da realsbet： Things looked bright for the Gunners in the summer as goalkeeper Petr Cech was signed from Chelsea for a bargain£11million.
da betcris： But as the season went on, fans and pundits alike began to criticise Wenger’s decision not to strengthen in any other areas.
Key players such as Cazorla, Wilshere, Rosicky, Alexis and Oxlade-Chamberlain all suffered injuries ruling them out for large parts of the campaign. Injuries are a part of football, but it seems to me that Arsenal are the victim of too many occasions.
According to injuryleague.com, Arsenal players have been injured for a total of 227 weeks between them this season. Since August 2002, Arsenal have endured 989 injuries, more than any other club.
Few can say that Arsenal lack the quality to be champions. A team cannot get much better than the likes of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla. But the players often do not seem to play up to their full potential. The squad plays in a stadium filled with corporate businessmen every week as the passionate fans are priced out of going to the games by absurd ticket prices. The players lack the motivation to be champions.
That said, it is surely not the fans fault that Arsenal have faltered and there is one man on everybody’s mind. Arsene Wenger.
Wenger has done wonders for the club; there is absolutely no denying it. Six FA cups, three Premier League titles, including a whole season unbeaten, gives Wenger a legendary status in North London. Wenger changed Arsenal from being a “boring club” to one that plays beautiful football and is admired all around the world. But times have changed.
Arsenal fans are about to witness their worst nightmare and finish behind arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur for the first time in 20 years. Spurs could rub salt in the wounds of the Gunners by perhaps winning the title this season, too.
Wenger changed the dynamics of Arsenal football club. The man was completely unknown before joining the club in 1996. They built a new stadium and a new training ground under Wenger and it would have been impossible without him. But Wenger’s style seems to be out-dated. Arsenal fans are fed up with top four finishes and are eager for something more and perhaps something new.
“4th place is not a trophy” is a famous Arsenal fan saying, aimed towards Arsene Wenger. In my opinion, it is completely understandable to feel the frustration of the fans and to want change after so many years of not moving forward.
Leicester in one year have transformed themselves from relegation strugglers to Premier League title challengers. Wenger has been unable to jump from 4th to 1st in the past 12 years. We cannot disrespect the man who has done so much for the club but perhaps it is time for Wenger to move on himself and leave the club as a legend. Banners with the words “Arsene, thanks for the memories but it’s time to say goodbye” has been seen many times in the Arsenal away end over the past few seasons.
Arsenal are renowned for being stubborn in the transfer market and rarely spending the money that the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea do every season. It is ironic that Walcott and Giroud earn hundreds of thousands each week because their performances are often as poor as Sunday-League standard.
Wenger has said that he “likes to honour his contract” and therefore looks as though he will be staying at Arsenal for another year.
Arsenal must sign a leader this summer, someone who can lift the team and can inspire the rest of the squad. They desperately need a new centre back as both Mertesacker and Gabriel have not looked good enough for a team that should be competing for the title. The Gunners also need one or two new midfielders with some flair and passion.
And finally, without a doubt, they need a new striker as Walcott and Giroud are simply not good enough and Welbeck’s record is not even close to that of Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy or Sergio Aguero.
It is unlikely that global stars will want to join Arsenal during such difficult times but if they can lure the likes of Aubameyang to the Emirates, next season could be very different. Arsenal must spend this summer and forget this terrible season and begin to move on to better things.
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