Arsène spoke after the Montepellier match of his pride in the record of qualifying for the Champions League and progressing to the knockout stage for the 13th consecutive season. Indeed it is an outstanding achievement considering the fact that in only two of those seasons, Arsenal qualified for the competition itself as champions. That Arsenal as a club were able to participate identifies the paradox: The Champions League containing more teams who have not won the previous season’s domestic title in their homeland than have. Not particularly a league of champions, is it?
That is not Wenger’s fault. He did not make the rules and whilst his professionalism avariciously grasps the opportunity, the sentimental heart must equally be tinged with sadness that there is nothing magisterial about the tournament. Uefa created a money-making monster of which it has all but lost control hence their craven capitulation to the clubs when the question of international friendlies arose. Nothing will change, no looking back but as a tournament, it lacks that special feeling it had two decades ago.
Europe has long been the club’s Achilles Heel, Arsène’s as well. The consistency of qualification is a record to be proud of but overall, the performance when in the respective tournaments pales by comparison to his domestic achievements. Two losing finals in his tenure at the club seems scant reward for qualifying for either competition fifteen seasons in a row. Of course, there are clubs who during that time have not reached any finals but of those considered to be big clubs in the European game, Arsenal have amongst the poorest record with just a Fairs Cup and a Cup Winners Cup to show for their efforts.
Arguably club competitions came along two decades too late for Arsenal. The halcyon days of the 1930s had long passed when Hanot’s idea came to fruition. Equally, being The Establishment Club, it is not unreasonable to assume that Arsenal would have followed Chelsea’s lead and not entered the Champions Cup had they qualified in the 1950s. I doubt Chelsea thought they would have to wait another half-century for a second opportunity to participate following the board’s decision not to capitalise on their 1954-55 League title, not entering at the behest of the English footballing establishment.
Bertie Mee qualified for Europe in successive seasons (even if 1969-70 was via the back door), Neill did as well. George Graham suffered most with the ban on English clubs playing in Europe affecting more than half of his reign. Had it not been in place, the likelihood is that he would have qualified for club competition in every season of his tenure. As it is, Arsenal’s record under Arsène is unparalleled in the club’s history but the playing field is not level. Those who point to qualifying for the Champions League specifically never mention the change to the entry criteria laid down by Uefa. Had that not changed, been consistent with previous decades or bans rescinded, Graham would have been in the same category.
Despite those opportunities, he has never been able to bring home either of the trophies remaining. It is something which is noticeable by its absence on his CV. Wenger’s record is:
| Season | Competition | Round |
| 1997-98 | UEFA Cup | 1 |
| 1998-99 | Champions League | Group |
| 1999-00 | Champions League | Group |
| 1999-00 | UEFA Cup | Runners-up |
| 2000-01 | Champions League | Quarter-Finals |
| 2001-02 | Champions League | 2nd Group Phase |
| 2002-03 | Champions League | 2nd Group Phase |
| 2003-04 | Champions League | Quarter-Finals |
| 2004-05 | Champions League | 2nd Round |
| 2005-06 | Champions League | Runners-Up |
| 2006-07 | Champions League | 2nd Round |
| 2007-08 | Champions League | Quarter-Finals |
| 2008-09 | Champions League | Semi-Finals |
| 2009-10 | Champions League | Quarter-Finals |
| 2010-11 | Champions League | 2nd Round |
| 2011-12 | Champions League | Quarter-Finals |
Arsenal have been eliminated by some good teams in this time; some distinctly average ones as well. When you look back, 2003-04 is surely the biggest regret. The semi-finals contained four of the weakest teams to have competed at that stage at any point in the tournaments history by comparison; the Champions League was there for the taking yet Arsenal contrived to lose to Chelsea at home. Paris was a heroic failure, a bittersweet taste of what might be. The problem for Arsène is that the elite clubs in Europe are investing heavily in chasing the dream and whilst they cannot all win it, insurmountable barriers are being erected in front of Arsenal. Perhaps the club’s true standing is in the top sixteen in Europe and no more?
A lot is said of the club lacking ambition, about fourth being the sum total of the desire for the season. Ambition strikes me as the wrong word but for the life of me, I am not sure which one to use in its place. Stating that all Arsenal want is to qualify for the Champions League is incorrect; that is the minimum expectation which is why achieving that is not heralded by supporters in the same way that the manager likes to publicly but privately, his disappointment will be deeper. Yes, we’ve been spoiled but when you achieve something regularly, it is not longer a treat but a benchmark set by previous performance. When you achieve the minimum, people naturally want more, expect progression. Will that come in Europe whilst domestic achievements stagnate? It is hard to make that case but such is the perversity of professional sport, it would be of no surprise if this season’s Arsenal went one further than their equally unsung 2006 predecessors.
