It was a question that dominated the 2013/14 season and now it is once again making the headlines. Will Arsène Wenger extend his contract or will he leave Arsenal?
In 2013 the calls for Wenger to go were not as vocal as they are now. The complaints lobbied at the Frenchman were over the club’s trophy drought. After winning the FA Cup in 2005 the cabinet at the Emirates was bare and, with the stadium bill paid off, the excuses were running out.
Well well well…another season, another disappointment. Forgive me for starting off so negatively, but there is no point in mincing words – our best chance to win the League for years and we will yet again come up short. While there can be positives that can be taken away from this season (Alex Iwobi being the highlight for me, amongst others), once more this will surely be classified as a campaign defined as “what if?”
One of our main criticisms this season, like so many before it, has been our inability to turn up with the required drive, mental stability and grit to see out so many of the results that we let slip through our fingers. If rumors are to indeed be believed, however, it appears that Arsène Wenger is making a concerted effort to solve one of the many problems that has plagued us since Gilberto Silva departed – having a combative midfielder.
It’s been reported for quite sometime now that we have nearly wrapped up a deal for Borussia Mönchengladbach’s 23-year old Swiss international midfielder Granit Xhaka, arguably one of the most prized central commodities on the market. With many sources reporting it ranging from ESPN to the Express, a deal worth roughly £30 million is all but complete. The question that I, and others, have asked ourselves is simple – is he really the best option?
Midway through April and out of all competitions, fighting to regain our top 4 status, it’s a feeling that we always hope to move past but seemingly get dragged back in almost like we’re magnets to mediocrity. Things change, problems seemingly get fixed and more relentlessly arise.
In recent seasons Arsenal have been scrutinized for shining against smaller teams and going missing against big teams yet this season our record vs big sides is decent and we’ve become inconsistent against the smaller teams, why can’t we find the formula to be consistent?
Gimli (@GoonerGimli) is lucky to still be alive as he was asleep under a mushroom when a strong gush of wind blew it over and it nearly crushed the poor boy but he is joined by :