Arsene Wenger was RIGHT about Leicester in the Champions League

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Fake news seems to be the buzz word of 2017. Football fans have had to put up with it for decades. Journalists twisting words for hits, creating transfer stories to fill column inches.

After Leicester’s brilliant victory over Sevilla last night, many Arsenal fans have started regurgitating fake news with the sharing of the following Evening Standard headline:

But has anyone who has shared it, tweeted it, actually read what Arsene Wenger said?

“If you play at Barcelona on Wednesday night, you have to fight for every single ball and again on the Saturday in the Premier League then of course it will be difficult.

“I cannot predict what the future of Leicester is, but the only thing I can say is it’s much more difficult once you play in competitions like the Champions League.”

At no point did Arsene Wenger say Leicester will struggle in the Champions League.

Reading what he actually said, it is clear the point he was making. It is harder playing Wednesday Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday then it is playing just once a week. And Leicester’s struggles in the Premier League this season shows this.

There results in the Champions League have been brilliant this season, through to the Quarter Final beating a very good Sevilla team. But there Premier League form has dropped as a consequence.

Currently 15th in the league, they are 3 points off the relegation zone. From runaway league champions to relegation contenders in 12 months. They were also knocked out of the FA Cup a couple of days before the 1st leg tie against Sevilla.

Whilst being in the Champions League is not the only contributing factor, it has played a part. As Arsene Wenger says, playing mid week and then the weekend is not easy. Especially for a side like Leicester who relied on little possession, high work rate and have a small squad.

Further proof of Wenger’s point is seen in Chelsea. They have benefited from a lack of European football this season.

Whilst watching Chelsea v Manchester United in the FA Cup on Monday night, the commentator said “this is Chelsea’s 35th game of the season, Manchester United have played 47”.

It is undeniable that Chelsea have been massively helped by only playing once a week. It reminds me of Liverpool a few years back when they mounted a title challenge. Leicester last season did not have European football.

I have actually seen many Arsenal fans, some of whom criticise Wenger all day, every day, say they would not mind not having Champions League football next year so that we can concentrate on the league. So why spread the fake news, when essentially you agree with what Wenger said? That it is harder when you are in the Champions League to perform on all fronts.

That’s right, you change the narrative to suit the agenda.

Dropping from 1st to 15th proves that being in the Champions League makes things more difficult.

So before you spread fake news, actually take the time to read what was said under the headline. You will probably actually agree.

Keenos

Why do Spurs fans “Want Arsene Wenger to stay”?

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“We want you to stay, we want you to staaaaay, Arsene Wenger, we want you to stay”

It is one song that seems to get Arsenal fans frothing at the month. It is essentially our opponents mocking us, saying that they want Arsene Wenger to stay at Arsenal, because whilst he is at Arsenal, there will be no league titles, no victories in big games. And to some extent, they are right.

Arsenal have now gone 13 years without a league title, and our record against sides in the top 6 in recent years – especially away from home – has been atrocious.

Since last winning the title, Arsenal have beaten Chelsea just 5 times in 29 competitive games, the blues winning 4 league titles and a European Cup in that time. No wonder they want Arsene Wenger to stay.

In that same period, Arsenal have met Manchester United 32 times. Arsenal winning just 7 of the meetings. 5 league titles in the cabinet for United, and another European Cup. They must love Wenger.

New kids on the block Manchester City only beat Arsenal twice between 28th Dec 1991 and 2nd Feb 2008. In the 19 games since then, City have suffered just 5 defeats. 2 league titles. Another club who are clearly justified in wanting Arsene Wenger to stay.

But then things become a bit confusing.

On the TV on Sunday, between the Millwall songs, all you could hear at White Hart Lane was anti-Arsenal songs

“We want you to stay, we want you to staaaaay, Arsene Wenger, we want you to stay”

In 21 years of Arsene Wenger being at Arsenal, Spurs have:

  • Failed to finish above Arsenal
  • Hired 10 managers
  • Fired 9 managers
  • Beaten Arsenal 6 times in the league

That is 6 Spurs Premier League victories in 41 games when Arsene Wenger has been manager. In all competition that increases to 7 wins from 51 games.

