10 monumental Wenger mistakes
Arsene Wenger’s future is in doubt at Arsenal, with the Frenchman yet to tell anyone if he will remain in charge of the club next season.
The 67-year-old has arrived at Arsenal in September 1996 and has been in charge since (nearly 21 years) during this time he has achieved so much but also made some monumental mistakes. This article will concentrate on the latter of the two. So, here are 10 massive mistakes that Wenger has made as Arsenal manager.
1. Dropping Thierry Henry in in the 2004 FA Cup semi-final
The Gunners faced Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final that year, but Wenger opted to bench Henry rather than start him. United went on to win the game 1-0 with a Paul Scholes goal. This decision probably cost Arsenal the Double and probably even the Treble, as Arsenal went out to Claudio Ranieri's Chelsea during the midweek Champions League quarter-final game, serving no purpose in dropping Henry against United beforehand. This decision almost even cost Arsenal the Premier League as the defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea nearly went into the following Liverpool game when Henry was the hero that reversed a losing score-line with a magnificent display. Luckily, Arsenal went on to be unbeaten and preserved themselves as the 'Invincibles' - BUT that season SHOULD have been THE TREBLE and in matching (even bettering) Manchester United's 'Treble' of 1999 (since The Gunners would have been 'Unbeaten'). This 'Treble' failure, I believe, stemmed from Wenger dropping Henry in the F.A. Cup semi-final!
2. Selling our best players to rivals
Selling superb players to RIVAL clubs in the Premier League - Ashley Cole to Chelsea, Robin van Persie to Manchester United, Gael Clichy, Samir Nasri, Bacary Sagna to Manchester City spring to mind. Other magical players over the years Wenger sold were to Barcelona, and on a on a consistent basis, such as Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars, Cesc Fabregas, Henry, and then everybody wonders why Barcelona consistently knocked Arsenal out of the Champions League, or why Chelsea overtook Arsenal in winning a plethora of silverware, or why Manchester United left Arsenal behind in winning seven more Premier League titles when they were drawing at 13 titles each at one stage.
3. Dismantling the ‘Invincibles’ too early
Wenger did this far too quickly. Dennis Bergkamp, Freddie Lungberg, Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira, Edu, and many more either left or were sold far too early and never ever replaced them. His buys have been shambolic, with too many plugs to mention, Igor Stepanovs, Phillipe Senderos, Johan Djourou, Francis Jeffers, Yaya Sonogo, Sebastien Squillaci, Carlos Vela, Nelson Vivas, Manuel Almunia, and many, many, many others.
4. Wenger opting for weakened teams in big games.
The Frenchman unforgivably did not pick Bergkamp for the 2006 Champions League final, and then decided to take off Pires when Jens Lehmann got sent off. This tactical decision completely 'weakened' the Arsenal team. Terrible! In fact, this was not the only time he played a weakened team in a final. The League Cup v Jose Mourinho's Chelsea featured a 'weakened' team when he decided to play the kids that got Arsenal there. Mourinho's quote at the time was: "Wenger is a good guy but history will record that we won the Cup." Wenger, although coming close, has NEVER won the League Cup in 20 years (losing to Birmingham City, a team Arsenal beat twice that season, and were relegated). On top of that, he has NEVER won any European competition in 20 years of trying, not only the Champions League, but the old U.E.F.A. Cup as well, losing to the mighty Galatasaray, and this after saying "if there is blood on the cup then we don't want it" in response to Leeds fan(s) being stabbed by Galatasaray thugs in a previous round, and violence between fans at the final.
5. Thinking top four is as good as a trophy
The thought of thinking that finishing top four is as good as winning silverware is mind boggling. This may be true financially, but the fans do not get a share of the money, in fact, they fork out money to watch the team in the hope that the club, a supposed 'giant' like Arsenal, will provide them with a trophy at the end of the season. Two FA Cups in 14 years is simply not good enough for a club like Arsenal, who charge the fans the most expensive season tickets in the world! In comparison to what Chelsea, Manchester United, and even Liverpool have won in comparison is more than Arsenal. Arsenal's history (of the amount of trophy winning counts) is in danger of being taken over rapidly.
6. The move to The Emirates
Building the Emirates Stadium was good for the financial aspect of the club and moving forward, but something got lost when Arsenal left Highbury.
7. He should have left after the 2015 FA Cup triumph
Not quitting after he won the last F.A.. Cup in 2015 and carrying on another 2 years, which ultimately continued the downward spiral that Arsenal have been on for ages now. Top four spot is severely threatened. Spurs are even playing better than Arsenal, and the AKB’s v WOB debate has even spilled over into fights in the stands. If Arsenal win the FA Cup this season, Wenger should do right by the fans and not sign a new contract if it is offered to him by the board. This will unite the fans and a new man, somebody fresh, can take over and revive the club.
8. Not mentoring an Arsenal legend to take the reigns
Not grooming an Arsenal legend to take over when he quits. Any Arsenal legend, like Henry for example should by now have been ready to fit in the manager's seat. So many ex-legends have so much to offer the club and they are nowhere to be seen.
9. The club is locked
Not so much a Wenger mistake, but the fact that under his reign the club has been locked, with silent Stan Kroenke owning most of the shares and nowhere to be seen. The board is so full of money that Wenger has made for them that, according to them, he has earned the right to decide when he goes. Fair enough, winning Premier Leagues, and Champions Leagues doesn't matter (even if annually you ultimately get humiliated and embarrassingly spanked in the knock-out round) just as long as you keep the money rolling in.
10. Consistent poor team selections
Poor team selections that baffle the fans and TV pundits alike. Making substitution between the 62-67 minutes in a game. So predictable to go with what now is wimpish and boring back-passing football, and a case of the 'shits' (bad diarrhoea) whenever a crucial game comes around, and no, I'm not talking about when it comes to playing Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, or Tottenham, I'm talking about Watford, Swansea and so forth. We are constantly struggling to beat even these teams on a regular basis. They are not just one off blips but a consistent struggle.
It is time for a change. Wenger must win the FA Cup (something which admittedly he is good at winning) and go out on a high at the end of the season.