Not all is above the board at Arsenal

Admittedly it is very hard to write about this club right now. Last night I was leaning towards taking a week off and picking back up after the international break. Being an Arsenal supporter isn’t easy and frankly the bickering going on between fans only makes it worse. What happens on this blog is pretty tame to the arguments playing out on the social networks. It used to be oh simply back when. . .

But rather than hole up I’ve decided to look at the issue by asking this fundamental question –

Is the mess we are in down to Arsene Wenger only or is it Arsene Wenger operating within the boundaries of his job as dictated by the board?

Now that’s actually a pretty complex question. Let me first say this – as with regard to the product on the field – Wenger has to take some responsibility to his unfailing, blind support of players like Denilson, Bendtner, Eboue, Almunia, Rosicky, etc.  Granted on some occasions there is nothing he could do with regards to players available.  Still some time ago he should’ve learned that Denilson is crap, that Bendy is only good against lesser teams, Eboue is a cheerleader, Almunia – well as I said last night – he is the gift that keeps on giving. . . and giving. . . and giving, and final Tomas Rosicky is past it.

He also has to bear responsibility for the way he sets his team and not getting the best out of his players. In yesterday’s game, it was clear that Denilson wasn’t going to cut in the centre of the pitch. Nasri was doing OKAY out wide but in the second half with Chamakh brought on for the inept  Denilson, Nasri had more influence and more directness coming in from the middle of the pitch.  Though I should add, I thought a couple of times he tried to too much. Arshavin for whatever reason was constantly open on the wing on the left and as his goal showed he was being given the space to operate

But yesterdays match is not the purpose of this article.

Which really now brings me to the point of this piece – is Arsene Wenger really a stubborn old git who won’t buy because it spoils his principles, or who refuses to see deficiencies in his squad or is he a manager who is operating under less than and ideal situation by a board who has saddled him with certain constraints?

To say that Wenger is suddenly a bad manager basically diminishes his past success and his impact on the English game. You don’t just become a  bad manager, you are either good or bad. A bad manager who has some success will always be found out ala Mark Hughes at City or Hodgson at Liverpool. Good managers just don’t stop being good. Fergie was good in Scotland and I feel he take a team like Bolton and make them winners.  So if you think Wenger is a bad manager, I would argue that you don’t think he accomplished what he did and got lucky.

What I really believe is this – that while blame certainly does rest on Wenger – the board is equally or more so compliant in our current state of affairs for failing to provide the team requisite leadership it needs or requires. The mixed ownership model of the board is failing to set a course that clearly states what team’s onfield objectives are.

A sustainable business model without being saddled with debt is admirable. Given the current state of things, the board should be applauded for that. But that’s about it. The constant word on the ground is that noone on the boards stands up to Wenger because of what he has achieved and his near cult like status with large portions of the fan based. To criticize him would bring a backlash of epic propotions. Let me answer that this way – what a complete and utter ridiculous piece of shit statement that is.

These are multimillionaires in some case billionaries who step on people on a daily basis to make money.  Wenger may be a managerial genius to some but to these guys he really is a cash cow. If they wanted to set the operating paramaters of success that said – you must win silverware every year – they’d do it.  They don’t to the board a trip to the Champion’s League and the resulting funds is enough for them. They can rest their laurels on the “success” of the team and sell seats and kits and say “hey we tried” when we go out.  Yeah those all sound like familiar Wengerisms but I believe he is more of parrot towing the company line than his original thought. Like I said, Wenger was much more enjoyable and less “cerebral” prior to our move to the Emirates = which to me is the epicentre of all our current faults right now.

Right now our board, is happy with the status quo. They must be and they must think Arsenal fans are patsies because of the recent announcement of the price increase on the club level seats – right after the worst two weeks of club performance in recent history. Talk about the audacity of hope. Wow. If that’s a board afraid of Wenger I hate to see what they’d do if they weren’t.

It all boils down to leadership. An acceptance that winning is the only thing. That culture emanates from the top. It goes beyond the level of the manager and startd behind the closed doors of the board room. It manifests itself in the face of Ivan Gazidis and filters to the Manager and then the players.  There is no sense that the board is about winning anything at the moment.

Here’s the thing the board seems to be missing in my estimation – winning does more for the coffers than any policy of prudence ever will. My Philadelphia Phillies – team that has the losingest record ever in baseball (over 10,000 losses in its history) is only just realizing that. Since our first venture into the playoffs in ’07 and eventual World Series title in 08 – you can’t get a seat to the park to save your life.  They are a consecutive run of sell outs now that is well over 100 straight. All because they win.

If the board gave direction and said to Wenger any cup is a must or you face the axe – I am just paraphrasing here – it would go a long way to giving some pressure on our manager. I am sure he feels it from the fans but fans don’t sign the checks the board does and they seem quite happy with the way things are going.

I really think we are at the crossroads for this team, this manager and the board. I think the way we have gone about our collapse this season, has started to create a firestorm similar to the likes that saw to the departure of Hicks and Gillette from Liverpool. If there is not a change direction – starting with the board and ending with Wenger, the club will have serious issues. It is only a groundswell right now – but it can become epic if after this season’s flameout signals a status quo.

Going back to Wenger, I know a lot of people get frustrated or angry with his Wengerisms and his positive outlook on the team. I get that but that is part of the manager’s job. You never publically criticize your players or your team. Week in and week out part of your job is cheerleader and chief  because as much as what is said to the press is for public consumption it is also for the team’s absorption. If the players don’t believe their manager has their back they won’t play for him. You see it all the time in any sport. I rarely see a manager/coach rip one of his own players. Everything is always rosy.

I won’t get on the Wenger must go band wagon until I see a fundamental shift of leadership in the board that tells Wenger to win.  If they do that and he still does not – then I cannot support him for manager of this team any longer. Until then the only change of leadership I want to see is an actual establishment of leadership at the top of the club.