[Mhiz Rebecca]

Déjà vu! Most Arsenal fans would
think this was a replay of the 5-1
capitulation of their team at the
Allianz Arena on November 4, 2015.
But this was February 15, 2017, and
the story was the same – well almost.
In that November 2015 humiliation,
Arsenal went into the interval 3-0
down; but on Wednesday, they went
into the break 1-1 looking buoyant.
But in a space of just 10 minutes,
53rd – 63rd minutes, Arsenal were
in disarray with a deep scowl etched
on Wenger’s brow.
The professor has again failed a
refresher course and there would
definitely be more strident noises
made in the direction of the Arsenal
board of directors for a change of
strategy and manager. But what has
really gone wrong at Arsenal and
with Wenger?
There is only one Wenger way
When players speak of Arsene
Wenger – there is always that
assertion of him being patient, kind
and long-suffering but today’s
football, especially at elite teams
demands a ruthlessness that leads to
titles. No matter what Arsenal
decide, Wenger cannot change his
spots and neither will the club as
long as they revere him so much –
they would not be able to demand
success from him.
Some players just have to go
Players like Mesut Ozil have had it so
good – you begin to think he was
maybe Wenger’s bastard son. The
reason Jose Mourinho sold him when
he was at Real Madrid was because
he was lightweight and inconsistent.
But in Arsenal’s tales of woe, Ozil
has been allowed to finish matches
in which he should have been
yanked at half time. The other
players see this molly cuddling and
believe they can also get away with
not giving 100 per cent. If Arsenal
will win titles in future, then these
kind of players must be shown the
exit.
Buy players to fulfill the potential
We are all still wondering at the Barcelona
massacre by PSG on Tuesday but that victory cost
over $700 million. One of the standout players in
that 4-0 victory was Julien Draxler, whom Arsenal
also wanted to buy, but he chose PSG. Wenger has
often stated some stellar names that could have
become Gunners but whom he believed were
over-priced. But there is only one football market
and if Wenger wants to continue to compete, then
he must shop in that market. Pay the big bucks for
the big players, so you can win the big titles.
Goals have to change
The era of celebrating a finish in the top four
must be over. The Gunners cannot just be
satisfied with been a part of the Champions
League, season in, season out, without making any
impact. Since the last time Wenger won a title,
Chelsea with new money have won four EPL titles
and one Champions League – even though they
have also had 10 different managers. A second
placing got Carlo Ancelotti sacked at Chelsea
because Roman Abramovich always wants to win
titles.
They must become ruthless
Reading through the transcript of the press
conference by Manuel Neuer on Monday showed a
thorough understanding of what Arsenal, as a
team is. The words were not derogatory but
showed the way Arsenal is perceived in the
highest football echelons – Mr. Nice Guys. You
could not say that of Patrick Viera and company;
but the Arsenal of today appear to be just a
collection of blue-eyed fine boys.
I know Arsenal fans are aching at the moment,
but that is part of the CV of being a fan even
though hope emboldens you to go again. What if
the team could change something tomorrow –
what would the fans want changed immediately –
Wenger or the players?