From Alexander Tovey :Wenger’s real big challenge
We don’t know just yet how these new signings are going to work out but bolstering the squad isn’t the only challenge that Wenger is having to tackle.
Changing the Arsenal culture is the big one, which is why the exit of some of these more senior players alongside the deadwood makes sense.
As of the end of last season the only person to have won a domestic trophy with Arsenal was RVP.
And that was an FA cup from a penalty shootout in a game in which we were dominated. And he wants to leave. Since then we’ve only seen failure. And our first team smell of being “also rans”.
They’re beaten for the run to the league trophy in August, as the culture at Arsenal is to lose.
Or rather just about not lose, but not really win either.
It’s a bizarre culture of mediocrity.
Because this is a cultural issue, new signings quickly slip into this vein. They too become losers. See Arshavin for more details. Or Vermaelen to be fair, who was awesome in his first season.
So how do you stop this continuing?
You get rid of your senior players, even if they’re decent and replace them with new, fresh ideas. Getting rid of Song and RVP isn’t a bad thing at all. Even letting Theo walk, who is the perennial also-ran on so many levels, would allow for a fresh start.
Once you ship the disgruntled deadwood too you’re getting somewhere. The would mean that an absolutely new look Arsenal can stride beyond the baggage of being losers.
This City team is none too special and neither are United, so given our line up, the personnel are not the issue here. Its the mindset of these personnel.
But now Wenger has to take the big leap. Bould is in.
He is experienced without being tainted like Pat Rice was. But Wenger needs to restart, washing away all the cancerous ideas that he has instilled, such as slack defending and the like.
He needs to put winning back on the agenda at Arsenal, and he needs to start with himself.
Do I think Wenger will have some an existential revelation?
I’d rather sit on the fence for that question, as I have been Wenger Out for so long I am tarnished and just need to keep quiet for a few months, opening myself up to be proven wrong.
Myles says :
Football is unpredictable.
We all get proven wrong at some time or another.
Maybe Wenger will change to a more dynamic style of play and surprise you.