Midnight Thoughts #3: #WENGEROUT

FYI, this is a 2014 photo. Image taken: Independent


I used to be a staunch  #wengerin guy. Over the years, awful signings, or the lack thereof, lack-luster results every year, I still strongly believe Wenger is the right man for the job. Prior to the 2016/2017 season, we got to play champions league football every single year. With players like Denilson, Chamakh, Squillaci, Frimpong, Park Chu Yong, we are still a Top-4 club in the league every season. Also, it's not like Wenger never spends on players at all. He was unable to do that years before due to financial difficulties after the move to the Emirates Stadium. Right now, he's able to bring in players like Ozil, Alexis, Cech, and more recently Lacazette to the club.

Trust me, there are line-ups wayyy worse than this. Image taken: Fansided


Then came 2017. For the first time in 20 years, Arsenal was unable to qualify for the Champions League. However, Wenger was able to bring the team for another FA Cup win, that's 3 cup wins in 4 years. Gotta admit that was some amazing record. Everybody actually thought he was going to resign after the cup win, leave the club a legacy or something. BUT, he decided to sign a 2-year contract extension despite considered leaving Arsenal "for personal reasons". Still, at that moment, I kinda agreed that he is the only manager that has the ability to stabilize the sinking ship and bring forward the team back in Champions League football next season (2017/2018). 

Things started off quite well, some quality signings (Lacazette and Kolasinac) and Wilshere is back. Alexis and Ozil actually decided to stay! All this meant we really got a shot at top 4 again. Better yet, our man actually believes we still can win the title when the team underperformed during the first few matches. Link: http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/11026475/arsene-wenger-believes-arsenal-can-win-the-premier-league-this-season.   

As we all know by now, that will never happen. After the last match, we are behind title leader Man City 23 points!


"Last year we made 75 points, we won the FA Cup and this year we have to do better." We are not better enough Wenger. Image taken: premierleague.com
 
To understand how awful we are in the league right now, just look at our away record. We only won 3 out 12 away games, that form is worse than clubs like Watford, Burnley and Leicester City. Moreover, we already kicked out from our own FA Cup title defense as we shocking suffered a beat down by Nottingham Forest. To make things worse, our best player might actually leave the club soon and to a rival club. Then again, who could possibly blame poor Alexis, the club plays like shit now. The ship further sinks with uncertainty within the players. Ozil and Wilshere's contracts got no progress whatsoever. And don't get me started on the team's line-up. Our defense is pure rubbish. People talk about how awful Liverpool defense can be, but at least they have a world-class strike force and they actually beat the best team in EPL right now. What do we have? Welbeck? Oh, Lacazette is on a goal drought right now. In short, as most pundits would say, Wilshere is the only player that plays for the badge. The rest are just shite. 
Doesn't matter, we have Dat Guy Welbz. Image taken: Skysport


So what went wrong? 13 years ago, Arsenal won the league unbeaten. Today, we got bullied by small clubs. Two: the management and the manager. With the management continues to see profit way up above than team result, he and the rest would happily rehire Wenger for the job. Heck, Arsenal is one of the most economically powerful clubs. Link: http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11065/11194474/soccerex-rank-manchester-city-and-arsenal-as-most-economically-powerful-clubs-in-the-world. As for Wenger, I am not even sure whether he wants to win the thing or not. And this affects the player too. Besides Wilshere, I am not even sure who even wants to play for the club right now. No player is hungry for winning games, they just continue to play their games and receive their pay-checks. Can we blame them? Of course we do, right now they really don't deserve to wear that shirt. But what causes them to have this attitude? Obviously, the manager. Wenger fails entirely to rile up his players spirits to win the game. Maybe the players are protesting right now? Continue to play bad so that Wenger will show the exit door? The fans have no idea what is going on in the locker room right now.  
No Eye See. Image taken: Daily Express

Some might say the fans should support the club no matter what happens to it. But the fans, especially those who actually bought season tickets (one of the most expensive tickets in EPL) have their rights to demand results too. It is a pain to watch the club week in and week out when the players themselves not feel like playing. 

Will things get better? Again, the fans will never know. I personally hope all the rumors right now are true. With Aubameyang and Malcom linked a move to Arsenal and Mkhitaryan as an exchange deal with Alexis, this will certainly help the club. However, we still need to patch our midfield and defense. More importantly, in order to make the club move upwards again, I am sorry but Wenger must go, preferably at the end of the season. I don't want him to tarnish his own legacy. As much as I admire him, he is harming the club right now. I don't want others to remember him as a 'destroyer' for the club, but the one who actually bring all the glories to the club. However, things are really not looking good for him right now. 

There was news few days ago that reported Ancelotti was in line to succeed Wenger and again, I wish it was true. With a slight change of management, Wenger might actually be sacked sooner. To be honest though, that is not the way how I, and possibly most fans pictured him to leave. If Ancelotti is set to take charge of Arsenal, let Wenger plays out this season, no matter how horrible it might be. I may be in the #wengerout camp right now, he is still a legend in this club nonetheless and just let him leave the club with dignity. 
Right man for the job? Image taken: 101 Great Goals
   
Anyways, I want to hear YOUR opinions about it. Wenger In or Out? Feel free to comment.
Also, all Arsenal fans are welcome to bitch about the state of our club here. That's all for now, goodnight. 
  

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