Wenger : I would accept 2nd place for the next 20 years
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SECOND BEST SUITS ARSENAL BOSS ARSENE WENGER
ARSENE WENGER has risked infuriating Arsenal’s frustrated supporters by claiming he would accept second place for the next 20 years.
The Gunners’ boss has come under fire after his team lost the Carling Cup final, were knocked out of the Champions League and FA Cup and fell seven points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United.
But ahead of Arsenal’s match at Blackpool tomorrow, Wenger hit back by saying: “I am only very proud of what this team have done.
“As long as you are second in the league, I am ready to sign for the next 20 years and stand up for that.”
But despite insisting that his team can still win the Premier League, Wenger’s rant resembled a familiar list of excuses for yet another trophyless season. He is right to point out his and Arsenal’s achievements. Only Manchester United have matched their record of qualifying for the Champions League, and fighting for the title with eight games to go is hardly a crisis.
It is understandable Wenger feels unfairly targeted, given Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is being touted as the next England manager for his achievements and that Manchester City’s ambitions do not extend beyond a top-four finish.
But it is Wenger who built a winning mentality at Arsenal that he and his players are now being judged by.
“Some of the clubs behind us have done nothing for 20 years, yet suddenly they get a lot of praise,” said Wenger. “I don’t understand. I managed 1,500 games and I have to listen to many opinions of people who have done a bit less. We have eight games to go and are in a position to fight for the championship, so let’s give the maximum.
“If we’re disappointed at the end, then OK. Why do you say that it is a disaster when we’re second in the league? Do the 18 clubs behind us have a fantastic disaster?
“To be consistent at the top level is the most difficult and important thing in our job. We’ve been in the Champions League for 15 years and there’s only two clubs who have done that in this country: us and Manchester United.
“Trophies are one way to judge a club. They’re not overrated as it allows you to say you’ve won a trophy, but would you swap winning the FA Cup for playing in the Champions League? Is it a trophy or not to be in the Champions League? We do as well as we can and if it’s not good enough, it’s not good enough.
“But what I deny is that everything is suddenly negative. We’ve built this club.
“I don’t know where Arsenal would be without me – maybe better, maybe worse. I hope one day maybe better.
“I defend what we do here and the way we do it. That’s all. I don’t see why we should be negative.
“If I cannot defend the fact we’re second in the league and fighting for the championship then I should stay at home, but I’m in a fighting job.”
He remains convinced that history will prove him right to put so much faith in this set of players. Although, ominously, he suggested that it will not necessarily be Arsenal who benefit. “The average age of this team is 23,” said Wenger. “We’ve done well for our age.
“Is that a disaster? There are teams who invest 10 times more than us, one player cost more than our whole team and they’re behind us.
“We have many big players in this team and the future will tell you that. Whether they play here or somewhere else, you’ll realise they’re big players.”
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I seriously wonder who on right mind would want to play second fiddle to a team that's winning all the time?
Ok fine it's ok to be contented, but forvever playing second fiddle? no way
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he needed to be given more money to spend on players to challenge for EPL title and CL. he has been given peanuts to spend really. when you get peanuts to spend, you get monkeys.
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he's an economist... look at his major..
i have a feeling he is plotting to bring arsenal to a level which even MUFC, Real Madrid and Barcelona cannot match..
the first thing he needs to do is to get the balance sheet working so it stays in the extreme black for 20 years... creating a critical mass which is self-perpetuating.. they would never need to bother about finances anymore...
the giant clubs are falling into financial disarray... MUFC is owned by a bunch of people whom the fans don't trust... LFC is a mess... CFC is owned by a guy who, if he tires of playing Football Manager (Live Edition), will liquidate and the club is going to hell in a handbasket...
the other clubs in Europe which can compete are AC Milan (the Italian PM is now more a liability than an asset), Inter (which lost its way after Mourinho left) and Juve (which is in shit)
in Spain, both Real and Barce are in shit financially with banana republic GDP level debt...
arsenal? they're making a profit!!
they keep on keeping on and they will end up being the biggest club in the world... but it will take a long view..
