I have serious doubts as to what a new manager will bring to the club. He will have the same transfer funds and the same resources as Wenger. Yes he may be better tactically but would he be able to bring in the same quality of player for the same price as Wenger has always done. And would he be able to develop the youngsters as Arsene has done. I’m not

Greetings Everyone

There is an awful lot of negativity about our current manager at the moment and I have to say, I just don’t understand it. Yes, we have not won a trophy for 6 years, but we have challenged while at the same time being well entertained.

I remember when Wenger’s last contract was about to expire, the vast majority of gooners were desperate for him to re-sign. He has not “lost the plot”, he is as good as he’s ever been. I think he’s just struggling to fulfil his plans with one hand tied behind his back in the financial sense, but he’s also been very unlucky with injuries.

I have serious doubts as to what a new manager will bring to the club. He will have the same transfer funds and the same resources as Wenger. Yes he may be better tactically but would he be able to bring in the same quality of player for the same price as Wenger has always done. And would he be able to develop the youngsters as Arsene has done. I’m not convinced. There is another point to consider too, Wenger is trusted completely by the board and has a lot of influence, would a new manager be afforded the same freedom?

Yes it has been frustrating at times and I have been really disappointed that our strategy has not yet fulfilled its promise, but I think if we stick together and be fully supportive of our team, we will get there.

And I would add, it would be a far greater achievement for Arsenal to win the league that it is for the likes of Chelsea, Man City and Man United, given the financial resources they have and the limitations that we have. I can imagine the media reaction now, as much as they would prefer the big spending clubs with their sensational transfer dealings to win, they would not be able to dispute the sheer hard work, planning and skill of our team and the management to get us there without such huge resources.

I am more nervous about our future this season that I have ever been, and I really hope that we secure champions league football next season so that we can add that last player or two that we need to be real challengers.

When I look at our current squad on paper, I see real strength in depth. All we need is a good settled pre-season and one or two attacking players to come in, perhaps different to what we have at the moment just to mix things up a bit when needed. I ask you, is the following squad really that weak?

Goal Keepers

Schezny – Probably one of the best in the league, and still very young.

Fabianksi – A decent number two by any accounts, so long as he stays

3rd Choice – hopefully we will never need one again.

Full Backs

Sagna – What a legend who is now in his prime

Jenks – Steady, young and assured. I’m happy to have him as back up RB

Santos – I really grew to like his style and he gives us something extra in attack.

Gibbsy – If he can get fit and strong, he will be better than Clichy.

And let’s not forget the excellent deputising lately from Coquelin and Vermaelen and Yennaris.

Centre Backs

Kosielny – He is one of the best in the league in my opinion, what a signing.

Vermaelen – Nuff said.

Mertersaker – Big and a bit slow but he has generally been reliable, and as a third choice not too bad at all.

Djourou – Was excellent last season and can regain that form, but happy to have him as a squad player

Miquel – He looks to be a confident young lad who can be relied on when needed, he may develop into an excellent player for the future.

And then we have Song if needed and possibly Kyle Bartley, who I know very little about other than he is meant to be rather good.

With those defensive players, why do we need to buy any more defenders?

Midfielders

Wilshere – We can hopefully secure 4th at least without him, with him we can really challenge.

Ramsey – I’m a big fan and am sure he will be one of the best for years to come.

Song – A brilliant DM but with a creative side, he contributes a lot of assists

Arteta – Glad we signed him, he’s made us more professional

Coquelin – Looks like he will become an excellent player, if he’s not one already.

The Frimster – Full of sprit, fight and determination, will come in very handy when our backs are against the wall and we are trying to hold on to a lead.

Rosicky – A great squad player in the very least

And here’s the thing, those players can interchange positions with each other as and when needed and with that in mind, why do we need to buy another DM that we are so often told by pundits?

Attack

RVP – World class, please stay fit for the rest of your career, oh and please stay at Arsenal!

Walcott – Frustrating at times, I would not be too sad if he left so long as a direct replacement is signed. But I would rather he stayed and regained some of his scoring form.

Gervinho – He is direct and makes things happen, he’s just the sort of player we needed in the squad and I’d have him over Nasri any day.

The Ox – Destined for greatness

Chamakh – I feel sorry for him and hope he can recover his form, how he will do that when his own supporters’ boo when his name is announced I don’t know.

Get one or two players in here and we have a squad ready and able to challenge.

I really believe this team is closer to success than the current league position implies. So I say to you, keep the faith in Wenger, he is the Professor after all, and he wants nothing more that to bring trophies to the club – and my friends, he will!

GOYG!!!

Mean Lean’s Response

Good stuff Joe and I agree with much of what you say. We are all frustrated with our position in the table and losing the likes of Cesc in the summer but personally I think our current position does not reflect the quality we have in our squad. That doesn’t mean that we do not deserve to be where we are. We are in transition (once again) and a mixture of our summer business along with injuries and a bad run of form has put us where we are.

For me, next season will be a completely different story as long as our best stay at the club. For a start we will not be without Arteta, Santos and Mertesacker at the start of the season plus they will not have to adjust to our way of playing. They will have already settled in and that is also the case for Gervinho and Oxalde-Chamberlain.

I am guessing that most Gooners would agree that our strongest back four combination is Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny and Santos. We are in mid February and those four are yet to play a single game together.

We miss the creativity and forward drive of Jack Wilshere and we have missed him all season. We have so many young players who will naturally progress. Players like Ramsey, Chamberlain, Gibbs, Coquelin and others like Campbell who are on loan.

As long as big players do not leave then we should avoid the start of the season that we had this time round. There is so much to look forward to in regards to this squad, especially given that Arsene is almost certain to add to the squad.

The issue is our current position and the fight to get into the top four. If we can do that then I will be very confident about the future of this new team.