Match Reaction vs Stoke City (away)

[AFC Leveller]

we are currently on 69 and could get 75 and still not finish in the top 4. last season we finished 2nd on 71.

Wenger will argue his team has progressed but the reality is the big clubs have stepped it up and improved, where as we clearly didnt.

[Globalgunner]

But that raises the question if you can play like that for top four, why not for the title push?

It's totally bizarre. You can't simply dismiss it as being unable to handle pressure because if they are under pressure to reach top four wouldn't they equally fold under pressure.

I don't believe for a second Wenger is telling them not to try to win the league or not put the effort in unless top four is on the line, so I don't get it.

The title requires you keep that winning mentality in every game. No slip ups. you cannot afford more than 4 losses and no more than 8 draws. We cannot keep up that intensity. Not anymore anyway. I bad result leads to 3 or 4 in a row, before you know it you are so far behind, top 4 is all that is left, usually by March. Its like clockwork.

[Niall_Quinn]

But is it what is required of him?

I think it's fair to say that he probably wouldn't have been sacked if he had finished outside the top four

The consensus is that he would be staying with us top four or not.

And even if top four was such a priority, would it not be better to do it without by the skin of our teeth by getting positive results against palace or Spurs.

I agree with you that the manager isn't under pressure to achieve more. But there's something more here.

Yes - that's PRECISELY what is required by them. After all, if winning titles was the goal, our glorious "investor" would never have got involved. Straight out of his own mouth - titles are NOT the goal at this club.

[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.

[Xhaka Can’t]

When I have a wank I use Hustler TV on Mobdro.

[GP]

I use a Kay's catalogue.

[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.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Yes - that's PRECISELY what is required by them. After all, if winning titles was the goal, our glorious "investor" would never have got involved. Straight out of his own mouth - titles are NOT the goal at this club.

My point is, is he even required to get 4th?

From Wengers own mouth, the suggestion appears to be not

[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.