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#94430 For the brave, nothing is too difficult.
shanghai_nobody
Last Updated at 17:32 GMT
Arsene Wenger has barely had time to clear out his office before the bookies have compiled a list of favourites to replace him. Leading the charge is Michael Laudrup, installed today as the bookies favourite.
Bookies Odds
Michael Laudrup 2/1
Remi Garde 6/1
Laurent Blanc 7/1
Dragan Stojkovic 10/1
Jurgen Klopp 20/1
Steve Bould 50/1
Thierry Henry 100/1
The leading four contenders by odds, Laudrup, Garde, Blanc and Stojkovic are thought to be the names Wenger gave the board when asked for recommendations on his replacement. Jurgen Klopp is an outsider, although the German is unlikely to leave Dortmound. Steve Bould, the current assistant joins club legend Thierry Henry as longshots for the job.
Michael Laudrup
The Dane gained many plaudits after his first season in England. His exciting attacking football wasn't just easy on the eye but devastating. Laudrup led the Welsh team to Wembley, claiming the Capital One cup in the process. Thought to be the boards preferred candidate, due to his experience in England and ethos of attacking attractive football.
Remi Garde
The former Arsenal player is currently managing Ligue 1 giants Lyon. Garde took up the job in 2011 after leading the clubs academy. Well respected by Wenger, his lack of management experience in England may prove his undoing.
Laurent Blanc
Since Wenger left Arsenal, Blanc has slipped out of the front-running for the PSG job, left vacant by Carlo Ancelotti's move to Real Madrid. Blanc impressed at Bordeux, claiming the Ligue 1 title, before he took up the national job. Blanc departed after he was keen to return to club football.
Dragan Stojkovic
Stojkovic played under Wenger at Japanese side Nagoya, the team he now manages. While he is highly rated by Wenger, the board are reportedly unwilling to hand the reins over to a manager with no management experience outside of Japan. In this instant, the board may not trust in Wenger.
#94384 For the brave, nothing is too difficult.
shanghai_nobody
Last Updated at 17:32 GMT
Arsene Wenger announced his departure from Arsenal today. The Frenchman has called time on a glittering career with the Gunners. During his seventeen year reign, Wenger revolutionised the London club, cultivating an admired form of attacking football, while leaving his imprint off the pitch with the clubs world class training facilities and stadium.
The gathered press were shocked by the announcement, one which has circled around the Emirates for the last few seasons. Rumours of his departure, replacement or sacking have all been heard, but never came true, until today. 'I believe it is the right time to go.' Wenger said today. 'Arsenal are my true love, sometimes you have to do the right thing for the person you love, even if it is difficult.
'The easy option would be to remain at the club. The board want me to stay, I want to stay, some of the fans might even want me to stay. But you have to do the right thing for the things you love. It has been a difficult nine years, not winning a trophy has been hard, especially when I've seen ho hard my players have worked. I believe that a new manager is needed, someone new who can come into the club with a fresh pair of eyes to remedy the situation.'
Wenger, when asked about his replacement, admitted the board had sought his recommendations. 'The board asked my opinion, I gave them it. I have given them a few names, all managers I rate highly. Now, it is down to them to pick their replacement, I have total confidence that the board will find the right man for the job.' Although the Frenchman would not reveal the names of his recommendations.
Football has not lost a second great manager, after the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, Wenger will remain within football. 'I could have stayed as a director of football, it was a very enticing offer, but again it was an easy option and an unfair one. I believe whoever the next manager is should have the same freedom I have had, when it came to footballing matters at Arsenal.
'I will continue in football management, where or when that is, I don't know.'
Ivan Gazidis, released the clubs official statement on Arsenal.com stating: 'This is a sad day in Arsenal's history, we have lost our most successful manager. Arsene's legacy will always remain with Arsenal, even if he is not with us. The Emirates stadium was only conceivable because of his successes on the pitch. Our world class training facilities at London Colney, are his vision and his creation.
'Future managers, players and staff will all benefit from the relentless hard work that Arsene has put into this club. His love for the club is obvious and we can only hope he feels the same from the Arsenal family. Luckily, he will continue in football, so the footballing community can continue to enjoy the true genius of one of footballs greatest ever managers. We wish him all the best, he is of course always welcome to come home to the Emirates Stadium.'