’til Tomorrow.
Nando:
We have discussed this many times before. None of us expect to win every year and we accept that it is much harder then it was before Abramovich. However, that means we have to work harder and be more innovative and make maximum positive use of the resources we have. What is frustrating is the feeling that we are no longer doing that. In recent years we have been strengthening our rivals more then ourselves while we are leaving resources sitting in the bank that could have safely been used to strengthen our team. We will not be able to compete even during the inevitable years when the “wealthy clubs” are down if we don’t have the best possible team that our resources can buy on the pitch every season. Just as concerning is the feeling that our coaches no longer consistently get the best of our players abilities on the pitch.
If we can get deep into the Champions League this would be good for the guys. Winning the EPL is out of the question. Winning the Champions league everything will have to break right for us like it did for Chelsea last year. The FA Cup is a good bet.Let’s hope we have a good showing in the Champions League. Did you cats see Liverpool lose to West Brom? I love it.
@Bill
The problem is none of us really know what resources are actually available. Aagain, the cash and short term deposits though indeed very high (152M or thereabouts last full accounts) is actually only 7M more than the estimated debts payable for the next 12 months at 145M. We cannot simply use an amount money shown in isolation of the other facts also presented in the same accounts.
I use to think we needed to spend more, but the truth is simple… we are not going to or indeed just don’t have the money to. As a club we are right about where the owner wants us to be, he is getting returns on his investment by growing the value of the club. He is not going to spend personal money on transfers.
Theonly real question I would like answered in depth is what impact the property side of the Arsenal Group is having on the football side.
Left back against Bayern will be an interesting one. I suppose the one positive is that they will be up against the most predictable right sided player alive if Robben starts :p
Great write up (as usual) YW.
@ Bill
“Just as concerning is the feeling that our coaches no longer consistently get the best of our players abilities on the pitch.”
well said!
I admire clubs like WBA or Swansea because this season, with their limited resources, their players seem to overachieve. No fancy hollywood names…..just
hustle and desire.
@ Bill n C
I moved to the Pittsburgh area about 6 years ago and the attitude of the fans here is commendable. They want the Steelers to win each season but understand that’s not
realistic.
I see Woman’s golf has there version of Messi or Tiger Wood in a girl named Lydia Ko (New Zealand). Can you imagine making your first professional cut in golf at the age of 12?? To have won 3 professional tournaments by the age of 15?? Hellz Bellz I feel like I wasted my life.
@Arsesession
“I admire clubs like WBA or Swansea because this season, with their limited resources, their players seem to overachieve. No fancy hollywood names…..just
hustle and desire.”
Newcastle over achieved last season and look at where they are right now. The fact is there are always going to be clubs that over or under perform in any given year. The truth test is the consistency in which any club can do it.
Yogi you sir have produced simply a fucking brilliant post with this one.
I do think that we can compete for all 4 trophies their is no doubt in my mind. I think alot of it has to do with us cutting down on the major lapses that we seem to have every season and actually keep our best players or atleast not selling 2-3 at any given time.
What is to stop us from beating Bayern other than our own lack of self belief. Say we go and take it to them, they are missing 2 or their top 3 CB’s, Theo’s pace is unrivaled in world futbol and we have a lethal midfield with the likes of Santi, Jack, Diaby and Arteta. Say we beat Bayern who knows what can happen but the major point is in self belief that we belong even on the world’s biggest club stage.
miami – A good post. And one that undermines all of the argument pretty much all of us have participated in over the past few years. None of us know how much is avilable to strenthen/maintain the squad. We know the wage structure has hindered us. But we don’t know if/how much AW has been restricted in bringing new players in.
I suppose it will all come out in the wash one day. We have either been absolutely brilliant, or, have been neglient to the detriment of the club. And I have no idea which to be honest.
But I do think most people’s (mine at least) critisism’s of the transfer dealings have been realistic. Nobody has asked us to match hte likes of Chelsea and City in their spending. It is just frustrating that so often we seem to have been one or two players away from having a team capable of winning something. Could we have not made that step? Maybe not I suppose, but it just seems hard to swallow.
