THE ONLY WAY IS ARSENE
‘I’m blamed for decisions I have not made. It is tough enough to be blamed for decisions you have made’
’It is difficult to imagine somebody signs a player the manager does not know. It has never happened to me’
‘Maybe the time will come when the manager is not a football specialist anymore.. but I will not still be here’
ARSENE WENGER is a stubborn manager who steadfastly refuses to change.
It was the look of disdain on Wenger’s face as much as what he said about a director of football being appointed over his head. The Frenchman believes he has enough experience in nearly 21 years at Arsenal to run the club how he wants. And that raises questions over the manager’s future because there is an appetite for a new approach within the boardroom and among supporters. His key point is that a manager has to live or die by his decisions rather than be blamed for someone else’s mistakes. Wenger, 67, wants the final say on transfers and his own staff and a director of football would threaten this. No-one told Sir Alex Ferguson how to do his job so how dare they try to tell him. When it was put to Wenger that a director of football is the modern way, his answer was sarcastic. It also revealed his thoughts on every fan thinking they are a football boss in this X Factor generation. “Progression or regression? Changes can go both ways,” said Wenger. “Maybe the time will come where the football manager will not be a football specialist any more.
“Maybe we can have enough computers around him to analyse the game and straightaway he pushes on the button and out comes the team for the next game.
“The supporters will have a word to say to make a change at half-time on the internet, they will send in, it might come – but I will not still be here.”
He has obviously had enough of being blamed for everything that has gone wrong. Those “Wenger Out” banners displayed at pop concerts and political rallies have made a joke out of the club.
And if he is carrying the can, the boss must have the final say. “Of course,” said Wenger. “Who do you blame when it does not happen?”
“And when it does not work here, I am blamed. I am blamed for decisions I have not made. It is tough enough to be blamed for decisions you have made.
“I don’t know about other clubs, but it is difficult to imagine that somebody signs a player the manager does not know. It never happened to me.
“It is like you write an article in the newspaper and somebody else has their name put to it. But you want to create a problem I can’t see. I don’t know why that crosses your mind. You can write what you want. I am who I am. That is it.”
The problem for Wenger is that his rant brings the issue to a head. Chief executive Ivan Gazidis will pick through every word said yesterday.
Gazidis has been telling fans that this season must be a “catalyst for change” and he wants to see improvements as Arsenal try desperately to squeeze into the top four.
If they somehow get into the Champions League and win the FA Cup then Wenger can say it has been a great season. If not, the mood for change will grow stronger.
Majority shareholder Stan Kroenke will make the decision, but Wenger has the American tycoon’s number on speed dial and everyone else at the club is just an employee. Yet doubts remain over a new deal.
Interestingly, Wenger played down the Champions League.
He added: “We are in a strong financial situation and the weight of the Champions League today is less big than it was years ago.
“For me, it’s important because we want to play at the top level and that is the Champions League. Financially or negotiation-wise, it will not have a huge impact.”