Arsenal have also announced plans to build an Arsene Wenger statue. It will join the statues of Herbert Chapman, Thierry Henry and Tony Adams which currently sit outside the clubs stadium.
Arsene Wenger's career
1996: Wenger arrives from Japanese side, Nagoya, a relative unknown. His arrival prompted the now famous Fergie comment, 'He's a novice - he should keep his opinions to Japanese football.'
1998: Wenger leads Arsenal to a Premier League and FA Cup double.
2002: Wenger completes a second Premier League and FA Cup double.
2003: A third FA Cup victory for the Frenchman.
2004: The 'Invincibles' season. Arsenal went undefeated for an entire season en route to claiming the Premiership title.
2005: Another FA Cup victory, Arsene's last major silverware as Arsenal manager.
2006: Arsenal make it to their first ever Champions League final, they were beaten narrowly by Barcelona 2-1.
2013: Wenger announces his departure from Arsenal.
#94331 We Want Our Trophy Back
shanghai_nobody
#46580 Forward
shanghai_nobody
By David Ornstein BBC Sport
Theo Walcott has put to bed any rumours about his departure from the Emirates after the England international penned a new deal with Arsenal.
Arsenal have been in talks with the striker for much of the close season. Wenger was keen to avoid another van Persie situation as Walcott was also entering the last year of his contract. Rumours suggest that Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City were all ready to pounce if the London club failed to agree terms with the striker.
#24603 Forward
shanghai_nobody
Arsenal open contract talks with Walcott
16 July 2012, Last Updated 13:55 GMT
Arsenal's chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, announced talks have begun with Theo Walcott over an improved contract.
The England international has had several Premiership on red alert since he entered the last year of his contract. Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool have all been keeping tabs on Walcott and hoping to either secure a cheap deal, or even approach Walcott for free in January if no new contract is signed. Wenger is not willing to have another Robin van Persie situation on his hands and has tasked Gazidis's with securing Walcott's future.
Walcott's agent is reportedly seeking a vastly improved contract for his client, currently Walcott is one of the lowest earners at the club with the likes of Sebastien Squillaci and Marouane Chamakh on better deals, Walcott's agent is looking to remedy that situation with this next round of talks.
Ivan Gazidis was present at London Colney, Arsenal's training ground, to kick-start the contract talks. "Today, I met with both Theo and his agent to begin talks on an improved deal. As Arsene said recently we are not a selling club, we want to keep our best players and Theo is one of them. He already has a vast amount of talent but he's still young and will continue to improve.
"We want to keep Theo at Arsenal and the talks have begun in a positive mood. I'm confident we can reach a conclusion very soon."
Wenger has remained silent on the situation although behind closed doors it is thought Walcott has pressed that any new deal would hinge on more chances to play in his preferred position as a striker through the middle.
Walcott spoke briefly about the talks and seems keen to remain at the London club. "Talks are in the early stages, my agent is doing most of the work. I'm in pre-season training at the moment, it's really important to have a good pre-season if you want to hit the ground running, so that's my main focus at the moment."
#24598 Forward
shanghai_nobody
Arsenal make £7million bid for Demba Ba
16 July 2012, Last Updated 13:55 GMT
Arsenal are looking to exploit a £7million release clause in Demba Ba's contract with Newcastle United. The Senegal striker's agent had the release clause entered into his contract when he moved to St James' Park on a free last summer from West Ham.
Ba turned out to be one of the signings of the season last year after he finished his first season with Newcastle with 16 goals, making him joint sixth top goalscorer in the league, the feat is all the more impressive considering Ba missed part of the season due to international duty in the African cup of nations. Available at a snip of his true market value Ba has been attracting a number of high profile suitors. FC Porto have lodged a bid, while current European Champions, Chelsea, are monitoring the situation alongside Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
The Senegal striker has made not effort to hide his desire to play Champions League football, and it is expected to be a mere matter of time before he departs. Newcastle released a brief statement on their website today, “We have been forced to accept two bids for Demba Ba, those offers have come from Arsenal and Porto and match the release clause in his contract.
