Arsenal’s identity is inextricably linked to Wenger, so what should they do after his latest humiliation? Here we pinpoint four issues the club must address nowHowever Arsenal proceed in the summer, one of their primary considerations will be the identity the club have cultivated under Arsène Wenger. That goes far beyond the football pitch: in common with most of their direct rivals at home and abroad, Arsenal have been voracious in their drive to enlist a global support base and everybody needs their unique selling point. Related: Obsession over who can fill Arsène Wenger’s shoes obscures Arsenal’s real problems | Toby Moses Related: Arsène Wenger: I will manage next season, at Arsenal or somewhere else Related: Thiago Alcântara and Bayern...
The jadedness Wenger identified after their defeat to Bayern Munich has been there for too long and the club face the kind of shake-up they traditionally avoidThe words that clanged in the immediate aftermath were “mentally very jaded” and, if Arsène Wenger chose them with reference to his players and the specifics of a dismal second-half breakdown, the truth is that phrase is applicable at Arsenal Football Club with a significantly broader brush. The dictionary definition of jaded feels piercingly critical: dulled or satiated by overindulgence; worn out or wearied; dissipated.Jaded seemed to be everywhere for the beleaguered visitors in Munich – in the all too familiar image of Alexis Sánchez down on his haunches staring into space; in Mesut...
The embattled manager saw his team fold at disturbing speed against Bayern despite the efforts of a frustrated Alexis Sánchez, and the end now seems a lot nearerAt times, as Arsenal’s players flickered in and out of focus during a traumatic second half in Munich, it was almost possible beneath the roars and whoops and gurgles of a sated home crowd to hear the sound of something else. Departures, farewells, changing trains, a little distant exit applause.For 15 first‑half minutes this Champions League last 16 first leg had swung wildly on its axis. From 1-0 down Arsenal were led back into the game by a passage of thrillingly angry, high-energy centre-forward play from Alexis Sánchez, who became briefly an embodiment...
Arsène Wenger elected to play a 4-3-3 but Antonio Conte’s side essentially attack with five players and this was underlined by the Premier League leaders’ first goalArsenal’s 3-1 defeat by Chelsea felt somewhat familiar; it was their seventh loss from their past eight visits to Stamford Bridge. However, whereas Arsène Wenger has frequently been accused of tactical naivety after these defeats and ridiculed for failing to adapt his tactics, on this occasion Arsenal’s manager had attempted to surprise Chelsea with his lineup. Related: Arsenal’s Arsène Wenger fumes at first goal after defeat by Chelsea Related: Eden Hazard mesmerises Arsenal to tighten Chelsea’s Premier League grip Continue reading...
Wenger needs a reaction at Chelsea after the fallout from another demoralising defeat has increased the speculation that this season will be his last at ArsenalIt was a gloriously enigmatic line, the sort that might have come from the hero in one of those black and white nouvelle vague films. “It is not all quantifiable. It is linked with your gut feeling, as well. Thank you.” All that was missing was the Gallic shrug. And with that, Arsène Wenger turned on his heel and left.Since last summer, when the countdown to the end of his contract officially started, the Arsenal manager has stuck to his guns. He has said that he will decide at the end of the season, when...