Alisher Usmanov, Arsenal’s second largest shareholder, has claimed that the club needs to strengthen in every single position on the field if they are seriously to challenge the biggest clubs in English football and throughout Europe.
The Uzbek-born Russian business magnate, wants Wenger to continue his managerial work at Arsenal and is desperate for him to succeed. However, Usmanov has pointedly re-enforced that the manager is failing to learn from previous mistakes over the years and is being restricted due to his footballing principles.
A devastating defeat to a below par Manchester United on Saturday afternoon continued a losing pattern against the very best teams in recent seasons.
“My opinion, and I tell it openly, we need to strengthen every position to play on the level of such teams in the UK as Chelsea and Manchester City or in Europe like Real, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and other clubs,” said Usmanov. “Arsenal is a dream that sometimes becomes a mirage and sometimes a pain as every dream. The potential of the team is there, but there is no critical evaluation of mistakes and their admittance.”
Usmanov, 61, was critical of Wenger’s nature in not admitting mistakes. Usmanov said: “Only when you admit your mistakes are you rid of them. We just repeat the same results year by year. Quite high to secure the place in the Champions League but we regularly lose in the first circles of play-offs. As an investor I am not happy with that.”
After winning their first trophy in under a decade last season, the anguish was lifted from the Emirates stadium. Now heading to the start of December, it is all doom and gloom again at Arsenal after the same problems were not resolved, in the summer.
“As to Arsene Wenger – he is one of the greatest coaches not just of European, but of world football,” said Usmanov.
“He is a great man, a great coach, he had great victories and he has to have an opportunity to secure the place, which he and his team ought to have. I think the men who created winners have to be winners themselves. I wish him this.”
I believe that Wenger’s inability to not solve the problems that were needed to be solved has been a huge factor in Arsenal’s dismal season thus far. His tactical ineptness in games over the years, has seen the club fold in huge matches. Is it time for a change of manager? Maybe.