By Boris Mellor
March 13 2011

To lose one major cup game is unfortunate, to lose two is a coincidence but to lose three is downright careless and incompetent. It is also not good preparation for winning the league. Nothing is entirely impossible when a team is three points behind the leader with a game in hand, but it seems to me that the possibility of winning the league is now receding.

Losing cup games is not good for creating the winning mentality needed to win the championship. The extra games argument doesn’t wash. When Man United knocked us out of the FA semi Final, after Bergkamp missed a penalty, it is they who went on to win the treble, not Arsenal who had less games. Nothing succeeds like success, and failure is no success at all.

Wenger Lauds Mental Strength Contradiction

Wenger tells anyone who will listen, and they are getting fewer, that his team have mental strength; yesterday he told us that his team lacked confidence at Manchester. Surely that’s a contradiction?

But ability is also an issue, you could convince Denilson he is Puskas but he wouldn’t play any better.

Mediocrities

The problem is that Arsene’s squad is packed full of mediocrities, after the first eleven there is very little left. The test is to look at the bench, who was there yesterday who could turn a game? Chamakh and Rosicky, I bet Man U were wetting their pants at the thought of those two coming on.

Best Squad Ever?

Oh come on don’t take us for mugs. Denilson, Gibbs, Eboue and Diaby would have got into the Invincibles first eleven? I doubt if they would get into Wolves first eleven. Gibbs just stood off as Man U broke away for the second goal. No attempt to tackle, no tracking back, I hate to take anyone’s dummy away but he is not the future let alone the present.

Denilson wasn’t terrible, it’s just that crab football doesn’t cut it at this level. Man U were direct and deadly. Diaby completed numerous circuits of the pitch but none of his running caused any damage where it mattered. Rarely did the team do any damage in the box, yes lots of pretty possession but no end product.

All that stuff about 80% effective passing, where does the 20% go astray? I would suggest it’s in the opponents last third. Man U could concede two thirds of the pitch and then do the damage twice when they got the chance.

No excuse

The team were outfought by Birmingham, outfought by Manchester, and outplayed by Barca. Only in the Barca games did the team show real spirit, they never did enough against the other two. On paper Man U put out a weaker team. They had exactly the same number of injuries, yet they won, mental strength made up for mediocrity. Why does Arsene’s second eleven always fail to challenge?

Wenger must change things

At the end of the season it’s time for a bonfire of the mediocrities, out they go with the sick notes. The no money argument doesn’t wash, not every player has to cost £40 million, nor is it worth paying top wages to players like the Double Ds who do not work wonders.

If Wenger had signed a quality striker, a quality centre back, keeper, and a midfielder - four players max; and saved money by getting rid of a few mediocrities Arsenal might still be in a cup or two, and be on track to win the league. With Djourou now out for the season Wenger’s failure to sign a quality centre back may come back to haunt him.

If Wenger won’t change his approach then the board must convince him, if they can’t then maybe they should make way for those who can.

Time For Bonfire Of The Mediocrities Wenger Contradicts

Discussion started by Arsenal Times , 13/03/2011 12:43

Arsenal Times
13/03/2011 12:43

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2011:03:19:09:44:02 by Padre Pio.

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NobleTrojan
13/03/2011 13:52

It is not a bonfire of mediocrities that we need, we need a complete change of policy and personnel not just among the players but also in the board. The youth policy is not paying any dividends. Yes, we are a club which is suppose to be the model which every other club aspire to be. Sadly for us fan it is not working, six years now since we last won a trophy.

After we have been promised by Wenger over and over again that this team is reading to win something. I seriously doubt that will happen. If we do go on to win the Premiership it will only be by default because Manchester United mess their games. I have always been a supporter of Wenger and defend him when other people say he should go. I now find myself questioning his approach. With Djourou injured we are left completely exposed at the back. The chances of us winning the premier league has now almost vanished.

It is now for the club to start thinking about bringing players who are able to make the difference. I love watching Arsenal play the beautiful game, the breath taking passes but I also want to feel great after the game. Possession great passes are not enough anymore.