Never in the history of the game have Arsenal dominated Spurs for such a long period. I would be surprised if there are too many city rivals (Barcelona/Espanyol & Juventus/Turin are the only ones which spring to mind) that have been so one sided over the last quarter of a century when both teams of remained in the top tier for the majority of that time.

So Spurs fans are calling for a man who has had them by the throat for 21 years, holding them under water, drowning them, to stay at the club. Maybe they are suffering from Stockholm syndrome?

This is a man who lead Arsenal to win the title at White Hart Lane. A man who has over seen more league titles in 21 years than Spurs have had in their history. It just does not add up.

Of course, some will point to progression being the main reason they want Wenger to stay.

Since Mauricio Pochettino took over, Spurs have finished 6th, 5th and 3rd. They as a club have moved forward. Meanwhile in the same 3 years, Arsenal have gone backwards. Regressed.

The reality is a little bit different. Yes under Pochettino Spurs have gone forwards as a club. But they have still finished below Arsenal in every single season. And in every single season, Arsenal’s league position has also improved.

So Spurs fans want Wenger to stay as Arsenal are regressing whilst they are moving forward. OK then.

Since Pochettino took over, he has failed to win a single trophy. This season is the 1st season he has lead Spurs beyond the 5th round of the FA Cup. He has been knocked out at the 3rd round as many times as he has led them to the QF. 0 trophies in 3 years. But it is OK, they are progressing.

In the same time, Arsenal have 2 FA Cups. So Spurs fans, without a trophy to their name since 2008, are laughing at a manager who has won 2 trophies in 3 years. Odd bunch.

The final laughable moment is Spurs fans making jokes about Arsenals Champions League record.

Continually being knocked out of the 1st knockout stage for the last however many years is infuriating. Is embarrassing. But Spurs have played in the Champions League just twice, and this season were knocked out of two European competitions before Arsenal had been knocked out of the Champions League.

This season might be the year they finally finish above an Arsenal team managed by Arsene Wenger. 1 in 22 years. And how they will celebrate. It would be like 21 years of dominance, league titles, FA Cups, unbeaten seasons, winning the league on their ground, did not happen.

I have used this analogy before. They are your mate who never gets a shag. Strikes out every time you go out. Meanwhile you more often than not bring someone back. A pull at the minimum. But tonight he has pulled whilst you have gone home alone. The next day he is full of boasting. He is a playa. The Alpha male. When the reality is he is still a spotty overweight loser who just went home with a land whale.

I am not happy with Arsenal Football Club at the moment, but Spurs fans wanting a man to stay who has towered over them for nearly a quarter of a century is simply laughable.

What odds for Spurs to finally finish above Arsenal, but for Arsenal to be lifting the FA Cup in May?

Keenos

Defending Wenger, Re-arranged Fixtures and Jurgen Klopp

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Defending Wenger

Arsene Wenger’s time at Arsenal is coming to an end. I have felt he should have left a couple of years ago. Back to back FA Cups – a remarkable achievement – gave him a stay of execution; but now is the time for him to hang up the blazer, to call it a day.

The recent march’s have been supported well and highlight fans dissatisfaction with the situation. For the most part, they have been respectful whilst forceful. But then is always a minority that spoil it.

Over the last few days, there have been some despicable comments towards Arsene Wenger and the board.

Wenger has once more been compared to Robert Mugabe – a dictator who calls himself the “Hitler of the time…let me be Hitler tenfold”.

Mugabe has overseen a period of history where hundreds of thousands of his citizens have been slaughtered, and many more displaced. His actions have been sickening.

For fans to compare the likes of Mugabe (Kim Jong Il, Pol Pot and Adolf Hitler) to Arsene Wenger is nothing short of a disgrace.

