Arsenal's mess is now a crisis

If today's Metro is true, you better look away now Aneesh... http://metro.co.uk/2017/03/23/nacho-monreal-reveals-arsene-wengers-been-offered-a-new-deal-at-arsenal-6529659/ Sigh. Another frustrated Gooner here mate. What's it going to take? I honestly thought failing to reach the Top 4 might be an alarm bell for the board. Now it seems fairly clear they don't care.

Mark, I can't agree with the parallel that Arsenal are following the same path as Liverpool. Liverpool have never legitimised not winning the title, and on that front, it is where some of their fans are branded delusional. Liverpool's fall from their perch (to use an interesting phrase) stemmed from the fallout of the Hillsborough tragedy, poor forward planning to renew their squad after their glory days of the 80s, no European Cup to incentivise players to come there following Heysel, Kenny Dalglish's unexpected resignation, and also the influx of cash from the new Premier League financially strengthening other teams, bridging the gap. Since then, LIverpool nearly found themselves bankrupt, and even now, find themselves amongst a pack of teams aspiring for the one prize, and always contrive to fall short. Arsenal's setbacks have been entirely self-inflicted, and largely caused by a somewhat despotic regime currently at the Emirates. The fact that Arsene Wenger is so in control of his own destiny is a worry, but moreso is a board that legitimises mediocrity on the field to ensure profitability off it. Arsenal fans are no more than cash cows for a club that prized success as its hallmark under Wenger's early days. To this end, this author's sentiments are understandable. Where to now for Arsenal? Preferably, the board needs to be replaced by one that holds Wenger accountable for on-field performance. Given this is highly unlikely, Wenger should go so that Arsenal can at least move onto a new era where they can solidify an identity that isn't rooted in accepting mediocrity. Give any Arsenal fan a choice, and I'm sure they would prefer their club to be more like Liverpool - have a few poor seasons here and there, yet have a season or two like Liverpool had where they nearly won the title, only to fall short in April. Arsenal's seasons for the last 10 years have usually washed up by early February.

get experienced EPL players only

the board own the club, sadly, and a re not going anywhere

Arsenal are following the same path as Liverpool. Sure, Liverpool is still a 'big club' in that it has a large international following. However, it is about as relevant to the Premier League title as its cross-town neighbour Everton and as relevant to the Champions League as PSV or Ajax. Once a club stops having genuine ambitions of winning the title, it can't attract the players with the quality to win it. Once it stops making the Champions League every year, it can't attract Champions League quality players. This is where Liverpool now find themselves. It didn't happen overnight. It was a process of 10-20 years where expectations and the quality of players signed were gradually lowered. Liverpool became stagnant and, in the Premier League, teams that become stagnant are overtaken. Arsenal will find themselves in the same situation if they don't act to turn things around soon. The longer they leave it, the harder it will be for them to turn things around. The feelings that many Arsenal fans have for Wenger have a lot in common with those of a battered spouse. Deep down, they are completely miserable, but they remember that things were great at a point (in the now distant past) and stick by him in desperate hope that the good times will return (although it is clear they won't) and because they're scared of what life will be like without him. Part of it is also because some of them hold delusions that he is a superior manager to Sir Alex Ferguson, and sacking him would make that argument impossible to sustain.

The club needs a full rebuild. Even though i love the man and admire him greatly I think Arsene needs to step aside and a new manager appointed with a fresh approach, hopefully Allegri. However more needs to be done, the mess the club is in is not just down to the manager but the coaching staff, players and the board are just as accountable. I believe the list needs a turnover, Coquelin, Gibbs, Cazorla, Monreal are not good enough anymore and need to be moved on, the coaching staff is not good enough, Steve Bould one of our greatest defenders is coaching are defence and we've conceded 3 goals or more in the 8 games, The board are spineless, there not football people, most of them need to go. So much needs to change before we can become the club we were again in the late 90's early 2000's.

I blame the fun for the Arsenal in the mess and crises now. Why before all this commotion of wenger out arsenal players were performing well, even if dismal performance. After all this hullabaloo come out everything is at mess.Starting with board won't see anyone comment about it, wenger is frustrated yes we know wenger need to go but unless he himself decide no one can remove or sack wenger .So we fun knew that, we have to cool ourselves and be supportive of our players, look now what players are doing in field, no one is playing and do effort to fight for the club, they were at mess, frustration, fun up there abusing them. These all must change and stand up with players to boost up for their morale unless otherwise we are going to mess up arsenal, wenger stay put and at last be disappointed. I blame the fun.

Amazing to read that it's now looking likely Wenger will stay on. The more the saga continues, the more you get the feeling that he really is a demagogue who surrounds himself with yes-men, reluctant to step away from the only thing he's known for the last 20 years. Arsenal could certainly decline in the next couple of years after Wenger, but someone in the club has to be bold. One step backwards for two steps forward, maybe. Embarrassing Champions League knockout defeats and 4th every year is just accepting mediocrity.