Premier League - Wenger's ageism costly

Eurosport - Thu, 07 May 13:44:00 2009

In his 12-and-a-half years at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger has seen almost everything.

Arsene Wenger - 0

Along the way to completely rejuvenating the North London club from top to bottom, Wenger has captured two league and cup doubles, reached the club's first European Cup final and completed an entire league campaign unbeaten.

One thing he had not experienced until recently, however, was the handful of fans calling for him to leave the Emirates Stadium.

Such deluded demands are well wide of the mark; disgruntled Gooners might like to ponder the 21-game unbeaten run in the Premier League. But Tuesday's humiliating home defeat to Manchester United in the Champions League has condemned Arsenal to at least five trophyless years, something the fans are not used to.

The French coach now faces the realisation that he must reinvent himself as much as he reinvented the club he has come to define if he is to drag them back to the top.

For years he has justified his heavy reliance on young players by insisting that - with the Emirates being built and Highbury yet to be sold - he does not have the transfer budget to compete with the other big clubs, despite club chief Peter Hill-Wood repeatedly declaring that the money is there to spend if he so wished.

However honorable Wenger's intentions in refusing to commit the club to the kind of 'financial doping' that has left Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea saddled with huge debts, the simple fact is that the Gunners have more often than not been left struggling to keep up rather than setting the pace.

A lot has been made of Arsene's Junior Gunners' weakness, but Wenger's insistence on marginalising players once they turn 30 is just as significant.

While Arsenal have five players born in the 1990s on their books, of the first-team squad only goalkeeper Manuel Almunia and defenders William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre - both unwanted by their rivals - can look back on their 20s.

Compare that with Chelsea who, with more than twice as many over-30s in their squad, are third in the league with one major final confirmed and another pending. Even his supposed nemesis, Alex Ferguson, still feels comfortable enough to field senior players like Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, to the point where this season the former passed the 600-match mark and the latter notched up 800 and was named PFA Player of the Year.

Robert Pires was forced to leave to find for job security than the one-year rolling contract on offer in North London, and he and Thierry Henry continue to perform at the highest level in Spain, while the midfield struggles of Denilson and Alex Song show that Patrick Vieira, sold to Juventus in 2005, is still missed.

If nothing else, the presence of Pires at London Colney would hugely benefit the likes of Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott, while Henry's haul of goals in La Liga this season is equal the combined total of Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor.

That is not to say that Wenger's youth policy has not reaped its rewards. Cesc Fabregas is one of the most highly-coveted midfielders in the game, and a great deal of the future of the England team rests on Walcott's shoulders, but the balance is all too often skewed towards emerging rather than established talent.

The jackpots that the club have hit with the big-money sales of Nicolas Anelka (£23 million), Marc Overmars and Emmanuel Petit (a combined £30m) and most recently Alexandr Hleb (a mind-boggling £11.8m) have not nearly been matched in the opposite direction.

Even the signing of Andrei Arshavin would not have happened had the Russian not flown himself in to complete the deal.

The Premier League, and football in general, has much to thank Wenger for, but unless he makes his peace with the financial realities of the game as it is now, he may never lift any silverware at his team's shiny new home.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

Comment 203 - 222 of 262

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  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    we need to
    get rid of Denilson Dairby Djuror Gallas­ Fabregas Adebayor, Bendtner and fabianski.

    convert­ Song to a defencive role AKA Toure (who should be club­ captain)

    We need to buy Barry,Lescott,­ Martins.

    Team
    Almunia Sagner Lescott Toure clishey­ Walcott Barry Nasri Arshavin Martins Edwardo
    we also­ need a decent back up for Almunia (who by the way kept­ the score decent) Barry has the added advantage of­ being very able at left back

    From Alex F, on Thu 7 May 8:00AM

  2. With all the trials and tribulations at the Arsenal­ camp, I must really admire Wenger for his staying power­ and the fact that he has contributed greatly to the­ League and soccer as a whole

    From sappercommando25, on Thu 7 May 4:59AM

  3. The bottom line is the board the is very cagey with­ money. They are very conscious of the three hundred­ & fifty million pounds debt and Arsene does not­ want to confront the board for money. If arsenal had­ kept Diara,
    Flaminine, and spent 15 million on­ Ashavine at the beginning of the season, we would have­ certainly ended up with two trophies. Arsenal is not­ far from being a top dog in the premiership and in­ Europe. As for next season, arsenal need to get Barry­ for free and spend 10 million for Julian Lescott even­ though he is not a finished article but definitely he­ will become the most complete defender in 2 years. He­ is big, strong and scores from set pieces. Ashavine­ will deliver the set pieces.

