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Arsene Wenger on a terrible season start, his future and Chu Young Park

Written by Jeffrey on September 18, 2011 – 4:45

The Gunning Hawk - ForumArsene Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was visibly disappointed as the Gunners lost against Blackburn Rovers, on Saturday, by four goals to three.

Speaking after the game, the Frenchman labeled the season start as “terrible” adding that the number of goals conceded so far are way too much. In fact, the Gunners only won one of their first five Premier League games as they are 15th in the table with fourteen goals conceded and knowing that they could soon be close to the relegation zone as Tottenham, Sunderland and Fulham all have games in hand.

Asked about his future, the Arsenal boss rubbished rumours that he is considering leaving the Club as he again insisted that his objective is to focus and do well for the Gunners.

Not even on the bench at Ewood Park, Wenger concluded by answering questions on South Korea’s Chu Young Park as he confirmed that the former Monaco striker will feature in Arsenal’s next game, on Tuesday at the Emirates Stadium against Shrewsbury Town.

After the game, the manager said:

[Our season start?] It is terrible, it is just not good enough. Of course we are very frustrated, the spirit in the team is quite willing but if you look at the number of goals we have conceded that is not good enough.

You cannot come [at Ewood Park] and concede four goals the way we did today. On the other hand I believe that the group will take off but it is important that we can get results.

[My future?] Speculation is part of modern life, there is nothing I can do about that. My future is focused on me giving the best for the Club.

[Chu Young Park?] On Tuesday [in the Carling Cup] he will play, yes. We have quite a big squad.

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  • Aussie Jack says:

    If there`s one player I feel sorry for it`s Szczensey. He`s a real talent and should be our number one for a long time to come but, like so many others, you`re only as good as those around you allow you to be. Having second rate defenders makes a goalkeepers job a nightmare and he is often judged by the incompetence of those in front of him. Fabregas cried out for a quality partner that never came and it did have an effect on his game. Wenger owes it to those with real talent and dedication to give them the best support available not the most economical.

    • timroy says:

      well said mate

  • John Muhindo says:

    Though arsenal lost to Blackburn, there is abig change in passing the ball and expect better results from next games. Iam not worried at all though i was disappoint at the end of the game. Hope is still there.

    • davi says:

      I agree. I think this is just a transitional phase. I do think there could be tactical issues, but then these players need to get used to playing with each other in this system.

      • David says:

        Exactly and Transitional phases should not be taking place during the season, these players should have been in place 4 weeks before the season started. Wenger has got this all wrong and is solely to blame

        • Kofi says:

          Do you tap players like Manu, Barca and City did ? The Clubs did not want to sell and it was Gazidis who did negotiations and purchase. Dont just throw everything at mr wenger becos he is french

          • Berk Face says:

            Nobody wants to sell – you have to pay over the odds to encourage the sale. Arsenal refuse to do this it seems.

          • Tony says:

            Yea i think wenger doesn’t want to sell Nasri…. but he was left with no choice…

      • gaara119 says:

        since when arsenal fans stop looking for silverwares!!

  • Thorough says:

    So you Monsieur Wenger did not expect our defence to be this terrible? But funny enough I expected it, and million of our fans expected it. Why? Cos you refused to attend to our major problem of last season – a leaky defence. And to find out that you bought Metersacker only after you knew Vermaelen was crocked is disheartening. Would the world have ended if Arsenal had shelled out the less than 30million that we needed to sign Garry Cahill and Chris Samba. Sure not. Good riddance t bad rubbish.

    • davi says:

      What makes you think cahill would be the answer?! Did you see him against Utd? And that’s in a system he’s used to!

      • London says:

        They cant be worse than Mertesacker. Truly aweful player. All over the place. Dissorganised, incredibly slow especially turning and has brought nothing to the club – thats what you get when you shop for poundland bargains instead of Arsenal quality.

