By dixon9
January 6 2010

Arsene Wenger has decided to come out and cite his clubs ability to usurp Chelsea and Manchester United for the Premier League title and throw his hat into the ring of potential mind games that are often played out through the media.

The last time Wenger made a bold statement in this vein was just recently when during the pre-match press conference for our match at the Emirates he said this was the moment that his players would prove they had finally come of age – unfortunately for him we chalked up a 3-0 drubbing of his now not so young charges. 

Wenger has now seized the opportunity to save a bit of face with some “I told you so!” comments about his claim that we would drop points made just after the match:

"One month ago we were a long way from the top teams, (11 points with 1 game in hand) but now we have momentum on our side and the chance to keep that going,” said Wenger.

"I said when we lost to Chelsea at the end of November that they would drop some points, but I never expected it to happen so quickly.

"We refused to give up. The mental strength and solidarity of my players has been tested and they have come through it.

Have they got the bottle?

Next, Wenger stated that nerves would play a significant part in the title race:

"We are on a good run and we want to test the resistance of the other teams.

"We have a good opportunity to get close to Chelsea and we want to take it. That will make things more interesting for everybody. The title race only starts after Christmas.

"I don't think nerves play a part in December. But they will play a big part in March and April."

Confident

With recently injured players due to return the Wenger is confident:

"I believe we can cope with all the demands, especially with Gael Clichy, Cesc Fabregas and Nicklas Bendtner soon coming back from injuries.

"I said a few months ago that 78 to 83 points will win the title and I stick by that. We have played 19 league games and have 41 points.

"If you multiply that by two its 82 points over the season and that will be around what is needed.

There’s nothing at all wrong with bigging up your squad’s ability to achieve success of course but sometimes fate has a way of showing you up if you over-egg the pudding.

Wenger seems to be speaking out more and more after being relatively quiet after the Arsenal/Man Utd duopoly years but has already recently accused Chelsea and other Premier League clubs of “half-cheating” with their financial models (forgetting that his own club borrowed a lorry load of cash to build their new stadium so that they can make more money in the first place).   

It is for debate whether these more controversial comments are a case of deciding to get a bit nasty as a new tactic in encouraging his squad or they are just more cracks appearing due to frustration and nerves.

Voyeur is a French word 

I can’t help but wonder what Mourinho would have responded to some of  Wenger´s comments this season but the Portuguese’s claims that Wenger was a “voyeur” do seem to have some substance don’t they?! 

I do miss Mourinho´s withering put downs in these situations but that said, Ancelotti´s contrasting relaxed, affable manner with the media and refusal to be drawn too much into wars of words is a pleasant change and more importantly, he likes the football and results to do the talking – I wouldn’t be surprised if a few Arsenal supporters would prefer Wenger to do the same - even if only the most naive of supporters would write-off Arsenal´s chances of winning their first silverware in over 5 seasons.

Wenger throws down the gauntlet (again)

Discussion started by 50 Years Over 100 Years , 06/01/2010 07:49

50 Years Over 100 Years
06/01/2010 07:49

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matt dred
06/01/2010 08:15

I bet you chavs miss moureen, it's no surprise you not won the league since your sugar daddy decided to sack him !! Please remember that Wenger has won as many league titles in his 13 years at the gunners as you have in your whole 100+ years of pathetic history, so I think he must have some idea of how to win it don't you?

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Borz
06/01/2010 08:17

Well, as an Arsenal fan, I can tell you that most of us actually reckon Wenger has got a valid point in criticising Chelsea's financial approach. Comparing Arsenal's (serviced) debt to Chelsea's "free money from Russia" doesn't wash. Why should your lot be able to spend without limit when most businesses have to at least break even to survive? Abramovic has written-off more than the whole cost of building Ashburton Grove, and has just paid off another something like £44m of loss in 2009. Chelsea is just a giant money-laundering operation and Wenger is right to point out that it amounts to cheating.

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JAKGunners
06/01/2010 08:48

yeah...like u said, we borrowed the money from the bank to build our stadium.... so we have to pay it back with our independent financial system ...that's basic economy, did u go to school????

and you, in this case don't have to pay it back to your owner.... correct me if i'm wrong !!!!

learn basic economy first u @#$%&...

and maybe after that u will realise the meaning of cheating....
U Morron....

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Oysterman
06/01/2010 09:08

The difference (financially) is that Arsenal as a club is using its own resources to pay for its investment borrowing (as you or I would taking out a mortgage) and is not reliant upon income from a complete external source to pay for operational costs (i.e. player purchases and wages). Even big spenders like Man Utd earned the right to spend big. Chelsea's 'project' over the past 7 years is clearly not sustainable for most clubs and distorts the market to the point that they enjoy an advantage that goes beyond normal measures of true sport.

I cannot blame Chelsea fans from enjoying this position, but don't for one second believe that any success is not tainted.

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Since 66
06/01/2010 16:59

Always ones that try to argue their point with insults instead of constructive comments - youre off

Whingers got to wait for his game in hand - Corporate City considered unsafe, Goonerville's game off tonight.

Don't Gamble, Bet Risk Free

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carefree
06/01/2010 21:46

It doesn't take much to wind the gooners up and yes your right 66 red card for the foul mouth chav.

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Since 66
07/01/2010 09:19

Banter, constructive arguments I am all for, but straight forward insults...... just shows the ignorance, lack of vocabularly and intelligence.



Don't Gamble, Bet Risk Free

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PKGooner
07/01/2010 23:48

all the bloke a few posts up wants you to do is 'learn basic economy first u Morrons'







Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2010:01:07:23:55:51 by pk_gunner.

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dixon9
08/01/2010 20:13

Well...I was going to respond - but I´m a bit tired of essays that I´ve written so often before - and the focus of the story wasn´t really economics anyway...



"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.

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