here anyway...quotes have been taken from this article on Arsenal.com, Wenger's press conferences quotes.....

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-arc...-conference-es



It is disastrous, the team has gone backwards. Does he not care about winning? Why the laissez faire attitude? It is incredible TBH.



Sigh......

He is totally deluded, he thinks a few meaningless wins at the end of the season affter a string of disastrous results and a season filled with awful performances shows the team is developing.

I just don't think there is a more delusional, more oblivious person to what's happening in front of his eyes in the world of fooball today, you really have to ask what is wrong with him.

Personally I think he accepts being 2nd best, his words and actions prove that, he's not a winner in any real sense these days.

This made me laugh as well:

on why we tend to finish the season strongly…
Because we do our job properly and we are focused until the end. As long as we are in competition, we prepare the teams well and that’s why we were always finishing strong, because we kept our focus.

Hmmm really, interesting he thinks doing our job properly is winning a few meaningless games at the tail end of the season, what about the games we get hammered in when it actually matters?