  • Olaprecious says:

    Well, I will only say Arsenal will come back and claim their glory but my advice is that wenger should change the formation to 4.4.2 so that we can score goals as much as possible and wanger should give park some chance. Wanger should also look for Samba, Harzard and M.villa in the January tranfer window. Up GUNNERS

    • summerbreez says:

      Our right back and left back are our wingers so we need to play with 2 defensive midfielders in a line up such….. song –arteta–vanpersie–freepong ……song–benayoon–wilshire–freepong ….song—arteta–benayoon–freepong ..song–arteta–archivan–freepong

      I believe this could be the solution and use park, gernhio ,walcott,shamch,vanpersie and depending on the team we play the problem here though we will be short until diaby gets fit and dijoorou can fit in there MR wenger cant do much now but improve our team tactically by recognizing our weakness rather then hold ball at the back is holding the ball tight at the midfield where every ball holder has 2 choices to pass the ball to

      I don’t believe we have a weak team on the contrary we have a strong team but it needs tuning after all we still managed to score 5 goals and 3 clear chances except 2 goals went into the wrong goal yes we can turn this negative start to a positive one

  • spyder says:

    The entire arsenal set-up is really turning out to be a shocker ! The sooner someone realizes that a fresh start is the only way the better because the club is already approaching catastrophic levels, just two more results of this kind in the next three or four games you know the season is over. But is there anyone with some bold ideas for rescuing this ship ?

  • Arsene should not be sack I beleive arsenal can not win anything this season but we are going to build a stronger team this season to challenge the likes of man utd,chelsea for premiership next season,the only thin we could acheive this season is to finish on the top 4

  • okethi richard says:

    I think it is time to start dropping player like van persie on the bench and let other like park also try their luck now days van overhold the ball shooting is aprob to him

    • boswellali says:

      What drop possibly our best player and captain? Sounds crazy to me, what Van Persie could do with is someone playing up front with him. You cannot deny he is world class and his record speaks for itself.

      • Berk Face says:

        4-4-2?? What? And ditch 4-3-3 which has brought the team absolutely nothing in 6 years?! Next you’ll be suggesting things like getting men in the box, absolute madness.

  • sedo says:

    No matter if Wenger buys or not: his team is mentally weak. Something is wrong in the dressing room. These players are totally confused. This team is vulnerable and the other teams know about that, After 4 conceded goals nobody will be confident in this team. Just after the new castle game, which has destroyed the last season. The season has just started but the dream is already over.

  • Samnnachi says:

    Arsenal’s problem is the Manager Arsene Wenger. He is now seeing the team’s weakness the DEFENCE what every arsenal fan had known for the past 5 years. Its time for Arsenal to start a new era and it will not include Mr A.W. as part of it.

  • David says:

    16 points in the last 16 league games – that is shocking and no other manager would still be in place (except Sir Fergie) with that record. Zone marking is pants, the formation is pants. We should go to a 4-4-2 let the five at the back defend (man for man) and the 6 going do their job which in fairness they are quite good it.

    We need a new number two and a defensive coach, sort it out Wenger or on your bike.

  • vt says:

    Arsenal have entered into cirlcle from which it is now difficult to come out.
    With the situation they are in, they can not attract decent players & those who are in (left) will only think about leaving as soon as possible. This will take them further down & once you are competing at mid table then thats it only way from there is down with roller coster ride in between (for few years if lucky)The likes of VP,JW would like to be playing in a team with decent chance to compete with top teams even if not win regularly.
    It has become a hosue which was left unrepaired for some time & now it is beyond repair.

    The board has to be blamed as much as Wenger for trying to be extra smart with money.It is now obvious that previous share holders were just interested in selling shares to Stan at a profitable value & for that they wanted all this financially correct show.Stan wants to do the same.

    They forgot a basic that foot ball is not a business & fans don’t support business.If fans are hear to support profit making business then there are better options where they can even earn a little instead of spend money.
    Football is an entertainment & any entertainment company has to keep entertaining at the same level or improve or you go out of it.
    Look at Liverpool..With owners in interested in foot ball & not money making business they could at least invest decent amoutn of money in teh scod & at least they have confidence back.

    As fan it is very very frustrating & painfull to see what is happening to Arsenal.If Stan/Board has any love for Arsenal then they will act in Jan or it will be a proof beyond any doubt what are they upto in lest few years..