But as you rightly pointed out, none of us really know any detail. And as much as sites like Swiss Rambler produce their theories online, they do not know the inner workings of a top level football club any more than you or me. There may well be oodles of cash sat in the bank; but that does not mean it is not earmarked or needed for something.
@Arsession
The best thing about us people from Pittsburgh that are Steelers fans that have left and that still live in the city is the fact that we do understand what is realistic but we also demand that our players love the team and play hard for the team. We cheer for our team when they are shit and when they are on top of the world. But our team and owners fight and give everything they have for the Steelers and in return the fans do the same.
@GA
Simply put I feel much like yourself mate. I went through a period where quite frankly I was angry with the way I preceived the club was being run. I now realise that my anger was built on the premise that we had funds but also because I had become some what spoiled as a fan of Arsenal FC.
I don’t think Arsenal are a poor side, they have an above average brand but they are not an elite brand. Our commerical revenue last year fell behind Man City for the first time, but I recogise that the monies being poured in to City are via sponsors supporting the owners regime not the club itself.
Arsenal have not been blown out of the water by any of the clubs above them this year but I am sure the player recognise that they didn’t do enough to win. Arsenal are a very good side on their day, it is now about how to get them playing at a consistently high level game in and game out.
One final note of finances, it is clear that Arsenal have maintained a policy of ensuring transfer profits over the past few years. It is less clear why it was needed, but again the club obviously are privy to much more detail than any of us could possibly spectulate on.
Miami @ 3:33:
I have no idea of the exact numbers and how much we really need to hold in reserve, but I believe (correct or not) that we are underutilizing our resources and have become overly risk averse. Nothing wrong with not winning but IMO there is everything wrong with a club like ours tacitly accepting that we are no longer competitors, and our actions seem to suggest that is the case. Obviously that is just my opinion and I don’t really want to start that discussion over again because no one is going to change their minds at this point.
@Bill
We are not risk averse, all transfers are a risk so to suggest such is being short sighted. We are not a speculative company, more a blue chip steady income returner. It remains to be seen whether this business strategy is the best approach, but it is a long term approach rather than a short term one. The only reason people question the approach is the lack of fan return on their perceived investment in the company. I get it on one hand, we are all shareholders of sorts in the Arsenal. The problem is that our views are tainted by the devil may care approach of other companies who have the wealth to ensure that losses are no more important than the penny you dropped and forgot about on Bond Street Sunday morning.
Andy:
“There may well be oodles of cash sat in the bank; but that does not mean it is not earmarked or needed for something.”
The point is that we are first and foremost a football club, isn’t winning trophies supposed to be the thing the money is needed for? Again may be I am wrong, but the thing that frustrates is that it feels like winning trophies has not been our highest priority. Can you even imagine us strengthening the Red Manc’s and signficantly decreasing our chance of a league title for 3 -4 years under any circumstances if it was 2002? Couldn’t real estate development and what ever other projects we might be earmarking the money for have waited until after the commercial revenue windfall in 2014?
My 2 cents.
We lack ambition to make the risky moves/investments we need to win the league.
We would LIKE to win and will try our hardest to win but the board won’t splash the cash and take the financial risks needed to purchase the players to improve our weaknesses or pay the salaries required to keep our best players from leaving.
The ledger sheet is dictating our moves, not the score sheet or league table. For example last summer we sold RvP. We did not have to sell him. He could have been made to see out his contract just like Theo was this year. With RvP there was the chance we could have made a serious challenge this year. Many times this year his clinical finishing could have earned us a few points. But we sold him to a competitor because we were provided with a choice of keeping him for another year or losing out on the transfer fee. The board preferred to cash in on him and not lose the transfer fee. Who knows where we’d be or where manure would be if we made him play his final year (a year in which he’d be trying to impress his future suitors if he still felt compelled to sign elsewhere).
But with our current owner Silent Sam the team is to be run as part of a larger property management firm where the ledger sheet/bottom line is the only concern. Footballing decisions that are detrimental to the team’s ability to compete will be made if they are advantageous to the bottom line. The board is financially risky averse. i think we are just ‘competing’ foremost to earn money and will invest to a magnitude that will optimize financial reward while minimizing risk. That means shooting for 4th spot. The riskier investment needed to shoot higher will not be made as the risk/reward is not good due to the fact that we have 3 major clubs willing to outspend us.
@GA and MA
I similar to you seem to think that we have always seem to be 1-3 players away from winning a trophy and then winning regularly but it just seems that every time we go in for a player we seem to JUST miss out on them. It drove me absolutely mad watching us being able to beat nay side but yet still be enough points behind in the for it to be over earlier than expected or JUST missing out on moving forward in a tournament.
