Theoperator wrote:Wonder when you would consider that his time has come though? There are many managers who would in all likelihood be better or at worst as good? Klopp, Anchelotti, Van Boer Simeone possibly.
I can't see any of Klopp, Ancelotti or Simeone being enticed out of their current employment any time soon given the run of form they're having (although I'm pretty sure we beat Dortmund, did we not?). De Boer has apparently been linked with the Spuds, but Ajax's form under him doesn't look that impressive.
As to when the right time would be? I don't know. I don't think he'll stay any longer than two years from now in any case, but given the steady overall improvement this season (despite the slip-ups) and the fact that the viaable alternatives aren't looking to move any time soon, I'm inclined to let him have at least one year, maybe both. Who knows, if we do manage to get the league title next year, maybe he'll decide to call it quits while on top?
The thing is, I'm an Arsenal supporter because I've got three generations of Gooners behind me. Results are nice, silverware is better - but I love the club because I was brought up to love the club, and whatever else you may think of the guy, AW does love the club. I grew up in the 'burbs, but moved to North London for Uni and stayed there afterwards - being able to walk home from my poky offices in Angel and Old Street past Highbury every day when the weather was good was a bit of a dream come true for me. That move coincided with the time it became clear that Highbury's capacity since the all-seater laws came in just wasn't going to be enough for the club to sustain itself in the top flight - and I was there for all the crap that went on as they tried to find a solution, which ended up being Ashburton Grove (before it was the Emirates).
Getting that sorted coincided more-or-less with the year that was The Invincibles, and I have to give AW kudos for agreeing to stay, given that from that point onwards he was no longer going to be able to afford top-flight transfer fees or keep up with the wages that Abramovich (and those that followed) would be offering. I couldn't see the likes of Fergie, Mourinho - or even Spiv Harry - putting up with that kind of constraint. Not only did Wenger stay, but he gave us one of the best seasons the club has ever had - probably well aware that he'd be unlikely to be able to do it again for several years, and that, as manager, it'd be him in the firing line.
This is why I get annoyed with the salary remarks - yeah, he's insanely well-paid (as are all PL managers), but if it was about the money, he could quite easily have walked in 2004 for a much better deal and not had to put up with the hassle. Perhaps some here wish he had in retrospect, but I have trouble imagining a significant queue of people forming for a PL management post where you are contractually bound to only spend a certain amount on transfers and wages, and that amount is not sufficient to entice the best players - not to mention that a top-four finish will be considered the minimum required performance by both the supporters and the club.
On that note, bitching about finishing 4th consistently is all well and good - but why don't you go ask the Spuds about the importance of CL qualification, given that Gareth Bale, who to them was as important as Thierry, Cesc and RVP combined were to us, specifically gave *being able to play Champions League football* as his reason for moving to Real. Not "win the CL", but just to be able to *play* in it.
So yeah, call me what you want, but I'm not going to apologise for the fact that football and Arsenal in particular are about more to me than the results and silverware. Mourinho may have kept his undefeated record against AW, but the miserable prick is finishing the season empty-handed and with a serious squad issue on his hands in the coming season or two - and no guarantee Uncle Roman will hand him a blank chequebook again any time soon. I remember a (lifelong) Chelsea-supporting mate of mine telling me about the first time he heard "Where were you when we were shit?" being sung. In my lifetime, we have never been shit - but we've been in a lot worse predicaments than we were a couple of years ago, let alone now. Lest we forget, George Graham managed us to the lofty heights of *12th* in the inaugural year of the PL.
*lights cigarette, dons blindfold...*
He's now started inventing his own competitions.
. Seriously, how fcuking flukey is that?! It's not really something to admire is it? 