  • glenn says:

    No fellow gooners should be shocked with our start to the season you could see what was coming. We have been in relegation form since last feb. The pre season on and of the pitch has been poor and as for the panic buys well the less said the better. Our great leader haha has to do something that will be very hard for him and admit he is wrong, he has to get keown in and drill not just the back 4 but the whole team in how to defend, hold a line and press in numbers and ditch the zonal marking. And play different formations to suit the teams we play 532 442 433 etc. With fab and nasri last season we were short by 5 players now they’ve gone we are so much weaker than last season it’s a joke and of course remembering this is our strongest squad we’ve had according to our great leader how deluded is that. For me this is his last chance to turn it round and get the players in jan or at least sorted for next summer and go into next season prepared not like we are now. If we get 4th spot with this team it will be a miracle and one of his biggest acheivements however i just cannot see it with this rag and bone team he has thrown together at the last minute.

  • Kalebd63 says:

    This so reminds me of the final days of George Graham The team in limbo, lacking heart, fight, direction, belief,and playing in a silly blue strip that is so un Arsenal!. The manager unable to inspire and rectify the problems within the team. A board that has given the manager the belief that he is irreplaceable, therefore his decisions go unchallenged.

    Something has got to change! until Mr Wenger stops surrounding himself with yes men and open his eyes to the reality that he not going to challenge for anything apart from relegation unless he gets in a defensive coach and some decent defenders then things will remain the same and Arsenal will become the whipping boys of the Premiership. Teams are no longer scared of us they know that if they give us a game then we will fold,the fans know that we find it hard to hold on to a 4-0 lead let alone a 1-0 lead.

    Bring in Stevie Bould as defensive coach it would make sense as he also has experience with the emerging youngsters, which should make their transition into the first team easier. We know that Wenger doesn’t give the players a rollicking for their bad performances, does Pat Rice? I don’t think so so who does, who reminds these players of their responsibilities to Club and Fans. I have never seen so many unfit, disinterested, incompetency on an Arsenal football pitch since the final days of GG, if it wasnt for the bung , he would have been allowed to stay,,,,,,,someone please grow some and sort it out!!!!

    • John says:

      Very like the end of the Graham days indeed. Even down to the late uninspiring signings – Benayoun Park & Mertezacker feels a lot like Hartson, Helder and Kiwomya.

  • Arsenal@heart says:

    Jan Vertonghen Gary Cahill are d solution 2 our defensive problems.

  • Obi says:

    What we need now,is divine intervention.2 own goals in a match?

  • jack164 says:

    I hope to see Park’s play as soon as possible…

  • Mikel says:

    The dark days are in the corner or are already here,we need to show more support to the player just like wat liverpool fans did last season and as for wenger i don’t know what to say bt i think AW should give other player the chance to prove theirself,pls let get behind the team and support them,who is with me

  • Alan Warner says:

    Need One up to speed defender in Jan (Cahill may NOT be the answer), need Wenger to Stay, He needs a real number two (Bergkamp) NOT pattsy Rice, and a defence coach. The answer is NOT to put all me in the box that causes confusion at set plays, NOT zonal, if the head it out two players need to be ready to recieve the ball headed or cleared, or else you leave a chance of second phase delivery. (Best form of defence is attack) M’Vila, Martin and Hazard would be nice but then so would a lot of players. Nothing against, RVP but never liked attackers or Goal keepers as captains. Yes RVP may have got a shot off. But all that made Gerv do in the second half was play it to him when he was clearly never going to score.

  • cherub says:

    we ve got collection of players but no manager. a manager who doesnt know the strength of his players is not good enuf. do you think that if sir alex manages the team at the moment we wont do better? our manager is simply pathetic and has lost his wit…he is simply living on his past glory. i know it is had at the moment but we deserve better

  • Ak California says:

    Arsenal need to sack Wenger if the truth is to be revealed. He spent about 15yrs with the club with few achievements(just seven trophies). We all witness Mourinho when he was with Chelsea he won six trophies in three seasons and Pep Guardiola won six trophies in his first season as a manager, that is an excellent performance.
    I don’t think he has done something special to Arsenal with is record only he is the club most successful manage. He has bring in alots of flops to the squad imagine the likes of koscielny,squillaci,chamack, that he signed last season without any serious impact. I feel very sorry for him. Theo walcot should have been an athlete because he has no football talent. Many player like that in the squad. Infact Arsenal need quality players in every department to be able to get back to their normal status. Am no more an Arsenal fan until the club is doing well. Good luck

    • Viboyo says:

      Arsene to be sucked!!! Give us a break,did Arsene tell Song not to move his left leg for the Goal?? Did Arsene tell Koscielny to turn his right foot to score in our net. It seems as if you guys dont watch our games if you watch them i expect you to know.

