From Alex Tenenbaum : When it really went wrong
Hello MP,
I’ve been thinking more and more about the Wenger situation over the last few days.
The moment it dawned on me that it was all over was when Obafemi Martins scored in the dying seconds of the Carling Cup Final.
That was the moment that convinced the Wenger-loyalists.
However, the real moment came a few years before when Wenger sent out a group of fringe players and kids to face Didier Drogba & Co in the Carling Cup final.
If we’d won that, what would’ve happened?
Wenger rejected a trophy to give the following 11 the chance to play in a final :
Almunia: Hoyte, Toure, Senderos, Traore (Eboue 66) ; Walcott, Fabregas, Denilson, Diaby (Hleb 68); Aliadiere (Adebayor 80), Julio Baptista. Subs Not Used: Poom, Djourou.
I ask.. was it worth it?
Myles replies :
He always plays his French boys in finals and big games. I think we’ve all noticed that.
Good experience for Aliadiere, who went on to impress us all so much.
The kids outplayed Chelsea that day, and Walcott scored a wonder-goal. But then Drogba equalised.
Drogba scored again with a terrific header late on and Chelsea won.
Three players were sent off near the end : Mikel, Toure & Adebarndoor.
Of course it wasn’t worth it, Alex.
But Arsenal’s reserves losing to Chelsea’s first team didn’t guarantee a trophyless future.
Some of those players improved a little bit. Fabregas improved a lot.
And by 2011 the developmental manager had improved his team so much that they were able to lose 2-1 to Birmingham in another Carling Cup FInal.
Wenger’s refusal to listen, to change his ideas, is what guaranteed a trophyless future.
If Plan A fails, pursue Plan A for the next four years.