I do feel now that we are maybe 1-2 players away from seriously challenging for the League. I know this is the preverbial “beaten horse” but with say those 2 player(whoever they maybe at this point) we would truly be a force. Even without those players we still seem to be a force that can challenge and win on all scales. Say we get up on Bayern and have to play on the counter, Could we not steal points with the counter attacking ability of Theo, Santi, Jack, Podolski, Lil Mozart and Giroud?!?!?!? I think we can.
It for me comes down to self belief, when we had players like Cesc, Bergkamp, Henry, Pires, even Nasri and the lot they had a self belief that we can play and beat anybody in Europe no doubt about it. I see that self belief in some of our current players like Jack and Theo but we need it to resonate through the squad.
@C
I think the squad needs tweaking but no major adjustments, there are many I am sure who would probably disagree. To name a couple of targets lets say we get Jovetic and Capoue; good business. Now lets look at the exits; Arshavin & Squillaci (both free’s), Denilson, Bendtner, Chamakh, Santos, Park (all deemed surplus to requirements). We then have the curious case of Djourou to deal with. I am not sure whether he’ll be encouraged to leave or not because if he does that leaves us effectively 3 CB’s going in to the new season. The net effect of this “supposed” summer business would be a large reduction in the wage bill (very attractive to Arsenal) and yet we will not have lost any quality from players who are actually in the first team picture. I have no idea what will happen with Sagna contract, my concern on one level is that he’ll be the most attractive revenue option if sales over and above those listed were required.
@C
I am growing increasingly concerned by the absence of Lil Mozart in any matches even as a used substitute. I know he recently played for the national side so it cannot be injury concerns. Has Arsene lost faith?
@MA
I agree with you about the buying of say Capoue and Jovetic and letting others go. I do disagree with you about going with only 3 CB’s. I look at it like this, Miquel is essentially Djourou’s replacement by all accounts of what seems to be going on and if we do sign Capoue he has been dominant at CB as well so that again leaves us with 5 recognized CB’s. I think the biggest area of mystery will be our midfield. I do think though that like we have both agreed we are 1-3 players away from doing some serious damage in all competitions.
@C
Mate, surely you see Capoue as a recognised defensive midfielder not CB? It may be that Capoue can play in that role but his natural role is DM. Sagna has shown he can play as a CB to, but his natural role is still right back
You may have a point on Miquel, time will tell.
@MA
I doubt he has lost faith but I think with the return and good form of Jack coupled with the recent good run of form of players like Arteta, Le Coq, Ramsey and Santi he has become almost a luxury.. Now I do think that we will see him play more as the season progresses. I did read somewhere prior to him playing with his national team that he was still not match fit due to his lengthy time out and Arsene only had sent him off due to that. Now I do think that he will play a major part during the business end of the season
MA, good point about Rosicky. If we don’t see him v. Blackburn, I would really wonder…
@MA
I know Capoue is a recognized CM/DM and have said that multiple times and have even lobbied for him prior to any one on here. He is the missing link for me but at his club he was also a dominant CB often times when Sissohko would play in that position. Rarely they played in midfield together with Capoue often times playing at CB. I know Sagna can deputize at CB too, I was just making a point that in Capoue we would have the versatility to play him at CB in matches where we might want to have a midfield of Arteta, Jack and Santi. I do think Miquel is the present 4th CB and future 1st team CB.
So spending cash – whether you have it or not – would ensue that Arsenal football club would be “competitors” you say ?
Really ? So simple I never realised – what a fool I have been
So why the f*** are Citeh and Chels not competing this season ? In Europe their “competitive” effort was laughable, the PL is long gone
As never before those Mancunian bookmakers are paying out in February – February I say to you!
So explain to me exactly how hosing another £50-£100 million up the wall would guarantee a different outcome ?
To be honest, whilst we can speculate about available cash all day, I would say that some (in not most) of our recent failings have come down to pure bad play. We have had the players to produce far more than we have offered.
Not being able to compete with the likes of M City and Chelsea do not explain our often horrendous displays against much “lesser clubs” which have cost us over the years.
For example; we should have won the CC a couple of years back. Only one game I know, but our poor performance that day had nothing to do with our lack or funds. (I know it is an isolated game, but it stands as an example).
Anicoll – Not one person has said anything of the sort today. Stop being a drama queen.