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agree with bear.. the fans should appreciate wht wenger has done.. a young team, a healthy finance and making profits...and been consistent in the top 4 ...
i a MU supporter but a Barca/Arsenal fan...
and i prefer to c MU heading where Arsenal is heading..
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Originally posted by the Bear:
he's an economist... look at his major..
i have a feeling he is plotting to bring arsenal to a level which even MUFC, Real Madrid and Barcelona cannot match..
the first thing he needs to do is to get the balance sheet working so it stays in the extreme black for 20 years... creating a critical mass which is self-perpetuating.. they would never need to bother about finances anymore...
the giant clubs are falling into financial disarray... MUFC is owned by a bunch of people whom the fans don't trust... LFC is a mess... CFC is owned by a guy who, if he tires of playing Football Manager (Live Edition), will liquidate and the club is going to hell in a handbasket...
the other clubs in Europe which can compete are AC Milan (the Italian PM is now more a liability than an asset), Inter (which lost its way after Mourinho left) and Juve (which is in shit)
in Spain, both Real and Barce are in shit financially with banana republic GDP level debt...
arsenal? they're making a profit!!
they keep on keeping on and they will end up being the biggest club in the world... but it will take a long view..
i dun think arsenal can keep on making profits every year, the reasons are simple enough, they don't sell the likes of adebayor, toure, henry every year, there's no guarantees of champs league every year or progress into the later stages where the big money comes in
although their model is better than most of the big clubs but it's still not the best, you have to look at german clubs to see the best models, almost every club in the bundesliga is bringing youngsters through, they're all financially well run and there's only one sugar daddy club in hoffenheim. Arsenal's model means they still pay for their youngsters, they're cheap but ethically makes you cheap as well....
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I beg to differ on what Wenger is on to... Arsenal isn't the most profitable club during this past 6 yrs despite spending lesser than the others...
I belief the main reason Arsenal is even profitable is they have a bigger stadium than Spurs and Chelsea in London. And also the land and housing sale of their former ground helps pop up their past few season's revenue. Land in London is costly but this is a short term means as they will run out from this source very soon...
I strongly belief that Wenger, after having won in his earlier years, now wants to achieve winning with a young squad. And contrary to belief, Arsenal does spend a lot of money on players too only on young players. Paying over the odds for very young players and some of them or perhaps lots of them may not even make it to the first team or reserved before they are released. Sidwell, Bentley are just a few who have became successful elsewhere... Their youth programme takes up a lot of their expenses, they do it aroundthe world, they have even conducted course for youth in Singapore just imagine...
Although their highest paid player is only on $110k and there is only one such earner (Fabregas), their wage bill is still not too far behind from United's... So we have to wonder where have the rest gone too?
As to Wenger getting a chance to do his experiment, it's probably got to do with the Arsenal club board being weak with too many shareholders... There is no focus from anyone... Like Chelsea have Roman and United have Fergie... The Arsenal chairman is only interested on the annual profits to show to the directors so is willing to sacrifice winning than really going for the title... While Wenger isn't put under any pressure to win so he continues with his experiments... As Mourinho said, Wenger has an easy job as he is not expected to deliver year in, year out... and he doesn't face the sack.
But I think things may be about to change for Arsenal... With the emergence of City, Spurs and perhaps Liverpool... Their chances of getting a CL place becomes harder as well if they continue with Wenger's experiments... And we know the CL is a cash cow that Arsenal can't afford to miss out if they want to continue to be profitable and a big club...
But who knows, a new owner taking over may change all this.
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he's saying that coz he knows arsenal cant even finish 2nd place. so finishing 2nd for 20 yrs is an achievement.
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What's the 2nd highest mountain in the world? Nobody gives a damn.
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coming in second would be great for spurs, but for arse, this is a disgrace to be at year in year out...if his only ambition is to balance the books, go be an accountant, not a football coach...