During I think it was his pre cup final interview, AW made the comments that he considers the years where we have won nothing but stayed among the top teams with big financial restrictions, his greatest achievement at Arsenal FC. He went further to say it was both greater than the Invincibles and would remain his greatest achievement regardless of what he wins in his time left (ie will even beat a ECL trophy if he gets one).
This is a clear indication of how difficult he has considered the task. As none of us are top flight football managers, we don’t really have a clue how hard or easy this was to do. But as fans, many of us by no means consider those years his greatest achievement. By many they are instead seen as a blight on the Wenger legacy and a time they would rather forget than salute.
Myself I don’t know if I agree with Wenger but I can certainly understand why he would view things this way. And he may well be right. However I think if he is, it’ll take ten to twenty years before it’s agreed with by the masses. I’m not sure on Chelsea but the other top teams in the country have a minimum of a fifteen to 20 year wait, after Arsenal fail to qualify for the ECL, to beat the record for being in it. And that’s only if they make it every year from now.
Given the effective powerhouse that he will leave behind when he goes, it’s quite conceivable that Arsenal FC could well qualify for the Champions League for more consecutive years than there are games in a season. So what is your view? Was Wenger having a nut job moment stating this or is he right? Or are you on the fence dependent on how much bigger and harder to beat, the record becomes?
You Think WHAT Was The Greatest?!
posted on 14/6/15
He is brainwashing you again....I love it!
posted on 14/6/15
According to The Swiss Ramble there was actually money to spend in the years your talking about, I guess who's choice it was not to spend it is up for discussion but I know I'd be betting on.
posted on 14/6/15
A lot of things wrong with that post Sheriff. Wenger said he would return the money in like 2006 when the situation was different and we hadn't declined much yet. Alonso, apparently we bid for him and didn't match Liverpool's value, the stuff about killing Denilson is just Wenger always backing his players in public which he's always done. He's happy to build a deep squad now even though Ramsey/Wilshere aren't guaranteed a place?
Gazidis always said we couldn't compete with Chelsea and later City, that we had to be tight and had a long term plan so disagree about conflicting messages. At the same time coming out and saying we have no money, have to sell our best players and won't be investing for a few years isn't gonna send out the right messages, there was a balancing act between maintaing our image as a top club and keeping our finances in order.
You say we always had a top 4 budget... we had the 4th highest wage bill, 5th highest after City started spending and the bottom net spend in the league. So how can we spend inefficiently and still finish 3rd/4th every season, especially since you think Wenger is poor tactically as well? that doesn't add up.
Spurs had a lower wage bill but invested a lot in new players, they broke our transfer record multiple times with Bent, Modric, Bentley etc. They were always tipped to finish above us, pretty sure even you said they had better squads than us at times but now act like they never had a chance to overtake us and talk about revisionism
The last point about Wenger having complete control, it's often criticised but for me one of the best decisions the club has made if not the best, because the club is probably stronger now than it ever has been.
posted on 14/6/15
"Spurs had a lower wage bill but invested a lot in new players, they broke our transfer record multiple times with Bent, Modric, Bentley etc."
Since the early to mid '00's where I've seen club financial reports, Spurs' budget has never come close to Arsenal's. Never. Our wage bill always shattered whatever slight advantage they had in transfer spending. Levy has always run a very tight ship. They never had the resources to compete with us after we established ourselves in the Sky 4 cartel in the late 90's.
posted on 14/6/15
"They were always tipped to finish above us, pretty sure even you said they had better squads than us at times but now act like they never had a chance to overtake us and talk about revisionism"
Always tipped? By who? Talk about exaggeration. I'm also pretty damn sure I've never said Spurs have a better squad than us. I've been called deluded on their board several times for denigrating their squad. They've had a host of players like Parker, Walker, Sandro, Palacious, Lennon etc who I ridiculed when their fans were overrating them. I will admit I got a bit carried away with their £100m+ spending 2 summers ago when Sanogo was our only signing, but even then I was sure we would hold them off after Ozil signed on. We've always had the massive advantage over them. The very fact we've needed the final day after they bottled significant points advantages to finish above them THRICE in the last 9 years illustrates our mediocrity and not something to shout about.
posted on 14/6/15
Sheriff
Wenger was just selling his project to the world and who can blame him. All this time sensible fans were adamant there was no money to spend. Did you really expect him to come out and say we are skint and have to sell our best players every year? Do you think we would have held on to the likes of RVP and Cesc for as long as we did if he had said that?
Also, a Chelsea fan talking about brainwash is just hilarious
posted on 14/6/15
"Wenger has said before in the past that if you gave him big money to spend, he'd return it because of his belief in what he has. Wenger has notably rejected the chance to sign Alonso on the cheap because it would "kill" Denilson. The Arsenal top hierachy, including Gazidis, Hillwood and Wenger himself have given plenty of conflicting messages about having money to spend, only to contradict themselves later."
That was in response to that.
posted on 15/6/15
Still peddling the myth that we had no money to spend I see .
posted on 15/6/15
comment by Godleebarnes (U9902)
posted 1 hour, 8 minutes ago
Still peddling the myth that we had no money to spend I see.
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It is not a myth, though, is it.
Or are you one of these who thinks Wenger started spending again because of 'fan power'?
posted on 15/6/15
It is not a myth, though, is it.
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http://swissramble.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/arsenal-money-dont-matter-2-night.html