    • Berk Face says:

      thing about comparing Wenger with Mourinho at Chelsea for example is Chelsea spent hundreds and hundreds of millions on players and wages… Wenger had to make cutbacks to spend hundreds and hundreds of millions on a stadium. It’s not really fair.

      BUT he refuses to address obvious problems with the team. The transfer window has been a complete shambles and his blind faith in certain players that repeatedly let him and Arsenal down is genuinely tragic.

      I don’t say get rid yet though, there’s not much out there that Arsenal can attract who are better.

  • ike@Ghana says:

    If Wenger thinks he is intelligent, I am sorry he is not. If he has anything to hide, he is being exposed. If he thinks he can deceive all gunners, he is only living in a fool’s paradise. He had the opportunity to replace the departed stars even before their departure as the signs were clear that we were loosing them. You only rush to sign players on deadline date and you expect them to give you immediate result. Scott Parker was a delight to watch at White Hart Lane in Spurs Shirt. Samba was superb for B Burn. Mata is a key player in Chelsea set up now, Hazard continues to glitter for Lile and M’Villa is still a delight to watch.

  • shaun@g says:

    the problem with arsenal is not Arsene Wenger it is the confidence of the players, the players are still in disarray after the sales of big players like samir and cesc although this isnt an excuse for the extremely poor start pin pointing the blame on an individual or part of the team wont be helping the situation one bit.
    Once the confidence comes back we shall see a better and more resilient arsenal squad!

  • GOONERNW5 says:

    Arsene has had his day and it is time for him to go! The board are not the problem it is Arsene!! He can not coach the team!! They are a shambles and a laughing stock. Arsene has to go immediately and a manager who knows how to coach a defence should be brought in!! Good bye Arsene!!!
    Very fed up Gooner

  • willy mwachia says:

    just imagine if the players read some of these comments. The fans and the players are in the same team. It’s like vp abusin gervinho. I think some current arsenal fans are the worst of fans a team could ever have. We stick with the players till end of season. We scored thrice, with chamack scoring off the bench in less than ten minutes. Up arsenal.

  • YTWOKAY says:

    Deffence has been Arsenal’s problem for the past 6 years…how can you have a German, French (2) Brasilian, English in your back line. What language are they conversing in? Remember who played with Tony Adams in the back line…all English players…get it right Arsene…

  • MistaKen says:

    I like the Valencia manager. Sells his best players, brings quality through the ranks and maintains the high standard of pass and move football.

  • Paddywhack says:

    Nearly all Arsenal supporters could see what was coming so why could AW and the Board not see it. Is AW all powerful, are the Board scared of him or is because he is making them so much money that they are happy with him. Maybe if there weren’t 60,000 at every home game Silent Stan and his cronies would sit up and take notice. Hit them all in the pocket that’s what I say.

  • Paddywhack says:

    Oh Goody Shrewsbury are up next. They must be rubbing their hands and expecting a result. I suppose if we lose AW will say “this was our 2nd 11″. I see Arsenal Ladies are on top form – are any of them available!!!! Sarcasm I know but I am so pissed off by Wenger, throwing his arms in the air like Basil Fawlty.

  • gunnerbill says:

    confidence confidence confidence,i believe this team will come good with more belief !

  • Bouba says:

    Cheap management added with deluded hopes, and that is where we are now…!!

    I saw Man United play today and I have also realised the gap existing between them and us… It is a 6 years canyon…!!

    The only way we can catch up, will be to brea our stupid wages barrier and pay huge transfer fees.

  • Mikel says:

    Let get behind the team and show them our support,letting them know the true gunners fans are still with them,i know it might sound crazy bt we still have to support them and pls go out there on the pitch and make us probe again,as for AW i don’t know wat to say to him,i just want him to make some changes(his policy,stubborness,formation),we saw wat spurs did today,let show them we can do better than that on the pitch guys(players)

  • Flavour says:

    This may sound very funny but it is the truth and the way I feel at the moment. I speculated a 3-1 win against Blackburn but it all happened that we did score 2 and one offside goal which could as well ended the way I speculated. I was SAD but very optimistic and hopeful for the first time in six years all because we are coming from the bottom to the top. We have always been on the top and slum in January but this year it is so different. I have always been a student of success and our story right at this moment speaks volume when it comes to success.