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AJ The Gunner
13/03/2011 13:53

wish i could give u a hug for this..you are spot on..

i wish wenger will read this and admit to himself that he has been joking with our intelligence for 6 years... mediocre's are littered all over the team..i bet it will take a near empyy stadium to get wenger to stop this rot & madness

i just realized that saying we could win the league is like believing that wenger will teach defense...wenger is like a sales man but he is surely a chronic gambler who has gambled with fans while the board are 100% behind him..he tried this stupid experiment at monaco donkey years ago and almost got them relegated before he was SACKED.. somehow he has made money for the board while trying his scientifc experiment..the problem is that we are always short for 4 players that will make a difference at every point in time.

i agree with every single point you made but will wenger ever CHANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can We Now Trust The Process 🤔🤷🏿‍♀️ or Should We Still Remain Cautious 🙇🏿‍♀️

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eduardo
13/03/2011 14:38

padre just one thing I'd take exception to in your article is that its stupid to ask would diaby, gibbs, eboue etc get in the invincibles first 11, they don't get in todays first 11 if everyone is fit

noble of course the youth policy is paying dividends, cesc, wilshere, walcott and nasri are all major successes, others like szczesny and possibly lansbury and JET look like they will or might make it too,club is keeping in top four with virtually no transfer out lay.
One other thing, if Arsenal win the FAPL title this season it will not be by default, no one has pulled out of the league, no has let anyone else win it, it will be won on merit, no matter who wins it

AJ he did not try any experiment either at monaco or at Arsenal, at monaco he had to sell his main stars as they were bust, marseilles bribery scandal etc had left monaco in bad way money wise, as you may know they have minute support too. The stadium cost, unloyal players and the emergence of sugar daddies in the english games led to alot of the situation we have been in for the last few years.

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salisbury69
13/03/2011 15:00

The trouble is this. As fans, what do we do about it? We have been watching a version of THE EMPERORS NEW CLOTHES for several years now. It is always going to be our year next year. Now is the time to prove how good we are, and on it goes. AW will never change his approach as it is an admission of failure. I would hate him to be remembered for the wrong reasons having brought so much success in the PAST. Maybe a change of number 2 might help. After all Ferguson has regularly changed his and continued with success. It is all frustrating, and how will we feel if we go into next season in the same position?

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SandyB
13/03/2011 15:22

Well said Padre..but gotta say that things are way beyond just mediocrities..and certain things are almost impossible to repair so that implies change..one of the problem is change itself Arsene Wenger, non accountable board(that is the multiple billionaire ownership) and some tied up interest like Wenger is licenced to carry on his experiment which actually in line with boards penny pinching spending policy creates a situation where actually consumers that is the fans has to bare the cost..it's a deadlock and wouldn't be easy to break..

Wenger is unique to this situation compared to any other club..Wenger brings in the factor of a section of hardcore loyalists known as WKBs(infamously ) created the opportunities to run the show in shoe string budgets and Wenger takes care of the crowd control..this uniqueness is justified as his astonishing success in his 1st part of Arsenal era has created this support base..current ownership only gets the benefit of it..so noway you could expect any advise from board to Wenger on this..

So if fans expect more that is any form for success in terms of trophy etc Wenger needs to go first..I'm sorry to say..that's the reality. If you have some idea about Stan Kroenke or Usmanov they are the kind of businessman who wouldn't let their fortune burnt..you will see all sorts of damage control and pumping of funds when they will feel risk of their capital evaporation just in case AFC started sliding..

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AJ The Gunner
13/03/2011 15:32

Salisbury69 changing the No2 & getting a defensive couch might make the big difference..but will wenger get staff that will be vocal with their inputs..wenger looks like someone who doesn't want any one that will oppose him in anything(more like a "yes member")

Can We Now Trust The Process 🤔🤷🏿‍♀️ or Should We Still Remain Cautious 🙇🏿‍♀️

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eduardo
13/03/2011 15:42

and what manager hires an assistant who disagrees with him constantly

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Boston Gooner
13/03/2011 15:47

Face facts.
Wenger will never get the sack.
The only way he will go will be quit/walk away.

Sad but true.

"𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴."

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Padre Pio
13/03/2011 16:11

eduardo,
Wenger intended Diaby to be the replacement for Vieira not as a spare player. Flamini only got the place because Diaby was injured. Wenger claims the whole lot are quality - he calls them strongest squad ever - that means they are up to it.
Yes he has done well with 6 or 7 players, though paying 5 mill or more for Walcott is not really youth policy.

the problem is we are always three or four quality players short by the end of the season. He takes a good policy to an extreme, he should mix and match we need some wizened journeymen.

"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.

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eduardo
13/03/2011 16:19

padre it what or what not wenger intended for diaby does not come into it, when all fit he is only a squad player, that was the point I was making, what would be good is if you or anyone(I can't be bothered at the moment) would actually compare the non first 11 players from say the invincibles to the non first 11 now, keown was waste of space by then, grimandi was only ever a good trier, clichy was an up and coming speedster etc that sort of thing

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Lewis_198four
13/03/2011 16:38

Sorry but it's no coincidence that since we let Vieira, Edu, Flamini, Diarra and Gilberto go and replaced them with Denilson we have always come up short.

AFC
RULE!

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Padre Pio
13/03/2011 16:46

Sorry eduardo wenger intends diaby to be a first team player and when he is fit he is usually first choice. In any case it doesnt change fact he is not good enough

"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.

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Bring back stepanovs!
13/03/2011 16:55

The only example I can be bothered to think off at the min is ray parlour squad player for the invincibles @#$%& all over diaby denilson et al

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eduardo
13/03/2011 17:07

jeez lewis how could denilson be expected to replace all five of them

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Lewis_198four
13/03/2011 17:38

he should be able to replace One of them if we have progressed, he hasn't we haven't.

AFC
RULE!

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weedz
13/03/2011 19:11

Good read Padre. I do believe AW is a great manager. No one who has achieved what he has, should be denied that accolade.
But, like all great men, he has his frailties.
Loyalty is not as blind as it is in AWs eyes
A lack of understanding of true leadership, that boarders on recklessness
And a lack of any plan `B`, apart from using `spin` to keep the fans faithful, when things don`t go according to plan, are just 3 reasons why the last 5 or 6 years have been fruitless for our great club, I feel. Rather than the actual abilities of those selected to play.
I can no longer view our clubs financial position as a reason for us being a `nearly` team.

Since the end of WW1, 1919, when the FA restarted its 4 tier football league, with Arsenal fc in the 1st div, there’s only ever been one club to have never been relegated from Div 1/ EPL.

Arsenal fc

Let’s keep making history

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Padre Pio
13/03/2011 19:38

Thanks Weedz. You are right about Leadership, Wenger has devalued leadership by demeaning the captaincy. When everyone is a leader no one is a leader

"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.

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Bergmars
14/03/2011 08:29

How can Nasri be a product of our youth,no so far Jack and Gibbs no others,fetching kids from across the globe is not a youth policy thats just snatching someone elses.

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Peter Storey
14/03/2011 21:24

Quote:

eduardo
noble of course the youth policy is paying dividends, cesc, wilshere, walcott and nasri are all major successes, others like szczesny and possibly lansbury and JET look like they will or might make it too,club is keeping in top four with virtually no transfer out lay.

F.uck me Eduardo, you are one seriously q.ueer thinking c.unt! Always trying to be contraire even when the evidence is stairing you in the face!
And Nasri is not part of the youth policy, neither is Walcott he was a pre-1st teamer with Southampton!!!!



[farm5.static.flickr.com]

Baby I was born to MOAN

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eduardo
16/03/2011 01:00

well just to explain to the clearly uninformed like julie, the youth policy is much more than the academy, the academy is only one part of it, the second part is signing youngish players who go into the first team either straight away or within a year, walcott, nasri, diaby, Ramsey and denilson are prime examples of this, u21 signings, walcott and nasri have both been great this season,

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Peter Storey
16/03/2011 07:02

de, dum, de, dum, de dum, dum,dum, da, da, dum, de, da!

[farm5.static.flickr.com]

Baby I was born to MOAN

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