Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Manchester United's reserves should be seen as a watermark moment in the recent history of Arsenal football club and the moment the club changes course forever. No, not by dispensing with the services of the club's greatest ever manager but by someone senior at the club approaching 'Le Gaffer' and telling him to face facts and make five key changes which would cement his place in Gunners folklore for immortality – because at the moment his place there is being questioned for the first time.
The calls for Wenger to pack his bags have hardly been rampant, nor should they be because without the urbane Frenchman Arsenal could be an obscure mid-table team by now, but for the first time many are beginning to doubt whether indeed Arsene does know. A glimpse at message boards and national newspapers shows the uncertainty, for every column defending him there is one attacking him. But Wenger has earned the freedom to depart when he wants and in a dignified manner, I for one hope that if and when the time comes it will be among friends at the Emirates and a standing ovation for the man who got the Gunners firing again.
But that day could be postponed for a while if the manager accepts he has got it wrong and makes crucial changes to steer his legacy back in the right direction.
1. STOP MAKING EXCUSES – The verbal attack on Massimo Busacca last Tuesday has landed Wenger in trouble with UEFA. While RVPs second yellow card was laughable, Wenger's attack ignored the fact that the forward was walking the tightrope because he raised his hand to Dani Alves in the first half. Claiming Arsenal would have won the game had they not been reduced to 10 men just sounded like an excuse, the Gunners were out-classed in the Nou Camp would have broken Arsenal down for at least one goal to take the tie to extra time.
2. FIND YOUR WALLET AND OPEN IT – For too long now Arsenal have needed a number one goalkeeper and a commanding centre-half. Almunia and Fabianski are not good enough at this level while Szczesny will be a good number one but needs a few more years to mature and learn. While at centre-half Arsenal badly miss a Tony Adams/Martin Keown/Sol Campbell character, a rallier of men, an organiser. None more so than in the Carling Cup final when centre half and keeper caused an error to hand Birmingham City the cup. Vermaelen is a sure-fire starter but the options beyond him look weak, Djourou is injury prone while Koscielny and Seb Squillaci are not up to the demands of Premier League football. It's widely reported that Arsenal have cash reserves (not a transfer budget) of almost £100million – time someone like chief executive Ivan Gazidis to fulfil the role of David Dein and act as Wenger's confidante and ensure he can spend some cash.
3. DEVISE A PLAN B – Too often Arsenal are stymied by opposition who roll up and defend, defend, defend (See the Sunderland game) or close them down and tackle hard and too often some players go missing. Wenger needs to encourage his players to win ugly at times and put the beautiful game down and scrap. Principles are wonderful things but they do not win you titles, even the Invincibles of 2003/4 recorded a few scrappy 1-0 and 2-1's.
4. DELIVER A WINNING MENTALITY – Arsenal's players are not winners, fact – they go out to play beautiful football and times believe their favourites tag (Carling Cup final again) will be enough. But they need a winning mentality, go out and win every game in whatever way legally possible, mix the total football 4-0 demolitions with poor 1-0 wins in an otherwise dreary game. Truth be told Arsenal only played Barcelona because the screwed up their qualifying group – 14 goals and three wins in the first three games put them on the brink of finishing first in the group but four goals and two defeats in the last three ensured a tie against the Catalans rather than an easier draw against Roma.
5. FABREGAS – This summer needs to be the end of the long-running saga, if the skipper wants to go home, let him and get the money the club deserves. Arsene has proven he can re-invent the side using the proceeds of transfers and with the emergence of Wilshire and Ramsey, maybe it is time to say Adios Amigo. While he is at it, let the summer be an open door for those who wish to take the exit door, raise cash for new players and let's start next season united and ready for an assault on all four trophies.
I'll repeat my earlier claim, this is not a call for his head but a call for a change in direction, failure to heed and Arsenal might not need to worry about being in four competitions next season – just finishing fourth could be enough of a challenge.