    From Jerry, on Thu 7 May 4:34AM

  4. As a loyal fanatic Gunner fans for 15 years...i truly­ agree experience counts and established players do have­ their advantages...but Arsena Wenger is a legend to the­ club...bigger even then Henry or Bergkamp or any other­ players or even manager....he is one of the most­ successful manager in the club...like mentioned­ below..its between nurturing talent and bringing in­ talent....at this time of economic crisis it is really­ not advisable to spend foolishly.....Arsena wenger has­ an eye for young talent and he still is....players­ previously unheard of is playing at the highest level­ in the epl....this brings new hope for the younger­ generations...and unlike chelsea who is really bringing­ the sports into a maniac era with crazy deals....they­ practically bought the epl title back..not growing­ it....Have patience my fellow Gunnerians!...time will­ prevails and i do believe at current situation...we­ need of a more defensive midfielder and and centerback­ then ever....we are losing games not due to lack of­ attacking flair but due to the unability to­ defensive....spending a bit more on the back four would­ do jsut nicely and of coz having roque santa cruz­ definately is pretty cool as well!.....long live­ gunners!

    From larryzng, on Thu 7 May 3:21AM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    To My Lovely Manager,

    Thank you Mr Wenger B'cau­ this year also no cup for us.
    Every year same reason­ and same reaction you give .
    Wat you get from this Mr­ Wenger.... Are u happy now..
    Every year we disapoint­ as a fan. Arsen pls use ur brain and dun be useless.
    ­ Buy player like Arshavin...Get strong our game..
    At­ least Carling Cup also we cant get it. Shame Mr.­ wenger. Sit down and think wat
    t o do.. or Pls­ leave from this club and get the better coach like­ Jose....

    From alexander, on Thu 7 May 2:53AM

  6. i believe that arsenal can be one of the best teams in­ europe by the next year..
    maybe they're need more­ time to learn some lessons..
    i'm so happy with the­ great arsenal's young players coz they has been­ proven that them quality as a footballer..
    by the way­ my opinion about them is arsenal need more to buy a­ striker so that they have a good finishing like the­ others big club such as barca,liverpool,man u and­ chelsea..
    i suggest to wenger so that he can bring­ SANTA CRUZ of (Blackburn) come to emirates..
    i also­ always support wenger..
    he is a good manager and should­ stay with arsenal club..

    From emendz_89, on Thu 7 May 2:20AM

  7. wenger is a great manager no doubt but he must learn to­ listen to others. I became worried about him the day he­ said he has no adviser except himself. We have been­ shouting since the end of last season that we need to­ shore up our central defence and defensive mid-field­ and even when he had the opportunity to do so in­ mid-season, he ended up buying only Arshavin despite­ all pleas by the fans and even the players. We lost the­ semi-final of both the FA Cup and Champions League­ mainly through inexperience and not the lack of­ skills.Skill ends where experience starts . The players­ have been wonderful but they have their limits.I agree­ with comment 6 above and hope Wenger listens this time.­ GOONER FOR lIFE, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS !

    From adewale, on Thu 7 May 2:01AM

  8. wenger is a great manager no doubt but he must learn to­ listen to others. I became worried about him the day he­ said he has no adviser except himself. We have been­ shouting since the end of last season that we need to­ shore up our central defence and defensive mid-field­ and even when he had the opportunity to do so in­ mid-season, he ended up buying only Arshavin despite­ all pleas by the fans and even the players. We lost the­ semi-final of both the FA Cup and Champions League­ mainly through inexperience and not the lack of­ skills.Skills ends where experience starts from. The­ players have been wonderful but they have their­ limits.I agree with comment 6 above and we Wenger­ listens this time. GOONER FOR lIFE !

    From adewale, on Thu 7 May 1:52AM

  9. arsene is a true legend people seem to forget the 3­ league titles he has delivered to the club 5 fa cups­ never finished outside the top 4 in his 12 years at the­ club in arsene we thrust

    From fordeeamonn, on Thu 7 May 12:16AM

  10. With all the years Arsene has been with the club and­ what he has achieved and exceptionally done for Arsenal­ I think he does not deserve one foot outside the club­ regardless of misshap dare I say. I wouldnt consider­ any better replacements at this time not even close to­ half of his achievements and contribution. Although­ home grown and scouted players are still merging and­ the income used I would say to be in parity with­ winning any major trophies a few more heavy signings in­ the summer would be a big bonus to the squad to tighten­ things up. I could see Arsharvin being the next­ Bergkamp or better and this is just another beginning­ like when Bergkamp 1st joined. I would still be happy­ to see this manager play exciting football for longer­ seasons to come.

    From bfsrns13, on Thu 7 May 12:08AM

  11. Arsenal would be crazy to let Wenger go. I enjoy­ supporting them, trophies or not. He is one manager­ that is doing things right. It's easy to spend big.

    From Architect, on Thu 7 May 12:05AM

  12. To start can i say 2 - 174 - don't be brushing all­ united fans as been glory hunters, just because that we­ have been sucessfull over the last 17yrs dont mean that­ all the supports are here for just the glory. I have­ been a supporter all my life and so has most of my­ family before me and that will take you bac to the­ 1950's. Every club will have its glory hunters,­ look at all the top 4 clubs in the epl or any top clubs­ in any league. So dont brush us all with the same­ brush.
    As for the Arsene situation then he really needs­ to buy some experience out od somewhere and he realli­ is the ma to do it. As a football fan you have to­ admire some of the players that he has pulled out f the­ woodwork in all the years that he has been there. But­ he has gone to far this time n needs to put less faith­ in his youth and bring some experience into the club­ exspecially in defence and in midfield. They have 1 of­ the best goalkeepers in the elp at the min with Alminia­ (or watever way you spell it) some of the saves that he­ made against united over over the 2 legs in the CL were­ sensational and he should hold his head high. Every­ keeper makes mistakes, he just misjudged his footing­ last night.
    As a football fan you have 2 admire what­ Arsene has done for the club n i will stand you and­ APPLUDE all the TRUE fans that stayed the 90 minutes­ last night. You are what the club want, not the glory­ hunters that started leaving before half time.
    Would­ have been nice to see another all english finial but­ not to be this year. But if you are a true fan of­ english football and not the sign minded fans that will­ shun n give hate to united then the whole country­ should now get behind united and support them for the­ sake of english football and the greatest league in the­ world.

