Tag Archives: She Wore

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

Back the team; not the regime

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And we go again.

The thing about football is the next big important game is always round the corner. You can feel lower than low on a Tuesday night, higher than high on a Saturday night. It is a rollercoaster of emotions.

For the last 6 weeks, the Arsenal rollercoaster has felt like a never ending drop. A downward spiral, you might say. But this weekend we have the chance to get a little bit of sunlight in our season. A bit of a lift. We are just one game from Wembley.

Since beating Southampton in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, Arsenal have lost 5 of the 7 games played. The only victories against Hull and Sutton. 3-1 defeats away at Chelsea and Liverpool, and two 5-1 defeats against Bayern Munich has left a bitter taste in many fans mouths. The worst result of the run though was the 2-1 home loss to Watford. An inexplicable result.

Fan morale is at its lowest that I can remember in my 22 years of going down The Arsenal. There is hatred on the terraces, hatred towards the manager, the board, the players, hatred towards fellow fans, and it is all justified. But today, it needs to be put to one side, for 24 hours at least.

No matter what you think of Arsene Wenger, the board, or certain players, Arsenal are 1 victory away from Wembley. 2 victories from a Wembley final, 3 victories from another FA Cup. And ultimately that is what matters. Trophies over progression.

Today, no matter how angry you might be, how disappointed about how our season is potentially turning out you might be, it is important to back the team.

Put your agendas to one side. Saying stuff like “I want us to lose today so Wenger leaves” is stupid. Success over agendas. Wenger staying or leaving should not come into your thoughts when you think do I want Arsenal to win the FA Cup. The answer should always be yes, no matter if an FA Cup victory means Wenger will stay for another 2 years.

1 win from Wembley
2 wins from an FA Cup Final
3 wins from a 13th FA Cup

Back the team; not the regime

Keenos