It seems that even with Arsenal's progression in the Champions League the lack of progress and trophies is starting to make some Arsenal fans wrestless and asking if time if up for Wenger at Arsenal.
Wenger has been the most consistent manager of modern times, overseeing 16 consecutive top 4 finishes and progress to the Champions League knock-out stages for 15 seasons in a row. While there is no doubting Sir Alex Ferguson has been more successful he doesn't have the same consistency as Wenger.
But now Arsenal seem to have become a selling club, losing some of their best players year after year. Nasri, Clichy, Fabregas, Van Persie and Song having all departed in the past 2 years have left Gunners fans thinking what might have been as expectation levels are kept in check and the club flirts with mid table mediocrity.
While that is possible I think it is fair to say that Wenger is the best person to try and keep Arsenal in the top 4, allbeit it seems likely that silverware is a distant prospect, this season at least.
If Arsenal were to replace Wenger, who could they bring in that would definately be better than him? High profile candidates such as Pep Guardiola or Jose Mourinho may not want to risk moving to a club that is seen as being in decline. Arsenal may be left to find a young, inexperienced manager to continue the Wenger philosophy (Thierry Henry?) but clearly that is a high risk strategy. Surely a higher risk than sticking with one of the best managers of the modern era.
A change in manager may work, but it could also have distasterous consequences and Arsenal could end up like Liverpool. Once a top 4 side with Benitez in charge, they are now a genuine mid table team with much rebuilding and many millions being required before they can hope to get back to the top 4.
Arsenal announced recently that 5 young British players (Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jenkinson, Gibbs and Ramsey) had all signed long term deals, commiting their future to Arsenal. Theo Walcott was the noteable exception and his will he / won't he saga seems all too familiar with Fabregas and RVP having played out similar discussions before their eventual departures.
While keeping the 5 players, it will be all for nothing if Walcott becomes the latest high profile departure at the Emirates. No manager could keep a club at the top when they seem to lose their best player every year. Arsenal's finances are the most secure of most top clubs and it is likely that sure footing will have to be put at risk if the club don't want to be lost in the mid table dog fight for Europa League spots.
Spending and spending big is the only way Arsenal can build a team that can compete, and also convince top players that there is mileage in signing for a club that is on the way back. Looking back to the invincibles season; Henry, Bergkamp, Pires, Ljundberg and Campbell were the nucleus of that team. I know this was a special time, with special players but having guys like Gervinho and Chamakh kicking about the squad is just an embarrassment and Wenger must know it.
Arsenal recently signed two big sponsorship deals with Emirates and Adidas, which may free up some cash for Wenger in the transfer market. Wenger still is unlikely to spend for the sake of it, but he must know that the current tactic is not working and he has to loosen the purse strings if he wants to see some progression .
Arsenal must also tighten up their signing policy, and get rid of the dead wood from the current squad. Replacing Gervinho, Chamakh and Arshavin with one good player, will surely be cost neutral AND improve the squad. Similarly bit part midfielders like Rosicky, Coqelin and Diaby could be let go and one solid holding midfielder purchased. I know players have contracts and will sit them out if they know they won't get a better deal elsewhere, but hopefully over the next couple of windows dead wood can be removed with one or two decent repalcements brought in. While this may improve the squad, only big signings can really restate the clubs ambitions.
Let's hope, with a change of tact, Arsenal fans can now look forward to transfer windows, rather than dread them!
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