    From Andy H, on Wed 6 May 11:52PM

  13. To start can i say 2 - 174 - don't be brushing all­ united fans as been glory hunters, just because that we­ have been sucessfull over the last 17yrs dont mean that­ all the supports are here for just the glory. I have­ been a supporter all my life and so has most of my­ family before me and that will take you bac to the­ 1950's. Every club will have its glory hunters,­ look at all the top 4 clubs in the epl or any top clubs­ in any league. So dont brush us all with the same­ brush.
    As for the Arsene situation then he really needs­ to buy some experience out od somewhere and he realli­ is the ma to do it. As a football fan you have to­ admire some of the players that he has pulled out f the­ woodwork in all the years that he has been there. But­ he has gone to far this time n needs to put less faith­ in his youth and bring some experience into the club­ exspecially in defence and in midfield. They have 1 of­ the best goalkeepers in the elp at the min with Alminia­ (or watever way you spell it) some of the saves that he­ made against united over over the 2 legs in the CL were­ sensational and he should hold his head high. Every­ keeper makes mistakes, he just misjudged his footing­ last night.
    As a football fan you have 2 admire what­ Arsene has done for the club n i will stand you and­ APPLUDE all the TRUE fans that stayed the 90 minutes­ last night. You are what the club want, not the glory­ hunters that started leaving before half time.
    Would­ have been nice to see another all english finial but­ not to be this year. But if you are a true fan of­ english football and not the sign minded fans that will­ shun n give hate to united then the whole country­ should now get behind united and support them for the­ sake of english football and the greatest league in the­ world.

    From Andy H, on Wed 6 May 11:50PM

  14. it is all very easy to say get the money out but who­ knows how much money he has, it looks like with what he­ has got he has done well and taken them far in europe­
    i agree they need some older blood in his team but­ that is so easy said
    they look only 3 - 4 players away­ from winning and the euro

    From , on Wed 6 May 11:49PM

  15. There's room in the Premiership and Europe for a­ team that does things differently. Those calling for­ Wengers head should be careful - they may get what they­ wish for. And that would signal the end of a side that­ produces the most watchable football, discovers and­ nurtures great, young talent and does so without going­ into huge debt or fueling the outrageous transfer fees­ and salaries that have crept into the game. Perhaps an­ old head in midfield mght be a good thing, but­ that's about it. Wenger is the right man for the­ right club laying the right football. Just because­ other clubs are run at huge losses so they can buy the­ most expensive players - old and young - doesn't­ mean Arsenal should do the same. It would be financial­ suicide and would risk everything that has been gained,­ to try and compete against Chelsea and Man U on their­ terms. Arsenal have no choice but to do things -­ football and financial - differently. Get behind the­ club Gooners!

    From DAVID, on Wed 6 May 11:43PM

  16. 2 all gooners stop whinning uve had a better season­ than some clubs will swap roy keen 4 wenger any day­ ipswich fan
    ps gary johnson from bristol city is a safe­ bet when wenger goes get behind your manager

    From Ian, on Wed 6 May 11:38PM

  17. Wenger has done a lot nd can still do more, he just has­ to be flexible to the needs of the club. yes breeding­ young players is good but if it also calls for buying­ matured players then why not? look at Arshavin's­ contribution to the team so far.

    from
    arry

    From Ahamson H, on Wed 6 May 11:29PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    basically what the article says is that arsenal are­ cack LOL

    From Sean, on Wed 6 May 11:20PM

  19. to kate 13002, you might be right about becks, but you­ get what i mean they just need someone with a calming­ influence. someone to just say to the lads get some­ composure, cause that challenge on carrick from adebyor­ was copletely uncalled for but theres no one there to­ tell him, his manager is top notch but he can't say­ anything from 50 yards away so bottom line dig deep­ arsene

    From N, on Wed 6 May 11:19PM

  20. ARSENAL WILL BE BACK NEXT SEASON ON FIRE TRUST ME. WE­ LOST TOO MUCH OVER THE YEARS.NEXT SEASON WILL BE OURS.­ I LOVE WENGER FOR WOT HE HAS DONE FOR THE CLUB WE ARE­ STILL ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS IN EUROPE. UNITED ARE A­ GOOD SIDE WITH EXPERIENCE LET IT GO. LEAVE IT FOR­ ANOTHER DAY. GOONER 4 LIFE ZEE

    From ZIA, on Wed 6 May 11:17PM
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