Wengers decision making

[GranadaJoe]

I can't bear to trawl through years of shit decisions, but surely going into a PL season with two centre backs is like going skydiving with a paper parachute.

[TeeCee]

Or wearing a coat with a big zip when you could have had buttons.......it's all about the decisions......

[Clash]

The Pires substitution still rankles with me and always will. My favourite ever Arsenal player, playing in his home country and he had the ability to produce something that could win us that game. And it was a game we needed to win, not one where we could hold out for a draw. That's why the claim that Hleb more suitable for playing with 10 men because he was fitter doesn't work for me.

One that hasn't been mentioned is dropping Fabregas for the infamous 50th game at Old Trafford and bringing back Edu. I was a big fan of Edu but he had been out for a while and Fabregas was playing well and he could have handled that game. Obviously there are other factors that cost us but I think we could have won that game if we had kept a winning side.

Dropping Henry for the FA Cup semi in 2004. I know we had Chelsea on the Tuesday but I said at the time we either win both games or neither of them and sadly that was what happened. I think we had to win that game to beat Chelsea. Momentum is crucial in football, more crucial than resting. How many times have Wenger's teams struggled after the momentum of an unbeaten run has ended?

[Nos89]

Taking Pires off in Paris instead of Hleb.

This.
Pires was the best player on the pitch until the substitution.
We know for sure that was Wenger's decision, unlike the one year contracts for 30 year old players (Probably the Board's) and Cesc going to Chelsea (I think Cesc chose Chelsea).

Absolutely agree. Lost faith in wenger that night. How often had that team fought to win with 10 men. Tell you what that chance henry missed to put us two up, i'm almost certain if bobby had been on the pitch he would have been up there with henry to receive a pass. And the fact he failed to bring on DB10 for the last 20mins who better to bring on when you need to keep possession.

[DB10GOONER]

Top 3 Wenger uberfuckups for me are;

1. Taking Pires off instead of Hleb in Paris.
2. Not sending DB10 on for the last 20 mins in Paris.
3. NOT bringing Fabregas back this season.

In Paris, once we went down to 10 men we were always in danger of conceding at least one goal. The fact we went ahead was a bonus and taking Bobby off but keeping circle dribbler Hlebslop on only invited the whores onto us. We should have sat deep (fair enough, agree with that), but then against talent like the whores you need a baller like Pires on there to bring that something extra to the table late on - be it a stunning goal or sublime assist for Henry.

Bringing DB10 on would not only have helped with vital ball retention but similar to Bobby he had in his trick bag the ability to produce that bit of magic that can win you a final. Hlebslop brought little. But as we all know Hlebslop was the future in Wenger's eyes. Hlebslop and Mong and LegoHead and Flappy and Vela and Almunia and.....

Can I just add that Hlebslop was the single most frustrating cúnt I've ever seen on a football pitch. Bags and bags of technical ability and amazing tight ball control but absofuckinglutely zero end product. Dribble round one oppo player, round two, goal scoring assist is on but fuck no, dribble back round that first lad again, dribble round a couple more, turn full circle twice, dribble past another, goal scoring assist on again, fuck that, dribble back round those first two lads again, shot now on, hells no, slide it back to one of our CH's.

[augie]

In an era where players food instructions are more important than ever, no player can eat the amount of ice cream hleb did, without it affecting his performances

[DB10GOONER]

In an era where players food instructions are more important than ever, no player can eat the amount of ice cream hleb did, without it affecting his performances

You know, I always thought his use of the words "ice cream" was a euphemism.

I think he meant "man spunk".

[Nuggets]

Taking Pires off in Paris instead of Hleb.

I my book that has got to be one of his worst.

[supergooner]

Shocking need to move with the times relies too much on the past and what has worked then need fresh ideas to move forward. highly frustrating at times

[northbank123]

Bringing on Oxlade-Chamberlain at DM has to be one of his most baffling decisions. What on earth???

[markyp]

Wenker hasn't the balls to make the biggest decision of his time with us and that is to MAN UP AND FUCK OFF

[SteveO 35]

The man is a genius.....a guaranteed 24 million quid over 3 years after 1 FA cup win in 9 years. Genius

[VAVAVOOM 14]

Resting Henry in the '04 FA Cup semi-final. Because of that we bottled the Treble or at the very least a Double.

Selling Vieira in order to pave the way for Fabregas. The catalyst of our barren years and the reason we've been in this rut for a decade; ushered in Wenger's fetish for small, technical midfielders instead of physical players - alas, we haven't been the same since this change of philosophy.

Almunia/not buying a competent 'keeper since we've moved to the Emirates. Our trophy drought would not have lasted as long had we had a half decent goalie between the sticks.

Breaking up The Invinicbles too quickly. Even if some of them had gotten on, we've seen how clubs like United and Chelsea have benefited from keeping the old guard around even if they aren't as formidable on the pitch. Their presence, character and experience would've ensured "Project Youth" wasn't such a clusterfuck.

Selling our pride and RVP to United for 24m, essentially gift wrapping the title to Fergie during that cu*ts final season. Talk about selling your soul.

Phasing Pires out for Reyes/Hleb - both of them turned out to be flops. Very disrespectful to Robert, one of our greatest ever players who still had so much to offer.

Failing to bolster the squad last January knowing Walcott and Ramsey were long term casualties. We could have won the title with adequate signings. Kim Kallstrom ffs.

[TeeCee]

Not playing Arshavin in the cup against Chelsea when he was in the form of his Arsenal career just to see if the team could 'win without him'.

Quite simply, Wonga is a rule unto himself and he plays with Arsenal like they are the worlds most expensive toy whilst he plays with a zip on the sidelines. The only bigger puzzle than how he has kept his job is how the media haven't slagged him off for years?

[Bradywasking]

When your decisions are not questioned by your superiors do they stop being decisions and instead become a fact of life that is accepted ?
Wenger's accountant and bank manager will have no problems with his decision making, Wenger has not made a decision that has had a detrimental effect on Wenger.... The only decision Wenger now has to make is when he goes, because that will be his decision and his alone..