    There is great quality in the team and the game was far better on Saturday. No need for too much hard work, the work has been done is just for us to tighten the defense and all will be okay. Keep the faith. This is the only club in the UK that is not on credit or uses other people money to do business. The media hates because we are the forerunners.

  • america says:

    The problem is not the players but defensive coaching, players are doing good but Arsene need
    to sort out how the team defend. Premier league is all about good positioning when defending and that is what we luck. I don’t think any more that our defenders are bad not at all but how they position themselves when defending, he was saying they did good defending in the training before Blackburn game and I guess he messed it for us to get that result. The other think is he depends only some players instead of rotating to create computation in his line up

  • timao says:

    i’ve watched djourou for the resrves, for the is team for birmingham and for switzerland – he has always got a colossal blunderous mistake in him waiting to express itself. if we sold him he would be be playing second tier football in france or somewhere because no championship team would have him, when will arsene wenger realise this? it’s blindingly obvious

  • trugun says:

    After the nightmare at old trafford Djouru stated that he didn’t lose a minutes sleep and there lies the problem, if Fergie had been in charge the hair dryer would have given him nightmares, same with Koscielny nothing is said despite the apalling number of cock ups he’s made since he joined us. Nasri said when he left that Wenger didn’t like confrontation and it shows, mistake after mistake with no retribution so of course they won’t worry or try and if that mind set doesn’t alter we will see Arsenal in the championship next season.

  • rob says:

    throughout last season so many thousands of fans including players ( who must know something reason they left) were frustrated by the total lack of strength at the back, while the market was open yet again this summer wenger never moved nor did that so called chairman who absolutely lied to the fans saying they were going to buy big.
    Wenger says he is not giving up on the teenager players, well Mr Wenger this is a professional league not school of soccer.
    But just look at this defending players huh.
    djourou koscielny, squillaci, I know of far better players on the local sunday pitch, Wenger you are wrong these players are NOT professional the videos prove it if you do your job and view them all from last season, The central defenders are just not the ticket, give them away now pay to loose them some where, they may be great at watching the doors and collecting tickets from the fans, but they are NOT professional footballers.

  • vickie says:

    I’m sure things will be different this time, cos we’d need to fight from the base to the top unlike it’s been before. hey, i can see everything turning around for good.

  • along champion's says:

    time to sell arshavin and diaby and buy a new player for arsenal fun; go go go arsene..

    player arsenal must buy in january ;

    eden hazard, montolivo, m’villa or fellaini, samba or cahill

  • eric says:

    Season probably over already. 4th or mid table is the best result that we can have.
    Cheap stuff no good, good stuff not cheap. Buying cheap defenders has caused us dearly year over year. Koscielny,Djourou and Wenger need to go, if we can’t win a lowly team at the bottom of the table, what’s hope do we’ve

    May get more thrashing from the top few teams if they continue to play with this way.

  • eric says:

    Carlo Ancelotti is probably waiting,
    Definitely need to buy a few good defenders in January to stop us from dropping into the relegation zone that I’ve never thought of as Arsenal fan for so many years

    Sad to see ManU in seventh heaven and we in the living hell

  • Moses Watasa says:

    Arsenal FC is finally reaping what the Manager has been sowing since 2005. At the risk of taking another round of stick from Arsene Wenger’s spokesmen, here below i reproduce what i wrote in July 2011 about the prospects of Arsenal FC!

    This squad Arsene Wenger is masquerading with today cannot win even a plastic mug. Curiously, he has been busy, “signing” players to strengthen until serious clubs have nabbed them – refer to Ricardo Alvarez and Stewart Downing. Right now, Arsene Wenger is “signing” Gary Cahill, Chris Samba, Neven Subbotic, Shay Given etc, until these footballers end-up at Tottenham, Chelsea etc. Meanwhile, next season is looming with cracking opening games – Man Utd, Liverpool and Spurs in the mix. I can visualize a grumpy “Professor Wenger” hurling and kicking water bottles by the touchline as early as September 2011. And when Arsenal finish seventh in May 2012, he will flee the club. Did i hear that league 1 outfit, PSG are seeking his services?

    I now dareWenger’s spokesmen to defend their man again!

    • Berk Face says:

      Looks like you were overly optimistic with that prediction of 7th…

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