I have been provided with every answer Arsene Wenger gave at this evenings shareholders Q&A. For easiness of reading I am going to split it into three articles and pick out the most important bits, leaving out the stupid questions that just waste mine and your time.
_ _
Before the first question was even asked Bob Wilson encouraged Arsene to say a few words to the shareholders about his new contract and just talk about how he finds being at the club right now, Wenger described how ‘this is the club I love’ and how all his energy is channelled into doing the very best he can; “I dedicate all my energy to the club”. Its well known that Arsene lives and breathes football, he is a football addict who just wants to win, he is confident of that too:
“I’m confident we can be successful - we are hungry and ready but need to be focused and consistent. We need team spirit to continue”
Over the past few seasons there have been a few divisive characters in the dressing room, Gallas and Adebayor are said to be two of those characters but there was an African clique that had started to develop over a year ago that the manager thought needed to be broken up – and he was ruthless in the way he did it.
In the Q&A the boss was aware that quite a few fans were not happy with the summer businuess, however the manager is confident that he made the right decisions in the transfer market, and when prompted by Bob Wilson to elaborate on the Goalkeeper situation (I say prompted but he would have known it was coming…) he said:
[they have been exposed to] a lot of pressure in the summer and there was a lot of speculation,”
Manuel Almunia is number one and he has been outstanding this season”
He also spoke about his transfer movements in the context of the bigger picture to the moving of stadiums and keeping the club healthy financially – and is confident it will have rewards. The aims may have grown, but have not changed:
“we want to win every trophy. I wanted to keep us at the top when we moved and we have been able to do so”
Personally, I believe that staying in the top four with the restrictions that have been in place is a brilliant achievement looking at the investment that has gone into the clubs around and below where we are. Very few managers in world football would have been able to do that and nurture players like Jack Wilshere, Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song and Gael Clichy. In a decades time we will look back and admire what he managed I am sure.
One question asked him what he wanted to achieve over the period of his latest contract, Arsene answered:
“win things developing the style of play, developing the club international and to keep fans happy to win – and win in style. AFC has special values and that comes out in how we play”
It is clear that the style of play is something that Arsenal want to brand themselves on, a bit like Barcelona and maybe even Brazil do. It sells the corporate seats that will bring in the money to make Arsenal one of the worlds richest clubs and attract the best players and fans abroad as well as in the UK.
This is part one of the shareholders Q&A with Arsene Wenger carried out on the evening of 16th September 2010.
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Part 2 to follow….
Arsenal News 24/7
Hello,
I look forward to reading part 2.
Cheers
[...] PART ONE HERE [...]
[...] PART 1 [...]
Dude it would be much better if you just gave the question and answers instead of your own opinion of what is and isn’t important.
You’ve mentioned an African clique and the breaking up of that. Is that from a quote or just something you’ve thought of? In such a piece it’s difficult to distinguish between what Arsene said and what you are trying to say.
Can you post a fourth article with just the Q&A? Appreciate your efforts. Thanks.
THese questions are just polishing Wengers ego,when will someone be allowed to ask some difficult questions,like why is he constantly ditching the fa cup??? etc.
Hey There,
Thanks for taking the time to do this but could you please keep your 2 cents out of the piece, I just want a Q&A… Hence the title of the piece. What is the African connection you are talking about? Did Wenger say that or you?
[...] on, and quotes from, the Q&A, check out The Goon Blog which has a three part post on the event: Part One; Part Two; Part Three. Arsenal Insider also has an in-depth post on the [...]
ASS HOLE, WHACH YA MEAN BY AFRICAN CLIQUE. Arsenal all time greats & top goalscorers are africans(thierry & wright) its a shame 4 u to try branding them as just cliques.dammy
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