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Arsenal’s problems are deeper than Olivier Giroud

Arsenal’s problems cut much deeper than Olivier Giroud. Cast your mind back to May 2004. Arsenal, led by the inspirational Arsene Wenger, had just become the first English club to avoid defeat in a 38-game season. The Gunners streaked to the title, beating closest challengers Chelsea by an impressive 11 points. But things have changed at Arsenal – and not for the better…

Twelve years on, the Gunners are no longer genuine title contenders. Every season, fans will boast about their title chances and every season, Wenger’s men fail to live up to the hype. And Arsenal fans are sick and tired of having their hopes and dreams shattered before the end of December.

In recent times, supporters have placed the majority of the blame for their current problems on Arsenal’s scapegoat striker Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman has missed a number of glaring opportunities over the last few years but it is time for Arsenal to admit that there are much bigger problems at the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger is a major issue. At 66 years old, retirement is beckoning yet the Frenchman is showing no signs of giving up the ghost. His incompetence and failure to act in the transfer market has cost Arsenal in the past and it will hurt them again. Only this time, it will cost the Gunners a place in the top four and not an outside shot at the title.

Whatever your standpoint is, Wenger will almost certainly go down in history as an Arsenal legend. However, he is tarnishing his legacy at the club. His reluctance to call it a day is not only hindering Arsenal’s opportunity to move on and plan for the future but it is clouding over all of the fantastic achievements during his 20-year career.

If the Gunners boss retired at the end of this season, Arsenal fans would probably have fond memories of Wenger’s tenure. Unfortunately, some supporters won’t look back at the last decade with such admiration. The Frenchman brought plenty of success during his early years but silverware has eluded Arsenal’s clutches since.

And you could even argue that the Emirates hierarchy are also to blame. The Gunners board are failing to compete with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea in the transfer market – and Arsenal are in danger of falling out of England’s top bracket. Unless the mind-set at the top changes, the Gunners will be destined for failure.

Yes, the poor form and inability to perform consistently of Olivier Giroud is one of the problems but it isn’t Arsenal’s only issue. Wenger’s outdated philosophy and lack of a clear, coherent plan to guide the Gunners back to the top and the board’s lack of support in the transfer market are both detrimental to their progress as a club.

In 2004, Arsenal were regarded as one of European football’s elite superpowers. Nowadays, they are just another club in decline. And until the entire ethos of the club changes, Arsenal will continue to fail. With actual investment at the very top, the Olivier Giroud problems wouldn’t be a problem at all…

 


 

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