Wenger's contract an Audit of Management Part 3
By Neil Fry
October 31 2013
PART THREE Management audit. This section of the audit examines Arsenal’s player leadership and the competence of crucial elements of supporting operations: coaching, player contracts, scouting, Monsieur Wenger himself and his contract renewal.
Part Two of ther audit can be found here
Player leadership
Since the previous report, Mr Mertesacker has become a more visible leader and, having been the only first choice player to start in the Carling Cup penalties win at West Bromwich Albion, Monsieur Wenger acknowledged that he was becoming an irreplaceable force. "He is a recognised centre-back with a leading role in our team … Per is one of the leaders of the team and within our dressing room."[21] Mr Mertesacker's presence has been bolstered by the arrival of Mr Flamini, who in addition to his disciplined and physical holding midfield play, has also been a very vocal organiser. Always cajoling, instructing, alerting, Flamini is a big believer in communication on the pitch as a way of simultaneously steering strategy and spirit. "It is inside of me. I am not trying to be bossy, just to be myself, and of course to help my partners on the pitch. When you start helping each other, fighting for each other, this helps you to win games."[22]
Offensive and defensive coaching
Evidence of previously reported claims of a rift with new assistant coach Steve Bould, strenuously denounced by Monsieur Wenger, appears in short supply since the previous audit. There did, however, appear to be genuine difficulties integrating the new coach’s defensive methods with Monsieur Wenger’s offensive strategies, with the early and end of season defensive success appearing to blunt Arsenal offensively.
In the new season Monsieur Wenger’s preferred, much in vogue, 4-2-3-1 system has worked even better. There now appears to have been a successful integration of offence and defence and Arsenal have been much quicker at moving the ball forward. With team and individual confidence bolstered by the long successful run and the addition of Messrs Özil and Flamini, the outcome, has appeared to be a more defensively competent Arsenal. The final run in last season was marked by a series of edge of the seat moments, albeit successfully negotiated. This season, Arsenal seem defensively more composed and have been better organised and disciplined. After the hard fought draw at West Bromwich Albion in October, which returned Arsenal to the top of the table before the international break, BBC Analyst and former Wales international Robbie Savage heralded the importance of Mr Flamini and detected new-found steel and solidity (as well as an offensive plan B) and regarded Arsenal as genuine title contenders.[23]
A great example of the defensive and offensive integration was one of Arsenal’s most accomplished performances since the days of the Invincibles. The home Champions League win against Napoli managed by Mr Benitez. When the first half started, Arsenal came out flying. They used the absence through injury of the four first choice wide offensive players to great effect by the entire offence moving the ball at pace and interchanging positions. Arsenal were 2 - 0 up in 15 minutes and a bemused Napoli simply blown away. In the second half Napoli were closed out comfortably and forced to resort to long range-shots, many of which flew high above the crossbar.[24]
Player contracts
Mr Flamini’s departure in 2008 inadvertently started the process of Arsenal neglectfully allowing top players run their contracts down. The indispensable Mr Mertesacker has entered the penultimate year of his contract and is believed to be a contractual priority for the Club. Bacary Sagna and Tomas Rosicky have entered their final year under contact. Given both had injury problems last season, and Mr Sagna uncharacteristic problems of form, it is understandable that their contracts have only become a recent priority. Nevertheless, Mr Sagna’s return to form and versatility make him a considerable asset (as he also adds central defensive cover), should he wish to stay, and Mr Rosicky remains a very willing and capable squad player.[25]
Scouting
Monsier Wenger appears to have made a very sensible change to his long-standing second period policy of ignoring players, Messrs Gallas and Arteta excepted (Mr Sylvestre should have been avoided) battle hardened by the unique challenges of the Premier League.
