Match Reaction vs Sunderland (away)

[selassie]

I said "one more season" last year, I think he earned that - we retained the Cup beating Utd on the way and we were superb in the Cup Final (against a very poor side, admittedly, but still). There were a few reasons for cautious optimism.
And because I was in the "one more season" camp it made sense to judge him at the end of the season, not the middle or even the beginning. Even as late as February we were in the title race so I think it was only fair to see how things panned out.
And it's panned out to be a car crash, so #WengerOut. But I don't think it was so unreasonable to see how the season went.

To be fair, even though I've not been very hot on him for a good while now I did think he should be given a fair crack of the whip this season after our end to last season and our cup final performance which I agree was superb. There were caveats to that for me, I thought if he had adequately strengthen the squad then we could push on, after Cech I was quite positive as I foolishly convinced myself he would add more quality to the squad.

A lot of my enthusiasm and optimism was taken away once the window closed, I felt that we had given ourselves too much work to do. I did also say in the Wenger thread that we wouldn't win PL again under him, admittedly that was after the West Ham opening day defeat.

To be fair to you Letters and we obviously have differing views on Wenger you have stuck by your word so I can't fault you for that.

I'll admit I have/had lost faith in him quite a while ago and in some ways anything negative had the potential to turn me hence why I've been vocal in my "Wenger" out stance for pretty much the entire season.

[Letters]

I think we're all pretty much on the same page now. IMO some people over-criticise him and lost faith in him too early, others (and I am one, I guess) have been too patient.
Whatever. I think we all agree he's not the man to push us on but I still don't think the extremes of abuse are warranted.
And he will leave us in pretty good shape for whoever takes over which is more than can be said for a lot of managers who leave behind a train wreck.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I think the worry with fans who want him to go is they are concerned how much longer that will be the case

If he was to go at the end of the season for example as long as top four had been secured, I think a lot of top young managers would look upon Arsenal as a mouth watering prospect a club with fantastic spending power, a large hungry fan base and a team that with some building could be fantastic.

But consider if the worst happens and we don't finish in the top four, especially if he stays there is a real worry that we could get shut out for a long time because other clubs like Liverpool and Spurs have grown and we have someone who is stuck in the past and has too much power, even if he goes next season will someone really want to do the job and risk their own reputation.

That's the kind of catch 22 we are in, as long as he delivers top four he keeps his job but it's also the necessary minimum for getting a decent replacement in.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

When you look at 4th place now, we are as a club dependent on getting at least a point against man city as well as winning our other two games, or dependent on United dropping points.

To be in that position now, shows the extent of Wengers mismanagement.

[Marc Overmars]

When you look at 4th place now, we are as a club dependent on getting at least a point against man city as well as winning our other two games, or dependent on United dropping points.

To be in that position now, shows the extent of Wengers mismanagement.

I can't believe we are here again - limping over the line into 4th.

It really tells you everything you need to know about the lack of drive from within.

[Letters]

That's a slightly weird way of looking at it but I have to say I didn't expect us to be scrabbling around trying to hold on to top 4 at this stage. But we will limp over the line IMO, Utd won't win every game.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

That's a slightly weird way of looking at it but I have to say I didn't expect us to be scrabbling around trying to hold on to top 4 at this stage. But we will limp over the line IMO, Utd won't win every game.

Is it? The facts speak for themselves under Wenger we either plant the flag on the 3rd/4th place finish or we tumble down into that position. Either way that's where we end up.

It's really bizarre, last season we started dropping points towards the end of the season (one win in five) when second seemed possible. It's definitely not deliberate that would be ridiculous, but it certainly hints at a psychological barrier.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

This season follows the pattern of the 2010/2011 points against a United side who were very beatable despite getting to the Champions League final, we just tumbled and tumbled for ages (2 wins from the final 11 I think).

Five years on, Walcott aside there are hardly any players from that team yet the patterns stay the same.

[rodders]

Unfortunately I foresee a long period in the wilderness, as we fall further behind clubs with real ambition. Kroenke is as much of a problem as Wenger.

[Bumble]

The problem is Kroenke or the board have looked at what has happened to United since Ferguson left and thought better not rock the boat as they have spent massively and are still just behind us in the league. Also Newcastle spent relatively large sums over the summer and January transfer window and they are fighting relegation.

I think had United transitioned well between managers there would be more yearning to change at Arsenal. But its probably a case of better the devil you know.

Doesn't help us though.