Tony Adams wrote:Angelito wrote:theHotHead wrote:That won't make us great again Swipey, scoring goals has never been a big issue for us, being one dimensional, being unable to defend, these 2 things are a far bigger problem.
That was under Wenger.
Right now, we don't have an identity. We don't know whether we are an attacking side or a defensive side. We're a mid-table side.
That's what we do know. We have been one for the past two seasons.
This administration would be pretty satisfied if we challenged for top-6 and finished 7th next season as long as we cut down the wage bill.
I do disagree with Swipey though. No world class player would want to join Arsenal at this stage, nor would a solitary world class player prefer to be a scapegoat for Arsenal's failings. At this stage, Arsenal is the worst club a bonafide star could join.
The sooner fans accept Arsenal as the new version of Everton under Moyes, the easier it will be for your heart and mind.
I disagree with pretty much all of this tbh.
I think we're closer to greatness than you think.
If mavrapanos or saliba can come back and fight luiz/holding for a place next to gabriel, we sign a CM partner for partey and auba/laca are properly replaced (martinelli could replace auba) then our first XI would be immense. Then it'd just be a case of sorting the squad players and we have a few more youngsters who might do that next season (Azeez, Balogun and a few others who are out on loan).
I am quietly confident. Then imagine we win the europa league and suddenly Arteta has CL money to spend for the first time!
I admire your optimism. I can't share the same sadly.
You have presented multiple
ifs there:
- If Dinos/Saliba returns;
- If they get a chance to stake their claim;
- If we sign a top class CM. You didn't mention that it had to be top class. He does. Or else, we already have a hoard of CMs here;
- If Auba/Laca are properly replaced;
- If Martinelli is adequately incorporated in the starting line-up;
- Finally, yet not explicitly, if Mikel is a top-tier manager to become a catalyst for greatness.
You're seeing it, right?
I've always believed that it's better to live in hope than die in despair. I do admire your hope.
But the multiple choices you presented to punctuate our journey to greatness makes me even more skeptical.
And, define greatness for me.
Is it challenging for league titles or is it the greatness of 10/11 until 16/17 under Wenger?
Even
if those
ifs become reality, we are up against super-spenders with the greatest manager in the world today. We are up against another super-spender who have a recent history of winning and winning. We're up against a legendary club with a colossus of a manager. We are going against the most successful club in English football history, a mega-rich franchise. We're competing against a sleeping giant with hopes of rejuvenation. Finally, we are competing against a local rival.
Last season, Arteta spent more money than Unai was granted in his first season here. Arteta spent more money last summer than Wenger did in the summers of 15/16 and 17/18 combined.
The media narrative has turned and twisted from those warchests at Wenger's disposal that he'd never use to
wE hAz oNly 22 pEnce to spEnD, nO maA-neE—that Arsenal's premier PR portals publish as "news."
Hey! I hope you're vindicated and the Kroenkes take us to promise land. I just am not sure what you're loudly confident about: Arsenal challenging for the league or us becoming old-school, top-4 Arsenal again?