Much needed cover for Mr Szczesny was added on the last day of the transfer window (a season-long loan with an option to buy). The 27 year old Palermo goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano, an Italian international understudy to the great Gianluigi Buffon, had been closely monitored by Arsenal for some time. He appears a sensible, and well scouted, addition that without ousting Mr Szezny appears to provide viable competition and cover – given the competency issues that have dogged previous deputies.
Time will tell whether Mr Sanago will represent a return to Arsenal’s stellar scouting of the first period of Monsieur Wenger's reign. However, Monsieur Wenger has stated that the focus of the club’s scouting system was switching away from his home country and former stronghold and more towards Germany and Spain. Mr Ozil was a globally renown German superstar and as Monsieur Wenger has acknowledged, hardly a product of the scouting system, “we did not need to scout to buy Özil, it was just money.”[26]
Another arrival from Germany, Academy midfielder, Thomas Eisfield certainly was a product of Arsenal's scouting. The 19 year old attacking midfielder had played 12 times in the season for Borussia Dortmund’s Under-19 team before becoming the only signing of the January 2012 transfer window. Mr Eisfield made his first team debut start in the Carling Cup win at West Bromwich Albion and scored Arsenal’s goal. Monsieur Wenger said Mr Eisfeld’s ‘snake-like’ ability to suddenly appear in the penalty box, his first touch, and his cool deadly finishing reminded him of Invincible Robert Pires. Mr Eisfeld has scored goals from all angles for the under-21s - he netted nine times last season - and Wenger says he has a rare quality.[27]
Monsieur Wenger
Monsieur Wenger has enjoyed remarkable success since the defeat at Tottenham – indeed, the Club has the best Premier League record this calendar year. He won the Barclays September Manager of the Month Award, having won all five matches in three competitions.[28] Player leadership, for so long absent during the second period, has returned with Mr Mertesacker growing into the role and Mr Flamini’s return. The latter has also provided a disciplined, physical, defensive midfield shield – again previously absent for so long. Substitutions have often been the pragmatic addition of defensive reinforcements to retain a lead and / or offensive changes to refresh the midfield and, as Mr Savage noted, Arsenal now have a Plan B too.
A timely reminder of his signing of a young Mr Ramsey at the expense of Manchester United, Monsieur Wenger’s personal touch (and multi-linguistic abilities) was crucial in the signing of Mr Özil. His subsequent knowledge of firm interest and potentially more money from either Paris St-Germain or Manchester United did not sway him. What counted for Mr Özil, after being so surprisingly discarded by Madrid, was the sense of having a manager with such total belief in him.[31]
Historically, Monsieur Wenger has refused to adopt the sophisticated intelligence operations and tactical approaches of rivals to neutralise the opposition and particular individuals. This was conceded ahead of last season’s defeat at Tottenham. However, no one characterised the problems with this policy more than Chelsea’s Didier Drogba’s and he scored two more goals against Arsenal in the Emirates Cup pre-season friendly home defeat by his new club Galatasary. Similarly, Tottenham's in-form Mr Bale was again afforded no special attention and subsequently thrived in their defeat of Arsenal just after the last audit.[29]
After the win against Napoli, Monsieur Wenger’s explanation of his decision to rest Mr Wilshere and play the returning Mr Arteta alongside Mr Flamini was interesting because it suggested a successful attempt to tactically neutralise both the opposition team and an individual.