“Demba has been in fantastic form since arriving last season, we hope to enter contract talks with him and his agent in the next few days to ensure that next season he will remain with Newcastle.”
The strikers agent though seems intent on bringing about a third move in as many years, “Demba is a Champions League level player, it’s always been his goal to play on the biggest stage in European football. Sadly he won’t have that chance with Newcastle next season. We are in early talks with Arsenal and Porto.
“Ideally he would like to remain in England but if he goes to Europe he would welcome a return to Germany or Spain.”
#24441 Forward
shanghai_nobody
Wenger planning Arsenal exodus
16 July 2012, Last Updated 13:55 GMT
Arsene Wenger has stuck to his guns and handed the clubs board a list of players he wants off the books and out of the club.
Yesterday, Wenger said he would be looking to sell on a host of fringe players who he said were contributing little but taking vast wages out of the club. The preliminary list is thought to include Marouane Chamakh, Andre Santos, Sebastien Squillaci, Johan Djourou and Vito Mannone. If the rumours proved to be true then it could show a new tact from the Gunners boss who has often stood by his players through thick and thin.
If Wenger can rid the club of those five players then he would wipe £195,500 extra a week in his wage to bring in the big players he so desires, it's thought the combined fee's could bring in an additional £20million, taking his transfer war chest to somewhere in the region of £50million.
Arsenal refused to confirm which players would be leaving but several reports have stated that all five players have been touted around Europe. Meanwhile Wenger's scouts have been dispatched across the world as he frantically looks to re-build his squad after the crippling departure of Robin van Persie.
It's thought the wages freed up could be used to offer Theo Walcott an improved deal, Wenger is keen to avoid another van Persie debacle as Walcott enters the last year of his contract.
#24440 Forward
shanghai_nobody
Wenger: "We're going backwards."
15 July 2012, Last Updated 13:55 GMT
Arsene Wenger painted a stark picture of Arsenal's future unless the London club make some drastic changes and big strides next season.
Wenger was hardly in a joyous mood during his first press conference of the new season, the Frenchman overseen his first training session of the pre-season, one that did not include Robin van Persie who moved to bitter rivals Manchester United, and Alex Song who followed the Dutch striker out of the Emirates to Barcelona. The silver lining was Wenger ran the rule over his new recruits Lukasz Podolski, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud.
"We lost our best player during the close season and sadly that has become a common occurrence in recent years." Wenger said. "Arsenal are in danger of becoming a selling club, we cannot allow that to happen. We are too big a club to find raw talent and develop it, only to see clubs come along and take our best players."
When Wenger was questioned on why this seems to happen the Frenchman was frank in his summary. "We're not winning things, we have everything that a club the size of Arsenal should have, a world class stadium, training facilites, fantastic fans and great players and coaches. What we lack is silverware, the best players in the world are ambitious, if we're not winning we won't keep our best players or be able to sign them in the near future."
Wenger went on to insist the board would have to work harder to ensure Arsenal's trophyless spell did not stretch to an eighth year. "We've not been strong enough in the transfer market, we have to learn how to say 'no' when clubs want our best players, even if it has an effect on our accounts. Not winning trophies will have a bigger financial effect in the long run.
"We have to approach the transfer market with renewed vigour, we are one of the biggest football clubs in the world and I think we should start acting like it."
The manager did not absolve himself of any blame stating, "I have signed some players below the level expected of an Arsenal player to help our situation financially. I won't be doing that anymore, I expect a lot of players to be leaving during the summer. We have too many players on big wages who aren't contributing and it's time that they move on."
It's evident the loss of van Persie has angered the Arsenal manager, but the renewed hunger shown by Wenger today may soften the blow. "We're in danger of going backwards, we could be out the 'big four' if we continue this way, I won't let that happen while I'm at this club."
#22819 Being Liverpool
shanghai_nobody
I struggled with FM12 but I'm really enjoying FM13. I've written a few posts for a story, might wait just a little longer before posting to make sure I'm enjoying the game.
I think Tottenham will be tough they've got a good side to start with and £30million to spend, they could be a real force.
#22812 Being Liverpool
shanghai_nobody