” i think we are just ‘competing’ foremost to earn money and will invest to a magnitude that will optimize financial reward while minimizing risk. That means shooting for 4th spot. The riskier investment needed to shoot higher will not be made as the risk/reward is not good due to the fact that we have 3 major clubs willing to outspend us.”
Really Andy ? Well stick this through your Google translate cos mine says “Spend money = Competitors / Don’t Spend money = not competitors”
Flounces off stage left
But nobody mentioning anything like £50M-£100M?
*Throws wet sponge stage left*
MA
I think Newcastle has more resources than WBA or Swansea. Newcastle has had to deal with the loss of Demba Ba……some injuries (Cabaya)……they are starting to
show their form from last season…..but you right about consistency; For me, it should be easier for teams with more resources.
@ C
good analysis about Steelers and their fans.
What up!
I agree with Nando and Harry!
is there any doubt to anyone here that we are not winning the bayern tie?
only manu and barcelona are better than us in cl this year..then come real, arsenal, dortmund, bayern.
psg and gala can piss off for all i care.
we have a really good chance if real eliminate manu and meet barca in quarters
It is pretty obvious money alone does not win you something, but it does show that money provides a huge foundation in which you can work to succeed. I don’t think the Arsenal squad is weak, a little short in some areas for sure. The issue have been the level of performance by the team this year, individual mistakes have been our achilles heel in key games. I don’t expect Arsenal to win anything, though I hope and pray they do. The last two games have been gut games, working hard and achieving a result when not everything or everyone is hitting there straps. The fact we have won the last 2 whilst playing good and bad football is great, it is that kind of fight we need as a team to earn any honours.
@Arsession
Thanks mate, but as I personally was born in Pittsburgh and am a diehard Steelers fan I know! I also am the same way with our beloved Arsenal!
COWBOYS!!!!
Our car can not compete.
@Arshavin
I know we can beat Bayern! We just need make sure that the players believe it and know they can.
The best part about it is that the 2 teams are very similar. Very solid GK that are prone to a mistake or 2, Great RB’s, the CB’s can either be brilliant or be exposed, the LB is a question due to injury and lapses in concentration, the midfield’s can be absolutely dominant and boss matches with relative ease but can also be prone to getting bossed, Wingers that can be absolutely unplayable can also be predictable and unpredictable in the same breathe, and CF who can dominate in the air be technical and can be a poacher but can also forget to put on their shooting boots from time to time.
@MA
FUCK OFF!!!!
@Lol, C… I really am a Cowboys fan
If we think Arsenal need to be worried about you really see the shame that is the Dallas Cowboys ownership.
PURPLE REIGN..PURPLE REIGN!
Sadly I can’t see us signing Jovetic or Capou, they will go else where as we wont be able to compete with the fee or wages plus we are way too slow at negotiating.
I also think we need way more than 2 signings to be title contenders.
we should’nt take our eyes off the FA cup game on Sat, we have more chance of winning the FA cup than the CL. We can’t afford to be complacent or get any more defensive injuries.
Purple Reign, Purple Reign…
I know this is completely of fthe subject and unrelated to Arsenal or today’s post or discussion but I am at work bored out of my mind and found this video. Just appreciate the talent that was and still is.
Download with Vixy | Convert to MP3 | Advanced Video Downloader & More
Cristiano Ronaldo: God sent me to teach people football.
Messi: No, he sent me!
Ronaldinho: Huh? I didn`t send anyone?
@MA
Honestly I really do hate the Cowboys no doubt about that. The ownership of the Cowboys is like the ownership at QPR, sign good players like they are great players and then win fuck all.
Poor lad, but atleast you are a Gooner and that was the best decision you made.
@Will
Mate I dare must say you must be mental about signing Capoue and us not being able to pay his wages or fee. He will not cost 25M or so, no he will cost 8-15M no more. He also has according to widespread reports from France and abroad somewhere between a 10-12M release clause. I think we can afford that.
I do agree that we should be focused on the FA Cup as that match is on Saturday and we could definetely win that.
I expect…
vs Blackburn
Szcz
Sagna-Per-Ignasi-Nacho
Rosicky-Arteta-Santi
Ox-Poldi-Theo
+Vito, Squilly, Coq, Rambo, Diaby/Arshavin, Giroud, Gervinho/Yennaris.
..should be winnable, methinks.
puRPle reIGn, pUrPLe rEigN..
C I just meant we will get out bid by a club willing to pay more. We will see come the summer, in fact AW is prob not interested in him like all the players we were linked with in Jan. Noone saw Naho coming in.