Last night I played Flamini and Arteta because Flamini had a job to do on [Marek] Hamsik and he did that very well. Napoli are very dangerous going forward on counter-attacking and I felt we stopped them very well from doing that.[30]
Monsieur Wenger appears to have largely weathered the dissatisfaction by supporters over his performance as a manager noted in the previous audit. 80% of Arsenal Supporters Trust fans who expressed an opinion supported Arsène Wenger continuing as manager (albeit they also said the Club should review subsequent results before making a decision over his contract renewal).[32]
The Black Scarf Movement’s end of season survey saw an increasing level of support for Monsieur Wenger – with 46.0% feeling, in a much tougher question, he is still the best man for the Manager’s job and a reduced 37.4% thinking not.[33]
Monsieur Wenger’s contract renewal
Despite the lack of any trophy success during the second period of Monsieur Wenger’s reign, the difficult previous season, and without having purchased any first team players before the new season started, Arsenal’s Chief Executive publicised his intent to offer Monsieur Wenger a new contract (before it expired just after the end of the season). As the Arsenal Supporters Trust noted, the decision seemed highly premature and "should only be taken following the closing of the transfer window and assessment of the team's performances. Considerable improvement must be shown for us to be convinced this should happen."[34]
Ahead of the win at Swansea in late September, Mr Kroenke’s desire for Monsieur Wenger to renew his contract left Pedro, a writer for Le Grove, ambivalent.
Part of me doesn’t like that it’s so easy, and a part and half of me sees the logic in tying a manager down to a few more years after he’s just spunked £43m on a player. Stability and continuity aren’t words you can associate with many clubs at the moment. I’ve always said I’d be happy to see Wenger stay if he showed that he could progress the team. The summer was a shocker in many ways, but in the end, we arrived where we needed to arrive. We have the marquee players we’ve all been looking for over the past 5 years, the fans are on side and we’re having a great run so far. I’m not short term enough to think we’ve turned the corner. I’m not blind sided by an easy run in the league… and I still don’t think Wenger has it at the highest level anymore, but I’m fighting a losing battle with an owner who adores the manager like a love sick teenager.[35]
Monsieur Wenger, however, agreed that his results should be awaited and reviewed before any decision should be made.
I’ve said many times I want to do well with this club and in the end I will sit down and think how well have I done with the team I have had ... One of the main judgments you can have about a manager is how well he does with his team … There’s no need to [agree a contract now]. We are in no hurry. We are in September and my contract finishes in June. There’s a long way to go.[36]
With the success of Mr Özil's signing and a ten match winning run behind him, it was reported that Monsieur Wenger was to be offered a new 3 year contract. Mr Kroenke confirmed Monsieur Wenger remained central to his long-term Arsenal vision.
There’s no one I feel more strongly about and I think he is doing a great job … We have been very supportive, we have never wavered, we are proud of him, proud of the club, the way the club is run and how it holds itself out to the world.[37]
The issue of management succession appears likely to be consigned to the back-burner. It seems unlikely that, having loyally stayed put during the financially fallow second period of his reign, and having signed Mr Özil, that a reinvigorated Monsieur Wenger would not renew his contract in the new financial era. Nevertheless, the Club's Board seem ill-equipped to cope with such a clearly evident risk, one highlighted after the retirement of Manchester United's very long serving and powerful manager.[38]
The final Part 4 can be found here
References
[21] http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/arsenals-per-mertesacker-central-arsene-2304985
[22] http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/05/arsenal-mathieu-flamini-dark-workhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10327025/Arsenal-midfielder-Matthieu-Flamini-is-as-important-to-the-side-as-record-breaking-42m-signing-Mesut-Ozil.html
[23] http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24422234
[24] http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/02/arsene-wenger-amazing-arsenal-napoli
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-news-arsene-wenger-turns-2251837
[27] http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-eisfeld-reminds-me-of-pires
[28] http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24443712
[29] http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/1314/post/first-team/arsenal-1-2-galatasaray-match-report
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21563766
[33] http://www.wherehasourarsenalgone.co.uk/
[34] http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23750387
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsene-wenger-set-talks-new-2331896
[38] http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24330700
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2013:11:01:15:10:18 by Padre Pio.
A veiled threat to players to perform and win something or else.
KPI:
At least Top-2 finish and he will sign-on.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Quote:Padre Pio
Once again Wenger has managed to start a season with a squad that lacks strength in depth.Buying one marquee player doesnt make up for that
One major signing and Wenger fooled a lot of people into thinking we are brill again.
They will soon begin to realise that was a mistake.
"𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴."