Saturday, December 26, 2009

Is Wenger Judged Fairly?


I have often been critical of Arsene Wenger and Arsenal's lack of titles during the past 5 years, but perhaps that is an unfair assessment of what Wenger has accomplished.

In a time of big money spending on transfer fees in the English Premier League, Arsenal has opted to stay away from big name transfers- instead, opting to build a side with young players while being conservative with their finances.

Big money was spent to build Emirates Stadium, and where that was used as a crutch to lean on as to why big money wasn't being spent to retain stars like Henry, Viera, Hleb or Flammini during this period, Stuart Condie of the Canadian Press reports how Wenger has persevered and achieved.

Arsenal hosts Aston Villa on Sunday with manager Arsene Wenger insistent that his current four-year spell without a trophy represents the most satisfying period of his time in the Premier League.
Wenger won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups in his first nine years with Arsenal but has won nothing since the 2005 FA Cup.

With Arsenal paying for a new stadium since then, the Frenchman has overhauled his squad on a limited budget and built on youth team players - but still kept the club in the top four.

"People forget we have been reasonably consistent and it has been the most difficult period, but as well for me, the period where I worked the best," Wenger said. "People should respect the fact we have still made some money in every single year without the team dropping a level and maintaining a successful period in the Champions League and reasonably in the league."


http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5igJ2QXwErWUZIuj9BkZ5lH-yEWbQ

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