Reply to: Guardiola to Replace Wenger

[The Spartan]

Chelsea aren't exactly doing that well either, it's all about winning at the end of the day the fans want silverware and bragging rights

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Pretty football doesn't win games

No but it makes it a more entertaining viewing experience e.g. give me an Arsenal game over a Chelsea game any day of the week... Saying that, now they have lost Cesc and Nasri (+ Wilshere temporarily), they are looking a lot less pretty.

[The Spartan]

Pretty football doesn't win games

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Martin O' Neil. Don't suppose he's available though.

When Wenger goes then the pretty football will go with it - Arsenal will just become another English premier league club.

[wurzel]

The problem being is if Wenger does go who do they replace him with? would you be attracted to a club that is known for not spending? especially when the fans will expect immediate success

Martin O' Neil. Don't suppose he's available though.

[The Spartan]

The problem being is if Wenger does go who do they replace him with? would you be attracted to a club that is known for not spending? especially when the fans will expect immediate success

[Doggy Styles]

Both would have been good additions to the squad and would have helped to bolster the midfield, they seem to be having a torrid time of late. The premiership has gotten a lot more competitive in the last few years, it seems to be a case of if you snooze you lose.

Good point.

I suppose he was slightly unlucky because it coincided with spending all that money on the new stadium.

[The Spartan]

He doesn't seem able to sign the top workmanlike players. He missed out on a few in the summer. Maybe his puritanical streak prevents him. Scott Parker for example. Even Owen Hargreaves.

Both would have been good additions to the squad and would have helped to bolster the midfield, they seem to be having a torrid time of late. The premiership has gotten a lot more competitive in the last few years, it seems to be a case of if you snooze you lose.

[Doggy Styles]

Problem is Wenger has never really been a big spender in my eyes compared to other clubs and has now been left behind in their wake

True. He was fine until Abramovich bought Chelsea and upped player prices and wages, after that only Man Utd could compete. Then along came Mansoor at Man City, now presumably that billionaire at Spurs...

And he has the added millstone of paying for the new ground.

He doesn't seem able to sign the top workmanlike players. He missed out on a few in the summer. Maybe his puritanical streak prevents him. Scott Parker for example. Even Owen Hargreaves.

[BoredBloke]

I'm not an Arsenal fan, but given their lack of any full backs this season, you have to wonder why he didn't just sign some temporary cover in the recent transfer window. Using central defenders as full backs is not good as a full back is expected to cover a lot more ground than the 2 central defenders. When United played them recently, the guy they had as a full back, facing up to Evra and Nani (I think) was hopeless. But when they put a youngster on in the second half, who was actually a full back, things became much tighter. A case of a round peg fitting into a round hole.

[wurzel]

Wenger bought Vierra, he didn't bring him on.

Fair point.

I suppose when you dominate possession and play the passing game like Arsenal did a few years back there is less emphasis on defence.

Arsenal's defence has been woeful for some time now but the departure of Fabregas in midfield has really exposed how bad it is.

[The Spartan]

Problem is Wenger has never really been a big spender in my eyes compared to other clubs and has now been left behind in their wake

[Doggy Styles]

Viera? Captain for the 2003 - 2004 Invincibles season.

Petit was a good strong midfield player too but didn't stick around long enough.

Wenger bought Vierra, he didn't bring him on.

When Wenger arrived at Arsenal, they were steeped in Graham's winning mentality, especially Adams, Bould/Keown, Dixon, Winterburn. He remarked on it himself as a surprise to him, that spirit and hard defence.

He signed Vierra and Petit, but it took an emergency team meeting called by Adams and the rest of the back four to get them doing their defensive jobs properly and show authority in the middle of the park.

Since the last of that Graham generation left, Arsenal have had no-one to influence the next generation on the pitch and we have seen the results.

[wurzel]

.... or player with captaincy material.

Viera? Captain for the 2003 - 2004 Invincibles season.

Petit was a good strong midfield player too but didn't stick around long enough.

[AtW]

Abramovich will pay more money to get Guardiola.