Arsene Wenger’s book needs fine tuning before he loses the plot

Too egotistical to ask for directions and too bourgeois to call for a cab, Arsene Wenger is not quite sure which way leads to the light at the end of tunnel.

All mere euphemisms for the real story that has been boiling over at Arsenal, with them being stuck at the crossroads for nearly eight years. It’s no longer a trivia question but common fact that Arsenal hasn’t won silverware since that penalty-shootout FA Cup win over Manchester United in 2005.

That is what riles the Frenchman. But what was supposed to have served as their principal motivation, has sadly turned out to be their biggest downfall; their kryptonite of sorts.

When asked about how badly Arsenal need to win a trophy, at his pre-game press conference before the 1-3 home loss to Bayern Munich in their Champions League Round of 16 knock-out game, Wenger reacted, “Thank you very much for that question. I have not answered it for a long time.”

Wenger also added: “Can we get some questions about tomorrow’s game? That would be very nice.” That was an answer to a question regarding their shock 1-0 League Cup loss to Blackburn Rovers. Ironically, he later snapped, “I’m not here to talk about Bayern Munich.”

However peculiar that Wenger press conference was, it did have its funny bits. At one stage he sarcastically remarked, “No, no. I want to lose it, to lose the game tomorrow so you can all be happy,” when questioned about his desire to win the Champions League.

It’s funny because the whole thing was very unlike Wenger’s studious and calm demeanour, which has always been reminiscent of a devout master completely immersed in his practice. No wonder he has earned the nickname, “Le Professeur.”

Wenger may have divided loyalties today but over the years he has earned his admirers. His firebrand style of beautiful, one-touch, free-flowing football has wooed oppositions and ‘Gooner’ fans alike. Not only was he unearthing unheralded, unpolished gems, he was helping them compete for titles.

His book of philosophies isn’t huge. If he managed to ever write one, it’d be a best-seller. The chapters would range from man-management to keeping the ball on the floor to how to develop a youth system. The only criticism: the section on economics and his reluctance on spending big would be rather dull.

Wenger has always entertained. All his teams over the years have entertained. His rivalries with opposition managers have entertained too. But is he losing the plot?

Arsenal may be the most profitable club in England at the moment but they are still facing the repercussions of their move from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium from 2006. They are still trying to recover meagre amounts via exorbitant ticket prices. Only last month, Manchester City sent back 912 of the 3,000 tickets they were allocated, with travelling fans unhappy that a seat at the Emirates cost 62 pounds.

The fact that they are trying to recoup funds via ticketing proves that the move has also eaten into Wenger’s transfer kitty. His unwillingness to spend on quality but on raw youth may be a stubborn policy but their ‘socialist’ wage structure hasn’t gone down well with the fans. As Theo Walcott agreed a £100,000-a-week contract, Wenger revealed it was he himself who insisted that the gap between the club’s highest-earners and lowest-paid players is narrower than at the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea.

But what has got to be the bottom of the barrel is the dawning of the realization that Arsenal is now officially a selling club.

They were never a selling club and even when the influential Patrick Viera – who scored the winning penalty against United in 2005 FA Cup final – left for Juventus, they were well-positioned. The same was the case when Arsenal’s all-time leading scorer Thierry Henry moved to Barcelona.

But more recently, they simply haven’t been able to replace quality with quality. Dismal, cost-efficient recruitments like Andre Santos or Sébastien Squillaci just don’t cut it. Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy were sold to title rivals in Manchester City with academy-grad Kieran Gibbs oft on the treatment table and no replacement coming in for the former.

The kick in the teeth however came when top-scorer Robin van Persie also left in search of medals. To Manchester again, United this time. Jack Wilshere is being groomed for future captaincy, but Mikel Arteta, who was bought to replace Barcelona-bound Cesc Fabregas, is just a light-weight replacement.

This season’s summer signings Olivier Giroud, Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla have gradually made a steady impact. Of the three, Podolski hasn’t lasted a complete 90 minutes despite scoring 13 times (in all competitions) and Giroud – who has managed 14 goals and 10 assists (in all competitions) – wasn’t trusted enough to be given a starting berth in the home tie against Bayern. Santi Cazorla with his 11 goals and 9 assists has brought the much-needed creative spark in the middle, two years after Fabregas returned to his hometown club.

The excuse with Arsenal throughout their barren run has been that they are a team in transition. But rebuilding has taken way too long. If the core of the team remains and more experienced players are brought in though, things could look up. But they will end up staring mediocrity in the face if they continue to regard the prospect of securing fourth place in the Premier League and entry into Champions League qualifying round as comparable to winning a cup.

As they prepare to battle it out for fourth spot with north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur – who have superior strength in depth – what Arsenal need, and for which it might already be too late, is the Arsene Wenger of old. The one who solely concentrated on his footballing ethos of an immense knowledge of the game mixed with great man-management skills. But with a twist: he should realize that his bourgeois revolution can no longer satisfy the masses and no longer compete with the rich and elite.

And even though they are looking down the barrel at yet another trophy-less campaign, the only good that has come from that strange outburst is that Wenger’s fire still burns and that he is still motivated.

Le Professeur is a long way from losing the plot. All that’s required is for the book to be tinkered with – both the cheque book and the one of philosophies.