Arsene Wenger: Victim of his own success?

Almost all talk about Arsenal FC in the last two or three years has been about the fact that they haven't won a single trophy since the FA cup in 2005. These voices have been growing louder with each passing season and following Arsenal's dismal start to the Premier League this year, they have reached an almost deafening pitch. As any regular visitor to Arsenal fansites and blogs would know, Arsenal 'fans' have one scapegoat for all of Arsenal's problems, Arsene Wenger. Yes, a new manager seems to be the solution to all problems at the moment, but lets just pause and take a look at some numbers:

Arsene Wenger's year by year record for Arsenal:


 Year         P      W      D      L       F      A      Win ratio        

1996/7	36	16	11	9	56	33	44.4%
1997/8	54	33	13	8	89	46	61.1%
1998/9	54	31	15	8	84	38	57.4%
1999/00	59	33	11	15	112	66	55.9%
2000/01	59	32	13	14	99	62	54.2%
2001/02	60	39	11	10	119	62	65%
2002/03	59	34	15	10	119	58	57.6%
2003/04	59	38	14	7	114	48	64.4%
2004/05	57	37	13	7	117	51	64.9%
2005/06	59	33	11	15	96	43	55.9%
2006/07	59	30	17	12	98	53	50.8%
2007/08	58	36	15	7	113	52	62.1%
2008/09	61	34	16	11	113	54	55.7%
2009/10	55	33	8	14	116	63	60%
2010/11	58	31	13	14	119	64	53.4%

Surprised?

Yes, despite failing to win a trophy in the last six seasons, the actual playing records have remained fairly similar over Arsene's 15 years at Arsenal. This fact is highlighted when comparing his records at Highbury and Ashburton Grove. Though Arsenal have not won silverware since moving into their new stadium at the beginning of the 2006/07 season, they have a near identical record here (win ratio: 70.3%) compared to Arsene’s time at Highbury (win ratio: 70.6%).

Therefore, the lack of titles is clearly not due to a lower standard of play, a lack of quality or Arsene losing the plot somewhere along the way, but just that winning a title requires a combination of unforeseeable factors to work in your favour including injuries, referee decisions and just that little bit of luck at key moments in important games.

Not to mention that these numbers are by far the best Arsenal have had under any manager in their history, qualification for the Champions League 14 years in a row and the fact that this has all been achieved having the least average transfer and wage budget among today's big five of the Premier League (Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City) such that the club is completely self sufficient financially, putting it in a very strong position when UEFA's Financial Fair Play rule comes into effect in two years time.

Oh and it goes without saying  that under Wenger Arsenal have played some of the most attractive football in the history of the Premier League and continue to produce some of the best young players in the Premier League (Has anyone seen Frimpong and Coquelin play this season?).

So yeah, people, especially Arsenal 'fans' who are talking so loudly at the moment that they can't see or hear anything else, maybe if you'd just shut the fuck up for a second, you'll realize that you should show the man a little more respect.

Anna has Mahatma turning in his grave

The excessive and unwarranted media attention given to Anna Hazare and his whole fast unto death protest saga has transformed him into a national celebrity almost instantaneously. Now Anna, a school dropout, is being compared to Gandhi, one of the most educated men of his time and his fast unto death protest, which some would say is tantamount to blackmail against a democratically elected government, being hailed as India's second freedom struggle.

Do the supposed representatives of the youth of this country, the likes of Chetan Bhagat, who have come out openly in support of Anna and his movement and made the above comparisons, really represent the youth or reflect the true mood amongst the people of the country?

What is the understanding of the polity of India of these people, who appear at candlelight vigils carrying posters saying “Mera neta chor hai”, refuse to exercise their right to vote because they see nobody worthy of their vote and laugh at the idea of becoming a part of the political system, saying they have lost faith in the system? What is their idea of an acceptable political system? What is their vision to bring about that change?

Unfortunately the answers to these questions are not very clear. Similarly, in the loudness and self righteousness surrounding the endorsement of Anna’s version of the Lokpal, it seems the actual contents of the bill and the serious questions they raise are lost.

I, for one, am deeply uncomfortable with the idea that the Lokpal, set to become one of the most powerful institutions in India, combining in itself the powers of making law, implementing the law, and punishing those who break the law, will consist of a “few good men” who have no accountability to anyone.

Clearly, there needs to be more debate and a more inclusive one at that, about such questions. Let us not forget, in our hurry and desire to bring change, about what that change is, how its being brought about and its implications.