These men have overseen the slaughter, torture and persecution of millions of innocent men, women and children. Arsene Wenger has led Arsenal to 4th 6 times…

One of the march organisers attempted to condone the Mugabe comments. To justify them. And they wonder why the majority of fans will not stand alongside them when calling for Wenger to go.

At a protest last season at Norwich, arsenal fans were caught on camera holding a banner singing how they wanted “Wenger to die in May”.

Add in the wishes of death board members, and the usual cancer comments by some kid trying to pretend he is the leader and organiser of the Wenger Out march’s, it all leaves a nasty little taste in your mouth.

There are fans out their who dedicate Facebook pages to abusing Arsene Wenger. Spend 24/7 tweeting bile.

These Arsenal fans have shown no class. They have forgotten who they are, who they represent. And it is the vile comments of this minority that lead to the majority of those who want Wenger to leave, like myself, to be unwilling to go on a march, to stand next to someone calling for an Arsenal legend to die of cancer.

Any Wenger Out movement loses its point, it’s relevance, when idiots involved compare Wenger to murderous dictators and wish cancer on people.

Want him out? Fair enough. But stay classy and your voice will be heard.

Re-arranged Fixtures

Arsenal now have 3 fixtures that need to be re-arranged.

Leicester and Sunderland at home, and an away game against Southampton, with once again UEFA interference delaying the process and making it that little bit more awkward.

A national association can not schedule a domestic top tier game on the same day as a European match without firstly gaining the permission of UEFA. A load of bollocks. That means Arsenal and the Premier League can not begin the re-arranging of the above games until the draw for the QF of the Champions League has taken place.

UEFA would not stand for it being Arsenal v Leicester at the same time as Manchester City (if they qualify) are playing in the Champions League. The Arsenal game would get a lot more viewers, leaving UEFA and it’s sponsors very unhappy.

The draw for the Champions League Quarter Finals is this Friday, with the first legs being played on 11 and 12 April, and the second legs will be played on 18 and 19 April 2017.

With the TV company scheduling deciding to give Arsenal back to back Monday night games, 2 weeks in mid-April are already written off as no-go’s.

The first available date for a reschedule will be the 25/26 of April. A game sandwiched between the FA Cup Semi Final and Spurs away. The hope is Arsenal play on the Saturday in the FA Cup, then have a re-arranged fixture on Wednesday 26th, before Spurs away on the Sunday.

The week after the Spurs game is a European week, so if Arsenal and the Premier League wish to schedule a game during that week, they will need the permission of UEFA. The week after is the same.

For Arsenal to fulfil their fixtures in time, UEFA’s hand will have to be forced, as if they deny the scheduling of a fixture the same day as a Champions League tie, it leaves just one more mid-week before Everton on the final day to schedule a game. And if you have been keeping up, Arsenal still need to reschedule 2 more games

This would all be solved if:

a) UEFA were not so greedy and let national associations schedule games when they wish
b) TV companies did not do stupid stuff like have Arsenal playing away to Middlesbrough on a Monday.

As always, the last people on anyone’s mind are the match day going fans.

Jurgen Klopp

Jurgen Klopp. The second coming. The greatest manager since King Kenny. Revitalising Liverpool. Resorting them to their former greatness. Or that is what the media would have you think.

In fact, as we sit here in the middle of March, Liverpool are the only side in the top 6 who have no realistic chance of a trophy.

With 4 of the top 5 in the semi final of the FA Cup (I thought the big sides did not take it seriously anymore?) and Man U still in European – and having already won the League Cup – Liverpool fans have no choice but to look on with jealous glances.

4th in the league, 11 points off top having played a game more, not in Europe and out of the cup, it will be the 5th year on the spin the Scousers have gone potless.

Not only is their season done and dusted in terms of trophies, Liverpool are also the only side in the top 6 who would not have had a trip to Wembley this season. Poor little things.

Of course, the press might decide that “4th place is a trophy” and will continue to point to their “progression” but when it comes down to it, Liverpool’s seasons is over once more before the clocks spring forward, and it is now 5 years without a trophy.

Klopp is doing a great job.

Keenos